The Penthouse 5
| The Penthouse 5 | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Oak Cliff, Texas, United States |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1964-1967 |
| Labels | Solar, Hawk |
| Associated acts | The WordD, the Gentlemen |
| Past members |
|
The Penthouse 5 were an American garage rock band from Oak Cliff, Texas, a suburb of Dallas and were active from 1964-1967. The band's style was highly influenced by popular British act, such as of the Beatles and the Kinks, as well as the folk rock of the Byrds. In 1967 they shortened their name to the Penthouse and also began to play occasional gigs with a horn section as a soul outfit under the name of Dr. William’s Soul Emporium.
The Penthouse 5 were formed in 1964 in Oak Cliff, Texas, a borough of Dallas, Texas, not far from where Stevie Ray Vaughan lived. Their initial moniker was the Four Barrels, named after the type of carburetor, and their original membership consisted of Walter Buchanan (vocals), Justin Brown (lead guitar), Steve Wood (rhythm guitar, keyboards, and vocals), and Bill Looney (rhythm guitar, later bass), and Mark Porter (drums). By 1965 the band had changed their name to the Penthouse 5, an idea recommended by bassist Bill Looney, to imply that they were "top of the heap." Their lead singer Water Buchanan departed, but Mark Porter introduced the band to Rob Graham, who replaced Walter on vocals. They played regular gigs at the Rocket Roller Rink, as well as teen clubs such as the Pit, the Studio Club, the 3 Thieves, the Panther Club, the Fantasmagoria, and Louann's, and won several battles of the bands including their first which as held at Broadway Skateland competing against local acts The Gentlemen and the Untouchables. After winning another contest they secured a spot on a local Channel 11 TV show, Hi-Ho-Shebang, in November 1965. The band played beyond the Dallas/Fort Worth area throughout Texas and Louisiana.
Bass payer Bill Looney's father, an attorney, was the band's manager and would represent other Dallas area bands such as Kempy and the Guardians, as well as start Solar Records, the label for whom the group would record their first single, the Rob Graham-penned "Bad Girl" b/w "Don't Mess Around With My Dream," written by fellow Dallas musician Ron Price. It was recorded at Sellers Studio and Summit Studio, produced by Edwin Greines. In late 1966, singer Rob Graham was fired by Looney's father the band's manager, a decision that drove Brown and Porter out of the band's lineup as well. They were replaced by Jon Williams (vocals, keyboards, harmonica), who had played with the By Fives and the WordD, Richard "Lurch" Keathley (lead guitar, vocals), who had also been a member of the WordD and Mike Echart (drums).
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