The High Spirits
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1960s |
| Founder | Owen Husney, Doug Ahrens, Cliff Siegel, Rick Beresford, Rick Levinson, Jay Luttio |
| Headquarters | Minneapolis , United States |
Area served | United States, Midwest |
Key people | Owen Husney (lead guitarist and manager) |
| Products | Garage rock music |
The High Spirits were a garage rock ensemble originating from Minneapolis, Minnesota, active throughout the 1960s and affiliated with Soma Records. The founding members consisted of lead guitarist and manager Owen Husney, drummer Doug Ahrens, lead singer Cliff Siegel, bassist Rick Beresford, rhythm guitarist Rick Levinson, and keyboardist Jay Luttio. This group is acknowledged as a pioneering force in the Midwest that significantly shaped the development of the later punk rock movement.
Owen Husney subsequently gained recognition for discovering and managing Prince, along with overseeing the careers of eleven additional artists who achieved gold and platinum status.
Charts and awards
Their initial successful single was a cover of Bobby "Blue" Bland's "(Turn on Your) Love Light," recorded on May 7, 1965, and issued through Soma Records. The flip side featured "Tossin' and Turnin'." This release reached number one in both Kansas City and Dallas during the autumn of 1965, enjoyed considerable popularity in the Twin Cities, California, and Colorado markets, and attained position 33 on San Jose's Top 40 chart.
The follow-up single, "I Believe," penned by rhythm guitarist Rick Levinson and recorded on January 12, 1966, included "Bright Lights, Big City" as its B-side track.
In recognition of their contribution to music history, The High Spirits were inducted into the Minnesota Rock Country Hall of Fame in 2006.