THE KNIGHTS
(a brief biography including discography)
The
Knights (a.k.a. King Richard and the Knights) had their
beginnings in 1961 in Albuquerque, New Mexico (U.S.A.) during a
time when instrumental rock ruled the nation with The Ventures
and The Fireballs leading the way. Thus, the band (or combo as
they were called back then) became a Ventures/Fireballs clone
playing 40 to 50 instrumental guitar songs per gig with no vocals
other than a Chuck Berry tune here and there to break the
monotony.
By 1964, the band finally developed an identity and released "Precision" on a little label called Red Feather Records. This guitar instrumental with a classical piano accompaniment became a regional hit (chiefly due to the unique combination of these two musical styles) and set the record for the most time at number one for a local release on the then ruling Albuquerque, New Mexico AM rock station, KQEO. But when the Beatles invaded the U.S. in Feb. of 1964, it was a bad omen for The Knights. They just couldn't give up their beloved guitar rock instro efforts and after a few notable vocals on Delta Records, the band disbanded in 1967.
King Richard (Dick Stewart), however, jumped on the psychedelic rock band wagon, not as a guitarist, but as a promoter, fanzine publisher (The Lance Newsletter), and record label owner (Lance Records). Although Stewart had a successful two-year-run with those companies that included a number of psychedelic and R&B 45-rpm releases by Albuquerque artists who became well known in the Southwest U.S. during the mid-'60s, he, nevertheless, turned his back temporarily on rock'n'roll and directed his attentions to another taste in music: Mexican-American. Thus, Dick replaced Lance Records with another label (Casanova Records) ultimately releasing numerous vinyl albums and singles from 1968 to 1972. Many were hits in the Hispanic market around the U.S. including some guitar instrumental efforts by Stewart himself who was also a Casanova artist.
After two decades of performing with his two sons
(Jason and Richard) in groups Dick named, Knee Deep, The Mountain
Riff-Raff, and The Jyck Monkey Band (pronounced
"jick"), the boys burned out on their dad's genre of
music and moved to Austin, Texas in 1994 to further their own
musical careers as well as develop their own identity in music.
Dick Stewart, likewise, being relieved of his sons' musical
influences, shortly thereafter contacted one of the original bass
players of the early Knights (Gary Snow) and asked him if he
would be into taking a trip back to their '60s guitar
instrumental roots. Gary jumped at the chance and beginning in
late 1997, they both dedicated a year of intense one-on-one
practices relearning early '
60s Ventures' and Fireballs' cov
ers.
From 1998 to the present, Dick Stewart has written more than twenty instrumentals as well as create a number of guitar instrumental arrangements to some choice melodious popular songs of the early to mid-'60s that were originally released as vocals. At the close of 1998, Stewart and Snow scored big with a very talented Albuquerque drummer (Steve Hudgins) who owns a garage sound studio (literally). Although he was only 2-years-old when The Knights originally formed, he picked up on the early '60s guitar instrumental style with ease and great interest.
So as a follow-up to Collectables Records' 1996 CD release ("Precision"), the band is in the studio once again this time for Lance Records which was recently awakened from a 32-year slumber. Dick Stewart's wife of 37 years, Judi, affectionately said something interesting to him not too long ago . . . "Old musicians never die, they just go on and on and . . . That's certainly true in his case, however, she admits that he is inspired more now than anytime during his nearly 40-year music career.
GROUP MEMBERS
(1961 to 1964) GUITAR ROCK INSTRO PERIOD: Dick Stewart - lead guitar; Larry Longmire - rhythm and second lead guitarist; Gary Butler - bass (1961 - 1962); Gary Snow - (1963 - 1964) William "Corky" Anderson
(1965 to 1967) FRAT ROCK VOCAL PERIOD: (During a time when the band was known as King Richard and The Knights) Dick Stewart - lead guitar and vocalist; Jack Paden and Les Bigby - drummers; John Milligan followed later by Dick Miller - rhythm and second lead guitars; Jerry "Toad" Hutchins - bass; Larry Reid - sax and lead vocalist; Mike Celenze - key- boards
(1984 to 1994) CLASSIC ROCK AND METAL PERIOD: (During a time when the band was known by such names as Knee Deep, The Mountain Riff-Raff, and The Jyck Monkey Band) Dick Stewart - rhythm/second lead guitar, vocal; Martin Howard - lead and rhythm guitar (1984 to 1987); Jason Stewart - lead and rhythm guitar (1987 to 1994); Ritch Stewart - bass and rhythm guitar; Gary Werner - sax; Donny Jojola - drummer (1984); William "Corky" Anderson - drummer (1985 - 1986); Jeff Sorrache - drummer (1987 to 1994)
(1998 to ?) BACK TO THE ROOTS PERIOD: (During the time when The Knights retained their name and returned to the early '60s guitar instrumental roots) Dick Stewart - lead and rhythm guitar; Gary Snow - Bass; Steve Hudgins - drums
45 RELEASES FROM 1964 THROUGH 1966
1. 1964 - "Precision" b/w "Cut Out" (Red Feather 18401) guitar rock instrumentals
2. 1965 - "Lonely by The Sea" b/w "Moonbeam" (Red Feather) - guitar rock instrumentals
3. 1965 - "Those Things You Do" b/w "I Want to Love You" (Delta R-2048) - frat rock vocals
4. 1965 - "Why" b/w "That's the Way it Goes" (Delta R-2115) - frat rock vocals
5. 1966 - "I Don't Need You" b/w "How About Now" (Delta R-2143) - frat rock vocals
6. 1966 - "Work Out Sally" b/w "The Weatherman's Song" (Lomas R-2133) frat rock vocal and children's novelty song
CD AND VINYL RELEASES SINCE 1996
1. 1996 - "Precision" (Collectables 0684) A nineteen-track CD reissue compilation of early to mid-'60's 45 releases by New Mexico artists out of which twelve are Knights' efforts. (View releases page)
2. 1999 - "I Don't Need You" (Lance 2000) A fourteen-track 12" vinyl reissue compilation of The Knights '60's 45s plus two ‘80s tracks. (View vinyl reissue page)
3. 1999 - "Surfin' the Web" (Lance 2001) A ten-track CD album of newly recorded surf guitar instrumentals in the early '60s traditional style. (Not presently in stock. Write rvstewartproductions@yahoo.com for special CDR order)
4. 1999 - "Jyck Monkey Time" (Lance 2004) A ten-track CD reissue compilation of The Knights mid -'80's vocal efforts when the band was known as Jyck Monkey. (Not presently in stock. Write rvstewartproductions@yahoo.com for special CDR order)
5. 1999 - "We're the Mountain Riff-Raff" (Lance 2008) A thirteen-track reissue compilation of The Knights early '80's vocal efforts when the band was known as The Mtn Riff-Raff. (Not presently in stock. Write rvstewartproductions@yahoo.com for special CDR order)
6. 2000 - "Lobo Power (Lance 2005) A
nineteen-track reissue compilation of The Knights' early
'90s vocal efforts when the band was known as Jyck Monkey. (Not
presently in stock. Write rvstewartproductions@yahoo.com
for special CDR order)
7. 2000 - "Surfin' the Southwest, Santa Fe Style" (Lance 2003) An eleven-track CD album of newly recorded rockabilly/surf guitar instrumentals in the early '60s traditional style. (View releases page)
8. 2000 - "El Papalote" (Lance 2006) - A thirteen-track compilation of new and vintage songs (both vocal and instro) including four hit Mexican-American style ranchera instrumentals that were recorded and released on 45-rpm in the late ‘60s. (Not presently in stock. Write rvstewartproductions@yahoo.com for special CDR order)
9. 2000 - "Then and Now" (Lance 2009) - A fourteen-track compilation of five Knights’ ‘60s tracks followed by their modern versions, plus four new compositions. (Not presently in stock. Write rvstewartproductions@yahoo.com for special CDR order)
10. 2003 – "In Progression" (Lance 2010) ten tracks of progressive, surf-rock guitar instrumentals (View home page)
PRESS RELEASES
Since the reformation of the Knights in 1998, there have been numerous articles and reviews in such newspapers and magazines as: The Albuquerque Journal, The Observer (Rio Rancho, NM), Goldmine, Ugly Things, Pipeline (Great Britain), New Gandy Dancer (Great Britain), Surf Music U.S.A., Shindig (London, England - An in-depth interview with Dick Stewart, The Knights, and Lance Records), and a number of high profile Internet sites.
RECENT TRACK LICENSINGS
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE KNIGHTS, PLEASE
DIRECT ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO:
Lance Records
(A Division of RvStewartProductions)
Artist Management Division
P.O. Box 613
Sandia Park, New Mexico 87047
rvstewartproductions@yahoo.com --
--www.lancerecords.com
(505) 286-0623; FAX (505) 286-2550