An Interview with John, Mike & Ron
Q: How long have the three of you been playing music together?
Mike: The first band we were in together was called "Yesterdays Future." This was in the late '60's.
Ron: We've been playting music together longer then that. We've been nieghborhood buddies since we were eight years old. The three of us would get together in Mike's garage. I wasn't playing bass back then, I was singing, using an old stepladder for a microphone stand. We all realized we needed more than rhythm and drums to form a band.
Q: Who has been your biggest influence?
Mike: For me it was when the Beatles crossed the pond in the early '60's.
Q: Who did you listen to before that?
Mike: Ricky Nelson - I saw him live at McCormick Place.
John: We listened to Four Seasons, BB King, The Beach Boys. But, I've always had an interest in the blues.
Q: Did you guys take music lessons?
Ron: I borrowed a guys acoustic guitar and learned some basic chords from an instruction book. I found out I could play melodies by ear. I also became interested in bass lines. I would play an acoustic alson with records.
John: I bought my first set of drums in 1964, when that strange sound came from across the ocean. I took lessons for about six months. I think you have to practice alone first (then play with other people) in order to get comfortable with your instrument.
Mike: I learned from other guys in the neighborhood too. Then I bought guitar books and kept learning as much as I could on my own. I started lessons in my sophmore year of high school.
John: I think it takes years to really master an instrument. I learned alot from playing with other people. There are so many different styles of music. You can play with 10 different guitarist and no two will be alike!
Q: What bands were you in?
John: In the mid '60's, I was in a band called, 'The Casuals'. We recorded an album and 4 singles of original music. We disbanded in '66.
Mike: In 1969, "Yesterdays Future" was born.
Ron: This consisted of Mike, John and myself and one other guy. As a matter of fact our first practice was the same night as America's first moonlanding. We stayed together until about 1975.
Q: What do you feel was the biggest accomplishment at that time?
Mike: Winning first place in a high school talent show.
John: This was for playing to an audience of about 2000.
Mike: Today, I'd have to say playing the club circuit consistently for the past 2 years and getting a positive response from the audience.
Ron: Mike, John and I have stuck together through years, we've played with many other guys trying to get a group together.
Q: How about after that?
Mike: We formed the group, "Shelter" in 1984. Once again, we were playing to live audiences.
Q: How did you get together with Ray?
Mike: I met Ray in 1988. Together with Ron, John and three other members, we formed "The Morgan Foundation."
Ron: We were doing well musically, but we were doing a lot of middle of the road tunes. We did not seem to have what it takes to the club circuit.
John: The band broke up but Ray stuck with us to form "UGUYZ." Ray is an excellent keyboardist and a very good singer. Jimmie and Ray do most of the singing for the group.
Q: How did this come about?
Mike: A former member, Vern Williams brought Jimmie to the band (Vern left in December, 1995.) After the first rehearsal we knew we had something special.
John: He's also a great front man. That is the one ingredient that was missing from all the other bands that I have ever been in. We never had a good front man. We now have one of the best!
Ron: After hearing us on one occassion my sister remarked, "Jimmie can really make the guitar talk." Not only does Jimmie fit in musically, he also adds to the commaraderie that we already have!
Q: What makes UGUYZ different from other bands?
John: We play a unique style of music. Everything from rock, rhythm and blues and motown. But, what makes us different is we interact with the audience as we perform. You never know what will happen at a UGUYZ Show.
Q: What are your plans for the future?
Mike: Bigger venues and to record original material.
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