I was The Trolls original drummer/vocalist for approximately three years starting in 1964. At first, the group was called The Tor-Kays. Max Jordan and I were always trying to think up new names then those little troll dolls came out and that's when we changed our name to The Trolls. We also decided to bleach are hair white; I have a neat promo pic of that. Anyone following The Trolls from the beginning knows me well.
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| Richard Gallagher, Richard Clark, Max Jordan and Gary Aull |
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Gary Aull Recalls The Trolls
The Tor-Kays formed in Chicago. Richard Clark, Richard Gallagher and Max Jordan had all ready started the group when I joined in 1964. The line-up was me, Gary Aull, Richard Clark, Richard Gallagher and Max Jordan. We did some studio recording but nothing ever came of it.
We had the white hair thing for about a year. We did perform with it; the picture is from one of our gigs.
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| Gary Aull |
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Richard Gallagher was very active in setting up our gigs. During those years we built up a great following and fan club. We played all over Chicagoland on Rush St., Toni Pairs, Whisky A Go Go, Silver Cloud, Silo, Circus Lounge, Santa's Village, Femme A Go Go, and a lot of schools and concerts. We also did the battle of the bands at McCormick Place; we lost out to The Shadows Of Knight with the song 'Gloria.' We came in second or third. We also played the Arie Crown Theater and we were the first group to play rock at the Aragon Ballroom and that event was covered by CBS News!
Max Jordan, Ken Cortese and I all went to the same high school. I believe Richard Clark, Richard Gallagher, Max and Ken started a group and shortly thereafter Ken Cortese joined the Navy. It was known by me that when and if Ken came back he would rejoin the group and I would then leave.
After The Trolls I joined an acid rock group and we where the warmup group for The Doors. I was lead singer (no drums). I have always been a vocalist first can do Barry Manilow to Al Jarreau. I play flute, sax, bass clarinet and the other woodwinds--everything but the brass horns. My wrists can't take the drums for long these days.
After the rock group stuff I realized that staying solo and playing with many other musicians is the way to grow musically. I did studio work and a lot of backup stuff. I played with, jammed with, and met a lot of famous and well-known people. Most of the musical friends that I hang with now are jazz guys and girls and an excellent sax guy--Bob "Hawk" Dawson, one of my very good friends--but I still find good things in all kinds of music. I will write my life book someday but this is not the venue to do it in.
I stayed in touch with Max and Gallagher but have not talked to them in a long time. The last time I talked to Max he was into country music and Gallagher was busy with his business.
I was happy for them (after they started to record and become more successful). I was with them for part of their life so I know how hard they worked for it. It was a great time I loved it. I had a blast!
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| The early Trolls |
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