The Metro St. Louis Live Music
Historical Society
The Jesters
Terry Thompson and the Jesters
Terry Thompson /Vocals, Guitar
Jerry Martin /Sax
Buddy Title /Bass, Keys
Howard Jones /Drums
Johnny Catalano /Drums
Gig Louvier /Vocals
At the end of this short clip you'll see The Jesters on:
The St. Louis Hop
Here's some GREAT Jesters music:
I got all this info from sax player Jerry Martin on 12/20/12:
As the former sax player with the Jesters, I know a bit about them that I'll share with you. Howard Jones, shown in the attached photo was the group's first drummer.
Records include The Dinnerset
and Angela Mia, along with backing up Little Mojo on Paula and Mojo Rockin'. The
group also did backup performance for many touring performers who sent their
records ahead for the band to learn. Some names of those backed up: Jerry Lee
Lewis, Bobby Rydell, Bobby Vee, Freddie Canon, Dee Clark, and Wade Flemons.
Our band got its big launch in the late 50s when it got an agent (Ruth Faust)
and teamed up with KWK dj, King Richard. They became an act as King Richard and
The Jesters, playing the "splatter-platter" parties at Downs swimming pool and
regular gigs at the Sunset Hills Pool/dance venue. The group had two fan clubs
of approximately 200 mostly screaming teeny boppers who never failed to impress
the producers of the rock and roll shows where the Jesters appeared.
The
group recorded at Universal Studios in Chicago and Technisonic studios in St.
Louis. An audition at Sun Records in Memphis failed to land a contract. Playing
the half-time show at Kiel Auditorium for the Hawks was a huge rush! The
attached photo was taken at the Casa Loma Ballroom in St. Louis, where The
Jesters played regular Sunday shows.
Gradually, in the early 60s the group disbanded as members went off to college,
the Vietnam War and full-time jobs.
Terry Thompson, the group's leader, remained a St. Louis area rock entertainer
and producer/agent.
Jerry Martin (that's me, so I'll brag a little) apprenticed in audio engineering
for Wally Heider Recording (Hollywood and San Francisco), where Creedence
Clearwater Revival, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Jefferson Airplane/Starship,
Santana, Janice Joplin, Cold Blood, Bill Evans and many others made their big
60s hits. He later headed Guitar Player Magazine's GPI Books and Records in
Cupertino, California.
I never knew what happened to Johnny Catalano, Gig Louvier or Buddy Title.
So there. Hope this sheds some light on The Jesters for you.
And here's one more cool track:
If you have any info about, or photos or recordings of this band, PLEASE email me at: greg@dejawho.com
Thanks to Suzie Raymond Wildhaber and Jerry Martin