1960s-1970s Pioneer Dance Bands in San Francisco Chinatown

The 1960s-70s was a period when many dance bands were created in San Francisco . Tonight's gala acknowledges eight pioneer dance bands from Chinatown during the 1960s-70s. Apologies are extended to all the bands that we are unable to honor. The following guidelines were used to determine our honorees:

Honoree Bands: Pioneer dance bands must be San Francisco Chinatown-based and established in the 1960s. Bands from the 1970s are also honored as pioneers if they wrote original music.

Core Founding Members: Core founding members either created the band, or joined shortly after the band's inception and were influential in determining the direction or style of the band. They do not have to stay with the band during the band's lifetime.

The following band biographies are based on responses and artifacts obtained from tonight's honorees. More detailed archival information about the bands and their members are housed at CHSA. CHSA thanks all the honorees for helping to make and preserve history.

ECLIPSE / COOL SPICE / ABACUS
1972-1977

In late 1972, brothers Derrick and Kevin Tong, and Danny Yee started a band called Eclipse. The name was changed to Cool Spice after new members were added. When Intrigues disbanded, some of their musicians joined the group and a new band eventually emerged known as Abacus in 1974. Many of the members, aged 15 to 19, lived only a couple of blocks from each other near Chinatown . On one occasion, some people heard Abacus playing from the outside and went in to check out the band. They expected African Americans and were surprised to find an all-Chinese American band. Core founding member Jeff Chan wrote, “The Civil Rights Movement was gaining momentum and the music was like a rallying flag that identified who you were and what you were about. No surfer boy music for us!” Abacus composed several original songs but did not record them professionally in a studio for distribution and sale. Their repertoire included many of the funk-band standards of the time, and its driving rhythm section was usually complemented by original arrangements for four horns, whose ensemble technique and soloists produced a jazz-inflected instrumental sound that differentiated Abacus from other bands.

Original Songs by Abacus
“You Are the One for Me” (1975) Lyrics and music by Jeff Chan
Horn Arrangement by Carey Huang

“Life Is Full of Changes” (1979) Lyrics by Jeff Chan
Music by Jeff Chan, Carey Huang, Ronnie Lowe, Derrick Tong

“Friends Helping Friends” (1992) Lyrics and music by Paul Louie
Vocal arrangement by Jeff Chan

“Dancing on the Roof” (2004) Lyrics and music by Jeff Chan
Horn arrangement by Carey Huang

Core Founding Members:
Darryl Murray Chan (trumpet)
Douglas Stuart Chan (soprano and tenor saxophone)
Jeffrey Alan Chan (lead vocals, keyboards)
Kingman Kasey Chan (trumpet)
Ben Hoey (congas)
Carey Mark Huang (trumpet, keyboards, background vocals)
Paul Edward Louie (keyboards)
Ronald J. Lowe, Jr. (rhythm guitar, background vocals)
Derrick Stuart Tong (bass guitar, background vocals)
Kevin Stacy Tong (drums, background vocals)
Charles Udet (tenor saxophone)
Larry Wong (alto and tenor saxophone)
Danny Yee (lead guitar)

Other Members
Byron Dere (keyboards)
Al Littles (lead vocals)
Andre Louis (bass guitar)
Nancy O'Connor (vocals)

ENCHANTERS
1966-1971

The Enchanters were students from the Galileo High School band. They had to borrow equipment when the band first began playing gigs. The group was different because they chose to be more experimental in song arrangements and the choice of songs they played. The Enchanters' public debut was in 1968, when they opened for the ESPs in Chinatown . In the 1970s, they wrote an untitled, original instrumental tune that was only played a few times in public and never recorded. The band eventually broke up because members went off to college and were growing in different musical directions.

Core Founding Members:
Vincent "Skip" Blas (trumpet)
Allen Louie (guitar)
Harry Magalong (background vocals, bass guitar)
Steve Anthony Monteclaro (lead & background vocals, alto & tenor saxophone)
Danilo C. Porciuncula (lead & background vocals, drums)

Other Members:
Brian Lee (alto saxophone)
Donald Guy Lee (background vocals, keyboards)
Emeric Lincoln (lead vocals)
Steve Parks (lead vocals)
Claude Rabun (trumpet)
Wayne Yee (drums)

ILLUSIONS
1966-1971

Considered one of the earliest and most popular all-Chinese American bands from San Francisco Chinatown during this time, the Illusions were between 13-16 years old when they first began. Some of the band members were from the other side of the city ( Silver Avenue ) while the rest were from Chinatown . They included standards like waltzes, cha-chas, and calypsos in their song list to keep all age groups of their audiences happy. One of the goals was to show the world that Chinese could be cool and have soul, too!

Core Founding Members:
Jerry Leong (guitar, background vocals)
Louis Lew (lead vocals)
Henry A. Ng (leader, keyboards, vocals)
Victor Y. Ng (drums, vocals, background vocals)
Larry Wong (bass guitar)
Russell Wong (saxophone)

Other Members:
Ben Sugaya (bass guitar)
Edmond Toy (drums)
Michael Young (saxophone)

INTRIGUES
1967-1972

The Intrigues were between 14-16 years old when the group's origins began on a fateful day in the auditorium of St. Mary's. They were inspired by the Enchanters who offered the name of “Intrigues” for the band. Their horn section distinguished themselves from other Asian American dance bands by being one of the first bands to perform arrangements of the large horn rock bands such as Chicago and Blood, Sweat, and Tears. As teenagers, the group was heading in the wrong direction until they influenced each other to play music. The Intrigues stopped playing in 1972 when they could not replace their singer, got back together in 1992 to do a benefit for two friends, and changed their name to Intrigue in 1998, dropping the “s” after their original drummer John Benson, Jr. passed away.

Core Founding Members:
John Benson, Jr. (drums)
Jeffrey Alan Chan (lead vocals, keyboards)
Carey Mark Huang (keyboards, trumpet, background vocals)
Leonard Jeong (bass guitar)
Korte Lee (alto sax)
Ronald J. Lowe, Jr. (rhythm guitar, background vocals)
Jerry William Lum (trumpet)
Glen Okumura (lead vocals, percussion)
Winsley "Kato" Yee (tenor saxophone)

Other Members:
Ben Hoey (congas, percussion)
Calvin Leong (bass guitar)
Victor Y. Ng (drums)
Claude Rabun (trumpet)
Russell Wong (saxophone)
Wayne Yee (drums)

JEST JAMMIN'
1968-present

Some of the founding members of Jest Jammin' were associated with the 880 Boys, a group from a martial arts club at 880 Pacific Avenue and the Sentinels, a band that performed mainly for Cameron House dances. In the early days, the police considered them to be a Chinatown gang. In 1968, when a “brother” of the 880 was drafted to serve in the Vietnam War, five friends pulled together and played for his going away party. This became the genesis of Jest Jammin'. Their big debut as Jest Jammin' was in 1971, at a fundraiser to help another “brother” who was injured in a car accident. This was at the Red Chimney Restaurant, where they played with the Intrigues. Cookie Wong was singing for Jest Jammin' at the time and became possibly the first Chinese American female vocalist in a dance band of that era. Jest Jammin's basic philosophy is “to jam” as friends first and musicians second. To date, this band is the longest enduring San Francisco Chinatown dance band.

Core Founding Members:
Norman Glen Fong (lead vocals, saxophone)
Chester Goong (congas)
Allen Louie (guitar)
Bradford P. Lum (bass guitar)
Steve Anthony Monteclaro (lead vocals, sax)
Winton Jun Quock (keyboards)
Edmund Toy (drums)
Cookie Wong (vocals)

Other Members:
Carlton Aihara (keyboards)
Kingman Kasey Chan (trumpet)
Eva Chew (vocals)
Joellen Chew (vocals)
Len Fujita (saxophone)
Gordon Jeong (keyboards)
William John Keast (trumpet)
Denise Lee (vocals)
Tony Lincoln (vocals, saxophone)
Darien Louie (vocals)
Jerry William Lum (trumpet)
Dale Nabeta (keyboards)
Craig Ng (trumpet)
Henry A. Ng (guitar, keyboards, background vocals)
Victor Y. Ng (lead guitar)
Ben Sugaya (saxophone, guitar)
Laura Uyeda (guitar)
Dave Uyeno (saxophone)
Philip Wong (congas)
Russell Wong (saxophone)
Jan Yonemoto (saxophone)

MAJESTIC SOUNDS
1967-1969

The Majestic Sounds was one of the first ethnically integrated band that featured a Chinese lead vocalist. Their sound was a result of three Lowell High School students with rhythm and blues and jazz influences, coupled with three Galileo High School students with jazz, rock, and classical influences. The combination created a synergy that made the Majestic Sounds unique. Upon the suggestion of Hugh Dong, the name Majestic Sounds was established in 1967, a few months after the band was formed. The band tried to separate itself from what other Chinatown bands played at that time period. Their repertoire included the Top 40 rhythm and blues, and the sounds of Motown and Philly. Majestic Sounds made girls melt with "Ooh, Baby Baby" by the Miracles and made boys and girls get down with "Tighten Up," by Archie Bell and the Drells. Among their most memorable performances were opening for the Cleveland Wrecking Company at the Telegraph Hill Club and playing at the Chinatown Portsmouth Square Street Fair in 1968. The band dissolved in 1969 when members decided to pursue job opportunities, join other bands, or attend college.

Core Founding Members:
Lincoln Chu (bass guitar)
Hugh Kan Dong (tenor saxophone)
William John Keast (trumpet)
Phillip Ng (lead vocals)
Joseph "Joey" Richard Pocoroba (drums)
Bob Verheig (lead and rhythm guitar)

Other Members:
David Edward DeLuca (bass guitar)
Donald Griffin (lead vocals)
Matthew Mah (drums)

PERSUASIONS / SAND / CITY LIGHTS / CP SALT / EARWAVES
1968-1984

The Persuasions was originally named after the song “Crystal Blue Persuasion.” Their first gig was at the Hungry I, a youth hangout located in the basement of the now demolished International Hotel. Not to compete with an acapella group known as the Persuasion, the band changed its name to Sand and toured Hawai'i . When a Seattle-based band came out with an album named Sand, they changed their name to City Lights, dedicated to the lights of San Francisco , and continued to perform in the Bay Area and Hawai'i . Another name change had to occur when a band used City Lights for their album. Tired of changing their name, a final decision was made to take key letters from their former names to form CP Salt. Some community performance highlights included playing for Bread and Roses at various prisons and for the Bay Area Asian Coalition Against the War. The band began writing original songs during their Persuasions days and composed over forty songs during their 16-year lifespan. In 1975, they cut their first single under their own “Surrend” label and in 1983, they produced their first all-original album and the single “Discombobulation” which was a 1984 EP runner-up in Florida 's New Music Review. Earwaves became a subgroup of CP Salt in the 1980s, and also recorded a single and an album, which got national airplay.

Original Songs Produced by Surrend Records, Inc.

City Lights
“Did You Ever Think” (1975) by City Lights
“Hold My Hand” (1975) by City Lights

CP Salt
“Bumper to Bumper” (1982) by Le Roy King, Hugh Dong, and Robert Rockmore
“CP Express” (1982) by Hugh Dong
“Crazy About You” (1982) by Hugh Dong and Robert Rockmore
“Discombobulation” (1983) by Roy Pope and Hugh Dong
“Elevator” (1982) by Le Roy King, Robert Rockmore, and Hugh Dong
“Flow Like Water” (1982) by Robert Rockmore and CP Salt
“(I Got a) Crush on You” (1983) by Hugh Dong and Robert Rockmore
“Memories (of the Old Days)” (1982) by Robert Rockmore, Le Roy King, and Hugh Dong
“Steppin' on the Groove” (1982) by Hugh Dong and Le Roy King
“Where Should We Go” (1982) by Robert Rockmore, Le Roy King, and Hugh Dong

Earwaves
“Danger in the Air” (1984) by Hugh Dong
“Fooling Around” (1984) by Earwaves
“Hardworking Man” (1984) by Earwaves
“It's a War” (1984) by Earwaves
“Something Strange” (1984) by Earwaves
“The Spy” (1984) by Earwaves
“Young Girls in Mini-Skirts” (1984) by Earwaves

Core Founding Members:
David Edward DeLuca (bass guitar, vocals)
Hugh Kan Dong (guitar)
Albert Fong (aka Albert Woon) (saxophone)
T. Long (lead vocals)
Matthew Mah (drums)
Robert J. Rockmore (lead vocals, percussion)
William Robert Tamayo (keyboards)
Haley Joe Wong (saxophone)
Gary W. Wood (trumpet)

Other Members:
Jeffrey Alan Chan (lead vocals, keyboards)
Devin Delaney (keyboards)
Barry Dow (keyboards, vocals)
Donald Griffin (vocals, flute)
Michael Harig (trumpet, flugelhorn, background vocals)
Lew Hobson (vocals)
Michael Johnson (lead vocals)
Le Roy King (bass guitar, electric piano, strings)
Felix Magtoto (saxophone, flute, congas, vocals)
Peggy “Gurdy” McDonald (vocals)
James Mraz (bass guitar, background vocals)
Dave Murdock (keyboards)
Roy Pope (bass guitar)
Vincent Taylor (vocals)

SOUNDCASTERS
1965-1971

One of the first Chinese American bands from San Francisco Chinatown, the Soundcasters were between 12-15 years old when the group began. While in middle school, Gregory and Richard Der, who were brothers and self-taught musicians, began jamming with classmates Henry and Victor Ng, who were also brothers. The two sets of brothers separated and formed their own groups, the Soundcasters and Illusions. The Soundcasters' music ranged from surfer, soul, rhythm and blues, and top 40 hits, to songs from the British invasion (Beatles, Rolling Stones, etc.). At one point, the group included two go-go dancers. Their first public appearance was at a Chinese Association picnic in 1965 and a year later, they appeared on radio station KSOL twice. Among their most memorable events was the “ Battle of the Bands” held in San Francisco 's California Hall in 1966, when they won second place.

Core Founding Members:
Byron Der (bass & rhythm guitar, vocals)
Gregory Der (organ, vocals, guitar)
Randall Der (drums, tambourine, vocals)
Richard Der, Jr. (guitar, vocals)
Brian Hong (bass guitar, vocals)
Larry Jeong (drums, vocals)
Alfonso Murillo (lead vocals)

Other Members:
Ava (vocals)
Caesar (baritone saxophone)
Mary Lou (vocals)
Ralph Acevedo (saxophone)
Vincent “Skip” Blas (trumpet)
Ron Hollands (lead vocals)
Sandra Hollands (lead vocals)
Steve Anthony Monteclaro (saxophone)
Henry A. Ng (bass guitar)
Victor Y. Ng (drums)
Glen Okumura (lead vocals)
Ralph Rico (trumpet)
Mike Zalkowsky (trumpet)

© 2004 Chinese Historical Society of America