Bryds/Outspoken Blues Reunion Picnic!

Bob (Lead Guitar) and I started the group, "The Empires", in 1963, along with Tom Nelson (Rhythm Guitar) and Tim Wagner (Bass Guitar). We added Bill Levak (Drums)! I left the group in early 1965 to return to college. The Empires broke up in late 1965, when one of the members of the group, Tim Wagner, decided to join the Air Force rather then get drafted.

Two of the three remaining members of the group, Bill Levak (Drums) and Tom Nelson (Rhythm Guitar), myself (Bass Guitar/Vocals), along with Bill Kirchmeyer (Lead Guitar) and Jim Korn (Bass Guitar/Vocals), (from a group named "Beat Incorporated"), then formed the "Outspoken Blues". A short time later, John Pencak (organ), joined our group, and Tom Nelson left the group.

We then went into a recording studio in Chicago (Recordings Unlimited), and recorded a demo record with "You're A Better Man Than I", and "Not Right Now" being the two cuts. We had 900 copies of the record pressed on Orlyn Records. I sang the vocals on "You're A Better Man Than I", and Jim Korn recorded the vocals on "Not Right Now"! Jim Korn was then drafted, and he was replaced by Dave Luoma. The group eventually went through several personnel changes, including Ray Spoor, and later Jim Carmody, on Drums, and Steve Wypych on Bass Guitar.

John Pencak and myself, were the only individuals who were members the whole time the group was in existence!
Glenn Halverson was our original Saxophone player. He was great. He was later replaced by Rick Shultis. Chris Christopherson was added later on to play Trumpet when we had a small horn section.

Bob Stanley left the "Empires" and joined "The Bryd's", as lead guitarist, a group that had recorded two songs that he wrote for them ("Your Lies" and "Why Did You Have To Break My Heart"). After "The Bryds" broke up, Bob became a member of "The Outspoken Blues" for the summer of 1967, helping to create the strongest vocal and instrumental version of the group.

Bob left the 'Blues in the autumn of 1967, and reformed "The Bryds", adding an "e" to the group's name to become "The Brydes". He added two trumpets and a violin!

With the breakup of "The Outspoken Blues" in 1969, Jim again joined Bill Kirchmeyer (along with Herb Eimerman (Bass Guitar/Vocals), Gary Rosberg (Organ) and Larry (Butch) Maynard (Drums), in a group called "The Prod". With the eventual breakup of "The Prod" in 1971, Herb Eimerman joined Bob Stanley to form "Hot Mama Silver"!
Jim Stanley and Bill Kirchmeyer formed a 10 piece group that played one time. The group featured piano, organ, two guitars, bass, drums, and 3 female backup singers! Bill Kirchmeyer and Bob Stanley were the guitar players for that performance at a high school prom!

If you have any photographs of The Empires, The Bryds, The Outspoken Blues, Hot Mama Silver, or In-Sex, please let me know! If you send them to me, I'll add them to this web page!