Midwest Delegation (Decatur)

The Midwest Delegation were five teenagers from Decatur, Illinois.  The band formed in late 1967 and included students from three different area high schools (Eisenhower, Lakeview and Stephen Decatur).  The initial group consisted of:

John "Jack" Medley on lead guitar, Hammond B3 organ and backing vocals; John Vest on rhythm guitar, percussion and lead vocals;  Harold Sloatman on drums and lead vocals; Gary Peek on Hammond B3 organ, electric piano, trumpet, saxophone and backing vocals; David Hambrecht on bass, trombone and backing vocals.

Over the next several years, the group performed regularly around central Illinois at teen clubs, high school dances and college parties.  They played the Morgue Club in Decatur, the Wick in Tuscola, the Sullivan Legion Hall, the Burgess-Osborne Memorial Auditorium in Mattoon, and Marty's Dance Party at the Miller Park Pavilion in Bloomington.

A typical setlist for the group at the time included covers of the Beatles, the Association, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Buffalo Springfield, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane and other hits of the day.  The group was also capable of playing music suitable for a Hawaiian luau which they did for private parties.

 

A 1969 article promoting the Midwest Delegation mentioned that that the band had recently finished taping a television commercial (for what exactly, the article did not say).  The group was described as being one of the best equipped bands in the area.  They reportedly performed with $14,000 worth of new equipment and that it was all "king size."  The article added, "They use amps eight feet tall, a full-sized Hammond organ, a drum stage, and a double set of bass drums."  

They also traveled with a Leslie speaker cabinet for the Hammond B3 and their own Voice of the Theatre PA system.  As a result, the group purchased a 60 passenger bus, removed most of the seats and used it to haul their equipment from gig to gig.   The bus was painted green and white with "Delegation" written in huge psychedelic letters on the side.  On the back, "Follow Us, We're Going To A Dance."

Sometime in 1970, the group motored to South Pekin, Illinois and recorded two songs at the Golden Voice Recording Company.  Both songs were covers: "We Love" by the Association and "Mr. Soul," written by Neil Young and originally recorded by Buffalo Springfield. 

 

The Midwest Delegation self-released the single:

By late 1970, the group had dropped "Midwest" from their name and were billed simply as The Delegation.  Also, by this point, Colleen Hickey had joined the group on vocals and percussion.  Hickey and guitarist Jack Medley would eventually marry in 1973.

Over the next few years, the Delegation evolved into a lounge act.  There were some lineup changes as well. According to a 1973 ad for their gig at the Decatur Holiday Inn, the best ways to describe their music at that point in time were "easy listening," or perhaps "liquid gold," or even "sensuous swing."  The Delegation eventually broke up in the mid-1970's.  Jack and Colleen Medley continued to perform together in Benji and the BeBops until 1997.  

John "Jack" Medley passed away on July 28, 2020.

The Night People (Olney)

Melvin Knoblett, Larry Dressback, Michael Warnelis, Jim Housley and Charlie Broussard

The Night People were a 1960's rock group from Olney Illinois.  The band included Michael Warnelis of Olney on vocals, Melvin Knoblett of Robinson on guitar and backing vocals, Larry Dressback of Newton on bass and backing vocals, Jim Housley of Olney on drums and Charlie Broussard from South Carolina on keyboards.  All of the band members, except for Knoblett, were students at Olney Community College at the time.  Knoblett attended Eastern Illinois University.  Kelly Walker, also of Olney, was the band's manager.  He also played tambourine with the group during a few live performances.  

Mt. Vernon Register-News, July 21, 1966

The group performed around southern Illinois for several years at various teen venues such as the Teen Tower in Oblong, Teen Town in Carmi, Teen Beat in Mount Vernon, and the Cellar in Olney (which was partially owned by their manager). The Night People also had regular gigs at the Crystal Club in Effingham where their music, according to one advertisement, was promoted as "the Liverpool Sound." The group even performed at Elsie's in Sigel, a country music bar that had rock music on Saturdays for the college crowd.

In 1967, the group recorded their only single at Crusade Studios in Flora, Illinois:  The original "Ain't Gonna Happen" backed with a cover of Wilson Pickett's "Midnight Hour."  The 45 was "presented" by Tuggie Records.

 

The song "Ain't Gonna Happen" is credited to Knoblett and Warnelis.  According to a comment left on YouTube by Mike Warnelis, "I was the lead singer and had a head cold which is my excuse for the nasal sound.  The song was about, partially based, a off and on again girlfriend of mine who cheated on me."  Warnelis and Knoblett wrote at least one additional song together, a ballad called "Tell Me You Love Me."  Unfortunately, the group did not record it.

By 1969, Larry Dressback and Melvin Knoblett had been drafted into the Army.  The group continued on without them for a brief period of time but did not last too much longer.  Like so many groups of the era, the Vietnam War put an end to The Night People. 

Sixty years later, Melvin Knoblett is still writing songs, playing guitar and performing in Alabama.  Listen below to his song about the fun they used to have, back in the "Good Ole Days," while playing music in the 1960's.

On his website, Knoblett shared an alternative mix of "Ain't Gonna Happen" which includes harmonica and backing vocals not heard on the single.

  

Also, Knoblett recorded a solo version of "Tell Me You Love Me," the song he wrote with Michael Warnelis in 1967.  He re-titled the song "Always Be My Girl."

 

Sadly, Michael Warnelis died on June 23, 2018.  Larry Dressback passed away on March 20, 2008.