Traits Over a year ago, 60sgaragebands.com located a 16mm print of a Ted Mack Amateur Hour show and was excited to see a young rock and roll band named The Traits perform a cover of ‘Just Like Me.’ We instantly wondered whether the band in question was the same Traits that recorded the two classic garage rock songs ‘High On A Cloud and ‘Everybody Loves The Hulk.’  We’ve since been contacted by three different members of the group, who confirmed the group was one and the same.  Vocalist Mike Carroll provides some more information on Pelham, New York’s Traits. The Traits on The Ted Mack Amateur Hour An Interview With Mike Carroll 60sgaragebands.com (60s): How did you first get interested in music? Mike Carroll (MC): I was ten when I first got interested. I would listen to the radio all the time and watch other bands. 60s: Was The Traits your first band? MC: I was in a folk band a year before The Traits.  I couldn't play an instrument, so they kicked me out. I don't recall the band’s name. 60s: Who formed The Traits? MC: I formed the band The Traits, with Chuck and Jimmy Klieforth.  The band was: Mike Carroll, vocals; Jim Klieforth, keyboards; Bobby Williams, drums; Bob Creaturo, vocal and guitar; and Dominick Chicerchia, lead guitar. 60: How would you describe the band’s sound? MC: The band was ‘60's rock ‘n roll. Sam and Dave, The Rascals, Beatles, Stones and The Doors influenced us. 60s: What type of gigs the band normally play? MC:  We played high school dances, beach clubs, (throughout) the city and private parties.  Pelham in the ‘60's was your bedroom community rock ‘n roll cradle. 60s: Did you play any teen clubs? MC: No clubs, but we played at the Community Church in Pelham every weekend. They were called the Pac dances. 60s: Were there other local groups that you remember? MC: I remember other local groups The Sixpence and The Orchids. 60s: Did the band have a manager? MC: Our manager was Charles (Chuck) Klieforth.  He was a good friend of mine and a great manager. With his help, we played every weekend. 60s: How did The Traits become involved with the Ren-Vell Battle Of The Bands LP? MC: A producer, Joe Rende, ran an ad in the paper for local bands to record. We auditioned in his studio, and did two or three songs. He picked ‘High on a Cloud’ (for us to record for the album). 60s: Where was the song recorded? MC: We recorded at Rende-Renvell Studios in White Plains, New York. Being so young, we were very relaxed and sure of ourselves. 60s: Did The Traits write many original songs? MC: The Traits wrote a ton of original songs. Most of them were written by Bob Creaturo and me. 60s: What about ‘Everybody Loves The Hulk’? MC: The Hulk was connected to the Marvel Comics. I can't recall the girl's last name--her first name was Rosalyn—but she would put the song (record) in classified ads in the back of the comics and try to sell it. 60s: Are there any other Traits recordings?  Are there live recordings, or unreleased songs? MC: We might have other recordings but I don't have any. I’m not sure if anyone else does. 60s: 60sgaragebands.com located a 16mm print of the band’s appearance on The Ted Mack Amateur Hour, where you performed Paul Revere & The Raiders’ ‘Just Like Me.’ MC: Ted Mack was by audition. We all went down, auditioned and were picked. We taped the show on September 17th, 1967. It was a highlight moment! 60s: When and why did The Traits call it quits? MC: I was drafted in 1968, and the band kind of went its own way. 60s: Did you join or form any bands after The Traits? MC: After the service, I formed a band called Tribe. My second band was Crossfire. We played all the time and we were very well known. We played all city clubs, local places, and Newport and Vermont. The band broke up the day before we were to sign with MCA Records, with Al Kooper producing. I went on to do commercials, with Miller High Lite, which aired during the Super Bowl in 1974.  I still occasionally do gigs--local bars.  We just did a Crossfire reunion. I just recently did a CD of original songs. 60s: How do you best describe your experiences with The Traits? MC: My experiences with the Traits are some of the best memories of my life. I was 16 and we had fearless, raw talent. It was a great era to play in.