The Rumblers - Boss

The Rumblers - named* for Link Wray’s Rumble - came from Norwalk, CA, and recorded with Downey Records out of Wenzel’s Records up State 42 a few miles in Downey. Founded in 1959 (first gig 1961), they had a hit with Boss on the Downey (local)/Dot (national) labels, made a series of additional singles and an LP, and disbanded in 1965 when guitarist Johnny Kirkland was drafted. They also recorded as the Nylons and the Bel Cantos. Never forgotten, they’ve appeared since then in numerous compilations and in a major revision of their LP. Like a number of bands now revered as one of the original surf bands, they always considered themselves to be playing R&B and making a few nods to this surf fad thing that had come along. Heck, let’s get some more people out to the shows! They did vocals, covers and a few originals, and did them well, but their repertoire always leaned heavily to instrumentals and their recorded output reveals them to be a particularly fine, in fact, a really boss, instrumental band. The Rumblers considered All Night Long to be their theme song. Band Members Fender Stratocaster I, vocals: Johnny Kirkland 1961-1965 Fender Stratocaster II, piano: Mike Kelishes (some bass) 1961-65 Fender Precision Bass, Gibson Fuzz-Tone: Wayne Matteson (some guitar) 1961-65 Drums: Eddie Braracco 1961, Adrian Lloyd 1962 (Rogers kit), Greg Crowner 1963-65 Saxophone I: Bob Jones (some clarinet) 1962-1964/5?, Dave Allen 1965?-65 Saxophone II, vocals: Rex De Long 1963-65 All the above information from