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Show m PaysonSantaquin-base- d rock Wednesday, June 11, 1980, page 5 by Michael Olson I Wm$0Lv! a group going for it group Jubal gave the CHRONICLE a chance to find out how dreams and hard work are combined in the local entertainment business. Jubal is one of the largest groups of its kind in the intermountain area. With eight members in the band it takes a pretty good fee to break even. Lately theyve been playing Park City and Salt Lake where the moneys been better than usual, though still barely enough with that many members to split with. But this group is unusual. Collectively they are a fine example of idealism and the human will to overcome the odds against success in the rock world of inflated egoes and limited This week big engagements. they have a chance to take a big step upward, thus fulfillling the dream theyve all worked for for fifteen years. Theyve each been playing or singing for about that long, though with different groups along the way. But Jubal has been to-- , gether for eight months, an astounding length of time, according to members of the group, for that many musicians to put But this up with each other. group knows it has the talent and togetherness finally to break out of the pack of bar and local dance groups. Their brand of music is country rock, southern rock, and plain old rock and roll, a form they stay with because its their kind of music. Manager Dennis Bird of Santaquin says the group is often advised to get into new wave music or other forms that appear to be more popular, but he says Jubal knows what it likes and if they cant make it with their own music they dont want to make it at all. They have just about enough original material now to cut an And they may get the album. chance. Competing against 427 entrants in the KFTN Radio Search for a Star contest,. (Effronicle group for the New Riders of the Purple Sage when they back-u- p Payson's Jubal, During a practice session for what may be the most important performance of their lives, the Papmt Jubal emerged as one of the ten finalists. According to station who Chris McGuire, manager spoke with the CHRONICLE over the phone, the winner of a final competition held Saturday night at Timpview High will receive $1,000 in cash and a recording contract with a nationally recognized record company, including national distribution of the album produced. McGuire assured the CHRONICLE that this was way beyond the usual battle of the bands promotion that comes along locally Jubal, every once in a while. in fact, has already won some of those, which are basically PPU' larity contests. The KFTN contest will be judged by ten representatives from various record companies, such as Warner Brothers and McGuire said the Columbia. finalists range in style all the way from barbershop quartet to rock and roll, although KFTN is basically a country western He said the contest station. was very tightly controlled in picking the ten finalists. A voice control amplifier was used to make sure that the same person was not voting twice or more for any certain group, because the voting was done by phone-ifrom KFTN listeners. The finalists are all from Utah although McGuire says the entrants came from several states. Each entrant had to make a tape to be played over the air. Jubal sacrificed valuable engagements to make the tape in Salt Lake. The CHRONICLE has listened to it and can report the group has a very high quality sound. McGuire says the ten finalists are definitely the best in the area, the winner deserving a chance to record and distribute. Jubal has been in the Payson area for many years, undergoing the usual changes in personnel over the years. Payson residents would probably recognize Kent and Gary Balog, two of the groups The other original members. members of the version of Jubal are Gerry Denicore and Dennis Bird of Santaquin, Juline and Dennis J - v, appeared at the night club Abbey Road in Salt Lake. But one must remember it has taken fifteen years of almost constant practice and performing for these individuals to reach the level of local popularity they now possess. The real test will partly come from their performance Saturday night. They have the confidence they can win, and if they do, it could be the start of "'-?-? something big. The CHRONICLE contacted McGuire to try and determine whether the break Search for a Star claims it can provide is the real thing. It seems to be. McGuire claims to have managed successful artists himself, including Mikki Mori, currently a rising star in recording. He says his people have won sixteen gold records so far. He also produced the Hotel Balderdash albums, the second of which is just about to come out after the first sold extremely well. McGuire says hes from Nashville. Considering his experience, the CHRONICLE asked how important his recent promotion will be for the winner Saturday night. The right people will be there, It will be a darn good he said. step for somebody. said he expected McGuire 15,000 people on KFTN Listeners Appreciation Night at Suntana. That in itself could be the experience of a lifetime for a group. Whether they win or not Saturday night, the group maintains As Bird it will stay together. WeTe it, puts good, hardworking people who want to make it in a hard business. The music gets in your blood-w- ell do anything to keep it going. n eight-month-o- ld Most groups dont stay together long, and some of us have been with other groups before. But we think weve found the right musicians to make the music we like. The group members: front, left to right, Richard Milhouse Kllngman (Provo), Juline Prestwich (Payson), Dennis Prestwich (Payson); Middle, Gerry Prestwich of Payson, Mark All red of Springville, and Richard Milhouse Klingman of Provo. Klingman, Allred, and Denicore are all originally from California, however. Eight months is a long time toDennis gether for musicians. Bird says, This is the most dedicated band I know of. We all have to work regular jobs, then were often up till three or four in the morning on our gigs. It gets pretty rough sometimes. For an group to do this for so long is really unusual. But weve got family unity, and were going to give it all weve got. All Jubal members hold down jobs in some field of contraction work, from carpentering to cement finishing. They often get up to go to work at 6 a.m. or earlier after only a few hours sleep. Then, when theyre not playing engagements theyre practicing, especially now while theyre putting together original material. Although they kidded around a bit when the CHRONICLE arrived Tuesday night to watch them jam in the basement of Dennis and Julines house, it wasnt long before their real feelings began to surface. They are all deadly serious about their music. eight-memb- er Richard Kllngman and other members of the local rock group, Jubal, prepare for a contest that could give them a big break into recording. (Santaquin), Dennis Bird (Santaquin); back, Kent Balog (Payson), Mark Allred (Spring-villeGary Balog (Santaquin). Denicore ), And its been tough being so dedicated in a field in which its difficult to earn enough money to survive. They are all family people with wives and children to support as well as expensive sound equipment and travel expenses. It But Gary Balog says, has its good points. You get to meet a lot of interesting people and travel to interesting places. The real problem is finances. He continues, Were an Smaller bands band. can play for less; and if a place hasnt heard us before, the management will hire the cheaper bands to save money. But this band has faith in itself. Weve had great reception in Park City where people come from all over the West. We hope theyll spread the word. But some of our best crowds have been right here in South Utah County. They make us feel appreciated. Dennis Bird says the band appeals to people between the ages of 21 and 35. Their song list includes a lot of favorites by groups like Lynnyrd Synnyrd, Marshal Tucker, the Charlie Daniels Band, and similar groups. But more and more they are injecting original songs into the eight-memb- er act. Two originals they are most Budd McCann, proud of are written by Ralph Hemingway and A New and Kent Balog; Tomorrow by Dennis Prestwich. Bird says the usual genesis of an original song is for some member of the group to get inspiration for the words or melody, then the whole group gets together on it and improvises the complete thing. They dont use written music. And speaking of genesis, the groups unusual name comes from Genesis. Bird says Alice Barney of Payson came up with it. Jubal was the man referred to in the Bible as the father of And his brothers musicians: name was Jubal: he was the father of such as handle the harp and organ. (Genesis 4:21). No doubt the group is hoping their paton will be smiling on them June 14th. Theyll have one rehearsal for it on Friday, June 13th, at Mountainview High in Orem. Then, a win Saturday night will allow them to play at the KFTN Listeners Appreciation Concert to be held June 28th at Suntana That Raceway near Springville. concert also features the Statler Brothers and Bill Anderson (coowner with McGuire of KFTN). Jubal has had some experience with big groups. They were the iCiaf Juline Prestwich, one of the last to join the group, has added a strong voice to the vocals. She holds one of her children as they listen to a group practice session. Genola Town Council meets to discuss a variety of city issues The Genola town Council met Saturday night in their monthly meeting, with the meeting being Fred conducted by Mayor The minutes and Mecham. financial report were read by recorder Vera Stevens, and both were approved. Max Nelson reported that the state water director wants to meet with him and go over the water system in the near future. He also reported that the new line had been laid down to the Payson East Stake Home. Lloyd Nelson reported that Santaquin wants to purchase their own garbage truck and would like to include Genola in their service area. It was discussed, but no decision was made. He also reported that the board needs to meet with the lawyer, Mr. Despain, to amend the zoning laws to change Genola from an l (Agriculture) Zone to a Commercial Zone to allow for Home Businesses in Genola. The Traffic Code, the Criminal Code, watering the roads, and animal control were sme of the A-- other items that they felt need to be brought before the public. The new amendments will be submitted to the planning commission for 15 days, then they will recommend any changes they feel will be needed, then it will be advertised for 15 days, then a public meeting will be held. Goshen Fire Department wants the board to meet with them and hear their proposal for fire protection. It was agreed that all who can will attend their meeting. It was also reported that Santaquin has submitted a plan to help with fire protection in Genola. County Fire Marshall, Floyd Lundall, informed us that the County no longer furnishes the protection because Genola is an incorporated area. Alan Davis met with the board and bought his business license. He then discussed with them the water line that is proposed in the master plan to be laid from the corner by Eldon Bests home down the road to the west, where it passes the DAvis Cabinet Shop. He proposed that if the town would go ahead with laying that line, he would stand the expense to make it an line instead of the 6 to make it possible for him to put in a sprinkler fire system in the shops. The amount of pipe and the cost factors were discussed to some length, and it was decided that the board would study it further and meet with Alan again on Saturday morning, June 14th, at 6 a.m. Mrs. Stevens spoke for Don Oberg, who was absent due to illness, and reported that they had located another small and the motion was made that Don be okayed to check it out and if it looked like it would do the job needed, he could go ahead and purchase it. This motion was seconded and passes unanimously. Tim Haveron reported that his committee had checked the tennis courts, and found that they had been poured too small. They would need 12 more feet on the road-grade- Genola Town Board, left to right: Vera Stevens, recorder; Fred Mecham, Mayor; Max Nelson, Lloyd Nelson, and Tim Haveron, Absent for the picture, Don Oberg, councilman. Coun-cUme- n. r, east and west and 10 more feet on the north and south. It was decided that the project should be finished along with the basketball backboards and a chainlink fence to act as the net for the tennis court. I was decided to approach the riding clubs about the concession stand needed to see if they would like to build it with the help of labor donated by town members, under the jurisdiction of the town board. It was reported that Alton McGain has been hired as a town employee. His wage will be $4.50 per hour. It was also reported that two youth had been hired for help for 10 weeks during the summer. They are Lloyd Thornton and Philip Shepherd. The boys will start work under the jurisdiction of councilman Don Oberg. A meeting to plan the annual was celebration homecoming planned for 7 a.m. next Saturday, the 14th. The Homecoming will be held July 26th. |