Chapter
Five By June 1973 Sons of Thunder had been a highly
active band for six years, with the past year full time. Momentum had
continued to grow this past year, and the band continued to receive new
invitations for concerts -- especially from churches, campus
ministries, and high school ministries such as Young Life and Youth for
Christ. Its recent concerts with Rock Gospel for the Deaf also promised to open further doors. The band had mastered the
art of the self-sponsored, area-wide concert in the |
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SOT’s Full Time Years, June 1973 - December 1974 -- Photos |
This photo and the next show Sons of Thunder's lineup late summer 1973: (L to R, B to
F): Jack Moffat, lead keyboards; Eric Logan, vocals; Tom Willett, bass,
vocals; Phyllis Wade, vocals; Tom Paustian, Drums; Becky Newell, vocals;
Dorian Lester, lead guitar, vocals; Donna Gadling, keyboard, vocals. (For
about six months, starting in August, 1973, Blaine Smith did not perform
with SOT, but managed the band from the home office -- to allow him a
more humane schedule as a newlywed. Dorian handled lead guitar fully
during this period. Blaine performed with SOT earlier that summer, and
again beginning in March 1974.)
SOT shown in this photo and the next on the side porch of the house they occupied from June '72 to Dec. '74, at 9400 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, Maryland.
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(L to R, B to F): Jack, Eric, Tom Willett, Phyllis, Tom Paustain, Becky, Donna, Dorian |
Omaha native Tom Paustian joined SOT as
drummer in June 1973, replacing |
Tom Paustian, Phyllis Wade |
Firebrand Eric Logan joined
SOT for the summer in June 1973, filling the male lead vocal spot left by Hendricks Davis and Steve Halverson, who left that month. |
Keyboard genius Jack Moffat
also joined SOT in June 1973, filling the spot left by Ed Weaver, who left in April to take a church position. |
Jack and Dorian |
Ed Weaver coaching Jack Moffat shortly after Jack joined SOT. | Debbie and Jack |
Steve Nelson joined SOT in
June 1973 as road assistant, |
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Next 4 from camps where SOT performed in summer 1973. | Becky, Tom Willett, Eric |
SOT performing Jack Moffat's composition "Seek Ye First." This song, about 10 minutes long, became a signature tune and showstopper for Sons of Thunder during their second full-time year. Shown: Becky, Donna, Tom Willett, Jack, Phyllis |
SOT at weekly college meeting at Fourth
Presbyterian, |
Phyllis, Blaine Dorian |
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Next 7 photos: Scott Wesley
Brown performing with SOT at college meeting at Fourth Presbyterian, summer 1973. Shown: Scott, Tom Willett, Dorian |
Tom Willett, Scott, Dorian |
Tom Willett, Scott, Dorian |
Tom Willett took over SOT's music
leadership after Ed Weaver left in April 1973, and provided |
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Dynamo Dan Robbins joined SOT in
September 1974, replacing Eric Logan, who left to return to college that
fall. |
Sons of Thunder's lineup September 1973
(L to R, B to F): Donna Gadling, keyboard, vocals; Dorian Lester, |
Evie Kirkland and Blaine Smith were
married September 8, 1973 at Fourth Presbyterian. Most from SOT
participated, |
Though joining SOT just out
of high school, and the band's youngest member, Jack Moffat filled the lead keyboard role extremely well during his year with the band. |
In addition to being one of SOT's key
lead singers and song- writers, Donna Gadling also provided strong keyboard support during her almost seven years with the band. |
Donna was also a key vocal arranger for
SOT. As the band's unusual mix of singers grew, Donna worked closely
with Ed Weaver |
In December 1973 the Rock Gospel
signing team and Sons of Thunder produced a TV documentary for WETA
public |
After taping the Rock Gospel program,
Phyllis Wade left Sons of Thunder, in December 1973, to return |
SOT performing at a coffee house at
George Madison College (now |
Blaine Smith returned to performing
with |
Donna and Dan: too good not to include |
From video Dan produced of his composition, "I Hear Your Hand." Watch on YouTube. |
SOT's third drummer, Tom Paustian, with
the band from June '73 to Dec. '74, was a hard worker |
(L to R) Jack Keller, Scott Wesley
Brown, Betty Ann Morse, Paul Rosenstock, Tom Paustain |
In June 1974 most SOT members felt that, while the time with Sons of Thunder had been extraordinary, it was time to move on with the next chapter of their lives. For some this meant returning to college, and for others pursuing a career niche. Please see the history section of this chapter for more details. Several members wanted to continue SOT's full-time ministry, though, and others were eager to join the band. And so with the blessings of everyone, a new troupe took over in July 1974. Led by SOT's long-time light show presenter, Charlie Ruh, this group included Tom Paustain (drums), Diane Ruh ( secretary), and technician Duane Self -- all continuing members -- plus new members Bettie Ann Morse (vocals), Paul Rosenstock (lead guitar, vocals), Jack Keller (bass, vocals), and Steve Huwe (guitar, vocals). This new team made an earnest effort to keep SOT's full-time operation alive. But with some many familiar faces gone, and mounting financial pressures, it became too challenging. Sons of Thunder finally called it a day in December 1974. We lack photos from this final period of the band and the members, but are looking for them and will post them when we find them. If you have any you can forward to us, please do so and we'll post them. Again, we hope you'll visit the history section of this chapter and the many other pages in this site for much more information on Son of Thunder, reflections on the band's legacy, and hundreds of photos. |
Sons of
Thunder |
Celebrating America's Pioneer Christian Rock Band |