Neal Ford and the Fanatics
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1964 in Houston, Texas, United States |
| Headquarters | Houston , United States |
| Products | Psychedelic rock music |
Neal Ford and the Fanatics was a psychedelic rock ensemble originating from Houston, Texas in 1964. Fronted by Neal Ford, the band played a key role in pioneering psychedelic sounds within their local scene, alongside peers such as The 13th Floor Elevators and the Moving Sidewalks. Their discography includes a single album released in 1967 before they parted ways in 1970.
History
Neal Ford, an established figure in Houston's pop music environment, assembled Neal Ford and the Fanatics toward the end of 1964. The lineup featured Johnny Stringfellow on lead guitar, Jon Pereles handling rhythm guitar and vocals, W. T. Johnson on bass, Dennis Senter playing keyboards, and John Cravey on drums. Drawing inspiration from the British Invasion and emphasizing organ-led instrumentals combined with an R&B-inflected beat, their early performances consisted mainly of cover songs at their home venue, Teen Scene. Producer Ray Rush identified their promise after witnessing their live shows, which led to the recording and subsequent release in May 1965 of "I Will Not Be Lonely" on GINA records. This single received regional radio play and achieved local chart success.
Recording activities were interrupted due to Ford’s commitment to the Naval Reserve until late 1965. Following his return, Steven Ames took over keyboard duties from Senter. Ames’ brother Richard established Tantara Records to issue their sophomore single, the folk rock track "Bitter Bells," in January 1966. Their visibility increased significantly through heavy rotation on Houston radio stations, appearances on the Larry Kane Show, and live gigs at venues like the Catacombs where they shared stages with acts including The Beach Boys and The Lovin' Spoonful. Ford acknowledged that local radio exposure was crucial during this phase of their career.
Midway through 1966 saw Ames depart to manage The Moving Sidewalks, with Lanier Greig stepping in as organist. Greig contributed to evolving the group’s sound and expanding their original repertoire. By October 1966, Neal Ford and the Fanatics recorded demo tracks such as "I Can't Go On" and "Good Men," which led to securing a deal with national label Hickory Records. The recording sessions primarily featured original compositions alongside an innovative rendition of The Zombies' "Woman." Two singles emerged: "I Will If You Want To," which attracted national attention in September 1966, and "Gonna Be My Girl," which reached number one on Houston charts in early 1967. Their self-titled debut album followed shortly thereafter.
Despite these achievements, later singles like "Wait for Me" did not replicate national success. The band maintained a local presence until their dissolution in October 1970, following Ford’s departure in 1969 to embark on a solo path. Post-breakup releases include Ace Records’ 2013 compilation Good Men and Chunk Archives Recordings’ 2019 album Every Night a New Surprise, which features unreleased 1966 recordings enhanced with vocals by garage rock artist Mal Thursday.
Lanier Greig (born August 20, 1948) passed away on February 15, 2013. Neal Ford died at age 78 on May 17, 2021, due to complications related to COVID-19.