Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Item
Title
A115654-1B
Date(s)
- 1958-07-16 (Creation)
Extent
Name of creator
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Scope and content
On July 16, 1958, teenagers crowd the floor, rocking to the sounds of the Bluenotes at the Little J.E.M. Cafe on Highway 99. In July, in pre airconditioning days, the room is undoubtedly hot and sweating dancers have unbuttoned their shirts. The Bluenotes, pioneers in the Northwest rock scene, had formed a garage band in 1956 while the musicians were still in middle school. Originators of the band can be seen, left to right, Buck Ormsby on the bass, Lassie Aanes on the drums, Frank Dutra on saxophone and Bill Engelhart (barely visible) on guitar. Not pictured is Robin Roberts on featured vocals. The band, with a few personnel changes, released a hit record in 1959, as Little Bill and the Bluenotes, "I Love An Angel." In 2004, Bill Engelhart and the Blue Notes, with changes in musicians and a more blues influenced musical style, still record and perform in the Northwest. (Little Bill Engelhart "Next Stop, Bakersfield")
Teenagers; Rock & roll dancing; Rock groups--Tacoma--1950-1960; Little J.E.M. Cafe (Tacoma); Ormsby, Buck; Aanes, Lassie; Dutra, Frank; Engelhart, Bill;