Want to reach the guys in band nowadays?
Email Me
A Short Bio
If you went to the Greystone Hotel in 1974,you probably remember seeing and hearing this band. They played at alot of places besides the GREYSTONE HOTEL(which is torn down now).Like Redcoach& Middle Bar,among private parties.They also had alot of followers and helpers like Larry Reed,Rich Schofield and Jimmy Brown.
(Jimmy)is no longer with us.Jimmy Brown often ran the lights and sound equiptment.He was a good friend of the guys.He will always be remembered and loved by those who knew him.
Gerald Collingsworth did the recordings on an 8-track recorder.He also started out playing the bass guitar with them.Gerald is now an evangelist in OHIO.He has written a book which includes excerpts about the CORPORATION days.
Some of you might have known the guys personally.You know who you are.
They (Jim Kirk & Jim Robbins) started out just jamming around.Then Gerald Collingsworth started playing bass with them,for awhile. Until Jack Blanton came into playing bass for them.They were not considered Corporation until Mike Jones entered the picture. After Mike was in, they started playing out. Of course Mike was good at talking and getting the bookings.John Blanton was brought in later,for keyboards.
They had no drummer when they first started out.Just different drummers every show.
When Larry Kirk joined the band he stayed as their drummer up until the band parted.
The Corporations' first gig was the Silver Dollar/Hideaway in
BEDFORD,IN(click here for bedfordonline.com)
Then later places like The Greystone Hotel & Red Coach in Bedford. The Middle bar in Mitchell.Thus becoming a well known favorite band of the area,with lots of followers and regulars to the shows.
My dad is Jimmy Robbins, who played second lead and rhythm guitars. A kick butt guitar player then and now.We still play music together sometimes.Though not near enough!!He has come along way from the 70's on the guitar. With his playing style and newer technology.He now has cool guitar effects and a wireless unit.Things they did not have back then.He is one heck of a guitar picker!
Jimmy Kirk(my uncle)was the lead guitar player.He was tough on the guitar back then,and he still is today.Kirk also played bass guitar for a christian band after the CORPORATION days."You never knew from one week to the next if Jim would be carrying a bible or a guitar,"someone once said.
Jim and I have played music together for several years.He and my dad taught me alot on the guitar.Although my mother was the first to buy me an acoustic guitar.She also taught me chords & songs,like "House of the rising sun".
I had never met Larry until just recently, when we discovered where he lives.
We asked him to play at the reunion with us.He gladly accepted.
Larry still plays drums for another local band and was currently working on a studio project when i last talked to him. But now I was too young to remember Larry & Mike during the band days.
He(Mike) moved to California after the band.But has moved back to Mitchell just recently.
It stemmed from my grandfather Paul Kirk(who passed away in 1983)He could play any instrument put in front of him. Especially the organ and guitar. He also had a beautiful voice. My grandmother(Phyllis) said "Paul would sometimes stay up all night to learn songs to play for the family".
Almost everyone in my family plays some kind of instrument.My mother(Judy)is the singer of the family though. You should hear her on karaoke night!
BAND MEMBERS OF CORPORATION WERE AS FOLLOWS:
MIKE JONES-LEAD VOCALIST
JIM ROBBINS-RHYTHM GUITAR
JIM KIRK-LEAD/RHYTHM GUITARS
JACK BLANTON-BASS GUITAR
JOHN BLANTON-ORGANS
LARRY KIRK-PERCUSSION/DRUMS
