From miknelak@yahoo.com Thu Jun 03 13:10:26 2010
Subject:Re: Human Leslie Speaker - really!

Hi, Barry,

I believe you're writing about George Oliver and his band from Toronto. They went under the moniker of "Rock Show of the Yeoman." Oliver sang and played organ, (an M3 at first and then a B3, as the band's popularity brought in the bucks.)

The climax of their show was as you've described it, but in live performance this swinging of the horns was done under flashing strobes! I saw them, many times as a kid, and always enjoyed the strenuous workout the guitarist and bassist were put through; served 'em right for not playing a Hammond.

In the event, it was all about the visuals because it didn't sound anything like a Leslie, just a slow, annoying doppler effect was created.

George went on to sing with Mandala and Natural Gas before venturing out under his own name. He was also a manic dancer and used to end shows by writhing about, a la James Brown. I had the experience of sidemanning with him, on B3, Clav and Pianet after he became solely a "front man."

George still lives in Toronto and has been known to still play the odd gig.

Best regards,

Mik