History 101

It started with just a dream of some high school kids in 1965. Who would have thought that we'd be a part of Iowa's Rock & Roll history -- inducted into the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!! Here's a look back...

Freshmen at Dowling High School in Des Moines - school had just begun in the fall of 1965 - rock 'n roll had been ingrained in all of us for the past several years and the "British Invasion" was in all it's glory. Rick Breuss, Bruce Cameron, and Gary Chase were at "mixer" and pretty much were in awe of the band then performing on Dowling's stage. We had known each other for only a few weeks but had quickly become friends. By the end of the evening, we decided that we "needed" to do this -- let's put a band together.

It wasn't too long after that night, Gary introduced us to his friend, Tony Valdez, who was also as caught up in the music of the 60's as we. It didn't take long to decide to begin immediately. Bruce had taken years of piano, Gary had a drum, and Tony was quite accomplished on the guitar and bass, but we needed someone for each instrument. At one of our first meetings, Rick said he would be our bassist. Tony was a great source of help and encouragement for Rick and taught him how to play. Fortunately, we all could sing so there was no real limit to what songs we could learn - harmony would pose no problem and, in fact, became our biggest asset. Throughout the rest of 1965, we all worked on our instruments and practiced many, many hours - "The Echos" were set in motion.

Gary's older brother, Rick (a year ahead of us at Dowling), stepped into a practice session early on and a second guitarist fit in nicely. It didn't take too long before all five of us were regularly practicing together. Within a couple of months, we were ready for the public to hear us, and we played our first "gig" in early 1966.

"Battle of the Bands" contests were popular back then. We entered ourselves in one of the better-known "battles" at The Carousel Roller Rink on Army Post Road in Des Moines. Many bands were trying to make a name for themselves and establish a following of teens. We were excited to work our way up to being a finalist and didn't even notice the challenging band was called "The Echoes". In order to differentiate between us, we agreed to tack a "V" (Roman numeral for "5") to our name and from that point on, we were "The Echo's V". We won that contest and many more including the statewide battle at the Iowa State Fair in 1967, held at "Teen Town" on the fairgrounds. We didn't think life could get much better!

Throughout high school, we played almost every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. The band became our "par-time" high school job. We were fortunate enough to play for just about every high school in central Iowa for one function or another. We also performed at many county fairs and most of the major ballrooms around the state: Dancemor (Swisher), Laramar (f.k.a. the Playmor, Ft. Dodge), the Roof Garden (Arnolds Park, Okoboji), Starlight (Carroll) the Surf (Clear Lake) and the Val Air (West Des Moines).

Most of the band continued on past high school for several years. In the 70's, a brass section was the popular musical thing and The Echo's V followed suit. By adding a four-piece brass section, The Echo's V became "The Echo's LTD" (now with nine members). After several years of touring around much of the Midwest, they disbanded. Only Tony continued on in other bands like The Cavaliers, Night Flight, and Flight.

In the summer of 1987, Rick Breuss had gotten involved in the planning of our 20th class reunion and suggested that The Echo's V play - the planning committee was so excited! Rick called Bruce, Gary and Tony for a barbeque outing at his house. After much discussion and re-living our history together, that day we decided to re-group. Rick Chase and his family had since moved to Waterloo so we kept him informed of the songs we were relearning in order for him to make the gig. It was during this time that Greg Miksich, a former neighbor of Bruce and a Dowling classmate (for our freshman year anyway - he graduated from Valley High School in 1969), joined us for our rehearsing sessions as a guitarist so we would have five of us once again.

A couple of months prior to the class reunion, we rented St. Theresa's church hall (during our high school years, this was THE place to be on Sunday nights) and invited as many friends as we could. We were ready to perform in public once again. The evening far exceeded our expectations, everyone had a great time and it was comfortable for us to be back on stage. Since Rick Chase joined us too, there were now six "Echo's V" on stage.

The class reunion came and went - indescribable fun! We continued to rehearse together, for pure enjoyment of the rekindling of our friendships and the fun of reliving our high school days! Rick Chase joins us whenever possible. Gary decided he didn't want to continue on past the reunion, so we needed a new drummer...

A relative of Tony's, John Logan, and a longtime friend and drummer for the band Flight (f.k.a. Night Flight), John Spike, interchanged as drummers for a while. "Spike's" reputation as a great drummer was well known and after a short time, we asked him to join us "full-time". Spike is a 1969 graduate of Storm Lake High School.

The Echo's V had always worked with the KIOA "Good Guys" in the past and this relationship was revitalized. We played for many "Good Guy Reunions" and other rock 'n roll functions, including a Richie Valens tribute in January, 1994. We have also been an "opening act" or back-up for such stars as Johnny Rivers, Freddy Cannon, The Buckinghams, Crystal Gayle, Mickey Dolenz (The Monkees), Johnny Tillottson, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Pat Upton (Spiral Staircase), The Lovin' Spoonful, and Paul Revere and the Raiders. We have also backed up regional recording acts like DJ & the Runaways and Pete Klint (Pete Klint Quintet).

In 1995, the mayor of West Des Moines presented us with the keys to the city for our assistance in fundraising to help flood victims. Shortly thereafter, Tony decided to leave the band and the remaining four of us continued to rehearse. We have been this way ever since. Tony continues to be a popular act by himself and with several local artists as well.

Several months later, we were asked to play for the final public performance at the Val Air Ballroom (January, 1996) and felt honored to perform for this special night. We took turns performing with a Big Band and then we closed the house down with "The Val Air Tribute", written by Greg (with a little help from the rest of us).

It wasn't until mid-1997 that a group of investors brought the Val Air back to life. In October 1997, we got a call and were asked to play for the gala re-opening of the Val Air in the same fashion as it was closed almost two years before - a Big Band and The Echo's V.

1998 was a magical year for the band. We were to be inducted into the Iowa Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. We were honored, surprised and excited. What a thrill! The entire band, original and new members, performed as part of a special concert which included Al, Larry and the Untouchables, Jerry Martin and the Sounds, The Notorious Noblemen and The Fabulous Flippers! As the saying goes, it was a night to remember!

In 1999, the Iowa Rock & Roll Music Association honored us once more by asking us to return to the Hall of Fame Spectacular concert for a repeat performance! Later on in '99 we accepted an invitation to perform with several other "Hall of Famers" at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake for a fundraiser benefit for the flood victims of Northern Iowa. 100% of the proceeds went to this worthy cause. Rick Breuss continued on the IRRMA as Director on their Board until late 2003.

In October 2001, we organized another fundraiser for the firefighters, police officers and EMTs who gave their lives and worked so hard on the clean-up of the September 11th terrorist attack on the US. 100% of the proceeds went to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fun. We teamed up with local bands Legal Limit and Danny & the Dreamers to make this jamb-packed evening at the Val Air a tremendous success. Almost $16,000 was raised and donated.

In 2005, The Echo's V celebrates 40 years of music and friendship! We are often asked: "Why the "V" when there are only four of you?" Our explanation goes something like this: we began with four members, then were five, then nine. The reunion brought back the original "five" and then added a sixth (Greg). We went back to five and are now four once again. Rick Breuss and Bruce Cameron are the only original members of the 60's-version of the band. Rick, Bruce, Greg and John have been together now for more than twice the years of the original Echo's V. We continue to play for many private functions (trade shows, company/corporate parties, wedding receptions, etc.) and as many open-to-the-public events as we can each year.

We have been and will be eternally grateful for the many fans that have followed us over the years and to our families for putting up with us all these years, too. We think the song must be true: "...rock and roll is here to stay"!