Kenny And The Kasuals

Kenny And The Kasuals
Origin Dallas, Texas, United States
Genres Rock and roll, garage rock, psychedelic rock, protopunk
Years active 1962–1967, 1979-present
Labels Mark, Ltd
Members Kenny Daniel
Past members Lee Lightfoot
David 'Bird' Blachley
Jerry Smith

Kenny and the Kasuals are an American, Dallas-area garage rock band originally formed in 1962, whose records are considered "among the most collectable LPs of the '60s".[1] The band was formed at Bryan Adams High School in Dallas, Texas, by Kenny Daniel, and was managed by Mark Lee, who later opened Dallas' punk club, The Hot Klub. In 1967, their self-released single Journey To Tyme garnered some national radio airplay, including the Number One spot in both Buffalo, New York, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the Top Ten on Dallas station KLIF.

Prior to recording Journey To Tyme, the band had released an album titled The IMPACT Sound of Kenny and the Kasuals Live At the Studio Club (although it was neither live nor recorded at the Studio Club). Only 500 copies of this album were pressed, and nearly half of those destroyed by Texas summer heat, but the remaining copies have become one of the most sought-after vinyl records of the 1960s. In 2010, a very-good condition copy sold for over $2,100 at auction.[2]

The band broke up after management troubles led to a failure to sign with United Artists. However, in the late 1970s Kenny reformed the band as a more punk rock oriented band. The Impact album had, in bootleg form, become a hot-seller in France, and the new band took advantage of this buzz to tour as openers for such acts as Patti Smith, Iggy Pop, and The Boomtown Rats.[2]

Kenny still performs in and around Dallas with his current band, KGB, which includes his cousin Gregg Daniel on bass and long-time Dallas drummer Dennis 'Boom' Howard on drums, as well as former bandmates Alan McDaniel and Dennis Caviliere.

The Fuzztones recorded a version of "Journey To Tyme" for their 1985 release Lysergic Emanations. Many other bands have covered the song since.

In 2009, record label Psychic Circle released a compilation album by Nick Saloman entitled Journey To Tyme: 80 of Rarest 60s Garage Tracks. While featuring Texas Blues rock standouts The American Blues, the compilation does not, however, include a song by The Kasuals.[3]

References

  1. Richie Unterberger. "Kenny & the Kasuals | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Parker, Alan; Daniel, Kenny B. (2011). Stomp and Shout!. Dallas: Oomph Media, LLC. ISBN 9780615478876.
  3. "Music: Journey to Thyme: 80 of Rarest 60s Garage Tracks (CD) by Various Artists". Tower.com. 2009-02-17. Retrieved 2014-08-23.