Tennis & Curtis

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Meet Barry Curtis

In 1957 in Yakima, Washington, I joined The Redcoats, the first band I had ever seen. (This was also Ned Nelter's first band -- of course, Ned later formed Jr. Cadillac and eventually was a founding member of LOS ORCHIDS.) I knew only two chords on my new guitar back then, but was told I could learn others as we went along.

I did, and eventually played in several other groups until graduation from high school in 1963. During those years, I also studied piano and vocal music.In late 1963, I joined Portland's Kingsmen to play Hammond organ and soon embarked on an extended U.S. tour to support the band's hit, "Louie Louie." Recording sessions in Seattle produced more chart records, then The Kingsmen performed with The Beach Boys on their 1964 summer tour. Many other tours, recordings and TV appearances followed. We shared stages with nearly all the stars of the time.1966 and most of 1967 found me on another "tour" in Viet Nam after which I settled in Seattle and resumed performing. The Kingsmen's heyday had passed however, and by late 1968, the band became dormant. I formed a new band and found a few places to play. Prosaically named "The Northwest Rock & Roll Band," the group was the first to perform at the legendary Medicine Show on Pike Street and The Library Tavern in Fremont.

Thus, I can claim at least partial credit for launching the Seattle Tavern Music Scene that included The Fresh Air on Capitol Hill, The Buffalo in Ballard, The Rainbow in University District and The Central Tavern in Pioneer Square, a significant venue of the more recent "Grunge" era.The Kingsmen reformed in 1972 in Seattle and played bars, fairs and concerts for two years around the Northwest and Western Canada. Another hiatus ensued during which I performed with several Seattle groups including many guest appearances with Jr. Cadillac and a two-year stint with Sweet Talkin' Jones. I spent 1977 recording in Los Angeles, then returned to Seattle and co-founded the quirky and lovable "Herb and The Spices" and then "Freddie and the Screamers" featuring Kingsmen vocalist, Fred Dennis, Sonics bassist and guitarist, Andy and Larry Parypa, and The Dynamics drummer, Ron Woods. In 1981, The Kingsmen reactivated and have since been performing throughout America.Between tours, I've had the good fortune to guest-perform with a number of other notable Northwest bands including The Viceroys, Merrilee Rush, The Wailers, and I became a member of the reconstituted Daily Flash, Seattle's first folk-rock/psych band. I also have my own trio that performs occasionally and, these days I perform most frequently with LOS ORCHIDS.

Who would’ve known that a boy from Kenmore, Washington, could grow up to be the incredible guitar and bass player known as Pat Tennis?

In 1966, he started playing bass and cites such bands as the Beatles, the Byrds, Cream, Moby Grape and Men in Kilts as influences. Secretly, though, he confesses that folks such as Henry Mancini, Rogers & Hammerstein, and Benny Goodman were part of the mix as well. As he always says, “I don’t like to categorize music; it’s either good or not. I like good music.”

Pat has played all kinds of music over the years and just about every stringed instrument known to humankind.

BARRY CURTIS

This is Barry Curtis in Yakima in early 1958. "I think I was on my way to a gig where the band (Redcoats -- with Ned Neltner) made and we had to sweep up afterwards."

Meet Pat Tennis

He has toured with major acts, played in many local bands and had more than a few ventures into the land of “almost famous.” He has worked with musicians in Iceland (including a then unknown Björk). With a band called Arnold, he toured the West Coast extensively and recorded some tunes in Hollywood. In the 70’s, he was Little Eddie of Little Eddie and the Edsels (that explains where his mastery of Duke of Earl comes from.) In the 80’s, he played lead guitar in Continuum, an impressive Cream touring band. The 90’s found Pat playing pedal steel with the Riddler Brothers and Buckaroo Blues. In the 00’s (the naughties), he was with The Rimrockers, playing the music that influenced them in the 60’s and 70’s. He also has a track on the 2002 Moby Grape tribute CD Even Mo’ Grape. He’s been rocking with Los Orchids since 1937.Being a man of many talents, Pat is also a songwriter. Rockers or ballads, he has a heart-felt story to tell and the music to express it. He really knows his way around a sound board, be it on stage or in the studio. Both as a musician and as a producer, he has the gift of leaving the other musicians the room to do what they do best.