The North Polk County bands we all grew up playing with and listening to during the 1960s. From these humble beginnings came many of the singers, pickers and songwriters that went on to influence the local, national and international music communities. These are by no means all of the bands that existed here during the sixties, but are the ones that I had personal knowlege of or dealings with. Suggestions for other 60's era bands from the North Polk County area will be considered if accompanied by a photo and a short bio (including members names).
The
Blazers are the oldest band on our
site. Spearheaded in the late 1950s by singer/guitarist
Ronnie Mills, the Blazers would be the catalyst
that would cause many of the North Polk County
music fires to explode into the '60s.
The Dynamics - One of the early Jr.
High School garage bands in Auburndale, FL. All
of it's players would soon be members of other
bands listed here, including the Legends, the
Starfires and the Infernos. This would be the
root organization of much of the local garage
band scene for years to come.
Hailing from Auburndale,
FL, The
Starfires was Polk County's longest
lasting garage band, working from 1960 until
1963 under that name, then from 1963 until 1970
as "Ron & The
Starfires", and from 1970
to 1971 as "Cinnamon".
In 1971 the group became a lounge act working
under the name "Matanzas" until
about 1975. See their entire history here - including
the "before" bands (The
Blazers, The Rumors and The
Dynamics) and the "after" bands
(Raintree
County and Dizzy
Rambler). We have photos, audio
and (believe it or not) video
of the Starfires.
If
Polk County ever had claim of a "Super-Group" garage
band -- it would have to have been Winter Haven's "Legends". The
Legends were a loose knit group of musicians, almost all
of whom would eventually become players in the national music
scene. Fronted by the legendary (no pun intended) Gram
Parsons, The Legends would sport at various times
such names as Jim Stafford, Jesse
Chambers, Jon Corneal, Jim
Carlton and Kent LaVoie (see the
PolKats section for more about these players). The longest
lasting combination of personnel (for about a year) would be
Parsons, Stafford, Chambers and Corneal. The group played roughly
from 1961 into '63. We have photos and audio of The Legends.
Made
up of members of two earlier high school rock bands (the Echoes
and the Playboys), Lakeland, Florida's "pride and joy", The
Canadian Rogues are, even to this day, revered as one of
Central Florida's seminal garage bands. Riding on the soulful
voice and charisma of lead singer, Willie Metts, the band made
it's mark both locally and all over the southeast. While never
acquiring a national hit -- Canadian Rogues recordings are
still an "in demand" commodity among collectors of
vintage garage band music. The
Rogues, a direct descendant of the original group, still
keeps the band's music and traditions alive today. We have
both photos and audio from the Canadian Rogues.
The
Spades were probably the most popular of the Winter Haven,
Florida garage bands, playing from mid-1964 through early
1967. The group would sport a wide selection of members over
it's almost four year life span. Foundational member, Jon
LaFrandre (who was there for the band's entire history) along
with his younger brother Halsey, would later be instrumental
in the creation of local rock legends, "Purple Underground" and
even later Jon would record and play keyboards for country
superstars, "The Bellamy Brothers", through much
of the late 1970s and '80s. The Spades boasted a large and
loyal following in the Winter Haven area during the mid-60s.
We have both photos and audio from the Spades.
Formed
in 1962 from members of the Auburndale High School Ag Band
and another local group called the Elegants, The
Infernos managed to play both the teen center circuit and
many of the local bars -- although that was considered a basic "no,
no" in the early 1960's. Art Furnari put the band together
along with Eagle Lake's Ronnie Carter and then added Aaron
Hancock from Auburndale and Art's brother, Ric. Ric Furnari
would become a highly regarded Winter Haven restaurateur and
lounge owner during the '70s.
Other Central Florida bands, outside
the North Polk County area, that had specific and considerable
impact on our
music
and musicians.
This site was created and is maintained by Carl Chambers for Dizzy Rambler Productions
.
Articles, quotes, images and music not our own remain in the copyright of the originator or else in the public domain. The information contained in this web site is intended for educational, historical, and informational purposes only and should not be copied or otherwise redistributed without permission.
Features: 60s Garage Bands: Index 
The
Blazers
The Dynamics 
If
Polk County ever had claim of a "Super-Group" garage
band -- it would have to have been Winter Haven's "Legends". The
Legends were a loose knit group of musicians, almost all
of whom would eventually become players in the national music
scene. Fronted by the legendary (no pun intended) Gram
Parsons, The Legends would sport at various times
such names as Jim Stafford, Jesse
Chambers, Jon Corneal, Jim
Carlton and Kent LaVoie (see the
PolKats section for more about these players). The longest
lasting combination of personnel (for about a year) would be
Parsons, Stafford, Chambers and Corneal. The group played roughly
from 1961 into '63. We have photos and audio of The Legends.
Made
up of members of two earlier high school rock bands (the Echoes
and the Playboys), Lakeland, Florida's "pride and joy", The
Canadian Rogues are, even to this day, revered as one of
Central Florida's seminal garage bands. Riding on the soulful
voice and charisma of lead singer, Willie Metts, the band made
it's mark both locally and all over the southeast. While never
acquiring a national hit -- Canadian Rogues recordings are
still an "in demand" commodity among collectors of
vintage garage band music. The
Rogues, a direct descendant of the original group, still
keeps the band's music and traditions alive today. We have
both photos and audio from the Canadian Rogues.
The
Spades were probably the most popular of the Winter Haven,
Florida garage bands, playing from mid-1964 through early
1967. The group would sport a wide selection of members over
it's almost four year life span. Foundational member, Jon
LaFrandre (who was there for the band's entire history) along
with his younger brother Halsey, would later be instrumental
in the creation of local rock legends, "Purple Underground" and
even later Jon would record and play keyboards for country
superstars, "The Bellamy Brothers", through much
of the late 1970s and '80s. The Spades boasted a large and
loyal following in the Winter Haven area during the mid-60s.
We have both photos and audio from the Spades.
Formed
in 1962 from members of the Auburndale High School Ag Band
and another local group called the Elegants, The
Infernos managed to play both the teen center circuit and
many of the local bars -- although that was considered a basic "no,
no" in the early 1960's. Art Furnari put the band together
along with Eagle Lake's Ronnie Carter and then added Aaron
Hancock from Auburndale and Art's brother, Ric. Ric Furnari
would become a highly regarded Winter Haven restaurateur and
lounge owner during the '70s.
