West Michigan Mid-Sixties Bands

Looking for John Brown the best entertainer in the Silver Bullett in the 80's. If anyone knows where he is let me know. Would love to see him perform again.
April

Hi April,I think John still plays at Bob Sullivans hotel The Days Inn downtown G.R.!!! If you see him tell him Keith from Me and Dem Guys,and The Dead End Kids said hi! Thanks,Keith

John also does a karoke set in Grand Rapids on Wednesday nights. I don't know where but I will find out and post. He is a relatiave of mine.

Hi Judy,
John plays at The Radisson,(The old Holiday Inn )
on Ann Street.
Reason I know is my sons band ,First Row Live, plays there occasionally.
Have a good one!Keith

I can't believe that you saw my email. I am John's niece (Pat's daughter). I live in Rhode Island, but in Grand Rapids for a couple of days. Hopiny to see John tomorrow night at the Radisson. Grandma Loraine is in the hospital so don't know whether he will play tomorrow night or not. My sister and sister-in-law were going to meet me there. Hopefully, I will hear from him.
Judy

Okay, just talked to John and I need to clear something up. John Brown does a live performance from 5-7:30 PM at the The Landing, NW Radison Riverfront, 270 Ann Street on Wednesday afternoon. He is followed by another person who played with the John Brown Trio,Al Vendetti who does a great Karaoke set until 11:30 PM. John will try to be there tomorrow night if at all possible.

Hi,

I formed The fabulous rockabillys in 1980. Now have the infamous Al & The Black Cats.

I started with the Beveridge Brothers Band.

The Beveridge Brothers Band was preceded by The Swingin' B's ( Hal, Tony & Harry Beveridge). They played all over Grand rapids in te early to mid sixties. Yet I see no mention of them anywhere.

Al

You do now!

John Brown, Marsha and Jimmie Johnson best music in GR every Wednesday at the Radison Landing Lounge

Hello-
All the way back to the late 60's, I remember hearing the John Brown Trio: they were GOOD.... Much tighter and more musically evolved than the band that I was in (The Blues Reaction, a top-40 group from Greenville). While we played all over west and central MI, we only did one demo tape at a recording studio in Sparta, but had an improtu photo-op with a "Life" magazine photographer. Those were the days renting and playing at the Greenville armory (terrible acoustics!).....and getting kicked out of school if your hair touched your ears!

My husband and I had a lot of fun dancing to the John Brown Trio in Saginaw Michigan at the Fordney Club in 1966-67. Is this the same John Brown? I hope so - we enjoyed him so much and would love to now he is still performing.

I was in the service in Port Austin Mi and JBTrio was at the Fordney. They used to come up to the NCO club and play once in a while. We also had a group on base by the name of the Pie. I'm sure he doesn't remember that but we remember him. Can anyone say Cara Mia Mi (sp) Good harmonies

Looking for John Brown from Saginaw area in the 70's....Fordney Hotel. Trying to find him for my mothers 60th Surprise B-Day party. Good friend of hers from 70's, (Fordney Hotel). having a "lifetime" of her friends attend. Please HELP!!!

Okay Help me someone - looking for John Brown for my mom's surprise celebration...Rod or Darlene McDonald, Mike (Jake) Schrank. John hung out with my family in 60's and 70's!!! Anyone with information please respond. Thank you so much!!!

Trisha,
John plays regularly at the Radisson on Ann St,give them a ring to confirm.

Thanks so much Keith. It looks like I have to take a trip to G.R. this Wednesday.

Hi All, Just a quick note on John Brown Trio. Was and still is one of the best bands live I have ever seen. They were purists with the music and played most songs note for note just like they were recorded! The sound that those three guys put out was amazing. We went to see them alot in the early seventies at a bar on Bridge St. Anyone remember the name of the bar? Now that I know John is still playing, will make a trip to G.R. soon to see them. I wonder if that crazy bass player is still with them? He was so fun and intertaining to watch. Thanks for the memories and this cool site.

DOOOH! I just called a friend and It was the Bavarian Inn that we used to go and see John Brown. Anyone else go there too???

I was friends with a kid in the '70's who's step father drummed with a "John Brown Trio" in Lansing. Same one? I remember my friend had a 45 of "It's not Unusual." Any info on where that 45 can be obtained or heard?

The John Brown Trio were the last people to see my brother alive. My brother(Kevin Murray) was a clerk at the Fordney Hotel the night it was robbed.Another clerk was shot and killed in the lobby.Kevin was in the kitchen with the JBT. When he heard the commotion he went to check it out and was kidnapped. His body was found several months later in a wooded area off the Vienna rd. overpass.

Spent many a nite at the Fordney Hotel with JBT in 1969/70.

Just saw John last Wednesday at Holly's Landing in Gr. Pat Sage, the drummer came in and Al, the base player, does the karoke when John finishes his 2.5 hr. set. They did Cara Mia and a few other songs, as a group. Sure brought back memories of the Bavarian and the Century Post. John is like family to me as he and my older half sisters are sisters and brother. We call each other cousins even though we technically are not related. It was wonderful to see him and seeing Pat and Al was an extra treat.

I use to follow the John Brown Trio. I would go to the Metro Bowl in Lansing to see him. I have two 45 speed records that the trio cut somewhere here in my house. John use to come into the place where I worked in Greenville.

I played drums with the John Brown Trio back in the late 60's. I used the name Mike Jay back then. I had a set of drums stolen from the trunk of my Dad's car after gigging at at the Armory near Bay City (I think it may have been Alma?). It was a real honor for me to work with John and the bass player who used to do a crazy rendition of 'I Like Peanut Butter'.

Last time I saw John was in Kalamazoo. I was working with a road group from Atlantic City in the main room and John was doing a solo act next door. At that time, he was performing a Commodores tune and I thought there was a big group behind him but no, it was just John with all of his electronics and synthesizers. If anyone knows his whereabouts, I'd sure like to say hello.

Gary,
John is at the Radisson on Ann Street here in Grand Rapids every week check him out.

I've had a copy of "It's Not Unusual" for years. I'm glad to know the JBT has Michigan roots!

Doe John have an email if so could I please have it.i am an old friend Dick Beatty

I remember the John Brown Trio playing at the Metro Bowl in Lansing MI in the early to mid 70's, as well as the Fordney Hotel in Grand Rapids. I spent many nights each week listening to the amazing sound he, Pat, and Al produced each and every night. My ex-wife Fran still has a copy of their single "Walking Through the Night". Would like to know how I can get in touch with him.

Remember John, Pat and Al from the Harlequin Room in the Metro Bowl in Lansing. Also used to go see the John Brown Trio at Houghton Lake and once at the Fordney. Several years later went to see him in Kalamazoo. I have pictures around here somewhere of them at the Harlequin and used to have a cassette I recorded. Great times, great memories. Great band. What a hoot, coming across this page.

Chuck and Robbin,John is playing at the Radisson on Ann Street(Grand Rapids) Thursday from 6-11 with Frank and John of Me and Dem Guys

Is John still playing at Radisson? Lot's of us from the Zoo (Bullet days) would love to take a road trip and see him.

Yes he is Laura,on Thursday night he plays with 2 of my old bandmates from Me and Dem Guys,Frank and John in the band called Legends,they're a lot of fun go catch 'em!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just want to be sure I got this correct. He plays Thursdays with the band. What time? I was told he plays 5-7:30 on Wednesday. Please set me straight :)

I found web site, think I'm good.
www.thelandinggr.com/entertain-me

Laura, They start at 7:00 PM I believe and play until 11;00 PM. We have a little bit on them in our Website: www.WestMichMusicHystericalSociety.com under Bands, Legends

Laura,6 till 11 on Thursday,enjoy!

Little while ago looked through the forum. Amazing thread.

I to remember the John Brown Trio from the Fordney Hotel in Saginaw...also a bowling alley in Lansing ....loved to hear him sing..."hooked on a feeling"..... Proud Mary..

Tom Gallagher, John still plays every Thursday Night, for Sully (Old Shamrock) at the Radison in Grand Rapids (Ann Street and the Grand River (Old Holly's Landing) with the band Legends. Call for times, as it changes from time to time.