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PAUL COTTON - Pre Poco Summary
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Feb 26, 1943 - Norman Paul Cotton is born Fort Rucker, Alabama
1949 to 1956- Paul attends Warren Palm grade school in Hazel Crest, IL
1957- Paul commences at Thornton Township High School, Harvey, IL . Introduced to guitar by School friends Joe Schwantner & Buddy Riley
February 1958- Paul forms “The Capitols” with Walter (Buddy) Riley (guitar), Keith Anderson (bass, accordion), Gerald (Jerry) Urban (sax) and Guy Franchot (Frenchy) Germany (drums)
1958- Jim Jaroscz occasionally handles lead vocals for the Capitols
April 18, 1959- Paul performs in school ensemble “Los Embajadores” with Joe Schwantner
1960- Jerry Urban and Frenchy Germany graduate high school
1960- Paul plays French horn in the high school band
1960- Chuck Edelhofer added as a vocalist with the Capitols
1960- The Capitols record a demo album at radio station WIND studios in Chicago
March 26, 1960- Sometime after this date the “Capitols” change their name to the
“Mus-twangs”
1961- Paul graduates high school
March 13, 1961- First single by the Mus-twangs, “Marie”, was listed as an up' n' coming song on the Top tunes of Greater Chicago
November 23, 1961- Sometime after this date Chuck Edelhofer departs and is replaced by Bobby Simms on lead vocals
1962- Frenchy Germany departs in mid year. He sells his drums and never plays again. Johnny Jordan takes his place in the band
1962- Late in the year Keith Anderson and Bobby Simms form the Bobby Simms Trio. Johnny Jordan did a few gigs on drums, later replaced full time by Verne Johnson. They start this trio as well as continuing to play with the Mus-twangs for some period of time before making the split final
Feb 1963- Jerry Urban resurrects the band that was the Mus-twangs after Keith & Bobby have made the final split. The new band is called the “Starfires” and still features Paul, Jerry Urban, Buddy Riley & Johnny Jordan. School friend and roadie, Johnny Moore becomes the bass player
Feb to July 1963- Paul initially handles some vocals. Meets Carol Vega who is often on the same bill
August 10, 1963- Jerry Urban marries. He leaves the band in July 1963, sells his saxophone and never plays again
1963- Carol Vega & Trio is formed, with Paul, Carol Vega, Johnny Moore, Johnny Jordan, and occasionally Buddy Riley
1963- Encouraged by Johnny Moore’s father, a barber, both Paul & Johnny attend barber’s school with a view to a career in that trade. Paul completed Barber’s school in October 1964 and was cutting hair through to at least the Spring of 1965
1964- Paul does some session work with Bobby Simms which continues occasionally until 1966
1964- Paul plays guitar on at least one of Carol Vega’s recordings
Early 1965- Paul parts company with “Carol Vega & Trio”.
A trio is formed with Norm “King” Cotton, Frank Bartell (bass, vocals) and Freddy Page (drums). They call themselves the “Gentrys”. Paul steps up to the mike more regularly
Summer 1965- Mike Anthony (keyboards, vocals) joins the Gentrys
End of Summer 1965- Kal David (guitar, vocals) joins the Gentrys
1965- The Gentrys cut “Doo doo pah”, at MBS studios
September 17, 1965- Sometime after this date the band changes its name to the “Rovin’ Kind”
December 1965- The Rovin’ Kind release their first single “Everybody” b/w “Bound to Roam”
1966- Paul’s first song writing credit becomes another Rovin’ Kind single – “Right on Time”
August 6, 1966- Air date of the Rovin’ Kind’s appearance on American Bandstand, performing “Right on Time” & “Night People”
Summer 1967- Frank Bartell departs, replaced by Keith Anderson
May 1967- Rovin’ Kind plays a Catholic Mass
February 1968- The band changes its name to the “Illinois Speed Press” after James William Guercio is signed as manager
March 1968- Move to LA
April 1968- Record & release “Get in the Wind” single
August 1968- At Guercio’s insistence Keith Anderson is fired prior to release of the first Speed Press album, replaced by Rob Lewine
Winter 1969- Begin production of first Speed Press album
February 1969- Begin recording at Columbia studios
March 1969- Also at Guercio’s insistance Freddy and Mike are fired shortly before the release of the first album. Verne Johnson (drums) joins the band
Summer 1969- First Illinois Speed Press album is released. Paul writes “Bad Weather
October 1969 - Guercio wanted studio musicians to perform on the forthcoming second album which caused Verne Johnson & Rob Lewine to leave
February 1970- Jimmy Rogers (bass) & Rick Allen (drums) join the band to tour pre release of the “Duet” album
Spring 1970- “Duet” album is released
June 25, 1970- Sometime after this date Kal David leaves to form the Fabulous Rhinestones. John Uribe takes his place for a month or so.
September 1970- Paul leaves to join Poco.
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