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"Rock & Roll" Comes
to Polk County by
Wayne Renardson
An Essay
 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.
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 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. |
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 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. |
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 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. |
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 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. |
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Other Central Florida bands, outside
the North Polk County area, that had specific and considerable
impact on our
music
and musicians.
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| We are often asked, "Why
don't you have anything about this band or that band." The
answer is simple. If we don't have a picture and a brief
bio (who was in the band, what instruments did they play,
when they were together, etc., etc.) then we have nothing
to put on the site. If you can provide us with these materials
about your favorite local 60's band (or a band you were in)
- CLICK
HERE. We also are always on the lookout for photos
and/or other memorabilia about the bands and/or individuals
already on our site. (Central Florida Area only please!) |
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