West Michigan Mid-Sixties Bands

i was in the rainmakers in fact i started the band

Dave -- I was in the TCHS class of 1966. I recently saw an obit for Dave Drake. I knew him well from TCHS band and I also worked with him for a summer many years ago.

Is Keith Brown still in the MI area? I know the 40th class reunion for TCHS is in August and Keith is among the missing. Do you have an address and an e-mail for him?

I enjoyed your music videos on Zebox.

Regards,

Dave DeMaw

I am the lost KRB, but not really lost. just living in Manistee. I don't see any info on the band The Shifters. That band was the precurser to the Rainmakers and in fact did battle of the bands many times with them. I and Dave Drake joined the rainmakers which pretty much disovlve the Shifters.

I replaced Dave Drake after he went into the service in late 65'.(I think) Stayed with the band till Oct of 66'when I went into the service. Before that played with the Shifters.

I went to Central Mich U. in the late 60s with a guy named Ken Rainey who I believe was in the Rainmakers. If memory serves, he was often featured playing Jeff's boogie on a gretsch. Does anyone have any contact information on him? Did the Rainmakers record any records?

Ken Rainey is still in TC. He teaches guitar and does some recording on his own and also some studio musician work. If you want to get in touch with him, call Dave Eickenroth at his new guitar store "Zamar Guitar" in Traverse City, the phone number is 231-929-0097. Krb

The Raimmaker remnants Keith and David will be performing at Horizon Book on April 10th 2009 in Traverse City at 8:30pm This will be David and Keith (AKA KRB and Paxton), the name of the duo is the David/Paxton Duo. also they will be performing at Borders Books in TC on the 17th of April and again on May 15th, if they both live long enough that is. Hard to believe that we can still do this ya eh?

I stopped in at Horizon Books (downtown Traverse City) this evening, June 12th 2009.
To my delight I listened to the Dave/Paxton Duo.
Talking with them on their break I discovered they were the Rainmakers from the 60's.
They often performed in my home town of Grand Rapids at "The Place" on Plymouth Ave.
I recall them being one of the better Michigan bands to play that venue and tonight it was a treat to listen to the Duo (plus keyboard)perform.
Thanks, Guys

This is KRB (keith brown) also aka Paxton Wexford in the David/Paxton Band. Does anyone out there have any photos of "the Shifter" band, they were the precursor and nemisis of the Rainmakers back in the 60's. Ray Collings, Jeff Golberg, Bill Snyder and Tom Brott were in the band and even David Eickenroth for a short time, (good story there, well sort of good) I'l love to hear from any survivors out there, time is running out so lets hear it. There were some movies made of the "Rainmakers" but so far they are lost. any clues? Let me know, [email protected]

I was a Rainmaker groupie!

Yes, the Rainmakers played at Daniels Den in Saginaw, Michigan

Lived with the Rainmekers outside of Ann Arbor on the farm then traveled back to TC with them. KRB, Renata and I lived in a basement house near the airport. The band was great but couldn't find a committed lead guitar player. KRB always felt his bass was not loud enough. During sound checks he would always ask to have it turned up. Dave Eichenroth (aka Daves, pronounced with a short "a" and a long "e") had a fabulous voice and the band did great covers of CCR's big hits. Hope Dave is still banging that 12 string he had. Wrinkles (Dave Drake, rest in peace brother) was the slowest person I ever met except when he was pounding on the drums. He was either playing the drums or sleeping. We were all so young and having fun. We were also always hungry but I would do it again in a heartbeat. The promoter Greg McCutchen (??) always seemed to get paid from jigs the band did but the band never saw any money. I remember those days like they were yesterday. Lots of great times. Renata and Bunny, the forktruck and the cherry factory, motorcycles, Fife Lake, and ...

I remember the Rainmakers as one of the bands to follow in Michigan. I played in several groups that would share a venue with them for several years. Liberators and Dead Silence (aka Spectrum) we would just watch them and dream that we could be as good.

Yes- I was the original "Drummer" for the Rainmakers when it was Ken Raney, Dave Eickenroth, Ernie Agruda,coleman cole and myself "Dick Helfrich". The band was formed at Central high school in 1964 the yr. I graduated. Both Dave Drake and myself played in TCAPS marching band he liked the Bass drum and I liked the snare. I still live in Traverse City and have Pic's of Original Rainmakers. 231- 946-2637

?? KRB :>)

Sorry I forgot to mention I Played drums in a number of bands after the Rainmakers including The Shadows,The Swing Kings (fireplce inn), Johny Reb & the Siver Dollar Band, The Midnight Flyer band. I Also played in a number of bands while serving in the military both foreign & domestic.
Any one know what happened to Jerry Labrick??

Dave Eichenroth was the first boy I ever kissed when I came to the United States from England. He used to sing "Pretty Woman" to me at the Bogi club in downtown Traverse. He stopped seeing me when he found out I was sneaking out against my parents' wishes for me to date. Such a great memory, though, and he was a great kisser :)

I met up with The Rainmakers in the mid 60's while playing at the Place in GR and partyed with them a few times at the motel they would stay at. Caught a movie with them on one Sunday on S. Division Ave on the way home. They would drop me off in my home town of Rockford and I'd have to explain to my mom why I was out all nite. I recall a member nicknamed Snoopy who wore a collar. Great guys to hang with and the best music too!

I played in The Rainmakers as they were forming in Dave's house... I became the lead guitarist. In Manistee as a joke I bought a dog collar and became known as "Snoopy". We had some great times playing around TC and the rest of the state. Got to open for The Animals in Huntsville, Alabama which opened our eyes to "stage presence" and performing. Also opened for Paul Revere & the Raiders twice, and Gary Lewis and the Playboys. It was a great time. I ended up enlisting in the US Navy after graduating from CMU. I have a photo album / scrapbook that I intend to put on a CD at some time. You're welcome to email me with comments.

It was great reading about the history of the Rainmakers! I was just a young fella in the 60's (born in 1955), but I recall hearing about them. I first met Dave Eickenroth at Church of the Living God - he was their worship leader, and to this day, he's one of the best I've ever encountered. If you want to hear Dave sing and play guitar, he still leads worship at Church of the Living God from time to time.

This is Michael Mulholland. I knew Dave Eickenroth and the band when I lived in Traverse City. I hung out with Dave and roadied some of the time. Went on that crazy trip around the state in that old Caddy hearse to promote one of the 45s. My brother Dan is a recond-collecting fool (he prefers "genius") and has lots of photos and memorabilia. He says he has a friend who writes for a mag that wants to write a full story on the Rainmakers. Contact me to kick it.