Tom Volhein

Last I wrote ref: my music history, Howard the keyboardist with the former United Sound Limited and I had returned to Chicago to become sidemen with a group called Johnny Lee and Chapter Five. We lived in Johnny’s parents’ basement for a while. We rehearsed there and got to know the other players [...]

In the fall of 1969, the members of United Sound Limited (USL) left Rock Island, Illinois – our first road gig – fast friends and committed to each other and our path to stardom. It had been a hard gig, we had been forged in the Yankee Clipper crucible. We headed for Green [...]

It has been a while since I thought about the early years and the times on the road when I was young. Fortunately, I have notes, pictures and things to remind me. When I left off last time, I had just returned to Wichita from my first road expedition (see the post dated [...]

Let’s see, I am up to 1968. Early in the year, the original group was still gigging a little bit, as far as I can remember. I got married in August of that year and had a baby on the way. I tried to do the day-gig thing, but it simply didn’t [...]

At the conclusion of the last episode, New Years Eve, 1966, my close friends and I are reveling over our rock sound. From there, we decide to form a band. This decision and the resulting choices that I would make during the following months and years would lead to adventures on the road. [...]

Last time, I left off at about 14 years old. I had experienced playing rock and roll and had a cheapo guitar. I don’t remember playing music during the next year or two. I remember cars and girls. Then somewhere around 15 or 16 years old, I talked my folks into buying [...]

In the beginning, there were the country songs. My parents, my dad in particular, listened to country (honky-tonk) on the radio. I had favorites as a very young boy and have a specific memory of a record player in the dining room, on which I would play “I’ll Be There (if you ever [...]