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Chapter Four By June 1972 Sons of Thunder had been together for
five years. It had grown since its inception in June ’67 from a
four-piece folk-rock-style group to an eight-member band with a heavier
rock style and more creative arrangements. But its priorities had stayed
the same: it remained devoted to sharing the love of Christ through
engaging music, as much of it original as possible, and committed to
ministry through it all. SOT’s opportunities to perform grew steadily
throughout this period, and numerous churches, campus ministries and
Christian organizations throughout the mid-Atlantic region had engaged
the band for concerts. Now the time seemed right to launch the band
full-time, and in June ’72 SOT took this step. But with two personnel
changes. More
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Sons of Thunder’s Full Time Years, June 1972 - May 1973 -- Photos |
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Sons of Thunder fall 1972 (L to
R, B to F): Ed Weaver, lead keyboards, vocals; Bob Eagan, drums; Tom
Willett, bass, |
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| The house where SOT dwelt
from June 1972 to Dec. 1974, 9400 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, Maryland. It was the parsonage of the church to the right, though SOT had full use of it. Photo: 9/10/74 |
Temple Hills Baptist Church then, now
Bethesda Meeting House, gave SOT full use of their manse, on the church property, during their full time years, and use of the church as well. Photo: 9/10/74 |
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| SOT at several outdoor performances, fall 1972 (next 5 photos) | |
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| At Track Recorders, Silver Spring,
Maryland, recording "Day Follows Night" album, July 1972 |
Engineer Cory and SOT's sound engineer Debbie Halverson shown |
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| SOT performing at Loudon
County Virginia crusade of Billy Graham evangelist John Wesley White, September 1972. |
All of SOT's fall 1972 troupe except
Charlie shown here |
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| Steve Halverson at full throttle | ||
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| Phyllis | Blaine | Hendricks, Tom, Blaine |
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Duane Self joined SOT as full-time
technician in June 1972. |
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| Becky, Phyllis, Steve |
SOT joined by local autoharp legend,
Brian Bowers, when performing at the Lincoln Memorial, fall 1972 |
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| Phyllis | Bobby | Donna |
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| Phyllis | Debbie | Hendricks |
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| Hendricks, Becky | Blaine, Steve (barely shown), Becky, Phyllis |
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| Summer 1972 at weekly
college meeting, Fourth Presbyterian, Phyllis, Blaine, Becky, Donna, Don |
Donna |
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SOT performing with "Rock Gospel
for the Deaf." Beginning in March 1973, SOT began presenting a
special |
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signers/choreographers for Rock Gospel for the Deaf: Fr. Rudy Gawlik, Dan Pokorny, Pam Minger, and Dennis Cokley, from Gallaudet College and Kendall Demonstration School |
While most Rock Gospel
concerts were for large audiences, this one in an intimate setting shows the exuberant joy audience members experienced from this concert. |
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| SOT placed their highest priority on
ministry, and members always stayed available as long as needed to talk to people after concerts. Steve shown here . . . |
. . . and Blaine |
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| . . . and Don | . . . and Dorian |
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| Guitarist-singer Dorian
Lester joined SOT in March 1973 |
Dorian and Tom Willett |
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Next 7 photos from Spring 1973, after Dorian joined SOT. |
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| Next 3 from 3
different outdoor performances in Omaha, Nebraska, May 1973 |
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Dorian, Phyllis, Tom |
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Sons of
Thunder |
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Celebrating America's Pioneer Christian Rock Band |
