The instrumental number "What's Up" by Doug and the Inn-Truders had grabbed my attention some 15 years ago and still does. I enjoy the song now as much as I did back then - but who were Doug and the Inn-Truders? A renewed search yielded some more information, which I tried to compress into this post.
The Inn-Truders were a Wichita, Kansas, based rock'n'roll band. We find mention of the band as early as July 1964, so the Inn-Truders were probably founded in the first half of that year. At least some of the band members were still high-school pupils. Although the exact line-up is unclear, it seems that early members were leader Douglas "Doug" Terbush on guitar, Art Martinez on guitar and Gregg Dunn on drums.
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| Doug and the Inn-Truders, 1964 |
Already by July 1964, the band had entered STA Recording studio in Wichita to lay down two tracks: the aforementioned instrumental "What's Up" and the vocal number "Starring My Broken Heart". Both songs were released on the local Aircap label (#BM-101). At that time, their sound was guitar-based but they soon began including horns. At some point in 1964, sax player Rick Meyer joined the group and over the years, further sax and trumpet players were added to the line-up, including Roger Walls on trumpet.
The Inn-Truders became a popular band locally and played venues for years around Wichita. Rick Meyer remembers playing at the Joyland, the Seneca Lounge, and the Cotillion. They were also part of numerous "Battle of the Bands" contests that were popular back then. Neal McGaugh, a band member of another local group called the Outcasts, remembers the Wichita band scene:
"When the battles moved to the Cotillion, that's when all the big rivalry started--'65, '66. We always ended up battling big horn bands, The Red Dogs, Doug and the Inn-Truders. We didn't get too far against them. We didn't have the kind of music that the judges liked."The Inn-Truders were active at least until 1967. Their "What's Up" was featured on the 1983 White Label LP "Minnesota Rock-a-Billy-Rock, Volume 3" (although they were not from Minnesota). As of 2015, Art Martinez was still active as a musician. Doug Terbush resides in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, nowadays.
Sources
• 45cat
• Discogs
• Pat O'Connor: Moody's Skidrow Beanery (Rowfant Press), 1999
9 comments:
From 1964, on a Wichita, Kansas label.
My husband and I was given a box of items that belonged to his Aunt Mary. In the box was a autographed photo of the Doug and the Inn-Truders and a signed copy of their record on Aircap records. We've often wondered who these gentleman were and now we know. Too bad we couldn't get these items to one of their family members.
Thank you very much for this nice story.
Pat O'Connor here--I wrote the story with the quotes from McGaugh and Meyer. I would appreciate a citation: Moody's Skidrow Beanery, Rowfant Press 1999.
Pat, I have added a reference to your story. Hope it's okay.
Wow! I don't know who wrote this story, but I was amazed to find it. I just typed 'Doug & The Inn-Truders in google on a whim, and up this came. My name is Greg Dunn, and I was the drummer in this group and played on the record of 'What's Up'. To the writer of the story, my email is greg-sharon@att.net. I can tell you alot about our band as I was with them all through high school. By the way, we were all from Wichita, Ks. not Minn. I'd be glad to give you more of our story. This really brings back alot of memories. Thanks for sharing what you had. Greg Dunn 9-3-2011. Straight-up Midinght.
wow cant believe I found this - I was with Doug and Rick and Greg in the late 60s - rogerwalls.com
Googled it also, was surprised to find this. My father is Art Martinez ( far left). He just had his record he had put on cd to give to us sons for Christmas. He is still kickin in on the west side of Wichita. Great article!
That is so cool! ❤️
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