Comments on: The Harlem Shuffle – Bob and Earl/ The Traits/ The Nite Liters http://fleamarketfunk.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/ Always Diggin' Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:21:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Jake http://fleamarketfunk.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/#comment-12865 Sun, 26 Jun 2011 04:17:47 +0000 http://fleamarketfunk.wordpress.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/#comment-12865 For more info on the Nite Liters check out http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Peninsula-Garage
Great band !

]]> By: Steve Keith http://fleamarketfunk.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/#comment-8889 Sun, 10 Apr 2011 14:29:49 +0000 http://fleamarketfunk.wordpress.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/#comment-8889 I was a member of the Nite-Liters band who recorded “Harlem Shuffle” in 1967. The reverse is an orginial tune, “Set Me Free”, written by Don Falk. You can search for Don’s current music and videos under “thedonmanband”. The producer, Dennis Hill, died a few years ago. The rest of the seven member Nite-Liters still live. We are Harrel Baker (guitar and sax, still in music, in Hawaii), Don Falk (bass,vocal), Joe Fromal (keys,vocal), Danny Kelly(horn), George Resto (horn), Bob Schnell (drums) and me, Steve Keith (guitar). All white and full of rock and soul. There were 500 copies of the record, we sold them for $5 each, all in Hampton, Virginia. That you came upon this recording is amazing. Hope you enjoy the blast from the past. Our motto, “Insist on Live Music”.

Regards,

Steve Keith

]]> By: Jowillie http://fleamarketfunk.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/#comment-7208 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:37:57 +0000 http://fleamarketfunk.wordpress.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/#comment-7208 Nite Liters of Hampton VA. rocked. Get one of them to tell the story of the studio session for that disc. “Chosen” black lead singer for the session showed up with laryngitis but insisted the group maintain the soul beat with their own singer. Band could have easily been the basis for the movie “That Thing You Do” but life goes on.

Nite Liters rubbed elbows and played with some of the top names in Rock and Soul, just as Steve said.

Great bunch of High School talent with a very unique Soul/Pyschcodelic/Rock sound.

]]> By: Mike Levand http://fleamarketfunk.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/#comment-5204 Mon, 05 May 2008 05:46:18 +0000 http://fleamarketfunk.wordpress.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/#comment-5204 There was a fabulous version of the ‘Harlem Shuffle’, which was done regionally by a group called ‘The Fabulous Flippers’, which toured out of Lawrence Kansas in the 60′s.

That song was a great hit here in the Midwest.

They were all white and were a ‘show-band’.

I tried to find a link of their song for readers to hear their version, but as I recall it was exactly as one of your other ‘Harlem Shuffle’ band versions listed above.

The history of the original Flippers

There’s little doubt that the most popular Kansas band in the 1960s was Lawrence’s Fabulous Flippers.

By Bill Lee
RockKansas columnist
Most of the members of that band reunited in early 2003 to play at Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ inaugral ball. Many people have heard the story of how they were a rebuilt version of an earlier band from Hays called simply the Flippers, but little is known of that original band. This is their story.

As the lead guitarist of both bands Terry Wierman relates in the front of a tattered scrapbook, “The original Flippers was founded in November 1957. Lee Allen Leiker, first singer, Tom Bunker, piano, and myself started the group. We then attained Dennie Rohr (drums), Jim Gross (sax) and Cookie Fross, our first rhythm guitar. Our first dance was held at the Sunflower Ballroom in Hays on New Year’s Eve, 1958. Other dances were held throughout Kansas and parts of Nebraska. In 1961 (May) Cookie Fross was replaced by Wayne Smith on rhythm guitar. Later on Tom Bunker was replaced by Rich Scott on bass. Then in August of 1962, Lee Allen Leiker was replaced by John Flickenger. Our new band is highly rated and we have played at colleges, high schools and public dances throughout Kansas. We have dealings with several recording studios and we hope to make it big on records, which is the wish of every band throughout the world.”

The Flippers toured Kansas, playing covers and originals at dances.
The band, who took their name from the “flipper” hubcaps on Tom Bunker’s car, played a few original songs, but for the most part they stuck to covering the top 40 hits of the day. According to singer Lee Leiker, who still lives in Hays, the guys used to practice in each other’s garages, and “every time we had a practice, we had a concert. People would come just to listen.”

The Flippers played a lot of dances between 1958 and 1964, making regular appearances not only in Hays, but towns all over central and western Kansas. Great Bend, Russell, Concordia, and Hill City, along with smaller towns like Downs, Stockton, Otis and Sylvan Grove learned to look forward to the next Flippers dance. According to Wierman, the group even made it out to Colorado and New Mexico before breaking up.

The original Flippers eventually separated without ever “making it big on records,” although they did record a demo at Sullivan Studios in Oklahoma City and another in Kansas City. Lee Leiker left the band to get married, but returned to the music scene a few years later when he and durmmer Dennis Rohr played together again in the Raging Regattas.

Leiker finally settled down in Hays and worked in property management, and Rohr is the police chief in Mandan, North Dakota. Former rhythm guitarist Joh Fross is a Ft. Hays State University police officer. His replacement in the Flippers Wayne Smith quit when he was drafted. He told the Hays Daily News a few years ago, “The fun wasn’t there anymore. It was like going to work everyday, so I was ready to get out.”

Illness forced Richard Scott to leave the Flippers, but he later found success with the legendary Blue Things. He’s living out in California now. Tom Bunker ended up in Billings, Montana, where he worked at a music company. The band’s second lead singer John Flickenger owns a manufacturing company in Salina. After hanging up his guitar for good, Terry Wierman managed a construction company in Hays with his brother Donnie, who also played in several Hays bands.

In 1964 Terry Wierman and band manager/booking agent John Brown moved to Lawrence, where they held auditions for the new band known as the Fabulous Flippers. The success of this later group owes much to the foundation laid by the original Flippers.

]]> By: SUGARBUSH RECORDS http://fleamarketfunk.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/#comment-4156 Fri, 28 Dec 2007 11:57:07 +0000 http://fleamarketfunk.wordpress.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/#comment-4156 Cool stuff, for record collectors there is also the relevant news that the TRAITS version also came out in the UK- I have a PYE DEMO 7N 25404 from 1966-not sure if it came out as a stock copy…

]]> By: “Afro-Strut” by the Nite-Liters at DON’T ROCK N ROLL NO! http://fleamarketfunk.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/#comment-3952 Sat, 15 Dec 2007 19:12:14 +0000 http://fleamarketfunk.wordpress.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/#comment-3952 [...] Steve Keith, who seems to have played in another band called the Nite Liters, chimed in on a post over on Flea Market Funk. It’s cool to see the original artists getting into the fray on the mp3 blogs… it even [...]

]]> By: Black Ivory - What Goes Around (Comes Around) « Flea Market Funk http://fleamarketfunk.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/#comment-3796 Fri, 07 Dec 2007 19:34:54 +0000 http://fleamarketfunk.wordpress.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/#comment-3796 [...] a band who did a cover of Harlem Shuffle contacted me this past week. The review of the record is here. Here’s what he had to say in regards to the [...]

]]> By: Steve Keith http://fleamarketfunk.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/#comment-3707 Tue, 04 Dec 2007 18:17:29 +0000 http://fleamarketfunk.wordpress.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/#comment-3707 I am one of the original Nite-Liters and played on the record above. The flip side is “Set Me Free” by our own Don Falk. The band started in Jr. High in 1964 for a talent show with me (guitar), Harrell Baker (guitar) and Tommy Ford (drums). Later, Bob Schnell replaced Tommy and Don Falk (bass) and Joe Fromal (keys) were added. In 1965, horns were added, George Resto and Danny Kelly (Trumpets) and Harrell with his sax. We played sets of current R and R and “soul” music. Yes, we are all white guys. The band dissolved in 1967 after HS graduation and we took different roads. Don continues in music, his work can be found on the internet. Harrell also plays in Hawaii and is on the internet.

I am curious where you got a copy of this record. Only 500 were pressed and we sold them around school to our “fans”. A rare find of local music.

Our contrempories included Bill Deal and the Rondels. We played in concerts with many top bands, the Animals, Yardbirds, Bobby Moore and the Rhythem Aces, Dovells, Jimmy Clanton and others.

I am retired, living in Hampton, Va, the home of the fabulous Nite-Liters!
Hope this info is useful to you. Regards, Steve Keith

]]> By: Suspect http://fleamarketfunk.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/#comment-2576 Sun, 07 Oct 2007 20:27:25 +0000 http://fleamarketfunk.wordpress.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/#comment-2576 Always been into the Bob and Earl version, but loving the alternatives.

Wicked post.

]]> By: fleamarketfunk http://fleamarketfunk.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/#comment-2562 Sat, 06 Oct 2007 01:08:02 +0000 http://fleamarketfunk.wordpress.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/#comment-2562 i do, but these aren’t the same “afro strut” nite liters to my knowledge. i’m excited to find out who these guys really are.

]]> By: JJ Money http://fleamarketfunk.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/#comment-2560 Sat, 06 Oct 2007 00:35:31 +0000 http://fleamarketfunk.wordpress.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/#comment-2560 Email sent about The Nite-Liters. I would be shocked if you didn’t know about them…

]]> By: HeavySoulBruthaDaveB. http://fleamarketfunk.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/#comment-2559 Fri, 05 Oct 2007 22:39:00 +0000 http://fleamarketfunk.wordpress.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/#comment-2559 Nice one!! Will try this out, indeed.

Peace and SOUL,
Dave…

]]> By: fleamarketfunk http://fleamarketfunk.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/#comment-2558 Fri, 05 Oct 2007 22:21:58 +0000 http://fleamarketfunk.wordpress.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/#comment-2558 part windex and water (distilled if i can get it). then i use a toothbrush (flat) and spin my turntable while putting some pressure on the toothbrush. i then wipe both sides with a soft cloth. easy peasy.

]]> By: HeavySoulBruthaDaveB. http://fleamarketfunk.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/#comment-2557 Fri, 05 Oct 2007 22:15:36 +0000 http://fleamarketfunk.wordpress.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/#comment-2557 Yeah, the Bob & Earl version KILLS! Thanks so much for dropping three sweet versions.

If you don’t me asking, and revealing your secrets, can you give me a little idea of your record cleaning procedure? Cheers Boss!

Peace and SOUL,
Dave…

]]> By: devil dick http://fleamarketfunk.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/#comment-2555 Fri, 05 Oct 2007 14:43:15 +0000 http://fleamarketfunk.wordpress.com/2007/10/05/the-harlem-shuffle-bob-and-earl-the-traits-the-nite-liters/#comment-2555 here ya go bro!

http://www.stockton.edu/~wlfr/

Every Thursday night 8 to 10pm EST.

Cheers!
dd

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