Today we go back to the interview archive and pay tribute to one of our favorite groups here at WRCO.
The New Colony Six are fondly remembered in Wisconsin. Our state was like a second home to the group when they were first starting out.
We were pleased to host the group for a couple of station events in the late 90's.
Founding member Ray Graffia has long been a friend to us and has graced our airwaves several times.
Ronnie Rice became the lead singer of the group in 1967. He has been our guest several times on the radio. He was on the show with us back in the late 2000's and we talked about the groups 'Attacking A Straw Man' album.
The first NC6 drummer was Chic James. I remember noticing the almost
cadence style in the back ground of the ballad 'Things I'd Like To Say,' which was the highest charting song for the group (#16 Billboard).
In 2007, I talked to Chic about his drumming and the creative process for
the group.Wally Kemp was the bass player for the New Colony Six until 1967. He
remembers the early days when playing live was the most important thing
for him and the group.No one knows the history of the New Colony Six better than Gerry Van
Kollenburg. He was with the group from its start until 1974.
He joined me in 2007 on WRCO.
It has been fun digging out six from the six today. This last audio cut is from Craig (Greg) Kemp. He played organ for the group until about 1966.
During our talk in 2009 he remembered the start of the group in the mid-60's.
Chicago groups ruled the airwaves here in Chicago during the 1960's ... The Buckinghams, The Cryan' Shames, The Ides Of March, The Shadows Of Knight, The American Breed, The Mauds, The Flock and several others ...
And between our two rock and roll AM Radio giants, WLS and WCFL, these groups were charting right alongside some of the biggest names in music history ... and holding their own every step of the way.
Of these, The New Colony Six was always my favorite ... and I was fortunate enough to meet and talk to most of the guys along the way of doing Forgotten Hits. (In fact, we even did a month-long series on the group back when FH was still just an emailed newsletter!)
I would have a tough time picking six favorites by "the six" ... but I'm going to do my best to show the wide diversity the band exhibited during their eight year chart run from 1966 - 1974.
First, we'll feature their first ... "I Confess" from late 1965.
This record went all the way to #2 here in Chicago and, although nobody knew it or was calling it that at the time, it was the perfect example of their garage band phase, the precursor to punk rock that wouldn't hit for another two decades.
In 1967 (with the addition of Ronnie Rice), the group began their pop phase ... and charted four times that year with irresistible tracks like "Love You So Much" (also a #2 record in Chicago), "You're Gonna Be Mine" (#8), "I'm Just Waitin', Anticipatin' (For Her To Show Up)," #14, a track written by Tony Orlando, of all people, 3-4 years before he'd be back on the charts again with his new group Dawn and the fun track "Treat Her Groovy." (#12)
Then, in 1968, their ballad phase began. THIS is the way The New Colony Six are best remembered today, earning a #1 Hit in 1968 with "I Will Always Think About You" and following that up with the #2 record, "Things I'd Like To Say in 1969.
Things cooled down briefly before they came back in 1971 with another one of my favorite records by the band "Roll On (#10.)
And finally, my all-time favorite New Colony Six record ... "Long Time To Be Alone" (#13, 1972.) This one only made it to #93 nationally ... but was a #1 Record in Hawaii ... and earned the group a chance to fly over to perform it there!
The New Colony Six still perform today, both in solo shows as well as as part of The Cornerstones Of Rock revue, featuring several of the other big name groups of the day, The Buckinghams, The Ides Of March, The Cryan' Shames and The Shadows Of Knight. (In fact, they have a concert coming up October 1st at The Genesee Theatre in Waukegan.)
Thanks, Phil, for featuring one of my all-time favorites today!
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Be sure to listen to Phil Nee's THOSE WERE THE DAYS radio program tonight … and EVERY Satuarday Night on WRCO ... 6 pm – Midnight (Central):
WRCO AM FM Radio Richland Center Wisconsin
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