| Million Dollar War Babies |
Margie Sheaffer's stint with The Million Dollar War Babies was so brief that she doesn't recall the names of the other group members. While a member, however, Sheaffer provided vocals for a recording entitled 'Hey Little Boy' and fronted the band for its residency at Champaign, Illinois' Red Lion Inn. Although only a member during the summer and fall of 1967, Sheaffer still savors her time as a Million Dollar War Baby.
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An Interview With Margie Sheaffer
60sgaragebands.com (60s): How did you first get interested in music?
Margie Sheaffer: I was interested in music from the time I could talk. On a vacation with my family in 1960, when I was 11 years old, while other kids were outside swimming or playing croquet, I was standing at the foot of the resort's entertainment hall in my shirtwaist dress swaying and singing along with the house band performing for the guests. I ended up on stage with the band singing ‘Fever’!
During my elementary school years in the late 1950s through the early 1960s I would take refuge in the basement of our home in Skokie, Illinois. Here is where I would escape into a fantasy world, playing vinyl records and performing for a make believe audience. I would trot down the huge staircase and rummage through the collection of albums placing them carefully on the family Webcor portable record player. I am Judy Garland singing 'Over the Rainbow.' I am Doris Day singing 'Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered.' I am Peggy Lee singing 'Fever.' I croon these songs to my imaginary admiring spectators allowing a cape of gladness to envelope me.
As a junior at Niles West High School in Skokie, I starred as Lola in the musical Damn Yankees, and took vocal lessons from Mrs. Kling, a chicago vocal coach who also owned a country music label.
Nick Fortuna one of the founding members of The Buckinghams was a year ahead of me at Niles West High School. As his band gained fame, I would dream of becoming lead singer in a band. For five short months, my dream was fulfilled.
60s: Was The Million Dollar War Babies your first band?
MS: It was the only band I was ever in.
60s: The Million Dollar War Babies was already performing when you hooked up with them. How did you first become acquainted with the band?
MS: A first cousin of my high school friend, Bonne Metnick, was a year ahead of me, and as I recall, had a crush on me. He knew I could sing and had me audition for the lead guitarist.
60s: When we interviewed Bill Brackin, he could not recall the names of the individual band members. Who comprised the band at this time?
MS: I cannot recall their names! There was a bass player, drummer, lead guitar, and the guy from my school—he had red hair and played a Farfisa organ—could play two trumpets at the same time!
Update: Margie located Marty Shepard, Farfisa organ/trumpet player, and he confirmed many incarnations of the band, but identified Larry Mitchell and Tony Freda (guitar) having played during Margie's tenue.
60s: How would you describe the band's sound? What bands influenced you?
MS: We were Top 40. I sang Grace Slick, Box Tops, and the band performed The Doors. I even performed Bobby Gentry's ‘Ode to Billy Joe’ and Eddie Floyd's ‘Knock on Wood.’ Grace Slick was a major influence.
60s: What was the Morton Grove/Champaign rock and roll scene like in the '60s?
MS: Loud music...drinking...smoking pot...
60s: Where did the band typically play?
MS: In the summer of 1967 we sang at local weddings and Bar Mitzvahs in Skokie and other North side Chicago suburbs. Once school started that September, the band performed on the campus of the University of Illinois at various fraternities and sororities, as well at The Red Lion Inn.
60s: Did The Million Dollar War Babies have a manager?
MS: In my memory, the lead guitarist was the manager.
60s: What were the circumstances leading to the band's opportunity to record your demo?
MS: I don't recall actual circumstances. We hooked up with a local Chicago recording studio and performed ‘Hey Little Boy’ and, on the other side of the demo, a theme song for ‘Million Dollar War Babies.’ I don't remember how that song went. Recording was one of my favorite experiences—especially putting down a second track of my voice for ‘Hey Little Boy.’ I harmonized with myself! I thought that was soooo cool.
Note: Mike Markesich informed us that 'Hey Little Boy' was actually released as a single on the Dante label in September 1967 and backed with 'Peaceful Music' (Greenberg/Freda). Markesich also reported another single, 'Muddy Water' (E. Miller, writer and arranged by M. Hennes and J. Cuomo) b/w 'You Don't Know Like I Know' (arranged by A. Freda and M. Shepard) also on the Dante label. The band is credited on both singles as $1,000,000 War Babies.
60s: Did The Million Dollar War Babies write many original songs?
MS: The only songs written during the time I was in the band were ‘Hey Little Boy’ and the theme song that I can't recall!
60s: Are there any other Million Dollar War Babies recordings? Are there any vintage live recordings, or other unreleased tracks?
MS: Not that I know of. I was able to keep an actual demo copy of a 45. It eventually started crumbling. Fortunately, I was able to have a cassette and then a CD made for ‘Hey Little Boy.’ The theme song on the other side was not salvageable!
60s: Did the band make any local TV appearances? Does any home movie film footage exist of the band?
MS: I don't have any home movies or even any photos! I recall that I wore white lipstick, wore my hair and makeup similar to Twiggy.
60s: You only performed with The Million Dollar War Babies for a few months. Why was your stint so short?
MS: I was singing for loud crowds and over the music. I also did not keep up with vocalizing. I ended up getting quite hoarse. I never attended the University of Illinois. I was a student at Lincoln Junior College from the onset and had to find transportation on the weekends to Champaign/Urbana. And I then met a boy at school, who I eventually married in 1973 and divorced in 1976. It seemed more important to date him then to heal my voice and sing. How stupid was that?
60s: How do you best summarize your experiences with The Million Dollar War Babies?
MS: The short-lived experience of singing in a rock band was one of my most joyful memories. Being on stage before an audience and singing my heart out made me happy. I will always savor that time in 1967.
Special thanks to Marty Shepard for the information, and for the excellent photos...
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