Music Legends: A Rewind on the Minnesota Music Scene

by Martin Keller

Is Minnesota a great state? You betcha! Explore Minnesota’s most fascinating facts and stories in the pages of The Minnesota Series. Breath taking winters. Wild summer storms. Famous hometown faces and music that got the whole world on its feet.

Genres: Music, History

Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Martin Keller is a former pop culture journalist, published author and unproduced screenplay writer, whose work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Leaders, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Final Frontier, Billboard, Utne Reader, Right On! the Star Tribune, the Mpls -St. Paul Business Journal, City Pages and others, with appearances on “Today,” “48 Hours,” PBS, Public Radio and more. Keller also has written Hijinx & Hearsay: Scenester Stories from Minnesota’s Pop Life. For the past 25 years, he has worked as an award-winning public relations pro, including an adventurous stint for The Center for the Study of Extraterrestrial Intelligence (CSETI). The Space Pen Club is based, in part, on that period.

Reviews

[Robert Strandquist · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Martin Keller's "Music Legends" not because it is a work of literary art, but because it traces a piece of Minnesota history in which I participated. Martin Keller's research into the blossoming years of rock-n-roll unfolds the locations, events, and bands that I attended and heard. But, Keller's work includes my era from the 50's - early 70's and beyond. He also takes in a broader range of music styles and recording productions than I never knew existed. The result is a pretty good retrospective. I loved his recounting of Soma records which was the label almost all the locals used to reach a larger audience. Another great time was in the early 60's at Big Reggie's Danceland in Excelsior. There I refused to pay $? a couple bucks to see those cheap Beatle imitators, The Rolling Stones. They were "dirty," we thought. And, of course Keller recounts the Beatles at Met Stadium in the fall of '64, my high school graduation year. I was there, but didn't scream. That was for girls only. The Trashmen, Underbeats, Danny's Reasons, Crow, The Triangle, The 400, Schlief's Little City - oh man, there were teen dance clubs open six nights a week. Great dancing to great music!! Then in my college days from '65-'69 Keller chronicles the funky West Bank scene including The Broken Drum with Maury Bernstein. He even gives mention to Red Nelson, the mayor of the West Bank who started 'rent parties' which lasted for several years. Can't make rent? See Red. He'll bring the community in to help. That's when I met Murphy, John Koerner, Dave and Tommy Ray (who's not mentioned). Keller also includes Dylan, Shangoya (Lloyd Cordner is mentioned), Tina (a former student) and the B-Sides, and on and on. What a thrilling read with great photos, as well. So, it's 5 out of 5 stars because, well, I'm a star in my younger life as a rocker. Thanks, Dean.

[Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for those who grew up in the Twin Cities in the 1950s through the 1980s. Just the mention of many of the names and places in the book will rekindle an avalanche of memories. When you run across the names of some of the artists in this book, you'll be hard pressed to keep their music out of your head. Your toes will be tapping!

[Chris Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book combines two of my passions....history and music. And the fact that it is about the Minnesota music scene made it even better.