Rick's Continentals
Encyclopedia
Rick's Continentals were a Southern
rock and roll
band
. This Mississippi
band was prominent during the mid 1960s, best known for their hits "Live It Up" and "I Don’t Know". The group's home was Meridian, Mississippi
. They were active throughout the southeast in concerts, private bookings and television broadcasts from 1965 to 1968. They performed Southern-style rock and roll, pop, classic rock, instrumentals, soul and classic standard music. Rick's Continentals Band was contemporary with groups like Paul Davis and the Endless Chain, David and the Giants
, John Fred And The Playboys
and The Jagged EDJ
. The band recorded with Paul Davis
and George Soule on their first two records and toured with Jimmy Ellidge performing his great hits.
Stan Suire, Lead Guitar
Ray Vaughn, Rhythm Guitar
Rick Spence, Lead Vocals
Bob Minnis, Bass Guitar
Darrell Ross, Drums
Richard Coard, Producer and Manager
Stan Suire-lead guitar
Ray Vaughn-bass guitar
Al Mayo-drums and percussion
Ray Hare-drums and percussion
Glenn Johnson-keyboard and lead vocals
Wanda McGee-lead vocals
Notes: During the 68-69 period, the band’s name changed to
The Flower Generation
Live It Up
Cold Lonely Winter
I Don’t Know (with Paul Davis)
Who Are My Friends (with Paul Davis)
Money
Do You Wanna Dance
House Of The Rising Sun
Summertime
WipeOut
Notes: The Singles I Don't Know and Who Are My Friends were produced by
George Soule
Back to the Beginning
CD Release 2009 includes all above songs remastered
Other recorded sound tracks included album length promotional tapes for marketing and audition distribution recorded on the RAP Records Label & WTOK TV Studios, Meridian, Ms
Southern
-Education:* Southern University System, a historically African American public university system in the U.S. state of Louisiana** Southern University , the main campus of the system, located in Baton Rouge...
rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
. This Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
band was prominent during the mid 1960s, best known for their hits "Live It Up" and "I Don’t Know". The group's home was Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Mississippi. It is the sixth largest city in the state and the principal city of the Meridian, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area...
. They were active throughout the southeast in concerts, private bookings and television broadcasts from 1965 to 1968. They performed Southern-style rock and roll, pop, classic rock, instrumentals, soul and classic standard music. Rick's Continentals Band was contemporary with groups like Paul Davis and the Endless Chain, David and the Giants
David and the Giants
David and the Giants began as a rock band in Laurel, Mississippi; with the Huff brothers: David, Clay, and Ray—with Jerry Parker on drums, touring the Southeast during the 1960s. In 1977 they switched to a Christian rock format. They continued to sing and record together through 1999. Recording...
, John Fred And The Playboys
John Fred
John Fred was a blue-eyed soul, Cajun swamp pop and bubble-gum pop performer from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, best known for the song, "Judy in Disguise ".-Career:...
and The Jagged EDJ
Jagged Edge (band)
Jagged Edge is an American R&B group, with the lead singers, Brandon & Brian, born in Hartford, CT on October 13, 1975, Kyle Norman of Decatur, GA born on February 26,1976 and Richard Wingo of College Park, GA born on September 3, 1975. Wingo was a late addition to the group, added after Kandi...
. The band recorded with Paul Davis
Paul Davis (singer)
Paul Lavon Davis was an American singer and songwriter, best known for his radio hits and solo career which started worldwide in 1970. His career encompassed soul, country and pop music...
and George Soule on their first two records and toured with Jimmy Ellidge performing his great hits.
Rick’s Continentals band members
(1965–1967)Stan Suire, Lead Guitar
Ray Vaughn, Rhythm Guitar
Rick Spence, Lead Vocals
Bob Minnis, Bass Guitar
Darrell Ross, Drums
Richard Coard, Producer and Manager
Band members
(1967–1969)Stan Suire-lead guitar
Ray Vaughn-bass guitar
Al Mayo-drums and percussion
Ray Hare-drums and percussion
Glenn Johnson-keyboard and lead vocals
Wanda McGee-lead vocals
Notes: During the 68-69 period, the band’s name changed to
The Flower Generation
Band history, popularity and successes
Their hit song "Live It Up" played throughout the country gaining considerable popularity in the southeast and the northeast US. "Live It Up" reached No. 67 on the nation's Top 100 Billboard charts and remained in the top 100 for 7 weeks. In other regional locations in Mississippi, Alabama, Florida panhandle and Louisiana, "Live It Up" reached No. 1 on these local area Top 40 Tunedex surveys (the most requested songs) and remained in the Top 40 listings for weeks. Under the management of Rip Cord, the group became popular performing in concerts, radio and television broadcasts throughout Mississippi and other southern areas. They were the featured entertainment for the Junior Miss America Pageant in 1967. Their second hit, "I Don't Know", backed by Who Are My Friends, featured Paul Davis playing organ for the group on his first record recording. Paul Davis released his first two songs on the RAP label a few weeks later, "It's Over My Head" and "I Gotta Find a Way". George Soule was instrumental in Rick's Continentals recording and music productions playing drums on one of the bands recordings and producing another record. In 1967 Richard Cord, the band's manager, announced in a press release that he was in contract negotiations with Capitol Records for their acquisition of Rick’s Continentals song "Live It Up" and there was promise that the group would land a contract with this music giant. The contract with Capitol Records never materialized. The group however did make several promotional recordings for marketing distribution. During this popular period, the band traveled and played throughout the south playing college concerts and performing with other notable recording artists. The band appeared at many record autograph and promotional events in which they autographed copies of their records for their fans.Discography
The groups recorded songsLive It Up
Cold Lonely Winter
I Don’t Know (with Paul Davis)
Who Are My Friends (with Paul Davis)
Money
Do You Wanna Dance
House Of The Rising Sun
Summertime
WipeOut
Notes: The Singles I Don't Know and Who Are My Friends were produced by
George Soule
Back to the Beginning
CD Release 2009 includes all above songs remastered
Other recorded sound tracks included album length promotional tapes for marketing and audition distribution recorded on the RAP Records Label & WTOK TV Studios, Meridian, Ms