As a result of our interview with Jack Chisholm (see below), we were contacted by Joe Baccus. Although Chisholm's recollections primarily focused during the timeframe that The Chevelle V recorded and traveled to Hollywood, Baccus was a founding member and a driving force behind the group's early success. Baccus eventually left the band to enter the business world and to get married and, although he initially chose not to look back, he has decided to set the record straight on the formative years of The Chevelle V.
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Joe Baccus Recalls The Chevelle V
I was very disappointed to read a history of the very popular band of West Texas from Abilene in the early '60s, The Chevelle V. Our lead guitar player, Jack Chisholm, wrote the history and it unfortunately does not accurately reflect the beginnings of the band. Please allow me to set the record straight. As a dominant member of the band and the lead singer, I am very proud of our success and would like to share some of the history.
In 1963, there were two popular and sought after bands in Abilene, Texas. They were The Bonnevilles, led by me, lead singer Joe Baccus, which had an influence on many start up bands of the time; and another lesser known band, The Chevelle V led by Jack Chisholm and his lead singer. We were both very good but we each had weaknesses. The Bonnevilles did not have the level of musicians to really accomplish much and The Chevelle V had the musicians but lacked a talented lead singer.
Jack and I had the occasion to meet and talked of a swap; I would leave The Bonnevilles and Jack and I would then jumpstart The Chevelle V. The singer for The Chevelle V would become displaced and a short time later hooked up with The Bonnevilles. This was the start of popularity ofThe Chevelle V, which became the dominant band of its time in West Texas.
The band was very popular and played all over West Texas with founding members Joe Baccus, Jack Chisholm, Bob Vannoy, Charlie Taylor and Jimmie Bearden. This group stayed together from approximately late 1963 until I quit the band sometime in 1966. Most of the band's success and rise in popularity around the state (led to appearances) at college fraternity and sorority parties, tours and stage shows, TV appearances, and county fairs and state fairs occured during the time I was the lead singer. The band shared billing with stars like Johnny Tillotson, Roy Clark, Eddie Arnold, The Youngfolk, Roger Miller and Bob Wills. During this time Sonley Roush, manager of Jay Frank Wilson and The Cavaliers, signed the band to a recording contract and the band did a session in Midland, Texas where a demo tape was made to shop to record companies. Unfortunately, Sonley and The Cavaliers were killed while touring and the master was never found.
I left the band in 1965 to pursue a business career and marriage and was replaced by Tommy Nixon. I knew if I looked back I would have second thoughts and would never completely quit. My quitting did not go over well and when I more or less disassociated myself it just made things worse. I think there are some ill feelings still today. I have had a conversation with Jack but we did not dwell on the band days. I have enjoyed a new friendship with our drummer, Charlie Taylor, but I've lost track of Jimmy Bearden, our bass player and Bobby Vannoy, our rhythm passed away.
The band continued to enjoy success and in 1966 won a battle of the bands and won a trip to Hollywood and a recording session. Nothing developed from that and the band faded away I believe sometime in 1967.
Our band was very versatile, which was necessary in those days as crowds demanded all kinds of music from country to rock to Beatles music (when they became popular). We were the most sought after band of our time and we demanded rates unheard of then. We would not play for small fees and it was normal for us to make several hundred each on a weekend playing one of the colleges.
I believed at that time we were "pretty good" but I knew we could never make the big time. I have always felt that being pretty good is a curse; when you are pretty good you think you can become really big if you just stick with it. Some who are pretty good think someday they will have success but being pretty good will never get you there--it takes being great and exceptional to really have a high level of success in the music business or in any other pursuit. Those were great days and I have a full scrapbook and a CD of some of our music to always remember those days. Thanks for this opportunity...
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Jack Chisholm Recalls The Chevelle V
Very popular throughout the Southwest, The Chevelle V competed in a battle of the bands and for the grand prize won a trip to Hollywood in 1967. While there they recorded the classic “Dangling Little Friends” – a great, lush song that differed greatly from the group’s earlier “garage band” sound. Lead guitarist Jack Chisholm had written the song, and along with songwriting partner Tommy Nixon composed many of the band’s original compositions. Here are his recollections of his time spent with The Chevelle V.
I first got interested when I heard a friend playing the theme song to old TV show Peter Gunn. I was hooked from that point.
The Chevelle V consisted of: Jack Chisholm - lead guitar; Charlie Taylor – drums; Tommy Nixon – bass; Bobby Vanoy – rhythm; and Tommy Swindle – organ. We played stage shows, teen clubs, and most all the colleges in the old southwest conference schools: Texas, Texas Tech, SMU, Arkansas, Baylor and into Oklahoma university. We also played state fairs and local fairs, and once we were featured with Roy Clark and Johnny Tillotson. We played lots of local places but mostly played out on the road in Dallas, Oklahoma, and Houston.
We played heavy, driving rock and roll and were influenced by old rock stars. Such as Chuck Berry, Elvis, The Beatles, Stones, James Brown, and many English groups as well. I remember other local bands such as The Living End, The Traditions and many other good groups from our area.
Our 45 records were recorded in San Angelo, Texas (“Come Back Bird” / “Koko Joe” and “I’m Sorry Girl” / “Come Back Bird”) along with numerous demo sound tracks. Our earlier sound demo tapes (as The Chevelles) were recorded in Big Spring, Texas at Ben Hall Studios. We wrote many songs. Most were written with my bass player Tommy Nixon. So it was a “J.Chisholm-T.Nixon” effort. Tommy still remains road agent for The Eagles. Many recorded songs still exist; some were written by other song writers, some by us.
We recorded “Dangling Little Friends” (b/w “Stone and Steel Man”) in Hollywood at Pat Boone’s old Dot Studio. It was the same studio where the Association recorded "Cherish". We kicked off the Christmas parade in Hollywood but later went clubbing that night with more publicity photos. We later took lots of tours of Hollywood and the studios. We met Van Williams (the Green Hornet) and also met Bruce Lee, his sidekick. It was taken as part of the private tour we were given of 20th Century Fox and Columbia studios. We didn’t make any TV appearances while we were in Hollywood (we made many local TV appearances like March of Dimes telethons, etc.) but took lots of publicity photos and made endorsements.
We had a great manager, Max Irwin. He was with us for several years and was a very aggressive business man. We couldn’t have made it without him!
I left the before band it dissolved. I went into the armed services and was replaced in the group. The band continued on for around two years. Today I still pick and grin but for personal pleasure. My brother plays with groups and has taken up the gauntlet. He is good and is into country and blue grass music.
It was a great time in our lives and I shall always remember the wonderful experiences we shared. I will always remember our rhythm player Bobby Vanoy who at age 50 passed away. These are memories that will never fade. They only get richer with age.
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| Chevelles/Chevelle V Discography |
Chevelles (Unreleased):
You’re Mine, Do You Wanna Dance, All My Loving, She Loves You, I Saw Her Standing There, Hey Baby, The McCoy, Blue Velvet, Maria Elena, English Summer, Now I Lay Me Down, Everybody’s Goin’
Chevelle V (Unreleased):
If You Knew Me, Speak To Me, Bound To Happen, Not This Time, Eenie Meenie Minie Moe
Chevelle V:
Come Back Bird / Koko Joe (Askel Records 45-7)
Come Back Bird / I’m Sorry Girl (UMI 100)
Dangling Little Friends / Stone and Steel Man (Titan FF-1737)
The two Come Back Bird releases are different takes. There are also several takes of I'm Sorry Girl and possibly other released songs in the can...
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