Bo Grumpus

This psychedelic-type band initially started from the guitarists Joe Hutchinson and Eddie Mottau performing as the duo Two Guys from Boston in the mid 1960s. They released a single which was produced by the musician Noel “Paul” Stookey” who was a member of the group Peter, Paul and Mary.

After performing in Ohio they were heard by the drummer N.D. Smart who went on to join them along with the bass player Jim Colegrove and they changed their name to the Bait Shop.

After meeting up again with the bass player and producer Felix Pappalardi, who had performed with them as the Two Guys from Boston, he joined them in Boston and soon they had a record contract with Atlantic and a publishing deal. They moved to New York in 1967 and changed their name to Bo Grumpus which came about from a drawing by the artist Gail Collins who was Felix Pappalardi’s wife.

They debuted in New York in the Gaslight Cafe in Greenwich Village and during the recording of their album N.D. Smart left and was replaced by the drummers Ronnie Blake and Herb Lovelle. The band’s debut and only album Before the War was released in 1968 before it encountered legal and publishing problems regarding its name.

They decided to changed their name to Joliver Arkansaw and under this new name they released the album Home in 1969. Following the release of the album the group members started to go their own way.

Sources:

Bo Grumpus

Navigation