Petra

Origin: Fort Wayne, Indiana (USA)

PETRA

John Slick - Greg X Volz - Mark Kelly - Bob Hartman

Discography:

Never say die - 1981 (with lyrics)

More power to ya - 1982 (with lyrics)

Not of this world - 1983 (with lyrics)

Beat the system - 1984 (with lyrics)

Back to the street - 1986 (with lyrics)

This means war! - 1987 (with lyrics)

On fire! - 1988 (with lyrics)
Beyond belief - 1990 (with lyrics)

Notes:

- Petra is one of the most successful Christian rock bands ever, a veritable institution whose name (taken from the Greek word for "rock") has come to reflect not only their music, but their staying power as well, even in spite of Christian radio's reluctance to program their brand of loud, slick arena rock. Petra was formed in 1972 by guitarist Bob Hartman, who was attending the Christian Training Center in Fort Wayne, IN at the time; he recruited several fellow students -- guitarist/vocalist Greg Hough, bassist John DeGroff, and drummer Bill Glover -- to his cause, and the group began playing around the Fort Wayne area with backing from their school. Petra encountered early resistance to the very idea of Christian rock from many local churches, who held that the rock & roll sound was inherently evil; nevertheless, the group proved popular with younger Christians, and was signed to the Word Records subsidiary Myrrh in 1973. Their self-titled debut was released in 1974, and was more similar to the California country-rock of the Eagles than to the arena rock that would dominate most of their career. The follow-up, Come and Join Us, did not appear until 1977, but it featured strong contributions from lead vocalist Greg Volz, as well as a harder-rocking sound.

Petra's lineup fluctuated over the next several years; in spite of the instability, they managed to record their first breakthrough effort, Washes Whiter Than, in 1979, which featured the Christian radio hit "Why Should the Father Bother." When the dust finally settled, the group consisted of Hartman, Volz, keyboardist John Slick, bassist Mark Kelly, and drummer Louie Weaver. The albums Never Say Die (1981), More Power to Ya (1982), and Not of This World (1983) did much to popularize the group, and in 1984, they were rewarded with a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Gospel Group and two Dove Award nominations (the first of many). For 1985's Beat the System, ex-Joe English Band keyboardist John Lawry replaced Slick. In 1986, Greg Volz left Petra for a solo career, and former Head East singer John Schlitt assumed vocal duties for Back to the Street. 1987's This Means War marked a successful transition to a less polished brand of rock & roll. Subsequent efforts, like 1988's On Fire!, which debuted bassist Ronny Cates, brandished a heavier guitar onslaught in the wake of Stryper's success as a Christian metal band, although Petra never neglected their trademark lush ballads. Petra has soldiered on through the '90s and into the 2000s with few signs of slowing down. 1995 saw Lawry replaced by Jim Cooper, and the addition of guitarist David J. Lichens. Subsequent efforts include 1998's God Fixation and 2000's Double Take. -

(https://www.allmusic.com/artist/petra-mn0000325443#biography)

- Petra is a Melodic Rock band that formed back in 1972 while guitarist-Bob Hartman was in Fort Wayne attending a Christian Training Center. During his time at the Center, Bob recruited a few classmates including vocalist/guitarist-Greg Hough, bassist-John DeGroff, & drummer-Bill Glover to form the line-up for a new band called Petra. Not long after forming, the band started playing in local venues around the Fort Wayne area such as churches, coffeehouses, and parks. Petra takes the idea for their band's name from the Greek word Petros meaning a rock.

       

In 1973 Petra darkened the doors of Milam Studios to begin work on material for their debut album. In 1974 Petra released their full-length studio self-titled debut album on Myrhh Records. The band was comprised of members Bob Hartman-lead vocals/guitars/banjo, Greg Hough-lead vocals/guitars/mandolin, John DeGroff-bass, and Bill Glover on drums. Bob & Greg both shared singing duties on this 1974 debut recording.

       

In 1976 Bob Hartman contacted vocalist-Greg X Volz and invited him to perform as a guest singer on Petra's 1977 sophomore album ?'Come And Join Us'. On this release, Greg was given the opportunity to perform lead vocals on 3 different tracks. His work on the album didn't go unnoticed with guitarist/founder-Bob Hartman later offering Greg a full-time position as the band's lead vocalist. The line-up for 'Come And Join Us' was comprised of members Bob Hartman-guitars/vocals, Greg Hough-guitars/vocals, Greg X Volz-vocals, John DeGroff-bass, Steve McElyea-Keyboards and Bill Glover on drums.

       

After the release of their sophomore album, Greg X. Volz was officially given a position as lead vocalist for Petra. With Volz now fronting the band, in 1979 Petra recorded & released their 3rd full-length album titled 'Washes Whiter Than' on Star Song Records. This album finds Greg X. Volz sharing the mic with guest vocalist-Rob Frazier. 'Washes Whiter Than' had a radio friendly sound and helped Petra garner some much needed recognition in the music industry. This recording falls more in the Contemporary music category and is one of the softest albums that Petra has ever produced. 

       

Over the next 7 years, Greg X. Volz continued in his position as lead vocalist for Petra and went on to perform as frontman on a number of albums including 1981 'Never Say Die', 1982 'More Power To Ya', 1983 'Not Of This World', 1984 'Beat The System', and the 1986 live album 'Captured In Time And Space'. 

       

After the release of 'Captured In Time And Space,' Greg X. Volz moved on to pursue a solo career. The departure of Greg Volz left a gaping hole in the bands lead vocalist position. However, a vocalist named John Schlitt had sung on a recording for a bunch of kids in Illinois, and the tape recording had been circulated all over the music industry. One of the men who received a copy of John singing was a music critic for Christian music. Bob Hartman was a friend of the "music critic" and simply asked him if he could find a new singer for Petra. At that very moment, the critic produced the tape that he had been given of John Schlitt singing. After hearing John Schlitt sing, Bob was interested and they were able to contact John's brother from a phone number off the first album from John's previous band - 'Head East'.

After obtaining John's number from his brother, "Bob Hartman calls John up and asks, "Would you consider singing for Petra?" John responds to Bob's question, "You gotta be kidding me! I haven't sung for five years." It had been five long years since he had sang with any band including his previous secular band 'Head East' because he had gotten saved and John was now content with his work as a 'Cost & Scheduling Engineer' for a mining construction company. However, John auditioned for the part and sang "Altar Ego,” a song that eventually appeared on Petra’s 1986's album Back to the Street. "There was one high part in it that I hit, and he (Bob) goes 'Where did that come from?!' I said, 'Oh, it's no big deal.’ I could see his eyes just clicking, going 'Yeah - got the range, got the….. this is good, this is good!' And it was funny! I felt like it had worked out well."   

John Schlitt officially joined Petra in 1986, bringing with him his incredible vocal range and abilities that made him a legend with Head East. The band didn't waste any time in getting to work on new material. That same year, in 1986 Petra released their 9th full-length studio album titled 'Back To The Street' on Star Song Records. The album was produced by John & Dino Elefante. The album garnered rave reviews which helped confirm the band's decision for their new lead vocalist-John Schlitt. The band's line-up for 'Back To The Street' was comprised of vocalist-John Schlitt, guitarist-Bob Hartman, bassist-Mark Kelly, keyboardist-John Elefante, and drummer-Louie Weaver.

In 1987 Petra released their 10th full-length studio album titled 'This Means War!' on Star Song Records. 'This Means War!' was one of the bands strongest albums opening with a war drum - military cadence letting the listener know right out that war had been declared! John Schlitt's vocals had a heavier - edgier sound than that of previous Petra vocalist which worked well with what was trending with secular bands of the time on the radio and Mtv. The album received rave reviews and has stood the test of time as a solid project that can be enjoyed today after some 30 + years. The line-up for 'This Means War' was comprised of vocalist-John Schlitt, guitarist-Bob Hartman, bassist-Mark Kelly, backing vocals-John Elefante, and drummer-Louie Weaver.

In 1988 Petra showed no signs of stopping with the release of their 11th full-length studio album simply titled 'On Fire!' on Star Song Records. With 'On Fire!' the band took their music to the next level with 10 blazin' tracks filled with hard hittin' energy from beginning to end. The tempo was move up to notches not seen on previous releases to a level that sparked a full blaze upon each listen. This album demanded no less than to be played a full blast giving a proper dusting to the listener's speakers with each and every spin. This was Petra at their best with full command of the stage. There was no other band or album, at the time, that could compare with this fiery release. 'On Fire!' went on to receive rave reviews from around the world. The line-up for 'On Fire!' was comprised of vocalist-John Schlitt, guitarist-Bob Hartman, bassist-Ronny Cates, keyboardist-John Lowry, backing vocals-John Elefante, ?and drummer-Louie Weaver.

In 1989 Petra released their 12th full-length studio album titled 'Petra Praise-The Rock Cries Out' on DaySpring Records. When this recording was published, this was exactly the kind of praise music that all us Rock and Metal heads were longing to hear. Praise music with an edge along with soaring vocals, electric guitars, and an attitude that takes the ordinary acoustic guitar and smashes it over aunt Sue's organ! The line-up for 'Petra Praise-The Rock Cries Out' was comprised of vocalist-John Schlitt, guitarist-Bob Hartman, bassist-Ronny Cates, keyboardist-John Lowry, saxophone-Greg Vail(track-12), drummer-Louie Weaver, backing vocals-Kathy Riso, Charlie Hoage, John Elefante, Rick Riso, and Sara Tennison.

In 1990 Petra released their 13th full-length studio album titled 'Beyond Belief' on DaySpring Records. This recording continues in the veins of the band's 1988 'On Fire!' release but with a slightly more modern fill to it. Petra's recipe for success on 'Beyond Belief' draws from a proven equation of elements consisting of all the right hooks, soaring vocals, energetic musical arrangements, tasty guitar licks, noticeable bass lines, poundin' drums, and uncompromising lyrics. The line-up for 'Beyond Belief' was comprised of vocalist-John Schlitt, guitarist-Bob Hartman, bassist-Ronny Cates, keyboardist-John Lowry, drummer-Louie Weaver, backing vocalists-Dave Amato, Dino Elefante, John Elefante, & John Schlitt.

After the release of their 1990 'Beyond Belief' recording, the band went on to release a number of albums including 1991-'Unseen Power', 1993-'Wake Up Call', 1995-'No Doubt', 1997-'Petra Praise 2-We Need Jesus', 1998-'God Fixation', 2000-'Double Take', 2001-'Revival', and 2003-'Jekyll and Hyde'.

Petra has stood the test of time with a career that has spanned over 30 years racking up a number of accolades including 21 studio albums, 2-Spanish releases, and 2-live albums. Petra has sold nearly 10 million albums, was nominated for 13 Grammy Awards-winning four, and went on to win 10 prestigious Dove Awards. Petra holds the title as the first Rock band inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. In addition, Petra was the first Christian band to have their memorabilia included in the Hard Rock Café restaurant chain.

It's worth noting that in May 2010, Greg Volz got his "second wind" with a familiar band when a re-united version of Petra was formed with its 1984-85 line-up going by the moniker 'Classic Petra'. The band was formed, or should we say was re-formed, of members that had once been part of Petra's line-up including vocalist-Greg X. Volz, guitarist-Bob Hartman, bassist-Mark Kelly, keyboardist-John Lawry, and drummer-Louie Weaver. In 2010 the band released their first album titled 'Back to the Rock' featuring re-recordings of original hits from the early 80's along with new material. Tracks 1-10 are re-recordings of earlier Petra songs from four different albums from 1981-1984, track 11 is a reworked re-recording of a Greg X. Volz solo song, and track 12 is a new song. This is a solid release and worth checking out if you are into Classic Rock n' Roll.

 

In 2012 'Classic Petra' released a second album titled? 'Back To The Rock' "Live" on an indie label. The performances feature new live versions of some of the band's classic tracks, including "More Power To Ya", "Bema Seat", and many more. -

(https://christianmoltenmetalbands.weebly.com/petra.html)

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Petra [Not of this world - 1983]

Petra [Not of this world - 1983]

Origin: Fort Wayne, Indiana (USA)

Take a listen on Odysee

Take a listen on youtube

Line-up:

Greg X Volz - Vocals, guitar, percussion

Bob Hartman - Guitar

Mark Kelly - Bass, backing vocals

Louie Weaver - Drums, vocals

John Slick - Keyboards, backing vocals

Tracks:

1. Visions (Doxology)

2. Not Of This World lyrics

3. Bema Seat lyrics

4. Grave Robber lyrics

5. Blinded Eyes lyrics

6. Not By Sight lyrics

7. Lift Him Up lyrics

8. Pied Piper lyrics

9. Occupy lyrics

10. Godpleaser lyrics

11. Vision Reprise (Doxology)

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Petra [More power to ya - 1982]

Petra [More power to ya - 1982]

Origin: Fort Wayne, Indiana (USA)

Take a listen on Odysee

Take a listen on youtube

Line-up:

Greg X Volz - Vocals, backing vocals

Bob Hartman - Guitar

Mark Kelly - Bass, backing vocals

Louie Weaver - Drums

John Slick - Keyboards, synthesizers, programming, backing vocals

Tracks:

1. Stand Up lyrics

2. Second Wind lyrics

3. More Power To Ya lyrics

4. Judas' Kiss lyrics

5. Rose Colored Stained Glass Windows lyrics

6. Run For The Prize lyrics

7. All Over Me lyrics

8. Let Everything That Hath Breath lyrics

9. Road To Zion lyrics

10. Disciple lyrics

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Petra [Never say die - 1981]

Petra [Never say die - 1981]

Origin: Fort Wayne, Indiana (USA)

Take a listen on Odysee

Take a listen on youtube

Line-up:

Greg X Volz - Vocals, backing vocals

Bob Hartman - Guitar

Mark Kelly - Bass, backing vocals

John Slick - Keyboards, backing vocals

Additional musicians:

Keith Edwards - Drums, percussion

Alex MacDougall - Percussion

John Miller - Trombone

Bob Welborn - Trumpet

Tracks:

1. The Coloring Song lyrics

2. Chameleon lyrics

3. Angel Of Light lyrics

4. Killing My Old Man lyrics

5. Without Him We Can Do Nothing lyrics

6. Never Say Die lyrics

7. I Can Be Friends With You lyrics

8. For Annie lyrics

9. Father Of Lights lyrics

10. Praise Ye The Lord lyrics

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Petra [Beat the system - 1984]

Petra [Beat the system - 1984]

Origin: Fort Wayne, Indiana (USA)

Take a listen on Odysee

Take a listen on youtube

Line-up:

Greg X Volz - Vocals

Bob Hartman - Guitar, backing vocals

Mark Kelly - Bass, synthesizer bass, backing vocals

Louie Weaver - Drums, percussion

John Lawry - Keyboards, backing vocals

Tracks:

1. Beat The System

2. Computer Brains

3. Clean

4. It Is Finished

5. Voice In The Wind

6. God Gave Rock And Roll To You

7. Witch Hunt

8. Hollow Eyes

9. Speak To The Sky

10. Adonai

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Petra [This means war! - 1987]

Petra [This means war! - 1987]

Origin: Fort Wayne, Indiana (USA)

Take a listen on Odysee

Take a listen on youtube

Line-up:

John Schlitt - Vocals, backing vocals

Bob Hartman - Guitar, programming

Mark Kelly - Bass, backing vocals

Louie Weaver - Drums, programming

John Lawry - Keyboards, programming, backing vocals

Additional musicians:

John Elefante - Programming, backing vocals

Tim Heitz - Programming

Tracks:

1. This Means War!

2. He Came, He Saw, He Conquered

3. Get On Your Knees And Fight Like A Man

4. I Am Available

5. Kenaniah

6. You Are My Rock

7. The Water Is Alive

8. Don't Let Your Heart Be Hardened

9. Dead Reckoning

10. All The King's Horses

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Petra [Back to the street - 1986]

Petra [Back to the street - 1986]

Origin: Fort Wayne, Indiana (USA)

Take a listen on Odysee

Take a listen on youtube

Line-up:

John Schlitt - Vocals, backing vocals

Bob Hartman - Guitar

Mark Kelly - Bass, backing vocals

Louie Weaver - Drums

John Lawry - Keyboards, programming, backing vocals

Additional musicians:

John Elefante - Keyboards, backing vocals

Tracks:

1. Back To The Street

2. You Are I Am

3. Shakin' The House

4. King's Ransom

5. Whole World

6. Another Crossroad

7. Run For Cover

8. Fools Gold

9. Altar Ego

10. Thankful Heart

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Petra [Beyond belief - 1990]

Petra [Beyond belief - 1990]

Origin: Fort Wayne, Indiana (USA)

Take a listen on Odysee

Take a listen on youtube

Line-up:

John Schlitt - Vocals, backing vocals

Bob Hartman - Guitar

Ronnie Cates - Bass

Louie Weaver - Drums

John Lawry - Keyboards

Additional musicians:

John Andrew Schreiner - Keyboards

John Elefante - Backing vocals

Dave Amato - Backing vocals

Dino Elefante - Backing vocals 

Walt Harrah - Backing vocals

Tracks:

1. Armed And Dangerous

2. I Am On The Rock

3. Creed

4. Beyond Belief

5. Love

6. Underground

7. Seen And Not Heard

8. Last Daze

9. What's In A Name

10. Prayer

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Petra [On fire! - 1988]

Petra [On fire! - 1988]

Origin: Fort Wayne, Indiana (USA)

Take a listen on Odysee

Take a listen on youtube

Line-up:

John Schlitt - Vocals, backing vocals

Bob Hartman - Guitar

Ronnie Cates - Bass

Louie Weaver - Drums

John Lawry - Keyboards, programming, backing vocals

Additional musicians:

John Andrew Schreiner - Keyboards, programming

Tim Heintz - Programming

John Elefante - Backing vocals

Bob Carlisle - Backing vocals

Rikki Michelle - Backing vocals

Tracks:

1. All Fired Up

2. Hit You Where You Live

3. Mine Field

4. First Love

5. Defector

6. Counsel Of The Holy

7. Somebody's Gonna Praise His Name

8. Open Book

9. Stand In The Gap

10. Homeless Few

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Benjamin Orr [The lace - 1986]

Benjamin Orr [The lace - 1986]

Origin: Lakewood, Ohio (USA)

Take a listen on Odysee

Take a listen on youtube

Line-up:

Benjamin Orr - Vocals, backing vocals

Mike Landau - Guitar

Elliot Easton - Guitar

Larry Klein - Keyboards

Paul Ridout - Programming

Diane Page - Backing vocals

Tracks:

1. Too Hot To Stop lyrics

2. In Circles lyrics

3. Stay The Night lyrics

4. Skyline lyrics

5. When You're Gone lyrics

6. Spinning lyrics

7. Hold On lyrics

8. The Lace lyrics

9. That's The Way lyrics

10. This Time Around lyrics

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Benjamin Orr

 Origin: Lakewood, Ohio (USA)

BENJAMIN ORR

Benjamin Orr

Discography:

The lace - 1986 (with lyrics)

Notes:

- Benjamin Orr was the bassist/singer of the Cars, who had such '80s-era Top Ten Pop hits as "Drive," "Shake It Up," "You Might Think," and "Tonight She Comes." "Magic" and "Let's Go" made the Top 20. Orr sang lead on "Drive" and "Just What I Needed."

Born Benjamin Orzechowski on September 8, 1947, in Lakewood (Cleveland), Ohio, Orr would entertain his family and friends with Elvis Presley imitations. During his teens, he learned to play guitar, bass, keyboards, and percussion instruments. Dropping out of high school, he earned a living as a session guitarist and as a member of local Cleveland TV show Upbeat.

Orr introduced himself to singer/guitarist Ric Ocasek at a band rehearsal. Later, the two played each other their original songs. Ocasek asked him to join his band and Orr became their keyboardist. The band had the same booking agency as the Stooges and MC5 and they all began touring together.

After a while, Orr and the rest of the band headed to New York City in search of stardom. They performed on the city's club circuit for two years, then broke up. Ocasek moved to Boston and Orr returned to Ohio. Sometime later, Ocasek invited the bassist/singer to come out to Boston because it had a good music scene. They performed in New England Clubs in various incarnations, sometimes as an acoustic guitar duo. They bluffed to get gigs by telling the club owners that they played "covers" (the hit songs of the day), then launched into their original songs -- a practice that sometimes got them fired from the gig.

In 1976, Orr and Ocasek recruited left-handed lead guitarist Elliott Easton for their band Cap'n Swing. Multi-instrumentalist Greg Hawkes, whom Orr and Ocasek had worked with on an album for the group Milkwood, and drummer David Robinson joined soon after. This new band became the Cars.

When their demo of "Just What I Needed" began receiving airplay on Boston radio stations WBCN-FM and WCOZ-FM, the record companies began offering recording deals to the band. Signing with Elektra/Asylum, their first album, The Cars, with production by Roy Thomas Baker, was released in May 1978. Their second album, Candy-O, was released in June 1979 and went platinum. At the same time, the Cars were racking up platinum-plus sales. The hits continued with platinum awards for Shake It Up (1981) and Heartbeat City, while their Greatest Hits made it into the Top 20 in 1986. That same year, the Cars disbanded.

Around the same time, Orr embarked on a solo career and had a hit with "Stay the Night" from his album The Lace. He also appeared on Ocasek's solo LP This Side of Paradise and two Joni Mitchell albums: Misses and Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm. Rhino issued the two-CD set Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology in November 1995. In the late '90s, Orr began performing with Big People, which included former .38 Special guitarist Jeff Carlisi.

During the summer of 2000, Orr reunited with the rest of the Cars to film the documentary Live, which was scheduled for release in November of that year by Rhino Home Video.

At the age of 53, Benjamin Orr died from pancreatic cancer in his Atlanta, Georgia, home on October 3, 2000. -

(https://www.allmusic.com/artist/benjamin-orr-mn0000128776#biography)

- For hockey fans of a certain generation, the name Orr brings back memories of the Ontario native who led the Boston Bruins to two Stanley Cups in the early ‘70s. But for rock ‘n’ rollers of a certain generation, particularly those who hung ten on the new wave of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, the name reminds them of the Ohio native who played bass and sang lead on several of The Cars’ biggest hits. With their extraordinary talents in their very different fields, both Orrs left an indelible mark on their adoptive home region, New England.

And in the same way that Bobby Orr was more than just another defenseman playing on a championship team – he redefined the position by winning the NHL’s scoring title twice – Benjamin Orr was more than just another musician playing in a chart-topping band. A multi-instrumentalist who was as skilled on guitar, keyboards and drums as he was on bass and behind a mic, he had a gift for melody and vocal phrasing, a riveting stage presence and a relentless drive for commercial success. By the time The Cars cut their debut disc in 1978, Orr was a 30-year old stage and studio veteran, having dropped out of high school 14 years earlier to pursue his musical ambitions.

With his chisel-jawed good looks and classic-rock long locks, he was labelled a “heartthrob” in the press and hounded for interviews by reporters from Toledo to Tokyo but rarely agreed to one-on-one sittings. Asked in August 2000 if he saw himself as “the sexy one” in The Cars, Orr replied with his characteristic soft-spoken humility, demonstrating a groundedness not often seen in rock stars of his stature. “Hell no,” he said. “I’ve always kept my one foot on the ground. It’s just a show, an act, then you leave the stage and you’re somebody else. Nobody else sees that except [the guys in The Cars] and the crew.”

MUSICAL BEGINNINGS

Orr was born Benjamin Orzechowski on September 8, 1947, a first-generation American raised in the Cleveland, Ohio, suburbs of Lakewood and Parma. His father was born and raised in present-day Ukraine, his mother was born and raised in present-day Slovakia and both were devout Byzantine Rite Catholics. According to Joe Milliken, author of 'Let’s Go!: Benjamin Orr and The Cars' (Roman & Littlefield, 2018), Orr’s mother wouldn’t allow him to drive his first car until a priest had blessed the vehicle.

His parents fully supported his musical interests from elementary school and by the time he finished junior high he was proficient on guitar, bass, piano and drums. "I had a lot of encouragement from my parents,” he said in a mid-‘80s interview with Ohio’s leading newspaper, 'The Plain Dealer'. “I had 13 years of formal training." Orr’s boyhood friends called him “Benny 11 Letters” due to their difficulty pronouncing his surname.

THE GRASSHOPPERS

In early 1964, shortly after The Beatles debuted on The Ed Sullivan Show in February that year, 16-year-old Orr dropped out of Valley Forge High School in Parma Heights and joined Cleveland-based rock quartet The Grasshoppers on rhythm guitar and vocals, replacing the band’s original  frontman, Dante Rossi, who’d formed the group in 1962. By the fall of ‘64, the revised lineup had built a strong enough local following that they were referred to as “Cleveland’s Fab Four” in The Plain Dealer and spent 13 weeks as the house band on The Big 5 Show (renamed Upbeat in 1966), aired on Cleveland’s WEWS-TV on Saturdays from 5pm to 6pm. In November, the group opened for The Beach Boys, The Shangri-Las and Jay and The Americans at Cleveland Arena; in December that year, they opened for The Dave Clark Five.

In early 1965, The Grasshoppers signed with Cleveland-based label Sunburst and recorded their first single, “Mod Socks (b/w “Twin Beat”), which became a regional hit and reached #104 in the Billboard charts after Warner Bros. took it on for national distribution. Their second, “The Wasp” (b/w  “Pink Champagne (and Red Roses),” an Orr-penned ballad), received local airplay but didn’t chart nationally. A photo of the band appeared in Life magazine, which published several letters about Orr’s then-unusual shoulder-length hair; one teenager wrote that it made her “sick.”

The Grasshoppers' dreams of national stardom ended when two of the band members were drafted into the Army in 1966. Orr played with Mixed Emotions before being drafted himself later that year and spent about 18 months in the Army before receiving a deferment. “Luckily I wasn’t sent to Vietnam,” he told The Plain Dealer in 1978. When he returned home, he joined a Cleveland-based group called Colours and started using the surname “Orr” before relocating to Columbus, Ohio, in 1968, where he was a session musician and producer at a local studio.

RIC OCASEK, MOVE TO BOSTON

Soon after moving to Columbus, Orr and vocalist-guitarist Ric Ocasek, a Maryland native who’d moved to Ohio at age 16, formed ID Nirvana, the first of several groups the pair put together before The Cars. The two had met before, in Cleveland in 1965, after 21-year-old Ocasek saw 18-year-old Orr appearing with The Grasshoppers on The Big 5 Show and contacted him about possibly working together. "After that, we began writing songs together"; Orr told The Plain Dealer in 1987, though he and Ocasek didn’t start gigging together until reconnecting in Columbus.

The Orr-Ocasek songwriting-performing partnership lasted for two decades, ending when The Cars disbanded in 1988. “Our voices are similar because we spent so many years together even before The Cars", Ocasek said in a 2011 interview with Vanity Fair. The two founded a booking agency in Columbus in 1968, played covers and originals as a duo at clubs, then moved to Michigan and Greenwich Village before settling in Boston, their de facto hometown, in 1971.

MILKWOOD, RICHARD & THE RABBITS, CAP'N SWING

Soon after arriving in Boston, Orr and Ocasek formed the Crosby, Stills and Nash-style folk-rock trio Milkwood with guitarist James Goodkind. The group cut one LP, How’s the Weather (Paramount, 1972), that included saxophonist and future Cars keyboardist Greg Hawkes, who’d spent two years studying composition and flute at Berklee College of Music. After the album failed to chart, Orr, Ocasek and Hawkes performed as Richard & The Rabbits – a name Jonathan Richman had suggested – until Hawkes joined Martin Mull & His Fabulous Furniture. In 1973, Orr and Ocasek formed the duo Ocasek & Orr; some songs on their setlist were early versions of tunes on The Cars’ debut disc.

In 1974, Orr and Ocasek formed the quintet Cap’n Swing with another former Berklee student, guitarist Elliot Easton, multi-instrumentalist Danny Louis on bass and drummer Glenn Evans (later Kevin Robichaud). Orr sang lead vocals and didn’t play an instrument in the group. The band’s popularity took off in the Boston area after deejay Maxanne Sartori began playing some of their demo tracks on WBCN but attempts to land a label deal resulted in nothing but rejection.

THE CARS, SOLO PROJECTS

Frustrated by the lack of label interest, Orr and Ocasek switched things up in a big way in 1976, assembling a group they thought was better for Ocasek’s style of songwriting. Orr took over on bass, David Robinson of The Modern Lovers and DMZ replaced Robichaud on drums and Hawkes came in on keyboards, forming The Cars, a name that Robinson had suggested. The band played their first live show on December 31, 1976, at Pease Air National Guard Base in New Hampshire and spent 1977 gigging at clubs including The Rathskeller and the Paradise Rock Club. After some songs from their nine-track demo were put in regular rotation on WBCN and WCOZ, Arista and Elektra offered them record deals; the band chose the latter.

In 1978, The Cars’ self-titled debut album reached #18 in the Billboard 200, featured three top-40 singles – including “Just What I Needed,” sung by Orr, which hit #27 in the Billboard Hot 100 – and appeared at #4 in Billboard’s Top Records of the Year. Their next disc, Candy-O, went to #3 in the Billboard 200 and the single “Let’s Go,” sung by Orr, hit #14 in the Hot 100. The band cut four more albums on Elektra – three platinum, one gold – including Heartbeat City, on which Orr sang their highest-charting song, “Drive,” which went to #3 in the Hot 100.

In 1986, Orr recorded his only solo album, The Lace, on Elektra. The lead single, “Stay the Night,” hit #24 in the Hot 100; the second, “Too Hot to Stop,” didn’t crack the Hot 100 but reached #25 in the Billboard Top Rock Songs chart. In 1994, he formed his own group, Orr, and in 1998, after moving from Vermont to Atlanta, he joined Big People, a band of fellow seasoned veterans that included Pat Travers (of The Pat Travers Band), Jeff Carlisi (of 38 Special), Derek St. Holmes (of Ted Nugent’s band) and Liberty DeVitto (of Billy Joel’s band). From 1998 until 2000, he played in Big People and in Voices of Classic Rock, the latter of which included Mickey Thomas (of Jefferson Starship) and John Cafferty.

DEATH LEGACY

In April 2000, Orr was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer, but he continued to appear with Big People through the summer. His last appearance was at the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer, Alaska, on August 25, less than six weeks before his death. “Ben kept rocking,” Carlisi once said. “From the time he was diagnosed, he told us he wanted to keep playing until the end. He said, ‘If I fall down one day and can’t get up, you’ll know it’s over.” He reunited with the other members of The Cars for the last time in August 2000 for a group interview that was included on the DVD The Cars: Live (Rhino Home Video, 2000).

Orr died in his Atlanta home on October 3, 2000, at age 53. Big People played a previously scheduled show in the city three days later (saying that’s what Orr would’ve wanted) and Ocasek wrote the song "Silver" as a tribute to him for his 2005 album Nexterday. The Cars reunited 10 years after his death to record the album Move Live This, giving him special mention in the liner notes: "Ben, your spirit was with us on this one.” Orr was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Cars in 2018.

He was buried at St. Patrick Cemetery in Thompson Township, Ohio, and his headstone is easy to find among the others. The marble marker, which has an etching of an electric guitar, has been decorated with various items from his fans over the years including handwritten notes, toy cars, sunglasses, painted rocks, drumsticks, cherubic statues and – in a particularly clever reference to his world-famous band – spark plugs.

(Notes by D.S. Monahan https://www.mmone.org/benjamin-orr/)

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Michael O'Brien [st - 1990]

Michael O'Brien [st - 1990]

Origin: (USA)

Take a listen on Odysee

Take a listen on youtube

Line-up:

Michael O'Brien - Vocals, guitar, keyboards

Tony Lombardo - Guitar

Jeff Ross - Guitar, keyboards, backing vocals

Mike Komyati - Bass

Rick Hervey - Drums

Brian Keith - Keyboards, backing vocals

Additional musicians:

George Terry - Guitar

Ed Calle - Saxophone

Tracks:

1. Here We Go lyrics

2. Matter Of Time lyrics

3. I'm Over You lyrics

4. I Believe lyrics

5. Hold Your Head Up

6. Today Is The Day lyrics

7. Wait For You lyrics

8. Why lyrics

9. I Know

10. Everything To Me lyrics

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