The Cherry Slush
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Headquarters | Saginaw , United States |
| Products | Music singles, compilation album |
The Cherry Slush was a garage rock group originating from Saginaw, Michigan in 1965. Initially performing under the name the Wayfarers and later recording as The Bells of Rhymny,, the ensemble consisted of junior high students active between 1964 and 1965. They gained notable regional traction within Detroit's music circuit. Drawing inspiration from The Byrds, the band released four singles, including local hits such as "She'll Be Back" and "I Cannot Stop You". Remarkably, they were among the limited number of garage rock acts during that period to appear on all three primary charts: Billboard, Cashbox, and Record World.
Origins
The group formed as the Wayfarers while its members were in eighth grade at Arthur Hill High School, initially engaging in casual jam sessions and school shows. The finalized lineup featured Dan Parsons on lead vocals, Mark Burdick handling lead guitar, Art Hauffe on bass, Dick Coughlin playing drums, and Tom Armbruster covering rhythm guitar. Before their first paid performance in 1965, they adopted the name the Captives and earned $5 for a basement school event. After Armbruster relocated to Ohio in late 1965, the band continued as a four-piece ensemble, focusing on covers from the British Invasion. Although no recordings survive from this era, subsequent renamings eventually led to a recording deal.
The Bells of Rhymny
By mid-1966, the band rebranded themselves as The Bells of Rhymny, a name inspired by both The Byrds and Pete Seeger’s composition bearing that title. They expanded their lineup by adding guitarist Gene Bruce, whose audition impressed the members and helped them emulate The Byrds’ sound more closely. Vivian Bruce, Gene’s mother, took on management duties, facilitating travel arrangements for performances. In March 1966, Frank Patrick—owner of the well-known venue Daniel's Den—secured them an opening slot for Michigan’s Terry Knight and the Pack, which enhanced their presence in the regional scene through several subsequent appearances.
Toward the end of 1966, they recorded initial demos at Schiell Recording Studios located in Bay City, Michigan—the same studio responsible for Question Mark and the Mysterians’ hit "96 Tears". They paid $15 per hour to lay down original tracks "She'll Be Back" and "Don't Walk Away," returning later to record "Rich Man's Woman" and "Now I'm Free". In pursuit of releasing a single, they presented acetate recordings to Dick Wagner of the Bossmen. Wagner was impressed and agreed to produce a single at Detroit’s United Sounds Studio.
In January 1967, they recorded "She'll Be Back" with Wagner’s "Wicked Old Witch" featured as the B-side. Released on Wagner’s Dicto label, this single received substantial airplay across Michigan, elevating their regional reputation and leading to opportunities opening for groups such as The Amboy Dukes and The Gentrys. However, guitarist Burdick’s declining enthusiasm created obstacles.
To address management needs, Jim Leach joined as co-manager; leveraging his connections within the industry—including ties to Question Mark and the Mysterians—they secured recording sessions at Audio Recorders in Cleveland. For their follow-up single, Wagner co-wrote what would become their most successful track, "I Cannot Stop You". Before recording began, Burdick transitioned to playing Hammond B3 organ while Bruce assumed lead guitar duties. Wagner incorporated a horn section featuring session musician Don Sheets, attributing much of the song’s appeal to this addition. The B-side was an updated version of "Don't Walk Away", featuring revised lyrics and a new guitar bridge based on Wagner’s suggestions.
The Cherry Slush
The release of the single faced postponements due to changes in the lineup and Leach's ongoing efforts to secure a recording contract. Disagreements with Burdick regarding the band's musical direction resulted in his exit and a cessation of communication with the group. Charlie Woodward, previously with The Dignitaries, stepped in as rhythm guitarist. By the summer of 1967, the group adopted the name The Cherry Slush, first using it during a performance at the Den. Shortly afterward, Woodward left to pursue college studies and was succeeded by Brian Bennett from The Sons of Sound.
Leach successfully negotiated a distribution agreement for the delayed single with Prophonics Records. Although Prophonics was a modest label, their contract included an option for termination. The band received $5,000 from leasing the single. When released in January 1968, "I Cannot Stop You" achieved regional success, gaining significant airplay on AM radio stations. This attention sparked interest from major labels; discussions with Columbia Records were in progress when their former label transferred rights to Chicago-based USA Records. The single attained positions of number 119 on Billboard's Bubbling Under, number 93 on Record World, and number 35 on Cashbox, accumulating approximately 75,000 sales.
On a national scale, The Cherry Slush increased their visibility through television appearances on programs such as Upbeat, Swinging Time, and The Swinging Majority, which supported an expanded touring itinerary across the United States. In mid-1968, they recorded their follow-up single "Day Don't Come" at Chess Records Studios located in Michigan. Despite favorable reception within regional markets, USA Records' bankruptcy shortly after the release impeded further sales of both singles, curbing the band's upward trajectory.
In 1969, their last single—a cover of The Beatles' "Birthday"—was issued under Leach's own Chivalry label. To avoid associations with bubblegum pop, it was released under the name "The Slush," which limited its commercial reach and resulted in charting only locally in Saginaw. After performing one final show at the Den and engaging in solo recording projects, The Cherry Slush dissolved due to insufficient major label interest.
Aftermath
Dick Coughlin dedicated 32 years working as an emergency room technician at Saginaw General Hospital before retiring. Dan Parsons enlisted in the Navy and later established a career as an attorney based in Chicago. Gene Bruce held the position of vice-president at his family’s firm until his passing in 2009. Brian Bennett balanced a career in automobile sales with ongoing musical pursuits in Michigan despite suffering a stroke in 2007. Art Hauffe relocated to Florida where he owns a construction business and serves as a broker for two additional companies. Charlie Woodward also moved to Florida, founding an insurance agency; now retired, he provides music instruction. Mark Burdick is employed as an F.I. Manager at the Michigan Department of Human Services in Essexville.
Brian Bennett, born September 24, 1951, in Saginaw, Michigan, passed away on December 7, 2016, after battling a prolonged illness at age 65.
Legacy
In 2001, the band issued Looking Back, a compilation album featuring eight tracks that included all A-sides and B-sides from their four singles. Later that year, Bruce and Wagner reunited the band for a final performance before an audience of 2,200 in Freeland, Michigan. In 2012, both "I Cannot Stop You" and "Day Don't Come" were honored by induction into the Legendary Songs of Michigan. The following year marked their induction into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame.