Larry and the Blue Notes
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1962 in Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. |
| Headquarters | Fort Worth , United States |
| Products | Garage rock music |
Larry and the Blue Notes were a garage rock group originating from Fort Worth, Texas in 1962. They emerged from Fort Worth's dynamic teenage music scene and stood out as one of the few bands to issue a record with national distribution. Their most recognized song is "Night of the Sadist," which has been included on various compilation albums.
History
The band's formation began in October 1962 when drummer Rocky Shores invited Larry Roquemore (saxophone, vocals) and Larry Slater (lead guitar) to perform at a Halloween event, with Slater bringing along rhythm guitarist Tommy Skaggs. Their initial repertoire mainly consisted of surf music instrumentals influenced by Freddie King. Following their first performance, Slater and Roquemore rehearsed alongside new members: drummer Mike Griffins, bassist Dan Fletcher, and rhythm guitarist Buddy Bates. By 1964, after achieving victories in Fort Worth battle of the bands competitions, Randy Cates replaced Fletcher on bass, and Jack Hammonds (organ, vocals) joined, contributing vocal harmonies reminiscent of the Beatles.
They frequently played at Fort Worth's Teen A-Go-Go club. In 1965, producer Major Bill Smith, noted for producing hits such as "Hey Paula," signed the group. They recorded "Night of the Sadist," composed by Roquemore and Slater, creating two versions—one featuring saxophone and another with a guitar solo. Due to concerns that the term "sadist" might hinder radio play, Smith altered the word to "phantom" in the recording.
Drawing inspiration from local folklore, "Night of the Phantom" was released in early 1965 on Tiris Records. Its regional popularity prompted 20th Century Records to acquire publishing rights, marking it as one of the rare tracks from the Fort Worth teen scene to achieve national reach. Their subsequent single, "Talk About Love," issued on Charay later that year, experienced limited regional success until a punk-influenced rendition was released.
The band also recorded under different names such as the Mark V—with singles like "The Phantom," produced by local DJ Mark Stevens—and later as the Bad and Soul Purpose during the soul music trend. In 1966, they released "In and Out" backed with "There's No Other Like My Baby" on Charay; this track saw multiple re-releases paired with various B-sides. The group dissolved in 1968.
Following their breakup, "Night of the Sadist"/"Night of the Phantom" appeared on prominent compilations including Back from the Grave series and Fort Worth Teen Scene collections. Their proto-punk song "In and Out" gained attention through inclusion on compilations such as Teenage Shutdown! The World Ain't Round, It's Square! along with several Fort Worth Teen Scene volumes.
Larry Roquemore died on August 21, 2016, at the age of 69.
Discography
- "Night of the Phantom" b/w "All My Own" (Tiris 101, March 1965; Twentieth Century Fox 573, April 1965)
- "Talk About Love" b/w "She'll Love Me" (Charay 20, 1965)
- "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love" b/w "She'll Love Me" (Charay 1095; Epic 9871, December 1965, as "The Bad")
- "The Phantom" b/w "She'll Love Me" (as "The Mark V") (Charay 20, 1965)
- "In and Out" b/w "There's No Other Like My Baby" (Charay 44, July 1966)
- "In and Out" b/w "Love Is a Beautiful Thing" (Charay, November 1966)
- "In and Out" b/w "No Milk Today" (Charay, December 1966)
- "In and Out" b/w "I'll Be True to You" (Charay, February 1967)
- "In and Out" b/w "You Cheated You Lied" (Charay, July 1967)