the Tempos / Gardenias

Toledo, 1956-1961

Ad from November 1958

The Tempos were a rock-n-roll/R&B band that was led by Johnny Gibson. Johnny was the keyboard player. The other members were Jimmy Underwood, Mickey Wood, Louie Lauch, and John Schilling. Gibson, Underwood, and Wood had been students at Woodward HS, while the other two were still in Whitmer HS.

The group recorded two 45s. The group were orignally named the Gardenias. They recorded a 45 for the Fortune label subisdiary Hi-Q records. When the record was released, another group named the Gardenias had already released a record, so our band became the Tempos and the record was released under both names. The A side is a vocal R&B song, while the instrumental B side "Houdini" features sax by Toledo's Jimmy Pirtle.

The band's second and last record was two instrumentals. This record was also issued twice, on the Hi-Q and Oasis label. The songwriters on the records were Gibson, Underwood, and Lee Hohiser. Lee's presence is a little mysterious. He was living in Bay City, MI as a DJ on a radio station WWBC there. He must have had a local connection because he placed an ad in the Toledo Blade newspaper regarding a home for rent. We'll assume that he was the connection to get the group on Fortune/Hi-Q and was 'rewarded' with a writer's credit.

The band played locally through early 1961, when they must have disbanded. Johnny had moved on quickly as the Johnny Gibson Trio were quite active by late 1961.

Discography
I'm Laughing At You / Houdini - Hi-Q 5005, Sept 1958
Sham-Rock / It's Tough - Hi-Q 100/ Oasis 105, 1959/60