Jump to content

Paul Revere & the Raiders

From Alfawiki
Paul Revere & the Raiders
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1958 in Boise, Idaho, United States
FounderPaul Revere
Headquarters
Boise
,
United States
ProductsRock music recordings and performances

Paul Revere & the Raiders—also simply known as the Raiders—originated as an American rock ensemble in Boise, Idaho, established in 1958. The group gained widespread popularity across the United States during the late 1960s and early 1970s, becoming recognizable for their distinctive Revolutionary War-inspired costumes.

The band began as an instrumental outfit named the Downbeats, founded by organist Paul Revere and featuring vocalist Mark Lindsay. After scoring a modest hit in 1961 with "Like, Long Hair" and narrowly missing entry into the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963 with their rendition of "Louie Louie", they secured a contract with Columbia Records under the guidance of producer Terry Melcher. Their January 1966 release "Just Like Me" gained traction through appearances on Dick Clark’s programs such as Where The Action Is, climbing to number 11 on the Hot 100. This success was followed by Top Ten singles "Kicks" and "Hungry", cementing their status as national celebrities. Clark’s television platforms spotlighted Lindsay as a teen idol while portraying Revere as the band's eccentric figure. Between 1966 and 1969, they achieved twelve Top 30 hits. Their trio of 1966 albums—Just Like Us, Midnight Ride, and The Spirit of '67—all attained RIAA gold certification.

Following this period, Mark Lindsay took over production duties from Melcher, leading to the 1969 US Top 20 hit "Let Me!". In early 1970, the band shortened their name to "Raiders". Their rendition of "Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)" in 1971 reached number one on charts in both the United States and Canada and was awarded platinum status in 1996. Despite this achievement, inability to duplicate such commercial success contributed to their disbandment after Columbia Records dropped them in 1975. Paul Revere returned to live performances in 1978 with a comedic rock act until his passing from cancer in 2014.

Throughout their history, the group experienced numerous lineup changes; however, their classic formation consisted of Mark Lindsay (vocals, saxophone), Paul Revere (keyboards), Drake "Kid" Levin (guitar), Phil "Fang" Volk (bass), and Mike "Smitty" Smith (drums). This ensemble was responsible for most recordings on their first five Columbia albums released between 1965 and 1967.

Early years

Originating in Boise, Idaho, the Raiders began as an instrumental rock band led by organist and founder Paul Revere (1938–2014).[1] After completing military service in 1962, Revere relocated the group to Portland, Oregon.[2][3]

In his early twenties, Revere operated several restaurants in Caldwell, where he encountered singer Mark Lindsay (b. 1942) during a bakery run.[4][4] Lindsay joined forces with Revere’s band in 1958. Initially called the Downbeats, they adopted the name Paul Revere & the Raiders by 1960 prior to releasing any records. Their instrumental track "Like, Long Hair" reached number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in April 1961.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name When drafted into military service, Revere declared himself a conscientious objector and served as a cook under deferred status, while Lindsay worked at a gas station.[4] In summer 1961, Lindsay toured nationally with a band that included pianist Leon Russell.

By 1962, Revere and Lindsay regrouped in Oregon alongside drummer Mike "Smitty" Smith (1942–2001), who had multiple tenures with the band.[4] Manager Roger Hart discovered them while booking teen dances and encouraged recording "Louie Louie", investing roughly $50 to produce it on his Sandē label; this effort attracted Columbia Records’ interest.[5] Lindsay characterized the Raiders as "white-bread kids striving to emulate black music," which helped secure their Columbia deal.[5] Both the Kingsmen and Raiders recorded versions of "Louie Louie" at Portland studios in April 1963; sources concur that Kingsmen recorded theirs first.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Shortly thereafter, guitarist Drake Levin replaced Charlie Coe, and bassist Mike "Doc" Holiday was succeeded by Phil Volk in early 1965.[6]

Successes and promotion during the "Action" period

In 1965, with producer Terry Melcher at the helm, the Raiders relocated to Los Angeles and developed a distinctive style that fused British Invasion elements with American rhythm and blues. Their breakthrough single, "Just Like Me", showcased an innovative double-tracked guitar solo by Drake Levin and reached number 11 on Billboard's Hot 100 in early 1966.

Key tracks from this timeframe include "Kicks" (which climbed to No. 4), "Hungry" (No. 6), "Good Thing" (No. 4), and "Him or Me – What's It Gonna Be?" (No. 5). The song "Kicks," penned by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, emerged as their defining anti-drug anthem.

The group gained widespread recognition through regular performances on Dick Clark's television series Where the Action Is, as well as Happening '68 and It's Happening, both co-hosted by Revere and Lindsay. In 1966, they made an appearance on the Batman show playing themselves.

Supported by Vox Amplifier Company via Thomas Organ, the Raiders exclusively used Vox gear during live shows, reportedly becoming the first prominent band to tour fully amplified—including their horn section. After Levin enlisted in the National Guard in 1966, Jim Valley took over guitar duties.

By mid-1967, having released five albums within just over two years, Paul Revere & the Raiders stood as Columbia Records' leading rock act. Their Greatest Hits compilation was one of two albums selected by Clive Davis to experiment with premium pricing.

Significant lineup transformations

At the height of their success, Valley, Volk, and Smith exited the band due to disagreements over creative direction, conflicts about replacing studio musicians, and dissatisfaction with their adolescent-targeted image. Valley departed first; Levin briefly returned in 1967 but was prevented by Revere from performing on The Ed Sullivan Show, who had hired Freddy Weller as guitarist instead. Volk and Smith soon left to establish Brotherhood alongside Levin. Charlie Coe resumed bass responsibilities; Joe Correro Jr. joined as drummer.

The "Happening" phase

By 1968, changing musical preferences rendered the band's Revolutionary War attire obsolete, yet they continued to produce moderate hits such as "Peace of Mind," "Cinderella Sunshine," and "Let Me!", which became their first gold-certified single. Revere and Lindsay hosted Dick Clark-produced programs Happening '68 and the daily show It's Happening, featuring frequent band performances.

Charlie Coe departed in August 1968; Keith Allison succeeded him on bass. Producer Terry Melcher left, with Lindsay assuming production duties starting with the psychedelic album Something Happening. The group embraced a more intricate sound on later albums like Hard 'N' Heavy (with Marshmallow) and Alias Pink Puzz, the latter released under a pseudonym aimed at FM radio audiences.

Building on the success of "Let Me!", the Raiders toured Europe alongside the Beach Boys in 1969 and recorded for Germany's Beat-Club. They also appeared in a Pontiac GTO commercial promoting "The Judge." Although invited to perform at Woodstock, they declined. Lindsay achieved solo success that year with "Arizona," which reached No. 10.

The Raiders in the early 1970s

In 1970, adopting the shortened name "Raiders," they released Collage, which received critical praise from Rolling Stone for Lindsay's leadership but achieved only modest commercial success, peaking at No. 154 on the Billboard 200. Drummer Joe Correro was replaced by Mike Smith.

Their most significant commercial achievement came with John D. Loudermilk's "Indian Reservation," enthusiastically promoted by Revere; it topped charts at No. 1 in July 1971 and sold more than six million copies—becoming Columbia's best-selling single for nearly ten years. The respective album reached No. 19.

Later releases such as Country Wine (1972) failed to chart; a planned follow-up album was shelved after its single "Love Music" stalled at No. 97. The band transitioned into an oldies act performing at lounges and fairs—Revere embraced this direction while Lindsay did not. Guitarist Freddy Weller and drummer Mike Smith left late in 1972; Doug Heath replaced Weller.

Later developments in the 1970s

Mark Lindsay departed following a 1975 concert at Knott's Berry Farm to focus on solo projects and A&R roles at United Artists Records. Keith Allison also left that year; Ron Foos took over bass duties.

Freddy Weller pursued a successful country music career with several Top 10 country singles during his tenure with the Raiders (1967–1973) and beyond.

In a notable Bicentennial-related event in 1976, Revere married during a live Raiders performance. Although he announced retirement that year, he resumed touring by 1978 under various configurations using the Raiders name.

The classic lineup reunited for a final televised appearance with Dick Clark in 1979. That same year featured a cover of "Indian Reservation" by German group Orlando Riva Sound.

From the 1980s through 2014

The punk and new wave scenes sparked renewed interest in Raiders' songs; "I'm Not Your Stepping Stone" was covered by bands such as the Sex Pistols and Minor Threat. Other tracks like "Just Like Me" and "Hungry" also received prominent covers.

Mark Lindsay recorded "Ups And Downs" with Carla Olson in 1994.

Revere maintained a consistent lineup through the '80s and '90s including Omar Martinez (drums/vocals), Doug Heath (guitar), Ron Foos (bass), Danny Krause (keyboards/vocals), and lead singer Carlo Driggs. They released albums like Special Edition (1983) and Paul Revere Rides Again (1983). During this period, Revere’s son Jamie contributed guitar work.

In September 1997, four classic members reunited for an anniversary show in Portland without Revere present. Sundazed Records issued a two-CD set titled Mojo Workout in 2000 focusing on early R&B/soul influences.

The band released Ride to the Wall in 2001 benefiting Vietnam War veterans and performed at Rolling Thunder Memorial Day events that year.

Keith Allison pursued acting during this era.

In October 2007, Paul Revere & the Raiders along with manager Roger Hart were inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame; Lindsay and Volk accepted honors on their behalf. The group was also inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame in 2010.

Revere retired from touring in August 2014; he died peacefully from cancer on October 4 at his home in Idaho.

Following his passing, Tom Petty dedicated a rendition of "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone" to Revere during a performance at the Los Angeles Forum.

Former members and enduring influence

Phil Volk currently tours with Fang & The Gang; he was married to TV personality Tina Mason until her passing in 2021.

Jim Valley embarked on solo ventures after leaving the Raiders before becoming an internationally recognized children’s music artist.

Joe Correro Jr. performs jazz in Los Angeles; Mike Holliday and Charlie Coe appeared alongside Mark Lindsay during a Boise concert in ’96.

Darrin Medley sang with both Paul Revere & the Raiders and Bill Medley’s Righteous Brothers Band.

Current vocalist Darren Dowler has worked with notable groups including The Lettermen and engaged in film projects; he composed original material for what became their first all-original album in decades.

Drummer Mike Smith relocated to Hawaii after his time with the band; he passed away in 2001 at age 58.

Guitarist Drake Levin became a respected blues artist until his death from cancer in San Francisco in 2009.

Founder Paul Revere died at age 76 in Idaho; his funeral was attended by prominent figures including former Governor Dirk Kempthorne. The band continued performing as "Paul Revere’s Raiders" until retiring that name after April 2022.

Lead vocalist Carlo Driggs had earlier success with Kracker and disco group Foxy; he died of a heart attack in Miami at age 67 in May 2017.

Keith Allison passed away at his Sherman Oaks home at age 79 in November 2021.

Musical style and influences

Paul Revere & the Raiders combined garage rock, proto-punk, rock and roll, and pop genres—initially merging fast-paced guitar-driven rock with R&B before transitioning toward psychedelic pop sounds. Quentin Tarantino categorized them as bubblegum music when prominently featuring their songs in his film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019).

Their 1970 release Collage represented an effort to move beyond AM radio hits by incorporating complex arrangements blending hard rock elements, horns reminiscent of Blood, Sweat & Tears, country rock influences, and soul nuances.

Legacy

Inducted into both Oregon Music Hall of Fame (2007) and Hit Parade Hall of Fame (2010), Paul Revere & the Raiders influenced garage rock revivalists, grunge bands, and Paisley Underground artists alike.

Their track "Kicks" ranked number 400 on Rolling Stone’s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (2004). "Just Like Me" is included among The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.

Tarantino’s film highlighted numerous top-20 hits from their catalog alongside lesser-known late-’60s material.

Former members

  • Paul Revere – keyboards (1958–1977; 1978–2014; deceased)
  • Mark Lindsay – vocals, saxophone (1958–1975)
  • Robert White – guitar (1958–1961)
  • Richard White – guitar (1958–1961)
  • William Hibbard – bass guitar (1958–1961)
  • Dick McGarvin – drums (1958)
  • Red Hughes – vocals (1958)
  • David Bell – drums (1958–1959)
  • Jerry Labrum – drums (1959–1961)
  • Andrea Loper – vocals (1960)
  • Mike "Smitty" Smith – drums (1962–1967, 1971–1972; deceased)
  • Ross Allemang – bass guitar (1962–1963)
  • Steve West – lead guitar (1962)
  • Pierre Ouellette – guitar (1963)
  • Dick Walker – lead guitar (1962–1963)
  • Charlie Coe – lead guitar/bass guitar (1963; bass:1967–1968)
  • Drake "Kid" Levin – lead guitar (1963–1966, briefly in ’67; deceased)
  • Mike "Doc" Holliday – bass guitar (1963–1965)
  • Phil "Fang" Volk – bass guitar (1965–1967)
  • Jim "Harpo" Valley – lead guitar (1966–1967)
  • Freddy Weller – lead guitar (1967–1973)
  • Joe Correro Jr. – drums (1967–1971)
  • Keith Allison – bass guitar (1968–1975; deceased)
  • Omar Martinez – drums/vocals (1971–1977,1980–2006)
  • Robert Wooley – keyboards (1972–1977)
  • Doug Heath – lead guitar (1973–1976, intermittently until ’21)
  • Ron Foos – bass guitar/guitar (1975–1977,1980–2022)
  • Blair Hill – vocals (1978–1980)
  • Michael Bradley – vocals (1980–1983)
  • Carlo Driggs – vocals (1983–2004; deceased)
  • Jamie Revere – guitar (1991–1997,2013–2020)
  • Darrin Medley – vocals/drums(2004–2008)
  • Matt Fasekas – drums(2004–2009)
  • Danny Krause – keyboards/vocals(1980–2022)
  • Darren Dowler – vocals/guitar(2008–2019)
  • Tommy Scheckel – drums/vocals(2009–2022)
  • David Huizenga – vocals(2018–2022)
  • Arny Bailey – lead guitar/vocals(2021–2022)

Timeline

<timeline>

ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:22 PlotArea = left:140 bottom:100 top:10 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1958 till:01/01/2022 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

Colors = id:band value:black legend:Band_name id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals id:wind value:tan2 legend:Saxophone id:guitar value:green legend:Guitar id:keys value:purple legend:Keyboards id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:drums value:orange legend:Drums id:lines1 value:black legend:Studio_albums id:bars value:gray(0.95)

Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3 BackgroundColors = bars:bars ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:5 start:1960 ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:1958

BarData = bar:Name1 text:The_Downbeats bar:Name2 text:Paul_Revere_&_the_Raiders bar:Name3 text:Paul_Revere’s_Raiders bar:Mark text:Mark Lindsay bar:Red text:Red Hughes bar:Andrea text:Andrea Loper bar:Blair text:Blair Hill bar:Michael text:Michael Bradley bar:Carlo text:Carlo Driggs bar:Darren text:Darren Dowler bar:David2 text: David Huizenga bar:Robert1 text:Robert White bar:Richard text:Richard White bar:Steve text:Steve West bar:Dick2 text:Dick Walker bar:Pierre text:Pierre Ouellette bar:Charlie text:Charlie Coe bar:Drake text:Drake Levin bar:Jim text:Jim Valley bar:Freddy text:Freddy Weller bar:Doug text:Doug Heath bar:Jamie text:Jamie Revere bar:Arny text: Arny Bailey bar:Paul text:Paul Revere bar:Danny text:Danny Krause bar:Ross text:Ross Allemang bar:Holliday text:"Doc" Holliday bar:Fang text:Fang Volk bar:BassKeith text:Earl Keith Allison bar:RonFoos text=Ron Foos bar:DickMcGarvin text:Dick McGarvin bar:DavyBell text:Davy Bell bar:JLabrum text:J Labrum bar:SmittySmith text:Smitty Smith bar:JCorerroJr text:J Correro Jr bar:MOMartinez text:M Omar Martinez bar:TMScheckel text:T Scheckel

PlotData= width:[11] align:left anchor=from shift:(10,-4)

bar:[Name1] from:start till:"01/01/1960" color:[band] bar:[Name2] from:"01/01/1960" till:"01/01/1977" color:[band] bar:[Name2] from:"01/01/1978" till:"04/10/2014" color:[band] bar:[Name3] from:"04/10/2014" till:end color:[band]

bar:[Paul] from:start till:"01/01/1977" color:[keys] bar:[Paul] from:"01/01/1978" till:"04/10/2014" color:[keys]

bar:[Danny] from:"01/01/1980" till:end color:[keys] bar:[Danny] from:"01/01/1980" till:end color:[vocals] width:[3]

bar:[Mark] from:start till:"01/01/1975" color:[wind] width:[3] bar:[Mark] from:start till:"01/01/1975" color:[vocals]

... [Timeline continues similarly trimmed for brevity]

LineData = at:"01/01/1961" color:[lines1] layer:[back] at:"01/01/1963" color:[lines1] layer:[back] at:"01/01/1965" color:[lines1] layer:[back] at:"09/05/1966" color:[lines1] layer:[back] at:"01/11/1966" color:[lines1] layer:[back] at:"01/08/1967" color:[lines1] layer:[back] at:"01/01/1968" color:[lines1] layer:[back] at:"01/10/1968" color:[lines1] layer:[back] at:"05/03/1969" color:[lines1] layer:[back] at:"01/09/1969" color:[lines1] layer:[back] at:"01/01/1970" color:[lines1] layer:[back] at:"01/01/1971" color:[lines1] layer:[back] at:"01/01/1972" color:[lines1] layer:[back] at:"01/06/1983" color:[lines1] layer:[back]

</timeline>

Discography

Main article: Paul Revere & the Raiders discography

Bibliography

  • Sixties Rock: Garage, Psychedelic, and Other Satisfactions authored by Michael Hicks (2000), published by University of Illinois Press, ISBN 0-252-06915-3
  • Sonic Boom: The History of Northwest Rock, from "Louie Louie" to "Smells Like Teen Spirit" written by Peter Blecha (2009), Backstreet Books, ISBN 978-0-87930-946-6
  • Music in Washington, Seattle and Beyond (Images of America) by Peter Blecha (2007), Arcadia Publishing, ISBN 978-0-7835-4818-0

External links

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named hartobit
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Eder (Raiders)
  3. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Nuggets Box Set (Raiders)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ride
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named mojo
  6. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named barnes
Retrieved from "https://www.alfawiki.org/index.php?title=Paul_Revere_%26_the_Raiders&oldid=86389"