He's gonna add some bottom.

Rick Breuss - Bass Guitar

Not wanting to bore you with too many details, the following is a condensed version of what’s happened in my life ....

While I’m no longer a youngster (55 years young in 2006), I distinctly recall when I became really interested in music.  I moved to Cedar Rapids, IA in the early sixties and finished elementary school (St. Pius X) in 1965.  During this time frame, rock ‘n roll was fast becoming THE rage among all of us (well, maybe not our parents).  The Four Seasons were the biggest band in the country, The Beach Boys were one of the freshest “new sounds” on the scene with their surfin’ songs, and then the British Invasion hit ... I was hooked.

Two of my very best friends, Dan Way and Mike Kammerer, decided we’d start up a band.  I got my first guitar – a “natural finish” Kay arch-top acoustic (from the Montgomery Wards catalog) for Christmas 1964 and couldn’t play a note.   Dan could play the piano and Mike took saxophone lessons for years.  We all could sing (or least we thought so) and we began to look for a drummer and someone to play bass.  We were so excited, our parents placated us – I’m sure they thought our plans would go nowhere. 

Then, in the midst of this excitement, my dad told me we were moving to Des Moines after school was finished (1965).  I don’t think I was ever so disappointed and upset in my whole life!  But, I wasn’t giving up on my dream – I was going to have a band someday.

I was just a freshman at Dowling High School in Des Moines.  At a “mixer” in Dowling’s gym one evening that fall, two of my new friends and I, Bruce Cameron, and Gary Chase were in awe of the band then performing (Tommy Tucker and The Esquires).  Although the three had known each other for only a few weeks we looked at each other, thought it would be so cool to have a band.  Wee ”needed” to do this.  After several after-school meetings, Gary’s good friend, Tony Valdez joined our discussions and “The Echo’s” were born.    Not too long after that, Gary’s brother, Rick, also joined us.   

It wasn’t until after we were at a local battle-of-the-bands contests at the Carousel Roller Rink on Des Moines’ south side, that our name changed to “The Echo’s V”.  There were two bands left, The Echo’s and The Echoes.  The organizer said one of had to change our name and The Echo’s V became our official name from then on.  (We won the “battle”!)

Throughout my high school, I couldn’t have wanted anything more ... a great, well-known, very popular band and then, without me even knowing it, I met my wife-to-be:  Rose Robinson.  She was a year behind me at St. Joseph Academy and didn’t think much of me ... to begin with.  A mutual friend, Tim Tracy, introduced us (they were in “Oklahoma” together) and after several dates, we came to realize that there was something truly special between us.   We were married in 1972.

To digress a bit, the original Echo’s V, lasted until spring of 1969 when I left the band.  Another DHS classmate, Charlie Konkol, took my place.  The band stayed together for several more years, even added a brass section and became “The Echo’s LTD” before the band ultimately broke up.

Jumping ahead to 1987, I was very active in planning my 20th class reunion and thought it would be great to get the band back together.  I had a BBQ at my house that summer and we all thought it would great fun .... The Echo’s V were born again.   Really, all of the band’s details can be found in our “history” document on our site.

However, personal highlights from that history would sure include:

• 1988:  our first public concert since 1969 at St. Theresa’s parish hall.  Several hundred people showed up -- what a terrific evening of music and friendship!  We’ve continued to perform since this event.

• 1995:  the mayor of West Des Moines presented us with the keys to the city for our assistance in fund-raising to help flood victims.

• 1998: induction into the Iowa Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.  I was asked to join the Iowa Rock & Roll Music Association’s Board of Directors.

• October 2001, we organized a fund-raiser 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.  We teamed up with local bands The Legal Limit and Danny & the Dreamers to make this jamb-packed evening at the Val Air a tremendous success.  We wrote a check to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund for almost $16,000!

• 2005:  our 40th anniversary of music and friendship!!

On a more personal note, Rose and I are so very proud of our son, Rick, and our daughter Katelyn – what’s wonderful young adults they have become.  Truth be known, I have to give much of that credit to Rose.  I’ll close this “bio” by saying that, outside of our Lord, she is the most influential person in my life and a wonderful mother.  My bestest friend and the love of my life without whom my musical “career” would mean nothing.   My deepest thanks to her and our kids for putting up with me all these years ......  my love to you!

I would be remiss if I didn’t thank you, our fans and friends, for all your support over the years as well.  I hope we have provided some fun times and rekindled some fond memories.  God bless you all.

[ John Spike ] [ Bruce Cameron ] [ Greg Miksich ] [ Rick Breuss ]