The Brogues
| The Brogues | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Merced, California, United States |
| Genres | Garage rock, blues rock, protopunk |
| Years active | 1965-1967 |
| Associated acts | Quicksilver Messenger Service |
| Past members |
Eddie Rodrigues Rick Campbell Greg Elmore Bill Whittington Chuck McInnes |
The Brogues was a Merced, California, band formed in 1964 by Eddie Rodrigues (guitar), Rick Campbell (organ), Greg Elmore (drums) and Bill Whittington (bass).[1] They became a five-piece when guitarist Gary Grubb (also known as Gary Cole, and better known as Gary Duncan) joined.
The band recorded only six songs: a demo session for "Someday" and "Journey", and two released singles "Someday"/"But Now I Find" and "(I Ain't No) Miracle Worker"/"Don't Shoot Me Down".
"(I Ain't No) Miracle Worker" (co-written by Annette Tucker) is their best known song. It has been included in two box-set compilations – Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965-1968 and Trash Box – and has been covered by several groups, including The Chocolate Watch Band,[1] the Louisiana band Jimmy & the Offbeats (included on the compilation album Highs in the Mid-Sixties, Volume 22), The Chesterfield Kings and The Barracudas. Another Brogues song, "Don't Shoot Me Down" has been included in Pebbles, Volume 10 (LP).
There is an Italian version of "(I Ain't No) Miracle Worker" by I Corvi, titled "Ragazzo di Strada".[2] Reportedly this was a Number One hit in Italy.
The band dissolved in 1965 when Rodrigues was drafted into the U.S. Air Force.[1] Gary Grubb and Greg Elmore later joined San Francisco-based Quicksilver Messenger Service, and received acclaim and relatively wide commercial success.
Bill Whittington died in San Francisco on November 12, 2012.
At roughly the same time as the California band, there was another Brogues in Ohio. In 1965 these Brogues recorded at WTIG Studio in Massillon, Ohio. Band members at the time consisted of Sam Darrow, lead vocals, Roger Latham, rhythm guitar and vocals, Charles McInnes, lead guitar and vocals, Terry Campbell, bass guitar and vocals and Bill Foster, drums and vocals. All members were in high school at this time and all went on to other bands and greater fame. This band played at local dances sometimes two and three times a week. The band had tight music and vocals doing mostly Byrds, Beatles and Stones songs. Crowds loved the band and followed at each concert. The Ohio Brogues cover of "For What It's Worth" can be heard on Youtube.