The Palace Guard
| The Palace Guard | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1964 - 1966 |
| Labels |
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| Associated acts | The Emerals |
| Past members |
Emitt Rhodes Rick Moser Chuck McClung Mike Conley Dave Beaudoin Jon Beaudoin Don Beaudoin Don Grady Terry Rae |
The Palace Guard was an American garage rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. Though the band never obtained national success, they made a huge splash in Southern California with their song "Falling Sugar". The group is also notable for featuring the first commercial appearance of Emitt Rhodes, later a member of the Merry-Go-Round.
The foundation of the Palace Guard was set in early 1964 with the formation of the Emerals (sometimes incorrectly noted as the Emeralds) in Los Angeles. However, the band did not last long after a contract dispute resulted in the band members parting ways. After drummer Emitt Rhodes had a change of heart, he reconciled with some of his former bandmates, rechristening themselves the Palace Guard. The earliest lineup consisted of Rhodes, Rick Moser (bass guitar), Mike Conley (rhythm guitar), Chuck McClung (piano), and brothers David (tambourine, vocals), John (tambourine, vocals), and Don Beaudoin (lead guitar). For a brief period, the band also featured actor Don Grady—contributing vocals, keyboards, and drums—of My Three Sons fame, who went on to become a member of the sunshine pop band the Yellow Balloon. Grady stayed with the Palace Guard to record one obscure single, "Little People", in early 1965, which was credited to Don Grady and the Palace Guard.
The band was known for their style of dress, clothing themselves in military-themed red coats, as if they were members of the Queen's Guard. After months of rehearsal, the Palace Guard's big break came when KRLA deejay Casey Kasem invited the group to perform on his local television dance show Shebang. In mid-1965, the group began an extended residency at the Hullabaloo club, on Sunset Boulevard, earning popularity as a need-to-see attraction in Los Angeles. Two singles followed on the Orange-Empire record label, before the group scored a regional hit with "Falling Sugar" in early 1966, described by music historian Lenny Kaye as "a catchy Moptop-ish toe tapper brimming with youthful fervor". Indeed, "Falling Sugar", like most of their material derived from a blend of folk rock and the harmonic sound of the Beatles.
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