The Prophets/Linn County

Linn County had its roots in Cedar Rapids, Iowa with Danceland and Armar Ballrooms providing a meeting place for musicians.

Linn County emerged out of groups such as the Bopcats with Floyd (Al) Hendricks, Kenny Thompson and Bob Schloss. Kenny formed the Prophets with Stephen Miller (keyboards) of Cedar Rapids, Ron Lustic (reeds) also of Cedar Rapids and Jerry (Snake) McAndrew (drums) from Chicago in the early mid-sixties. Eventually, Kenny became the manager, Ron left and Fred Walk (guitar), of Webster, Ia., who had also played in a group with Floyd Hendricks, and Bob Miskimen (Bass) were added. Soon, Larry Easter (reeds) of Davenport, Ia. joined the group.

The Prophets played primarily R&B and Rock in clubs around the Midwest, working out of the Twilight Room and the Cougar Lounge in Cedar Rapids, Jimmy’s Lounge in Waterloo, as well as many ballroom, College and University dates. During this time, Bob Miskimen left and was replaced by Dino Long of Spencer, Ia.

The group then moved to Chicago, changed its name to the Linn County Blues Band, since all of the members had played in Cedar Rapids at some time. They soon became the house band at the famous Mother Blues club on Wells Street, following the path of Spanky and Our Gang and The Paul Butterfield Blues Band while sharing the stage with Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Howling Wolf, James Cotton, and many others.

John Cabalka, a friend and artist from Cedar Rapids, who was working in Chicago for Mercury Records, assumed the role of manager with Ed Adkins of Cedar Rapids as road manager. The band signed with Dunwich Records of Chicago and were working on an LP at Chess Studios when Mercury discovered them, bought their contract, and signed them. Mercury asked them to shorten the name to Linn County to avoid the stigma, at that time, of being type-casted as a blues band.

Mercury then moved the band from Chicago to San Francisco to live and record.

Jerry McAndrew left the group and Clark Pierson was added. Linn County was the only band with Iowa roots to play such venues as The Avalon Ballroom, Fillmore West, The Matrix, (San Francisco) The Bank (Los Angeles) Thee Experience (Hollywood) Fillmore East & The Scene, (New York City) The Grande Ballroom (Detroit) as well as clubs and concert venues in Montreal, Cleveland, Chicago, Sacramento, and Pittsburgh etc. Linn County, to this date, also signed the highest paying recording contract of any group from Iowa: the group was paid approximately $50,000.00 to sign with Mercury Records – an enormous sum in the mid ‘60’s when most groups had to pay the record company in order to record!

After three albums recorded in the Bay Area and Los Angeles, a solo album by Stephen, and extensive touring in the early 70’s Stephen left the band to record and tour with Elvin Bishop. Clark recorded and toured with Janis Joplin and the remainder of the Linn County tried different combinations of personnel and played around the California area until the band briefly dissolved in the early 70’s.

Stephen Miller moved to the Lisbon, Ia. in 1974 and reformed Linn County with Ron Dewitte (guitar) Perry Welsh (mouth harp) Johnny (Ace) Acerno (bass) Joe Eberline (later replaced by Walter Salwitz) on drums. Tom Krejci, a Cedar Rapids entrepreneur, assumed manager duties. Later, Stephen left to tour and record with Grinderswitch on Capricorn Records and Tommy Giblin, another Cedar Rapidian (organ) was added. This group played extensively in the Cedar Rapids- Iowa City area as well as major cities in the Midwest with great success and popularity. Linn County finally disbanded in 1977.

Many of the members of Linn County have continued to play, write and record with other groups. All the members were part of a very unique band that had an impact on many musicians and fans from the middle sixties until the mid- seventies across the USA and Canada.

 

 

The band created a lot of friendships, because we were together every day and crammed into the bus for various trips. Larry was a lot of fun. We were in English class with Mrs. Youngdahl, too. 

 

We were out of touch for a long time but got together with Al Davis in Glendale, Arizona, a few years ago. Lawrence Eyre suggested that Easter sign up for classmates.com and that is how we got into contact again.

That was a heroic effort for Easter, because he resisted such things. He signed up for Facebook, lost his password, and refused to fix the problem, even though I coaxed him to. I finally found his page - empty.

 

At the Glendale reunion, Al, Easter and I went through  all my old reunion books. Larry had a knack for lapsing into silence and coming up with a hilarious observation.

 

He phoned me from time to time, for about two minutes each time. I knew he was having serious health problems, so

I was not so much shocked as saddened. So far I could not find an obituary. If someone has a link, please send a comment.

 

Linn County Music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTW2BmnAZzs&feature=player_embedded#!

 

Larry in a brief message 2006

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jb20eXa_Pig#!

 

Wickpedia History

Linn County formed around 1967 in Linn County, Iowa, USA as the Linn County Blues Band. In 1968, the band signed with Mercury Records, moved to San Francisco, California, and changed its name to Linn County. They released their first album Proud Flesh Soothseer in 1968 and toured, performing with bands and people such as: Albert King, Led Zeppelin, Sly & the Family Stone, Eric Burdon & the Animals and Ten Years After. They never became too well known, and broke up after Clark Pierson left to join Janis Joplin.

Linn County released three albums from 1968 to 1970. Over the course of their existence, they had seven band members.

Members

Member	Instruments	Length
Stephen Miller	organ, vocals	1967 - 1970
Larry Easter	saxophone, flute	1967 - 1970
Bob Miskimen	bass	1967 - 1968
Dino Long	bass	1968 - 1970
Fred Walk	guitar, sitar	1967 - 1970
Jerry 'Snake' McAndrew	drums	1967 - 1969
Clark Pierson	drums	1969 - 1970

Discography

• Proud Flesh Soothseer 1968
• Fever Shot 1969
• Till The Break Of Dawn 1970