Ron Ricky, The Semi-Tones & Wax Museum (Centralia)

Over a period of just a few years, Ron Ricky released two obscure 45s with two different groups in two different styles.  Until now, there has been very little information online about either of these records.

Ricky was the stage name of Ron Reichenbacher of Centralia, Illinois.  In August 1965, Reichenbacher had just returned to Southern Illinois from California where he had been serving in the Navy.  He was soon named vice-president of Bill-Rick Ford, a local car dealership owned by his father.  

At night he was performing around Centralia with the Semi-Tones.  Ricky was the group's drummer and bandleader.   The other members of the combo included Chuck Smith and Dave Wheeler, both formerly of California, along with George Becoat, a highly-regarded musician and singer from Centralia.

Centralia Sentinel, September 8, 1965

The quartet was advertised as having "just arrived from California."  According to various newspaper listings, a group called the Semi-Tones had in fact been performing in Torrance, CA a few months prior.

Kinmundy-Alma High School, 1966

By December of 1965, the group had recorded their first and only single: "There's A Girl in My Heart" with words by Ricky and music by Becoat.  The flipside was a cover of the Righteous Brothers' 1963 single, "My Babe."  The record was released on the Semi-Tone label and pressed by Decca.  The address printed on the label, 1409 S. Pine, was Reichenbacher's home address at the time.

 

Ricky and the Semi-Tones performed regularly around Southern Illinois at various night clubs and area dances for the next two years before calling it quits.  During this time, Ron Rick continued to sell cars and even opened his own motorcycle dealership in Centralia, Rick's Cycle Center.  He hadn't yet given up on his rock n' roll dreams however.

Kinmundy-Alma High School, 1969

By the summer of 1968, there was a new rock group performing in Southern Illinois - Wax Museum.  The group consisted of Ron Ricky, Merle and Ted Arnold of Alma and Don Brink of Hoffman.  The Wax Museum took 4th place at the Marion County Fair "battle of the bands" in August.  The competition was won by The Unified Sound, who were also from Centralia.

By March 1969, the Wax Museum was in contractual talks with Capitol Records according to the Centralia Sentinel.  The group had two new original songs they were hoping to sell to the major label:  "Blow Your Mind," written by Ricky and Merle Arnold and "If I Should Call You," credited only to Arnold.  Both songs were recorded at the K-B Bandstand music store in Centralia and released on their label, K-B Records.    

There is no audio currently available online for either song.  Teenbeat Mayhem! describes "Blow Your Mind" as "crude, moody guitar & organ with pounding fuzz break."  The record was sold locally but never got picked up by Capitol Records or any other label.  The Wax Museum continued to perform in and around Centralia for the next year and a half, sometimes billed as Merle Arnold and Wax Museums.

Ron Rick(y) continued to sell cars and motorcycles throughout the rest of his life but it is unclear if he played music professionally after 1970.  Reichenbacher passed away in 1985 at the age of 42.  His obituary made no mention of his time as a musician and bandleader.

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Centralia Sentinel, Dec. 20, 1965

Centralia Sentinel, Mar 13, 1969