Sir Raleigh & The Coupons

In addition to a handful of snarling garage rock singles, Seattle's Sir Raleigh & the Cupons are also notable for launching the careers of future West Coast rock legends Dewey Martin and "Sneaky" Pete Kleinow. Originally known as the Blue Diamonds, the group initially served as the backing unit for vocalist Lucky Lee, and, in addition to drummer Martin (born Walter Dwayne Midkiff) and guitarist Kleinow, included guitarists Al Harris and Norman Raleigh as well as bassist Johnny Meeks. After a session with Lee at Seattle's Audio Recording studio, producer Kearney Barton was sufficiently impressed to recommend the Blue Diamonds to Jerden Records head Jerry Dennon, who not only signed the group but installed Martin as frontman, rechristening him Sir Walter Raleigh and renaming his bandmates the Cupons in the process. The group's debut, "Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day," appeared on Jerden in 1965 -- though later popularized by the Monkees, the Cupons' version is a masterpiece, capturing the scorching garage punk of the Northwest scene at its finest. Although not a national hit, the single proved enough of a local smash to interest A&M, which licensed Sir Raleigh & the Cupons' follow-up, "The White Cliffs of Dover." After a second A&M release, "While I Wait," the group signed to Tower for "Tell Her Tonight"; Martin then sacked the rest of the group, replacing them with guitarist Steve Green, keyboardist J.C. Rieck, and drummer Lyall Smith for one final Sir Raleigh & the Cupons single, "I Don't Want Her to Cry." The band then split, with Martin relocating to Los Angeles to drum for the Dillards before joining Buffalo Springfield on the insistence of fellow Canadian native Neil Young; Kleinow, meanwhile, later resurfaced as a member of country-rock pioneers the Flying Burrito Brothers. In 1982, the Piccadilly label compiled all five of the Cupons' singles on the LP One Buffalo Heard. ~ Jason Ankeny