The K-Otics
Encyclopedia
The K-Otics were a college band formed at Troy University
in Troy
, Alabama
circa 1962.
, Alabama
and Marvin Taylor (lead guitar and vocals) and Kim Venable(drums) from Tuskegee
, Alabama
for Bang Records
.
The band gained regional recognition after recording “Charlena” for Rick Hall at FAME Studios
, receiving major airplay on WBAM, the 50,000 watt Montgomery
, Alabama
station. Popularity increased with the recording of Double Shot(of My Baby’s Love) for Sam Phillips
in Memphis
, Tennessee
with the band going on to play National Guard Armories, high school proms, and various concert venues throughout the southeast.
“Double Shot,” written by Don Smith and Cyril Vetter
, was recorded by The Swingin' Medallions
before The K-Otics version, but The K-Otics record was released first. The Swingin' Medallions
had the backing of a major label and gained more recognition and greater sales in more cities.
The K-Otics disbanded in 1967 with Tommy Mann entering the business world, while Ray Goss continued to play music locally. Kim Venable went on to join the Classics IV
on drums. Marvin Taylor moved to the Atlanta area and played with Mose Jones and Java Monkey continuing to write and produce music.
Troy University
Troy University is a public university that is located in Troy, Alabama, United States. It was originally founded in 1887 as Troy Normal School. Its main campus enrollment is 7,194 students. The total enrollment of all Troy University campuses is 29,689...
in Troy
Troy, Alabama
Troy is a city in Pike County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 18,003. Troy experienced a growth spurt of over 4,000+ people since 2000. The city is the county seat of Pike County....
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
circa 1962.
History
Originally founded by members Joe Torrillo and Mike Johnson, the band solidified and began to make records with Tommy Mann (lead singer) and Ray Goss (bass & vocals) from TallasseeTallassee, Alabama
Tallassee is a city on the Tallapoosa River, located in both Elmore and Tallapoosa counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. At the 2000 census the population was 4,934...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
and Marvin Taylor (lead guitar and vocals) and Kim Venable(drums) from Tuskegee
Tuskegee, Alabama
Tuskegee is a city in Macon County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 11,846 and is designated a Micropolitan Statistical Area. Tuskegee has been an important site in various stages of African American history....
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
for Bang Records
Bang Records
Bang Records was created by Bert Berns in 1965 together with his partners from Atlantic Records: Ahmet Ertegün, Nesuhi Ertegün and Jerry Wexler...
.
The band gained regional recognition after recording “Charlena” for Rick Hall at FAME Studios
FAME Studios
FAME Studios are located at 603 East Avalon in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. They have been an integral part of American popular music from the late 1950s to the present...
, receiving major airplay on WBAM, the 50,000 watt Montgomery
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
station. Popularity increased with the recording of Double Shot(of My Baby’s Love) for Sam Phillips
Sam Phillips
Samuel Cornelius Phillips , better known as Sam Phillips, was an American businessman, record executive, record producer and DJ who played an important role in the emergence of rock and roll as the major form of popular music in the 1950s...
in Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
with the band going on to play National Guard Armories, high school proms, and various concert venues throughout the southeast.
“Double Shot,” written by Don Smith and Cyril Vetter
Cyril Vetter
Cyril Vetter's career has spanned a variety of industries, including music, broadcasting and publishing. He owned TV and radio stations, a television production firm, newspapers as well as music recording and publishing companies. Vetter is best known for the popular song "Double Shot " co-written...
, was recorded by The Swingin' Medallions
The Swingin' Medallions
The Swingin' Medallions are an American beach music group from Greenwood, South Carolina.-History:The band was formed as The Medallions in 1962 adding the "Swingin'" in 1965; possibly as a tribute to the Swingin' Travelers, an R&B group popular in South Carolina in the late 1950s and early 1960s...
before The K-Otics version, but The K-Otics record was released first. The Swingin' Medallions
The Swingin' Medallions
The Swingin' Medallions are an American beach music group from Greenwood, South Carolina.-History:The band was formed as The Medallions in 1962 adding the "Swingin'" in 1965; possibly as a tribute to the Swingin' Travelers, an R&B group popular in South Carolina in the late 1950s and early 1960s...
had the backing of a major label and gained more recognition and greater sales in more cities.
The K-Otics disbanded in 1967 with Tommy Mann entering the business world, while Ray Goss continued to play music locally. Kim Venable went on to join the Classics IV
Classics IV
The Classics IV were a band formed in Jacksonville, Florida, United States, in 1965, given credit for beginning the "soft southern rock" sound...
on drums. Marvin Taylor moved to the Atlanta area and played with Mose Jones and Java Monkey continuing to write and produce music.
Original members
Name/Instrument Date- Mike Johnson - Lead guitar, vocals 1961-62
- Joe Torrillo - Guitar, Backing vocals 1961-62
- Barney Parker - Guitar, Backing vocals 1961-62
- Warren Munday - Drums 1961-62
- Tommy Mann - Lead vocals 1962-67
- Ken Murphy - Lead guitar, Backing vocals 1962-64
- Johnny Coates - Drums 1963-64
- Kim Venable - Drums (later with Classics IVClassics IVThe Classics IV were a band formed in Jacksonville, Florida, United States, in 1965, given credit for beginning the "soft southern rock" sound...
) 1964-67 - Edward Wilcoxen - Guitar 1964
- Ray Goss - Bass guitar 1964-67
- Marvin Taylor - Lead guitar 1964-67
- Ed Sanford - Keyboards (later with Sanford-Townsend BandSanford-Townsend BandThe Sanford-Townsend Band was a successful rock and roll band in the United States. They are considered a one-hit wonder who scored a hit single in 1977 with "Smoke from a Distant Fire".-History:...
) 1964 - Glen Griffin - Keyboards 1964-66
- Lawrence Shaul - Keyboards (later with Classics IVClassics IVThe Classics IV were a band formed in Jacksonville, Florida, United States, in 1965, given credit for beginning the "soft southern rock" sound...
) 1966-67
External links
- [ "I'm Leaving Here" 45 Record by the K-Otics]
- K-Otics Interview Interview with Tommy Mann & Marvin Taylor for 60s GarageBands.com