Jul 30, 2022
After a lull of 7 years since meeting up last, the Coachmen, Waukesha, Wisconsin's folk song quartet from 1959 to 1965 (junior high through senior year of high school) all of 'em (Rich Reaves, Walt Galloway, Steve Hoeft, Bruce Kerr), flew back from Georgia, Rhode Island, Idaho, and California to their hometown of Waukesha, Wisconsin, to perform at their high school maestro's Memorial Service, for James Machan on a Saturday in June of 2022.
The day before the Memorial, the boys regrouped to perform as former jocks (Waukesha's legendary high school swim champions dynasty, 1958-75) and "Blackshirts" at their hometown's "Blackshirts Breakfast Group," hosted by backstroker & hometown legend, Bill Schley. Frivolity ensued as this videoclip evidences. Following breakfast, the quartet donned some of their remaining instruments to perform "M.T.A," originally by the Kingston Trio, one of their mentor groups as the learned to sing & play together as pre-Beatles young "lads." From Mrs. Kamradt's 7th grade music classroom to the present, the group has had a 63 year run.
After graduating high school in 1965, Steve went on to graphic arts, Walt as a scientist at the EPA, and Rich and Bruce became lawyers. In the late 70's, 2 Coachmen, Steve & Bruce quit their jobs and went on the road as a duo ("Winterwood"), adding bass & drums to become a rock band in their 30's, "Spud City," which played New England & Virgin Islands' resorts, bars, nightclubs and college pubs until 1980.
Following that, Steve went back to work and Bruce played clubs until 1992 after which he got a real job for 23 years. All the "lads" are now retired, but find ways to link up every once in a while. Were you there? ;)