Paul Revere & The Raiders biography

 

Formed in Portland, Oregon, USA, in 1961, when pianist Revere (b. 7 January 1938) added Mark Lindsay (b. 9 March 1942, Cambridge, Idaho, USA; vocals/saxophone) to the line-up of his club band, the Downbeats. Drake Levin (guitar), Mike Holliday (bass) and Michael Smith (drums) completed a group later known as Paul Revere And The Nightriders, before settling on their Raiders appellation. Several locally issued singles ensued, including "Beatnik Sticks" and "Like Long Hair", the latter of which rose into the US Top 40.

Group manager and disc jockey Roger Hart then financed a demonstration tape which in turn engendered a prestigious recording deal with CBS Records. Their version of bar band favourite "Louie Louie" was issued in 1963, but although highly successful regionally, was outsold by local rivals the Kingsmen who secured the national hit.

A year passed before the Raiders recorded a new single, during which time Phil Volk had replaced Holliday. "Louie Go Home" showed their confidence remained undiminished, but it was 1965 before the Raiders hit their commercial stride with the punky "Steppin' Out". By this point the band was the resident act on Where The Action Is, Dick Clark's networked, daily television show. The attendant exposure resulted in a series of classic pop singles, including "Just Like Me" (1965) "Kicks", "Hungry", "Good Things" (all 1966) and "Him Or Me - What's It Gonna Be?' (1967), each of which were impeccably produced by Terry Melcher. However, the Raiders" slick stage routines and Revolutionary War garb - replete with thigh-boots, tights, frilled shirts and three-cornered hats - was frowned upon by the emergent underground audience.
The departures of Smith, Levin and Volk made little difference to the Raiders' overall sound, enhancing suspicion that session musicians were responsible for the excellent studio sound. Later members Freddy Weller (guitar), Keith Allison (bass) and Joe (Correro) Jnr. (drums) were nonetheless accomplished musicians, and thus enhanced the professional approach marking Hard 'N' Heavy (With Marshmallow) and Collage. Despite inconsistent chart places, the group maintained a high television profile as hosts of Happening 68. In 1969 Lindsay embarked on a concurrent solo career, but although "Arizona" sold over one million copies, later releases proved less successful.

Two years later the Raiders scored an unexpected US chart-topper with "Indian Reservation (The Lament Of The Cherokee Reservation Indian)", previously a UK hit for Don Fardon, but it proved their final Top 20 hit. Although Weller forged a new career in country music, Revere and Lindsay struggled to keep the band afloat, particularly when dropped by their long-standing label. Lindsay departed in 1975, but Revere became the act's custodian, presiding over occasional releases for independent outlets with a stable line-up comprising Doug Heath (guitar), Ron Foos (bass) and Omar Martinez (drums).

 

The Raiders flourished briefly during the US Bicentennial celebrations, before emerging again in 1983 mixing old favourites and new songs on their Raiders America label. This regeneration proved short-lived, although Revere still fronts the band on the nostalgia circuit, with additional long-serving members Danny Krause (keyboards) and Carl Driggs (lead vocals).