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Centaurs
Coronado Magazine Centaurs Article The Centaurs was formed in the fall of 1962 and later evolved into Linda & The Centaurs, Framework and Bright Morning. Original members: Cliff Lenz, Keyboard & Lead Guitar Joined Later: Drew Gallahar, Bass Doug Johnson, Bass Randy Chilton, Sax Clair Carlson, Vocals Kenny Brown, replaced Pat Coleman on Drums Jane Siner, replaced Clair Carlson on vocals Bill Lamden, replaced Randy Chilton on Sax Danny Orlino, replaced Rick Thomas in late 66’ Linda Morrison, replaced Janie Seiner on Vocals Steve Kilajanski, replaced Randy Chilton on Sax Pernicano, replaced Kenny Brown on Drums Rick Cutler, replaced Kenny Pernicano on Drums Paul Bleifuss, replaced Rick Cutlet on Drums Carl Spiron, replaced Paul Bleifuss on Drums Terry Thomas, replaced Carl Spiron on Drum
(This is starting to look like the story line in This is Spinal Tap!)
Cliff played a Fender Stratocaster, Fender Bandmaster.
Rick Thomas played a Fender Jaguar, Gretsch "Country
Gentleman" and had the first Fender Showman amp in Coronado,
Kenny Brown played Ludwig Drums, with White PEARL Finish.
Danny Orlino played a Fender Stratocaster.
The Centaurs was formed in the fall of 1962 and later evolved
into Linda & The Centaurs, Framework and Bright Morning.
The Centaurs- 1962-1969 by
Cliff Lenz Funny how a love affair with rock and roll and a seven year odyssey of performing, recording, road trips and opening for some of the biggest names in rock, can begin with just a casual meeting between two high school kids. In the fall of 1962 a classmate and friend of mine at Coronado High, Doug Johnson, said there was a new student named Rick Thomas who played electric guitar and that we should meet. I had a Les Paul jr. and a breadbox size amp. and thought that two guys could sound a lot more like the Ventures than just one guy. So I called Rick and we got together at Doug’s house with our guitars for a jam session. Miracle of miracles, we could actually play something together that didn’t sound half bad- the Venture’s tune “The McCoy”, E, A and B7th and lots of open string melody notes, but what the hell -- it was a start and, it was a thrill. I’m sure that it’s a thrill for all young musicians who, never having played with someone else, experience for the first time what collaborative music making can be.
We started practicing on a weekly basis putting a repertoire together. Pat Coleman became our first drummer and we enlisted Doug Johnson to play bass. Having no prior musical experience, it was a little too much for Doug and he politely resigned from the band after a few weeks. Not long thereafter the (now) trio was asked about playing for an after-football game dance. Assistant principal Mr. Oliver wanted to make an announcement over the school PA that a band would be performing but we didn’t have a name. He actually suggested we call ourselves Rick and the Shaws or Cliff and the Dwellers!! We had been thinking about possible names. At the time, the Air Force had rolled out its new ballistic missile, the Atlas Centaur - That’s It! Call ourselves the Centaurs and every time they fire one of those babies off, we get free publicity. It was decision time in the principal’s office -and so the group was officially launched with Mr. Oliver’s announcement that the “Centaurs” would be playing that night. I think we had maybe fifteen tunes and played everyone of them three times, but we made it through the gig without a single tomato flying toward the stage. Another thrill and we were hooked. The new venture would include the frequent addition and deletion of personnel. (This, not necessarily in chronological order). We added a girl singer, Clair Carlson, and saxophonist, Randy Chilton. Kenny Brown became our new drummer with the prettiest pearl Ludwig drum set in San Diego. Drew Gallahar, (a guitarist and trumpet player in the CHS stage band) joined us on bass. I got a Fender Strat and Bandmaster amp. Not to be outdone, Rick got a Fender Jaguar and Showman 15 amp and a Fender reverb unit! We got the gig as the house band at what would become the legendary Downwind Club – the junior officer’s club on North Island where we played for six years barely keeping our heads above the oceans of beer served every Sunday. A wonderful saxophonist from La Jolla, Bill Lamden replaced Chilton. For a time, Janie Seiner was our vocalist. There were dances, concerts, and car shows all over San Diego and we even played for a change-of-command party at North Island with more captains and admirals than you could count. A major thrill was recording a couple of surf tunes in the United Artists Studio in Hollywood, a session that was produced by Joe Saracino who had been the producer of the Ventures. We also played on the Sunset Strip in the summer of ’66 in the same club where the Doors became famous. Rick left the group late in ’66 and was replaced by Danny Orlino. The rest of us were now at San Diego State and Danny was still at CHS. He was a truly gifted player. (Bob Demmon, longtime CHS band director and rock guitarist with the famous surf group, the Astronauts, once told me that Danny was maybe the finest guitarist he had ever known personally). I now doubled on guitar and organ. I think we were the first rock group in San Diego to use a cut down Hammond- the keyboards were in one box and the guts in another for portability. I also invested in a Leslie speaker, which really enhanced our sound. From ’62 to ’67, the music had morphed from Pop to Surf to R&B to Psychedelic. We now had a new chick singer, Linda Morrison- (she lived in San Diego) a great talent who became a real driving force with her powerful vocals. Not bad to look at either- later became Miss San Diego. Steve Kilajanski took over on sax for a while. We now had an agency booking engagements for us- Allied Artists of San Diego, and we joined the musicians union. Kenny Brown became our manager giving way to several new drummers, all excellent players- Kenny Pernicano, Rick Cutler, the late Paul Bleifuss (formerly with the great S.D. band the Impalas) Carl Spiron (who played with one of San Diego’s all time great groups Sandi and the Accents/Classics) and later Terry Thomas.
Evolving Circa, mid 1967. "Linda and the Centaurs"- Band members left to right: Drew Gallahar (holding his Gibson bass), Rick Thomas with shades and his Gibson Birdland Guitar, our singer Linda Morrison, Steve Kilajanski, sax, Rick Cutler, drums, and Cliff Lenz, Hammond Organ and guitar.
In various incarnations- The Centaurs, Linda and Centaurs, Framework (with great vocalist and song writer, Jerry McCann) and lastly Bright Morning, we had the thrill of opening for some of the great rock groups of the era in concerts at Balboa Stadium or the San Diego Concourse- The Jefferson Airplane, Doors, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, the Leaves, the Association, the Sunshine Company, Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, Steppenwolf, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention and others.
Cliff Lenz in his Framework days (will hope to add a page on Framework soon) With great reluctance, I left my last band (Bright Morning) and my long-time guitar buddy Danny Orlino, in 1969 to head north to go to graduate school at the University of Washington. Danny left San Diego and has been a famous guitarist and singer in Guam for many years. Kenny Brown converted his band manager skills and keen business sense into a successful real estate and property management career in the Los Angeles area. Bill Lamden became a dentist. Drew Gallahar still has his hands all over guitars but now he makes them- he’s a guitar builder at the Blue Guitar in Mission Valley. I had a 20 year career as a television producer and the host of “Seattle Today” on the NBC affiliate in Seattle but I was also composing and performing music at the same time. Along the way I received an Emmy for composing the theme music for the Phil Donahue show. I have returned to music as a guitar and piano teacher in the Seattle area. Sadly, Rick Thomas died of cancer in 2004 after a career as an electrical systems maintenance engineer. I visited him in Chico, CA a few months before he passed away. We got out the guitars and played and reminisced. A few months after he died, his parents sent me his guitar, which I will always treasure. It’s an uncommon Fender model called the Coronado. Thanks to all those of you who listened and danced to our music over the years. It was a great party! Cliff Lenz, co-founder/leader- the Centaurs The Centaurs by Ken Brown The Centaurs Rock N Roll Band from Coronado during the 60's meant something special because "The Centaurs" were part of the 60's Rock N' Roll Revolution. I can remember an article in the Coronado Islander (High School Paper) which pictured the Centaurs success on par with the Beatles. They were riding high and so were we. When you are young, talented and restless the imagination becomes your reality. We were on top of the world, our world, and it was great fun for all who participated. We went from playing at Sea World to the Downwind Club to All Night High School Parties to our own Dance concerts. A highlight was the Centaurs opening for 'The Doors' at Balboa Stadium. The participants had their own special role for they too were part of the 60's rock & roll revolution. I can safely say that I would not trade a moment of this musical bonanza for any other. We were living life at a fast pace with all the trimmings. Local people knew we were The Centaurs. We carried it wherever we went. We were young talented musicians (all in the local musicians union) who had set a new stage and pace for rock and roll. We had the 62 + 64 Chevy 327 Impala's, the Delorean, The Lotus and Hemi engines and a bunch of other hot cars of the time. The Centaurs were sexy, with strapping lads and foxy singers. If you were not in the 'mood' before our event inevitably you left in the 'mood'. And that's my point. During our 25th Centaur Reunion at the Coronado Women's Club we had an array of people (some family), others were supporters with their special memories of what "The Centaurs" did for them. We brought the new 60's sound to Coronado and all it's surroundings. We opened the musical doors for our generation. We may have never competed with the Beatles, but we sure promoted their music, along with the Rolling Stones and a whole lot more Legendary Rock Bands of our time. Can't have much more fun than that because "We lived the Dream". Ken Brown, Drummer and Business Manager of "The Centaurs" and "Framework" from Coronado The Centaurs featured in the "Coronado Magazine"
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