the Motions

motions.jpg

Brookpark, 1962-6

A quartet of teens from the Cleveland suburb of Brookpark who started as a Ventures/surf styled instrumental band. The band included Dave Gardina (rhythm guitar), his brother JohnnyJoe Gardina (bass), Wayne Vlcan (lead guitar), and John Casitelli (not sure of spelling) (drums). Redda Robbins became their manager and got them a 45 release on ABC. After the Beatles hit, the Motions and Robbins came up with a boss idea - take a Motions instrumental and scream the name "Ringo" over it, and name the song "Beatle Drums"...and for this bit of marketing genius they were rewarded with a big local hit. JohnnyJoe Gardina was responsible for the “Ringo” cry and the girl backing is believed to have been the Three Blond Mice, a young girl group from the Gene Carroll show. Robbins used her connections to get the band signed with Mercury Records, where they released two addtional 45s. Their 3rd 45 "Land Beyond the Moon" b/w "I Can Dance" showed they could master vocal action as well, although the wailin' guitars (with Robbins' budget Joe Meek production technique) were always the lead. A final 45 reverted to the instrumental sound.

Thanks to Joe Kurilec