The Crackerjacks (band)

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The Crackerjacks
Roy Yeager, David Preola, Jerry Stamson, Bobby Sowell, 1966 Memphis Rock Band 1966
Born	The Crackerjacks 1965 Memphis, Tennessee
Occupation	Musicians
Website Memphis Bands

For other uses, see Crackerjack (disambiguation).

The Crackerjacks, A popular 60's Memphis Garage Rock Group. Band members included Organ/bass Bobby Sowell, Lead Guitar David Preola, Lead Singer Jerry Stamson, Drums Roy Yeager. They gained popularity in 1966-67, regularly appearing on Memphis WHBQ TV Talent Party with George Klien (also a popular radio DJ and friend of Elvis). They won the Mid-South Fair in 1966 for best Group. What was unique about The Crackerjacks sound was the fact they had no bass player. Bobby Sowell played bass and organ at the same time. The group was short lived due to several reasons. Bobby Sowell was drafted in 1968, David Preola also was drafted into the Army, Jerry Stampson went into the restaurant business and Roy Yeager went with the group Lobo and the heavy metal band Atlanta Rhythm Section. Bobby Sowell was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 2002. The Crackerjacks are featured in a rock book, History of Memphis Bands, 1960-72 by Ron Hall, available at bookstores.

The Crackerjacks 1967

[edit] Early Band History

The Crackerjacks were formed out of another popular 60's Memphis Garage Band,The Out Of Its, 1965-66. Besides Bobby Sowell, David Preola and Roy Yeager, other members included brothers Ricky and Micky Caughron and bass player Murphy Odom. They were a popular band with area colleges and universities, traveling the Mid-South in Mississippi, Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee. They won several Memphis area Battle of the Bands.

Personal conflicts and other factors lead to their breakup. Micky, Ricky and Murphy went with other bands while Bobby, David and Roy formed the "Crackerjacks", adding Jerry Stampson to the mix. Eventually, Fred Prouty replaced Roy Yearger on drums and occasionally, Bobby Whitlock also sang with them. They also performed regularly at the popular club, The Roaring 60's. Bobby Whitlock went on to play keyboards with Derek and the Dominoes, Eric Clapton and the Beatles's George Harrison.