The Sons of Adam
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1962 in Baltimore, Maryland, United States |
| Defunct | 1967 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Singles: "Take My Hand", "Saturday's Son", "Feathered Fish", "Baby Show the World" |
The Sons of Adam—initially known as The Fender IV—were a garage rock group originating from Baltimore, Maryland. After moving to Los Angeles, they became influential players in the mid-1960s Sunset Strip music circuit. Their discography includes several singles released on the Decca and Alamo labels, such as "Saturday's Son," "Feathered Fish" (composed by Arthur Lee), and "Baby Show the World." The band featured guitarist Randy Holden, who later joined The Other Half and Blue Cheer, alongside drummer Michael Stuart, who eventually played with Love. While Holden performed "Feathered Fish" during live shows, guitarist Craig Tarwater handled the studio recording after Holden's exit.
Formation
Established in 1962 in Baltimore, the group began under the name The Iridescents, formed by guitarist Randy Holden and bassist Mike Port. By 1963, drummer Sonny Lombardo and guitarist Joe Kooken (who later adopted the name Jac Ttanna) completed the original ensemble. Initially focused on instrumental surf rock influenced by artists such as Duane Eddy, they fully embraced surf music by late 1963. Renaming themselves The Fendermen, they moved to Southern California in November 1963 to take advantage of the surf rock craze and the expanding recording industry in Los Angeles.
The Fender IV: Transition to California
Unable to bring drummer Sonny Lombardo along to California, the band enlisted Bruce Miller as his replacement. Due to California’s legal drinking age being 21, they procured falsified identification in Tijuana to perform at nightclubs and bars, eventually securing regular appearances at Gazzarri’s. In 1964, they altered their name first to The Fender-Menn IV and then simply The Fender IV, partly motivated by a sponsorship from Fender Musical Instruments Corporation that provided them with complimentary gear and to distinguish themselves from another similarly named band.
Under the management of Bill Doane and Ozzie Schmidt—figures well-connected within surf and West Coast music circles—the band signed with Imperial Records through Russ Regan. During the summer of 1964, they recorded two singles at Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles. Following The Beatles’ appearance on Ed Sullivan and the ensuing British Invasion, their B-side track "You Better Tell Me Now" embraced Merseybeat-style vocals, hinting at their later evolution into Sons of Adam. Although initially hesitant to move away from instrumental tunes, Randy Holden began shifting toward vocal-driven rock after jamming with Brian Jones and Bill Wyman and interacting with other L.A.-based groups like The Turtles. Their performances started incorporating R&B-influenced rock numbers and Rolling Stones covers.
When Miller was drafted into military service in 1964, Keith Kester took over on drums. Their instrumental expertise earned them considerable respect among Los Angeles bands for their musicianship, leading to a popular residency at Ciro’s on the Sunset Strip. By 1965, as surf music's popularity waned, they adapted their style toward a Beat group approach centered on vocal R&B and rock. Dewey Martin enlisted them as backing musicians for his shows in Seattle and Juneau under the name Sir Raleigh & The Coupons; under this alias, they released the single "Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day" on the Jerden label.
The Sons of Adam
While in Los Angeles, the group resisted producer Martin's effort to substitute Holden with Neil Young, maintaining their identity as The Fender IV before adopting the name Sons of Adam, a suggestion from producer Kim Fowley. They succeeded The Walker Brothers as the resident band at Gazzarri's, gaining a reputation for their powerful sound and Holden's guiding principle of "Never turn down." During this era, Holden was reportedly invited to take Jeff Beck's place in The Yardbirds.
Following an audition with producer Gary Usher, the band secured a deal with Decca Records. They made a brief appearance in the 1965 movie The Slender Thread, although their music tracks were replaced by session musicians. Their first single, "Take My Hand," produced by Usher and issued in October 1965, did not enter the charts.
Frustrated by underwhelming sales, the band parted ways with managers Bill Doane and Ozzie Schmidt and instead formed an informal partnership with Dick St John and Mike Post. In 1966, collaborating with Usher and engineer David Hassinger, they recorded "Saturday's Son," a track expressing feelings of alienation with Holden on lead guitar and vocals, backed by "You're a Better Man Than I." Despite high hopes for this release, it failed to achieve commercial success. Subsequently, Howard Wolf was appointed as their new manager.
As 1966 unfolded, tensions grew due to Holden’s unpredictable conduct and obsession with volume, leading to his replacement by Craig Tarwater (John Simmons). Holden went on to join The Other Half. The Sons of Adam issued another single on Alamo Records titled "Feathered Fish," penned by Arthur Lee of Love, intended to entice drummer Michael Stuart. The B-side featured "Baby Show the World." Without Holden, the band's dynamic weakened. Stuart later joined Love for their albums Da Capo and Forever Changes, with Randy Carlisle from The Yellow Payges stepping in as drummer for Sons of Adam. Tarwater departed to become part of The Daily Flash.
By mid-1967, the Sons of Adam dissolved. Afterward, Kooken and Port created Genesis, which quickly disbanded; Port eventually exited the music scene, struggling with homelessness and addiction until his death in 2014. Kooken, who later adopted the name Jac Ttanna, passed away in Thailand in 2022.
Band members
- Randy Holden – guitar, vocals (1965–1966)
- Joe Kooken (also known as Jac Ttanna) – guitar (1965–1967; died 2022)
- Mike Port – bass (1965–1967; died 2014)
- Michael Stuart – drums (1965–1967)
- Craig Tarwater – guitar, vocals (1966–1967)
- Randy Carlisle – drums (1967)
Singles
- "Take My Hand" / "Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day" (Decca, December 1965) – produced by Gary Usher
- "You're a Better Man Than I" / "Saturday’s Son" (Decca, July 1966) – produced by Gary Usher
- "Feathered Fish" / "Baby Show the World" (Alamo, 1966) – also recorded by The Other Half
CDs
- Randy Holden: Early Works 64-66 (featuring material from 'Fender IV' and 'The Sons of Adam') – initially released by Captain Trip Records in 1997; remastered and reissued as The Sons of Adam: Bytes via Guitar God Records in 2007.
- Saturday's Sons: The Complete Recordings 1964–1966 – a 2022 compilation from High Moon Records encompassing all known studio sessions of 'Fender IV' and 'The Sons of Adam' along with a live performance from 1966.