Associated acts The Jesters III Record label A&M Records | Labels A&M Records Genre Rock music | |
Years active 1969 (1969)–1972 (1972) Past members Wayne McKibbinJeff CozyJames CroegaertBoyd SibleyDavid KlugTom Eisenman | ||
Hope was a Christian rock group from La Crosse, Wisconsin who released an album and a couple of singles.
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Jesters III history
Before Hope existed there was a group from La Crosse Wisconsin called Jesters III. This group Jesters III, not to be confused with the Jesters III from Gaffney, South Carolina consisted of Wayne McKibbin and Jim Burkhardt and Tom Eisenman, with Tom Eisenman being the group leader. They appear to have evolved out of an act called the Jim and Chuck Duo and another act, the Saffires. By May 1965, Jesters III had already undertaken an extensive tour visiting Washington, Nevada, and California. On May 10, 1965 at 9 pm, they were to appear at the shindig held at the U Bar in La Crosse. In August 1965, coming straight off a tour of the West Coast, they were booked to play La Crosse's Hide-Away Bar on the 22nd of that month from 9:30 pm to 1:30 am. Also in, 1965, a single, "Pledge Of Love" bw "Say That I’m The One" was released on the Coulee label. It was produced by Lindy Shannon. The track on the A side was written by Jim Burkhart and Chuck Hall. The B side was composed by Ramona Reed. On October 13, 1966, they along with Valhalla were to play the "Shindig" for the Student Union. An event that ran from 8:30 pm to 11:00 pm. In February 1967, they were booked to play the Varsity Club. In April 1967, they were again booked to play the Varsity Club, from Friday 14th through to Sunday 16th.
Hope history
Hope came together in 1969. They were led by guitarist Wayne McKibbin. Other members were James Croegaert on piano, David Klug on bass, Boyd Sibley on organ and Jeff Cozy on drums. Before coming together as a group, some of the members were playing the rounds at the Midwestern bars and resorts. The group started playing at revivalist meetings, colleges, festivals in the mid west. They were led by Wayne McKibbin.
In April 1970, they appeared at the Sound Storm rock concert in Poynette, Wisconsin, a concert that also featured The Grateful Dead, Crow, Rotary Connection and Baby Huey & the Babysitters. On March 15, 1972, Hope and Chase were to appear at a concert held at the Mary E. Sawyer Auditorium.
In 1972, they had an album released on A&M Records called Hope.
The final concert for hope was held at Esofea Park in Esofea, Wisconsin. The event was an all day concert an included a picnic and farewell party. Several hundred fans and friends of the band turned up.
Later years
In later years, Wayne McKibbin became a Protestant chaplain and was working with prison inmates as head Chaplain of the California State Prison in Susanville, CA. He put together the "Freedom from Addiction" program which drew upon his own personal experiences with certain things he had encountered in his own life, things which he felt God had helped him overcome. McKibbin died from cancer on July 4, 2005 aged 59.
Tom L. Eisenman became a pastor and author and was based in California. Along with his wife Judie, he would conduct bible studies centering on marriage and family issues.
James F. Burkhart became Chair of the UCCS Physics Department and director of the Western Regional Radon Training Center. In 1982, he received the Campus Outstanding Teaching Award. In 1986, he received the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences Outstanding Teaching Award and in 1995, he received the Chancellor's Award. As of April 2015, he was still a physics professor at UCCS.