The Myddle Class
| The Myddle Class | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, United States |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1964-1969 |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts | Carole King |
| Past members |
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The Myddle Class was an American garage rock band from Berkely Heights, New Jersey who were active in the 1960s. Signed to Tomorrow Records which was owned by songwriters Gerry Goffin and Carole King, they were one of the most popular live acts in the New Jersey/New York region during the 1960s and released several singles, enjoying hits in various local markets such as in Albany. In the late 1960s band members became involved in college and other musical projects. Band member Charles Larkey, who joined the Fugs in late 1967, later married Carole King, following her divorce from Goffin, and played bass on some of her recordings in the 1970s. The Myddle Class intended to record an album in 1969, but was thwarted due to the unexpected murder of guitarist Rick Philp. The band broke up shortly thereafter. Singer Dave Palmer later joined Steely Dan in the 1970s and sang on Carole King's hit "Jazzman".
The band was formed as the King Bees in 1964 made up of high school students from suburban Passaic Valley townships that border the Interstate 78 corridor in New Jersey. The King Bees' initial lineup consisted of Dave Palmer on lead vocals and Rick Philp on guitar, Chris Irby on bass, Danny Mansolino on organ, and Mike Rosa on drums. Dave Palmer and Rick Philps were from Warren Township and were students at Watchung Hills Regional High School. Danny Mansolino from North Plainfield attended North Plainfield High School and had played accordion, but Rick Philps asked him to join on organ. At first Chris Irby played bass, but when he decided to quit, drummer Myke Rosa from Berkeley Heights brought in Charles Larkey, a friend of his at Governor Livingston Regional High School. Larkey was only just learning the bass when he joined, but he had good stage presence and dressed in all of the latest mod fashions from his father's store Larkey's in Newark. According to Palmer:
The King Bees became known for their exciting live shows, which would include songs such as "Shout", "She's Not There" and the original, "It's the Season". After one show at the Berkeley Heights CYO in December 1964, the band met New York Post columnist Al Aronowitz, who was friends with Bob Dylan and arranged his first meeting with the Beatles at the Delmonico Hotel in New York, in which Dylan allegedly turned the fab four onto pot. Aronowitz heard about the King Bees through his babysitter and despite his lack of experience in the business side of music, became the group's manager. His house in Berkeley Heights became the group's base of operations. Aronowitz introduced them to Carole King and Gerry Goffin, the well-known husband-and-wife song writing team, who were then living nearby in West Orange. The pair agreed to write songs and produce the group. In the fall of 1965 the King Bees changed their name to the Myddle Class to distinguish themselves from Danny Kortchmar's King Bees who just had just released a record on RCA Victor. In October, Goffin and King signed the Myddle Class to their new label, Tomorrow Records, to be distributed by Atlantic-Atco.
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