www.evanjonesmusic.com
The Wakefield Story (page 2)
last change in personnel that the band would require.
The band decided to revamp their image. They had always played the music they wanted to, rather than playing music the audiences wanted to hear. They began mixing in their new originals with popular music. The combination worked. As the band began touring again with new additions in sound (Mike Wheeler) and lights (Dave Braun, aka. "Howie Gambit") from the Fargo/Moorehead music scene, their popularity soared.
During this time the band began backing up national acts in various arena's across the Midwest, playing with bands like ZZ Top and Head East. It was at this time that the band decided they needed an album of their own. They entered the studio and recorded the Wakefield album. The album became very successful, gaining air play on various stations throughout the Midwest, which only added to the band's popularity.
The band's objective had always been a recording contract with a major label. Of course, being from South Dakota didn't help the effort. Bands like Bon Jovi started playing locally in areas where within 200 square miles there was an audience of over 20 million people! This was not the case in Wakefield's touring region. At this time, all of the band members had families of their own. Relocating to a larger market was not a pleasant option. The closest the band would come to a recording contract was a distribution deal that would distribute the band's album nationally. The drawback to this was, the band would have to tour nationally to support the album, which would mean months away from families. This option was not pleasant either, and so in 1987, the band dissolved permanently at the height of their popularity.
If you were around in the 1980's, then you, like me, were one of their thousands of fans. You will certainly enjoy their reunion concerts, which will bring back the music of the 70's and 80's from perhaps South Dakota's most popular rock band of all time.
(Written in 1997 By Charlie O'Douglas...Operations Manager of KKMK, KKLS, Hot 93.1 Radio Stations...Rapid City, SD)
