The Crazy 8's

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The Crazy 8s, one of the most popular college bands to have ever emerged from the Pacific Northwest (of the United States), made their way to the top of the charts (hitting the space for #1 on College Radio). Their most celebrated pieces are "Johnny Q." and "Law and Order."

By the time the Crazy 8s were ready to disband, they accumulated a large fan following throughout colleges, towns, and cities along the West Coast, however, they were unable to make the transition to mainstream musical success.

[edit] History

[edit] Formation (and First Album)

The Crazy 8s were first founded at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon in 1982, as "The Cheeks." ^[1] The Jazz band made their first break when they opened for Romeo Void at Oregon State, in addition to an appearance with The English Beat at the University of Oregon in 1982. ^[2] In an appearance in the Rolling Stone magazine, the Crazy 8s were defined as one one of "nine bands to watch, [chosen by] radio programmers." ^[3] In addition, The Crazy 8s have played alongside several well-known bands such as The Clash, the Violent Femmes, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sonic Youth, The Three O'Clock, and the Beach Boys, among several others, all between 1984 and 1985. ^[4]

The cover of the band's Law and Order album has featured a series of cartoons by award winning cartoonist Jack Ohman. Ohman's image for the original issue of the album, a caricature of President Ronald Reagan as a gunslinger, toting nuclear missiles in his holsters, has been updated for successive reissues of the album. The most recent version of the Law and Order cover, for the album's 20th Anniversary, includes caricatures of Presidents Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush.

In order to release their hit debut album, "Law and Order," in 1983, the band formed their own label titled "RedRum Records." Having created said label, they rejected offers from several major labels such as Warner Brothers Label and others of the like. With the release of the hit single, "Johnny Q. Public," the band's album status elevated to the "Top 20" on the Gavin Report. ^[5]

[edit] News Appearances

The Crazy 8s appeared in several newspapers, magazines, and other reliable news sources, their most prominent being the Rolling Stones article mentioned above. ^[6] Other news sources include the Oregonian, The Rocket, the Seattle Times, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Scene Magazine, ISU Daily, The Varsity, Two Louies, This Week, the Gazette-Times, The Mast, Billboard, and Willamette Weekly. ^[7]

Greg Barbrick, a British writer for The Rocket, wrote:

^[8]

For Barbrick, the Crazy 8s was a group that deserved to be "international sensations." In another appearance in The Rocket, an issue that was released not long after the Rolling Stone article, the main article stated that:

However, as the article points out, the Crazy 8s did not have the chance to get on mainstream pop culture. ^[9]

The Crazy 8s was the only independent release to get their song to hit number 69 (or higher) in Tower Record's Pulse Chainwide Sales Chart. In 1985, their song, "Touchy Situation", earned them a #6 hit at CFNY (Toronto) and a #13 hit at Z100 (Portland, Oregon)^[10].

[edit] Members

• 'Mark "Bakes" Baker - Manager ^[11]
• Casey Shaar, keyboard^[12].
• Dan Schauffler, tenor saxophone, flute, keyboard ^[13].– currently employed at Valley Catholic School ^[14]; originally a member of the band Nu Shooz ^[5].
• Todd Duncan, lead vocals and alto saxophone ^[15]. –played in the band known as The Sneakers, from Eugene, Oregon in 1979 to 1982. ^[16]
• Tim Tubb, trombone ^[17].- wrote the piece "Johnny Q." ^[18]
• Rick Washington, drums ^[19].
• Mike Regan, bass guitar ^[20].
• Joe Johnson, tenor saxophone ^[21].
• Mark Wanaka, guitar ^[22].
• Carl Smith, percussion^[23], currently working with renowned concert violinist Aaron Meyer

[edit] Discography

• 1984 - Law and Order ^[24].
• 1985 - Nervous in Suburbia ^[25].
• 1987 - Out of the Way^[26].
• 1988 - Big Live Nut Pack ^[27].
• 1989 - Doggapotamus World ^[28].
• 1992 - Law and Order re-release ^[29].
• 1992 - Still Crazy After All These Beers ^[30].

All albums were released under the Crazy 8s' official label, RedRum Records.^[31].

[edit] Website

2008 saw the opening of the Crazy 8's official website [1], however, it lacks Dan Schauffler's name in the original band-member page. The website offers information relating to its history, Law and Order, a forum, and a message board.

[edit] Awards and Honors

Player of the Year Award:

• 1987 - Dan Schauffler (Two Louies)

Billboard Hits:

• 1984 - Law and Order (College Media Journal) ^[32]
• 1984 - "Johnny Q." (Screamer of the Week for WLIR)^[33]
• 1985 - Nervous in Suburbia (#69, Pulse Chainwide Sales Chart) ^[34]
• 1985 - "Touchy Situation" (#6, CFNY Station) ^[35]
• 1985 - "Touchy Situation" (#13, Z100 Portland) ^[36]

[edit] References