Tonto and the Renegades
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1964 |
| Headquarters | Grand Ledge, Michigan , United States |
| Products | Garage rock music |
Tonto and the Renegades (also referred to as Tonto & the Renegades) was a garage rock ensemble originating from Grand Ledge, Michigan, active between 1964 and 1969. The group was established by students attending Grand Ledge High School, with their name inspired by bassist Gary Richey's nickname "Tonto," a nod to his Native American background. During 1966–67, they achieved several regional chart successes throughout Southern Michigan. Interest from major record companies emerged by the late 1960s; however, the Vietnam War draft compelled two members to depart, ultimately leading to the band's breakup. Their work has experienced a resurgence among garage rock enthusiasts, with "Little Boy Blue" standing out as their signature song. In 2012, Tonto and The Renegades were honored with induction into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends online Hall of Fame.
Formation
In 1964, four eighth graders at Grand Ledge High School—Tom Kirby, Terry Slocum, Bill Ford, and Gary Richey—came together to form what would become Tonto and the Renegades. Kirby, who began drumming at age fourteen under the guidance of a retired Michigan State University instructor, had previously performed with a group called the Grandaires. Inspired by the Beatles’ appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, Slocum switched from clarinet to guitar and dedicated himself to practicing despite his father's skepticism. Ford had picked up guitar playing in 1962 and later taught at Charlotte’s Zvonar Music Studios. Initially, Kirby, Slocum, and Ford rehearsed and played at talent contests before recruiting their schoolmate Bob Dick and adopting the name the Henchmen.
Arrival of "Tonto"
Following Bob Dick’s departure from the Henchmen, Gary Richey joined as guitarist and vocalist. A fellow Grand Ledge High student alongside Kirby, Slocum, and Ford, Richey was nicknamed "Tonto" in recognition of his Native American ancestry. Influenced by the Beatles and other British Invasion groups like his bandmates, Richey had begun learning guitar with encouragement from his parents, who also provided their basement for rehearsals. As the band started performing live shows, Richey’s father took on managerial duties.
Soon after Richey became part of the lineup, a classmate named Toby Bates proposed combining Richey’s nickname with "Renegades," leading to the band’s new moniker: Tonto and the Renegades. They commissioned Dennis Preston—through Richey’s cousin—to create a cartoon Indian graphic for their bass drum head. Richey quickly assumed leadership within the group.
Vocals were primarily shared between Richey and Slocum, emphasizing harmonies that distinguished them in their local scene. Their first performance under this name took place at the 1964 Grand Ledge High School Senior Prom. The band rapidly built a following in Lansing and began securing consistent weekend gigs. Since none of them initially held driver’s licenses, transportation was provided by Richey’s parents. Most of their gear was purchased at Marshall Music in downtown Lansing—a central spot for musicians and record collectors—where employee Bill Lewis became an important supporter.
Tonto and the Renegades became fixtures at The Sceen, a teen nightclub located roughly twelve miles from Grand Ledge renowned for its superb sound quality and large audiences drawn from nearby farming communities. This venue featured four separate stages plus an outdoor patio and regularly hosted prominent Michigan acts such as the Bossmen, the Ones, and the Woolies. Band member Bill Ford described performing there as “an absolute blast.”
Broadened Ensemble and Recording Efforts
Gary Richey transitioned to playing bass, joining Terry Slocum and Bill Ford on guitars, with Tom Kirby handling drums. Tonto and The Renegades established a productive partnership with Don Trefry, their booking agent at The Sceen, who secured numerous engagements at venues such as the Hullabaloo in Lansing, Daniel's Den in Saginaw, and the Club Ponytail in Harbor Springs. They had the opportunity to open for prominent acts including the Beach Boys and Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels. Their business card proudly displayed the slogan "Beat Music for all occasions".
In 1966, the group expanded their sound by adding keyboardist Jeff Keast, which enabled them to perform a broader range of popular Motown tunes alongside their original compositions. A Lansing native, Keast was adept at simultaneously playing both organ and piano during live performances. Don Trefry facilitated their initial single recording: "Little Boy Blue," penned by Slocum, coupled with "I Knew This Thing Would Happen," at Dave Kalmbach's Great Lakes Recording Studio located in Sparta, Michigan. This single was released late that year on Trefry’s Sound Of The Sceen label, which he funded and named after his club.
The band personally collected the first batch of records from the American Record Pressing facility in Owosso and distributed them to local retailers and radio stations to encourage airplay. Both tracks received considerable attention, notably on Lansing’s leading station WJIM-AM, where DJ Eric O. promoted their music extensively. Although "I Knew This Thing Would Happen" initially gained more traction, "Little Boy Blue" eventually earned recognition as a garage rock staple. The single’s success elevated the band’s profile and enabled them to negotiate higher performance fees.
Partnership with Dick Wagner
In 1967, Jeff Keast departed after one year due to his parents’ opposition to rock music. He recommended Dave Pung, a fellow O'Rafferty High School alumnus, as his successor on keyboards. Dick Wagner, whom Tonto and The Renegades had met through shared performances with his band the Bossmen at The Sceen, was forming a new group called the Frost while also working as a songwriter and producer. Impressed by the band’s single, Wagner offered several songs and proposed producing their subsequent record. At Gary Richey’s home, he presented acoustic versions of potential tracks; the band selected "Anytime You Want Some Lovin'" as the A-side for their second single. Although initially considering Wagner’s "First Day Of May" for the B-side, they ultimately chose another Wagner composition, "The Easy Way Out," since he reserved the former for the Frost.
Manager Don Trefry funded the recording session at Dave Kalmbach’s studio in Sparta, with Wagner producing and Kalmbach engineering. Wagner intended to incorporate horn sections but to minimize expenses, drummer Tom Kirby recruited two talented underclassmen from Grand Ledge High School's band—Jim Hall and Ernie Morrow—upon recommendation from band director Jerry Jensen. Rehearsals took place in Richey’s basement while Wagner arranged horn parts live during sessions. His intricate production approach required an eight-hour studio booking. Although Richey initially prepared bass lines, Wagner encouraged experimentation but ultimately reverted to Richey’s original parts. Wagner added a fuzz guitar element to "Anytime You Want Some Lovin'" and enlisted Donny Hartman from the Frost to contribute harmonica, enriching the mid-tempo rock ballad with layered harmonies.
This second single was likewise released under Trefry’s Sound Of The Sceen label and enjoyed regional popularity in Lansing supported strongly by WJIM radio. Tonto and The Renegades also made their television debut on Swing Lively, a teen-oriented music program broadcast on Lansing’s Channel 6.
Major label interest, Vietnam draft impact, and dissolution
In June 1968, every member of the band completed their high school education. As prominent record companies began expressing interest in the group and their recent single, the looming Vietnam War draft became an urgent issue. Bill Ford was the initial individual called by the Selective Service but managed to obtain a 2-A deferment by enrolling as a full-time student at Lansing Community College, later transferring to Michigan State University where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in political science. Following Ford's exit, Tonto and The Renegades reverted to a quartet. Terry Slocum married in 1968 and secured a 3-A draft deferment. The band’s rising popularity generated earnings of $1,000 per performance and attracted contract offers from major labels including Capitol, Columbia, Decca, and U.S.A. Records. Columbia proposed a $10,000 advance alongside plans for a national tour and an album release after the tour.
When Tom Kirby received his draft summons in 1969, he left the band and enlisted in the Navy to avoid ground combat but completed three Vietnam tours aboard the U.S.S. Hollister, participating in significant military operations. Shortly thereafter, Gary Richey was drafted but was disqualified due to eczema (classified 4-F). The group began to unravel following Kirby’s departure and eventually disbanded in 1969.
Subsequent activities and enduring influence
After the breakup, Gary Richey and Terry Slocum briefly joined the band Headstone; Richey later became part of Thanx. Tom Kirby returned from Vietnam in 1971, settled locally through marriage, and pursued a career as a systems analyst with Michigan’s Department of Information Technology until retirement. In 2009, he established the duo Trail's End. Richey left the music industry for construction work but is currently on disability due to injury. Slocum had a short stint in the military before relocating to Memphis and Florida where he continued performing as a guitarist in rock and blues ensembles, including collaborations with Buddy Guy.
Bill Ford pursued legal studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison after selling his guitar and amplifier used during his time with Tonto and The Renegades; he practiced law for three decades before retiring in 2009.
Though the band dissolved in 1969, reissues of their tracks have sparked renewed international attention. Their song "Little Boy Blue" appeared on Back from the Grave volumes 2 (CD) and 4 (LP). All four songs recorded at Great Lakes Recording Studio were featured on the 2007 double CD Scream Loud!!! The Fenton Story and were also compiled on an EP released by Italy’s Misty Lane Records. In 2012, Tonto and The Renegades were inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame. Additionally, three of their songs—"Little Boy Blue," "Anytime You Want Some Lovin'," and "The Easy Way Out"—have been honored as Legendary Michigan Songs.
Membership
- Gary Richey (lead vocals, bass)
- Terry Slocum (lead vocals, guitars)
- Bill Ford (guitar, backing vocals)
- Tom Kirby (drums, backing vocals)
- Jeff Keast (keyboards)
- Dave Pung (keyboards)
Discography
- "Little Boy Blue" b/w "I Knew this Thing Would Happen" (Sound of The Sceen 2212, July 1967)
- "Anytime You Want Some Lovin'" b/w "The Easy Way Out" (Sound of The Sceen, 1967)