Girish Mahajan (Editor)

The Sentinals (band)

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Years active
  
1961 - 1965

Associated acts
  
The Sentinel Six

Record label
  
Del-Fi Records

Labels
  
Del-Fi, ERA, Westco

Active until
  
1965

Genres
  
Surf rock, Holiday

The Sentinals (band) sloblogsthetribunenewscomslovaultfiles200810

Past members
  
John Barbata Ron Gornell Peter Graham Kenny Hinkle Bobby Holmquist Norman Knowles Lee Michaels Tommy Nunes Ronnie Page John Ryan Harry Sackrider Mike Scott Gary Winburne

Origin
  
San Luis Obispo, California, United States (1961)

Albums
  
Big Surf, Big Surf!/Surfer Girl, Sunset Beach, the Best Of, Surfer Girl, Vegas Go Go: Live At The Teenbeat Club

Similar
  
The Lively Ones, The Challengers, John Barbata, Dave Myers and The Surft, Eddie & the Showmen

The Sentinals were a surf rock band from San Luis Obispo, California (1961-1965). The band is notable for a Latino influence in some works, such as "Latin'ia" (1962). Notable band members included Tommy Nunes, drummer John Barbata (later of The Turtles and Jefferson Starship) and Lee Michaels (then known as Michael Olsen) on keyboards.

Contents

Background

Even though a surf group, they added an appealing latin accent to their music. According to band member John Barbata, as mentioned in Craig Fenton's Take Me to a Circus Tent: The Jefferson Airplane Flight Manual, the group was actually rhythm and Blues.

In the summer of 1962, the group toured the country and opened for bands including The Coasters and The Righteous Brothers. Also that year, through Norman Knowles, the group came across Tony Hilder, who's company Anthony Music would later became involved in legal action with Del-Fi records, slapping the label with a $122,000 Superior Suit as a result of royalties not being paid. This was relating to an alleged agreement for the masters of albums by The Sentinels, The Centurians, Dave Meyers and the Surf Tones, etc.

In 1963 the band was featured in the March 16 issue of Central Coast Living section of The Tribune. Kenny Hinkle was pictured on the cover. Also that year, their Big Surf album was released on the Del-Fi label.

According to Robert J. Dalley's book Surfin' Guitars: Instrumental Surf Bands of the Sixties, the 1965 line up consisted of John Barbata, Ron Gornell, Kenny Hinkle, Norman Knowles, and Tommy Nunes.

1970s to 1980s

In August 1984, they got together and played at the San Luis Obispo Officer's Club. This live reunion was for their twenty-year class reunion.

1990s to present

In 1996, Del-Fi released the Big Surf Hits various artists compilation album, featuring their track "Big Surf". Other artists on the album were The Impacts, Dave Myers and The Surftones and The Lively Ones.

Members

  • John Barbata: drums, 1961–66
  • Ron Gornell: organ, 1965–66
  • Peter Graham: guitar, 1961–66
  • Kenny Hinkle: bass, 1962–66
  • Bobby Holmquist: saxophone, 1961–64
  • Norman Knowles: saxophone, 1965–66
  • Lee Michaels (Michael Olsen): organ, vocals, 1966
  • Tommy Nunes: guitar 1961-66
  • Ronnie Page: vocals, 1966
  • John Ryan: bass
  • Harry Sackrider: guitar, 1964–65
  • Mike Scott: drums
  • Gary Winburne: bass, 1961-63
  • Songs

    Latin'iaBig Surf · 1963
    Big SurfBig Surf · 1963
    Tor-ChulaBig Surf · 1963

    References

    The Sentinals (band) Wikipedia