Jan Vadala formed IV Kings & A Queen in Boston in 1966, shortly after meeting guitarist Tom Hickey. IV Kings & A Queen performed throughout the Boston area, networking through family and friends to land many gigs. While IV Kings & A Queen was primarily a covers band, once the group disbanded Jan joined Tilton’s Market, a transplanted New York group that performed original music (and where she met her husband, Don Sucher). Jan appreciates the renewed interest in local garage bands from the era, and here recalls for us her time in IV Kings & A Queen.
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An Interview With Jan Vadala
60sgaragebands.com (60s): How did you first get interested in music?
Jan Vadala (JV): I have always loved the arts, particularly the performing arts. My interest in music, started as far back as I can remember with the piano being my instrument of choice. I started taking lessons very early in grammar school with a focus on classical music. At the start of high school, my focus changed to "modern" music. However, still appreciating my classical roots, I also took operatic voice lessons.
60s: Was IV Kings & A Queen your first band?
JV: Yes, IV Kings & A Queen was my first band, although that name was not taken on right away. For a time we called ourselves "Sunshine and The Rays" and then did quite a few gigs under the name "The Morning Sound." Then after a time (I'm not sure just when or why) we settled on "IV Kings & A Queen" and played under that name for the remainder of the time we were together, about 2 1/2 years—from 1966 into 1968.
60s: Where was IV Kings & A Queen formed?
JV: In Boston. I was asked to play the piano as an accompanist at a benefit talent show being put together for the children at a local children's hospital and there I met guitarist, Tom Hickey. We enjoyed working together and decided to form a rock band.
Tom and I and began right away to enlist others in our project. That was around 1966.
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60s: Who were the members that comprised IV Kings & A Queen? Was there ever any personnel changes?
JV: After trying out a number of musicians, those who made the final cut for IV Kings & A Queen were: Tom Hickey - rhythm guitar; Jan Vadala - keyboard and vocals; Steve Nay - lead guitar; Dennis Murphy - bass; and Bob Griffin - lead vocalist and drums.
Later on, the group had a number of personnel changes that came in fairly close succession along with a radical change in our sound. There was Peter Anderson (lead) followed by Randy (lead) with Nick Papadopolous on drums.
60s: How would you describe the band's sound?
JV: We were a cover band. Mainly, our sound was ‘60s rock ‘n’ roll but evolved to San Francisco influenced "acid rock.”
60s: What was the Boston rock and roll scene like in the ‘60s?
JV: Boston, as a city, had a reputation of being very repressed (i.e., the well known expression "Banned in Boston").
The early ‘60s music scene, in Boston, mainly consisted of traditional night clubs (for the more sophisticated) and for teens, deejays playing records of ‘50s music at YMCA and VFW dances.
As the youth revolution started to occur, the Y & VFWs began to include a live guest band along with the deejay. The scene then evolved to an emcee with all live bands to eventually the opening of new venues designed to appeal to young people and their love of rock and roll. While these new venues still accommodated dancing, more often they became standing room only concerts.
60s: Did IV Kings & A Queen participate in any battle of the bands? If so, what other bands do you recall playing against? How well did the band typically fare?
JV: Yes, I know we did play in a couple of Battle of the Bands. But here my memory is sketchy -- my recollection is that we neither bombed nor blew the competition away at these events but did manage to hold our own and had a great time in the process.
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60s: Where did IV Kings & A Queen band typically play?
JV: The band started out at mainly YMCAs, VFW halls, school dances and the like, but over time moved to bigger and more sophisticated venues including posh hotels, Pleasure Island ("The Disneyland of the Northeast") and major rock clubs.
60s: Did you play any of the local teen clubs?
JV: Yes. Several quite well-known clubs: The Crosstown Bus (on Washington St. in Brighton), The Psychedelic Supermarket (in Boston's famous Kenmore Square) and Boston's biggest rock showcase The Boston Tea Party.
60s: How far was the band's "touring" territory?
JV: With Boston as the hub—west to Milford and north to Rockport and Gloucester.
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60s: Did IV Kings & A Queen have a manager?
JV: No. We primarily networked through family and friends to make connections for gigs and used a black hearse with our banner displayed along the sides to transport our musical and light show equipment and to promote the group.
60s: Are there any vintage live recordings?
JV: Yes. Some practice tapes and live recordings (alas with very poor sound quality).
60s: What year and why did the band break up?
JV: The band broke up in 1968. A number of factors contributed to the breakup of the band: The rapid change in personnel and style of music which precipitated a change in practice digs. In the end, Nick Papadopoulos and I became part of the band Christopher (previously Tilton's Market), a New York band, newly arrived in Boston, that did original material.
60s: How do you best summarize your experiences with IV Kings & A Queen?
JV: It was a really fun ride! The start of a journey making music with people who were truly committed to the art of performing the best rendition of other people's work with touches of our own; that eventually led to working with a band that did original material; that put me in contact with the person who has proved to be my life-long artistic collaborator, best friend and true love; and now? Well, with the renewed interest in local garage bands, it just goes to show—it ain't over 'til it's over!
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