Fremont, 1964-8
The Turfits were originally called The American Way, with Gary Reddick on organ, Roger Hilty on drums, Kenny Turner on bass and Bob Peeler on lead guitar. Whitey Gwinup left the Vandaliers July 9, 1966 and took Bob Peeler's place on lead guitar. The Band changed their name at that time to the Other Ones. While playing Club 224 in Tiffin, the Band held a name contest (there was another group out there named the Other Ones) and picked The Turfits as the winner.
In 1967 they recorded two songs for Capitol. One was "Losin One", written by Whitey Gwinup. The label lists all the members of The Turfits because of an agreement within the Band. Gwinup's name is misspelled on the label as Gwinep. The second song, "If It's Love You Want", written by Gwinup and Harry Kerr. Both were with the Vandaliers at that time. "If It's Love You Want" was originally recorded on September 2, 1965 at Cleveland Recording by The Vandaliers. Gwinup took "If It's Love You Want" with him and recorded a new version with The Turfits. Again, the label lists all the members of The Turfits because of an agreement within the Band. The 45 was recorded at Cleveland Recording and produced by Don King, brother of the Outsider's Tom King.
The Band based themselves in Xenia at a nightclub called The Castaways that Band half-owned. They also played often at a club called The Capital in Dayton. The Band played several teen shows on TV and also played on the Phil Donahue Show.
Prior to the American Way, Reddick had been in the Challengers.
Photos and particulars by Whitey Gwinup, lead guitar for The Turfits and Wayne Van Doren, drummer for the Vandaliers.