Toledo, Ohio is known for many things, Rock and Roll is not usually considered to be one of them. However, many consider Toledo as a source of innovation and trend setting. Toledo has in the past, and continues to turn out exceptional talent. This web site is an effort to document Toledo's contribution to the World. Not only in the field of music, but also in art and technology. This site is dedicated to the likes of the Pythian Castle and The Almond Cookie crowd. It is more directed to the “ fringe” if you will of the psychedelic underground of the 60's & 70's.
6 comments:
As a member of the Radiation Blues Band of the 70's I am really impressed with the entries I have found on this blog.
Contact with others who were in the Toledo Music Scene at the time is a joy for me as I continue to work and play music with remarkable Toledo Musicians today.
I have known and been able to sing with so many local musicians and am happy to say that the local music scene is alive and well in the Toledo area.
The new young musicians are learning their craft from older experienced Toledo musicians and I am happy to say that they are going to go places and continue the Toledo Music traditions.
Lenny Monahan was related to the scene. He used to share an apartment with Joe Bruton and was a childhood friend of Dave Briner, bass player for The Rogues. He was the guy who taught Dave how to play bass in the first place. Lenny & Dave used to sit around in Dave's garage on Walbridge Avenue and write songs. Lenny also played in a band with Kelsey Moore and Jerry Knight and went on to become the bass player for Grass. I remember a lot of those guys: Chuck Monto, Bernie Ellis and others. Lenny was more of a solo act and put out records under the name Len Francis Monahan. Now I understand he's an author of some kind. Lots of good people came out of Toledo during that period. I sure miss it. I also can't think of one good reason why the Rogues didn't become a international hit.
I remember hearing Len Monahan on Toledo radio. He wrote Christmas songs.
Being Alone for Christmas and Christmas Lullaby. I remember his songs on Michigan radio.
I just found one of his old 45s for sale on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Take-Easy-Len-Francis-Monahan/dp/B0055SM9BA/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=len+francis+monahan&qid=1600711776&sr=8-7
I just typed in - len francis monahan "being alone for Christmas" - on Amazon and a bunch of his stuff came up. After all these years this Toledo boy is still around selling his music and books. Good for him! Buckeyes last and last.
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