MCHS Rock Bands of the 1960's

The MCHS Class of '67 had celebrated with a class Reunion. So, I thought it might be fun to remember some memories of the local rock bands students and others listened and danced to during the 1960's. Looking back and remembering the fun times we enjoyed was great, especially those of us at MCHS and surrounding schools. Playing the drums was awesome for me. I continued playing since those years at MCHS! Thanks to all our friends for watching, listening and dancing to the music we played!

MCHS Class of 1967 45th Reunion Photo


Photo taken at the Doe Valley Swim & Tennis Club
Saturday night September 8th, 2012.

A very fun turn out as usual.  Thanks to all those who helped put on this event. 

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Talented musicians and vocalists in Brandenburg and surrounding communities in Meade County...

I remember going to a 4-H talent contest in Brandenburg at the old High School, with my friend John Paul Morgan, in about 1964. There we listened to two guys doing a Beatles medley and decided we needed them for a band. We added back-up singers and sax and the short lived band "Danny and the Dubiants" was formed. We had fun but J.P. moved away and the band broke up.

The next band to spring up was The Kraftsmen. Danny Darnell, Hewitt Robinson, Stan Johnston and Bill Troutman. We played all around Meade, Breckenridge, Hardin and Jefferson Counties. The Kraftsmen were the first "rock and roll" band to perform on the Channel 11 High Varieties show in Louisville. We taped a number of songs and they played them on various shows during the year. It opened the door for other rock bands from Louisville, etc. to perform on the show after us.

As things changed, so did the interests of the Kraftsmen. Stan Johnston and Bill Troutman left to help form the MCHS favorite, The Dark Side, with Stan's brother Bradley Johnston, Tommy Miller and Rudy DeWitt. The Dark Side became a popular band in the County as well as away from Brandenburg. They performed on the newly created TV show Teen Beat on Channel 3 in Louisville, KY and was allowed to bring a bus load of teenagers from MCHS to dance on the show. What a lot of great memories that brings back to this old Greenwave.

I am going to include various pictures from those "good ol' days" on this blog for your enjoyment. I'll also add a few pictures for the last couple of times The Dark Side played at reunions in Brandenburg (1997 and 2002 as well as the Meade County Fair in 2003). I hope you have as much fun looking at this as I did creating it for all of us MCHS alumni!

First rock band of the 1960's in Meade County...?

First rock band of the 1960's in Meade County...?
Danny and the Dubiants (Bill Morgan, Shirley Morgan, Donna Darnell, Danny Darnell, George "Bill" Troutman (hidden, on drums), Hewitt Robinson, John Paul Morgan, Bill Shores) playing on stage at the Meade County Teen Club at the old Meade County High School (which is no longer in existance).

Early pictures of The Kraftsmen

Early pictures of The Kraftsmen

The Kraftsmen at St. Johns

The Kraftsmen at St. Johns

George "Bill" Troutman

George "Bill" Troutman
Art work by Hewitt Robinson

MCHS loved to have a dance!

MCHS loved to have a dance!
This one featured The Dark Side

The Dark Side on stage

The Dark Side on stage
Remember the Meade County Teen Club?

The Dark Side

The Dark Side
Battle of the Bands at Ratcliff Roller Rink

Battle of the Bands

Battle of the Bands
Rudy - Bill - Brad - Tom

Dance at St. Terresa

Dance at St. Terresa
Remember band uniforms?

Another Dark Side Uniform...

Another Dark Side Uniform...
Dig that crazy shirt on the left and the cool girl on the right! George "Bill" Troutman and Marcia Roseman

Graduation Party - Class of 1967

Graduation Party - Class of 1967
The Dark Side playing at the Graduation Party for the Class of 1967 at St Johns Hall in Brandenburg, Kentucky. Pictured from left to right: Stan Johnston, Bradley Johnston, George "Bill" Troutman, Tommy Miller (Rudy DeWitt is off the picture to the left)

Graduation Party - Class of 1967

Graduation Party - Class of 1967
I know the guy in the front seems surprised, but the guy on the right is quite a dancer and is a fellow "geologist". I'll give you a hint, his wife is 6'2" tall and their son is 6'8" tall. Can you guess who he is?

Graduation Party - Class of 1967

Graduation Party - Class of 1967
This guy was always 'early' on the dance floor...do you know him?

Graduation Party - Class of 1967

Graduation Party - Class of 1967
All that dancing makes a big guy hungry...do you know any of these hungry classmates?

Graduation Party - Class of 1967

Graduation Party - Class of 1967
Can you pick out those you remember?

Graduation Party - Class of 1967

Graduation Party - Class of 1967
I know you and they look younger in this picture...but can you pick out your old flame from Meade County High?

The Class of 1967 in 1997

The Class of 1967 in 1997
Any grand parents in this crowd?

The Dark Side at MCHS Class of 1967's 30 Year Reunion

The Dark Side at MCHS Class of 1967's 30 Year Reunion
The first time in 30 years the band played together...what fun!!




Special guests appeared with The Dark Side

Special guests appeared with The Dark Side
Terry Johnston and Bill Morgan at Reunion Tour of The Dark Side

Ed Troutman - another special guest...

Ed Troutman - another special guest...
At Doe Valley

Brad at work!

Brad at work!

Tommy Miller on keyboards, keeping the band on track!!

Tommy Miller on keyboards, keeping the band on track!!
Playing at Doe Valley for the 30 Year reunion of the Class of 1967

Stan the Man on bass quitar. . .

Stan the Man on bass quitar. . .
Terry Johnston added that something extra!

Mr. DeWitt on lead guitar...

Mr. DeWitt on lead guitar...

"No honey, thats an organ!"

"No honey, thats an organ!"

The Dark Side '03

The Dark Side '03
Playing at the Meade County Fair

George "Bill" Troutman

George "Bill" Troutman
Practicing for the Meade County Fair 2003

MCHS Class of 1967 - 40th Reunion Picture

MCHS Class of 1967 - 40th Reunion Picture
Class Photo at Doe Valley on September 15, 2007

Other Bands from the 1960's - - -

I know there may have been other bands during the 1960's in Meade County Kentucky, but I have little or no first hand information about them. Although, I do remember a band with Mike and Tim Powell and Bill Troutman (before Danny and the Dubiants) but I don't think we ever played anywhere besides at the Powell farm. If you have a picture of a band and the members names, please send it to me and I will include it on this blog. We would also like to see other pictures of the bands discussed in this blog. Any pictures of the bands would be greatly appreciated, thanks. Send those to MCHSrocks@gmail.com , thank you. If you have any stories to share about your experience with going to hear any of the bands in and around Brandenburg...send those as well.

Send to MCHSrocks@gmail.com .

Meet The Author:

My photo
George "Bill" graduated from MCHS in 1967. He was known as "Bill" by his friends and relatives in Meade County during those years he lived in Kentucky. He served as a Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy and was Honorably Discharged in the summer of 1970. He married his high school sweetheart (Marcia R.) in 1971. They have 6 children and 30 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. George received a BS in Geology from WKU. George worked in the Oil and Gas Industry for 45 years. George has continued playing the drums all these years. George has played with various bands in Denver, Colorado. George was Founder & President of Troutman Geological and Associates. He was also Vice President GeoScience at Golden Energy in Denver and later Vice President of Exploration for Cleary Petroleum Corporation in Edmond, Oklahoma before his retirement. George "Bill" was interviewed by a site called 60's Garage Bands concerning The Dark Side and other bands from those days. That interview was found by visiting http://www.60sgaragebands.com/darkside.html. Not sure if it is still available now. George "Bill" hopes you have enjoyed this trip down memory lane.

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