We the People (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Headquarters | Orlando , United States |
| Products | Garage rock music, singles, compilation albums |
We the People was a garage rock group hailing from Orlando, Florida, established in late 1965 and professionally active between 1966 and 1970. While their singles did not achieve national chart success, multiple songs secured Top 10 positions on Orlando’s local charts. Their most recognized track, "Mirror of Your Mind," attained Top 10 status across several regional U.S. markets in 1966 and has appeared on numerous compilation records.
History
The formation of We the People resulted from the combination of members from two Orlando garage bands, The Coachmen and Nation Rocking Shadows, who initially joined forces as The Trademarks. In late 1965, Ron Dillman, a journalist for the Orlando Sentinel, brought together musicians from The Trademarks and The Offbeets (previously known as The Nonchalants) to establish a garage rock supergroup named We the People. The lineup included two prolific songwriters: Tommy Talton and Wayne Proctor, with Proctor responsible for writing the majority of their well-known songs.
Managed by Dillman, the band’s debut single "My Brother, the Man" was released early in 1966 on the local Hotline label. Its success within Orlando’s Top 10 charts led to a publishing agreement with Nashville producer Tony Moon and a recording deal with Challenge Records. Their follow-up single, "Mirror of Your Mind," issued in June 1966, exemplified their distinctive style characterized by driving drums, expressive harmonica, energetic vocals, and fuzzy guitar tones. Although it did not enter national charts, it became a notable regional hit in cities such as Nashville and Orlando. This song later gained international acclaim through its inclusion on Nuggets, Volume 6: Punk Part Two during the 1980s.
Subsequent releases included "He Doesn't Go About It Right" in September 1966, backed with "You Burn Me Up and Down," the latter becoming prominent via various garage rock compilations. Their fourth single featured "In the Past" paired with "St. John's Shop," showcasing lead guitarist Wayne Proctor playing an unusual eight-string instrument called the "octachord," crafted locally. Despite "In the Past" being the A-side, local radio stations favored the mellower B-side, which climbed to No. 2 on Orlando’s charts. Notably, "In the Past" was covered by The Chocolate Watchband in 1968.
A significant challenge arose when Wayne Proctor departed early in 1967 to avoid conscription for the Vietnam War. Between 1967 and 1968, We the People released three additional singles under RCA Records before Tommy Talton left mid-1968. With Talton’s departure and the conclusion of their RCA contract, their recording activities effectively ceased. The group continued live performances until Ron Dillman dissolved the band following a Halloween show on October 31, 1970. After disbanding, Proctor composed a minor hit for The Lemonade Charade and remains involved in South Carolina’s music scene. Talton went on to form the southern rock band Cowboy.
Later releases
Although We the People did not produce an album during their initial run in the 1960s, multiple compilation albums have been released over time. The earliest compilation, Declaration of Independence (1983, Eva Records), was reissued on CD by Collectables Records in 1993 and contains tracks originally issued as singles. In 1998, Sundazed Music released an extensive two-CD anthology titled Mirror of Our Minds, which includes singles, unreleased recordings, and songs from affiliated bands. A limited edition vinyl LP named In the Past was issued in 2007 by South Korea’s Wohn Records. Following that, Sundazed released Too Much Noise in 2008—a collection focused on material from the band’s Challenge Records era—offering what approximates an official album from their 1960s period.
Covers
The track "My Brother, the Man" has been interpreted by the garage rock revival group The Fuzztones and adapted by The Horrors under the title "Count in Fives." In 2005, the Spanish garage ensemble Wau y los Arrrghs!!! produced a Spanish rendition called "Niña," featured on their album "Cantan en Español." Moreover, the song’s recognizable guitar riff was utilized in a 1995 ABC commercial promoting laundry detergent.
Band members
- Randy Boyte – Organ (1966–1970)
- David Duff – Bass (1966–1970)
- Tommy Talton – Guitar (1966–1968)
- Wayne Proctor – Lead guitar (1966–1967)
- Tom Wynn – Drums (1966)
- Lee Ferguson – Drums (1966–1967)
- Terry Cox – Drums (1967–1970)
- Carl Chambers – Guitar (1968–1969)
- Skip Skinner – Guitar (1969–1970)
Singles
- "My Brother, the Man"/"Proceed with Caution" (Hotline 3680) 1966
- "Mirror of Your Mind"/"The Color of Love" (Challenge 59333) 1966
- "He Doesn't Go About It Right"/"You Burn Me Up and Down" (Challenge 59340) 1966
- "In the Past"/"St. John's Shop" (Challenge 59351) 1966
- "Follow Me Back to Louisville"/"Fluorescent Hearts" (RCA Victor 47-9292) 1967
- "Love Is a Beautiful Thing"/"The Day She Dies" (RCA Victor 47-9393) 1967
- "Ain't Gonna Find Nobody (Better Than You)"/"When I Arrive" (RCA Victor 47-9498) 1968
Compilation albums
- Declaration of Independence (Eva 12009) 1983
- Declaration of Independence [reissue] (Collectibles COL-CD-0532) 1993
- Mirror of Our Minds (Sundazed SC 11056) 1998
- In the Past (Wohn WHNLP009) 2007
- Too Much Noise (Sundazed SC 6258) 2008
External links
- [ We the People] at Allmusic
- Interview with Wayne Proctor
- Nashville's first long-hair band releases new CDs Weekly Wire profile (August 24, 1988)
- Interview with Wayne Proctor, 2015