The Memphis Charms pretty much did it all for a local band: They opened for national acts, appeared on TV and recorded a single. Rhythm guitarist Harold Kelly provides the details...
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| The Memphis Charms. Harold Kelly is on the far right. |
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An Interview With Harold Kelly
60sgaragebands.com (60s): How did you first get interested in music?
Harold Kelly (HK): My dad played the guitar.
60s: Was The Memphis Charms your first band?
HK: Yes. We were together for five years
60s: Where and when was The Memphis Charms formed?
HK: In Memphis,Tennessee in 1961. Charlie Torian and I formed the band.
The Memphis Charms were Charlie Torian, lead singer; Harold Kelly, rhythm guitar; Malcom Gray, lead guitar; Hunt Galina, drums; and Chip Avawater, bass. (Note: Leo Goff, seen in the above photo on the far left holding his Vox bass upright, replaced Avawater. Thanks to Leo for the information).
60s: How would you describe the band's sound?
HK: Varied.
60s: What was the Memphis rock and roll scene like in the '60s?
HK: Numerous bands covered Memphis. The Memphis Charms operated the largest teen club in the Memphis area, The Gateway Teen Club. It was located on Farmville at Jackson Ave. It was the hotspot for the teens to gather. The Memphis Charms played the Tonga Club and other local clubs...the names I do not remember.
60s: Where did the band typically play?
HK: The Memphis Charms was the lead-off band for The Beach Boys when they appeared at The Memphis Coliseum. We also performed with The Birds from England. That was an exciting night as I remember back. After the gig, the Birds wanted me to show them around Memphis. We headed out on a mini-tour that ended up with us visiting some of my relatives in east Memphis. The Memphis Charms were also selected as the band to play for Chuck Berry when he preformed at Clear Pool on Lamar Ave. in Memphis. We also played with the Box Tops and The Bar-Kays. We preformed at college events, skating rinks, school gyms, private parties, and other teen clubs around the mid-south.
60s: How far was the band's "touring" territory?
HK: A radius of about 500 miles.
60s: The Memphis Charms won the local Tea Rock Battle Of The Bands. How did you become associated with that?
HK: It was presented to us by the CEO of Lake Land, Louis Gardner. Louis was the owner of Lake Land Amusement Park. This event continued for about four weeks. Bands came from all over the mid-south to compete. The Memphis Charms were the winners. We were flown to Lambertville, New Jersey where The Memphis Charms competed in the world Tea Rock battle. We walked away the winners in that competition.
60s: Did The Memphis Charms have a manager?
HK: Yes. Deputy Fire Chief Charles Torian Sr. was our manager. Chief Torian was very involved in promoting The Memphis Charms. We appeared twice on George Klein's Talent Party as the results of our manager.
60s: What were the circumstances leading to the band's opportunity to record your 45?
HK: A friend associated with The Memphis Charms wrote the song 'Show Me Love Again.' The arrangement was prepared by The Memphis Charms. It was produced by Roland James at Sonic Recording Studions in Memphis, located on Madision Ave. The flipside was titled 'It's Progression.' I remember that night while in the studio. There was a feeling of electricity flowing through the air. Everone in the group was so excited. Knowing that this would be our first record to be recorded and soon it would be hitting the airwaves...radio stations like WHBQ 56 and WMPS. I remember one morning my mother woke me up to listen to our song being played on WHBQ Radio 56. I felt on top of the world.
60s: Did The Memphis Charms write many original songs?
HK: Not really, but (when we did) evryone was involved.
60s: Are there any other Memphis Charms recordings? Are there any vintage live recordings, or other unreleased tracks?
HK: No.
60s: What year did the band break up?
HK: About 1966 or 1967.
60s: How do you best summarize your experiences with The Memphis Charms?
HK: It was an exciting time in the lives of the members of The Memphis Charms. Just realizing we had a record playing across the air waves. We had become a very popular band on the memphis scene. We had become so busy with engagements. Truly that was a time I am sure all of the group loves to reflect on. It was the good times--especially with the girls who gathered around the bands' platform asking for autographs.
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| Leo Goff and Post-Memphis Charms |
The Memphis Charms, in late 1967, added two black horn players and a keyboard man, Robin Frase, and changed their name to The Soul Syndicate. Charlie Torian was still the front man, and Harold left the group. Hunt Gallina, the drummer, left, and was replaced by Mike Frase, the keyboard man's brother.
The Soul Syndicate was one of the first integrated bands in Memphis, and we were actually having a rehearsal at the Gateway Club on the afternoon that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated here in Memphis. I remember several policemen entering the building, demanding we close the club immediately, as the city was under martial law, and all businesses were demanded to close. Everyone was restricted to their homes as a mass curfew was in effect. This lasted several days; it all seemed like a bad dream, and seriously undermined race relations here in Memphis.
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