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Top photo left to right is
Paul Johnson, guitar; Jay Truax,
bass; Rob Watson, keyboards; Ron
Eglit, guitar. Bottom photo
left to right is Jim Fuller, guitar;
Ron Eglit, guitar; Paul Johnson,
guitar; Dave Raven, drums; Jay Truax,
bass; Rob Watson, keyboards and
unidentified on tambourine.
Musicians & Bands -
California surfing
The Surfaris, the band that rocked
the world with a song called, Wipe
Out, is still beating the drum for
audiences old and young who either
remember or are just discovering the
great sounds this 60's band
produced. When you live in Southern
California, you're incredibly lucky
to enjoy both the seasoned talents
and the upstarts, sometimes children
who carry the musical torch in a
tradition they learned from their
folks who played professionally.
Formed in California in 1962 the
Surfaris created such hits a Surfer
Joe and Point Panic in Southern
California studio. The original band
members were Ron Wilson (drums), Jim
Fuller (lead guitar), Bob Berryhill
(rhythm guitar) and Pat Connolly
(bass). Saxophone player Jim Pash
joined after their initial
recording. They disbanded in 1966
and drummer Ron Wilson died just
short of his 45th birthday in 1989.
In 1991 the Surfaris were inducted
into the Surf Music Walk of Fame at
Euro Disneyland, then in 1996,
they were inducted into Hollywood’s
RockWalk as “legends of rock and
roll.” Jim Pash passed away in May
2005 and left a gaping hole in the
performing band lineup. Former Dick
Dale bassist, Ron Elgit, was drafted
into the band to help bring back the
sound that someone of his experience
would understand.
The band now performs the original
tunes in gigs throughout Europe and
the U.S. Jim Fuller, the lead guitar
on "Wipe Out", "Surfer Joe", and
"Point Panic", is considered the
surf guitar guru. The band is listed
in various reference sources for
their contributions to the music
world and American culture.
Often performing in their home state
and venues up and down the
California coast, their music is a
popular genre for the surfing crowd
and old-timers who grew up to the
likes of
Jan & Dean, Beach Boys and
others who brought the surfing
culture into hearts of the American
public. You can often see the
Surfaris perform at public parades,
concerts and events such as
Surfing Sunday concerts.
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