19?? - 2009

Richard Elvern Marsh (later Sky Saxon) was born in Salt Lake City on August 20 in an unknown year (was it 1937, 1945, or 1946?).  In the early 60s, he released several R&B and doo-wop singles under the name of Little Richie Marsh.  By 1962, he fronted various bands—first the Electra-Fires and then using his new name--Sky Saxon & the Soul Rockers. 

In 1965 he joined guitarist Jan Savage (specialist in fuzz guitar), Daryl Hooper (his cheap-sounding but charismatic organ also doubling as bass), and drummer Rick Andridge to form the Los Angeles-based The Seeds.   It was a raw garage punk sound---though that term had not yet been coined.    The group became a popular attraction at the clubs on the Sunset Strip along with about-to-be superstars the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Standells, and Love.

In 1966, they were signed by small label GNP Crescendo Records.  Two albums were recorded in that year---“The Seeds” and “Web of Sound.”  Neither broke nationally even though the group was playing to enthusiastic teens on the West Coast—dubbing them the California version of the Rolling Stones.   

Finally at the end of the year, their first single was released—their only Top 40 hit.  “Pushin’ Too Hard,” featured a relentless beat and gutsy vocals by a belligerent-sounding Sky Saxon.  It was a huge hit in California, but was so slowly rolled out across the country that the record would peak at only #36 in February 1967.