The Beau Geste - We were a bunch of pimply-faced junior high school kids playing some pretty good garage rock - Animals, Raiders, Stones, Kinks etc. (And, naturally, Little Black Egg.) I was the drummer and, as such, band practices were usually held at my house. Benmont would play Broadway show tunes for my mom before practice. (My Mom was a singer.) I didn't know him well but he seemed to be a good guy. The other players in the Beau Geste were: Wilson Gillett - lead singer, Robby Parker - lead guitar, Bobby Kuitert - rhythm guitar, Don McPherson - bass guitar. I actually learned to play the drums while in the band. Eventually I, and the band, got good. We played a bunch of gigs at Frat Houses at the U.of F. We played the Moose Lodge a few times - we opened for Sam The Sham and Tommy Roe and (don't laugh) Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler - not too bad for 8th graders! I moved back north from Gainesville in 1966 and I keep in touch now with only Wilson from the old days - he teaches school in Tampa. Bobby I spoke with once a few years back - he works for the State of Florida. Don and I got together in person a handful of years ago in Tallahassee - don;t know where he is now. One other note (two, actually) of interest to Gainesville musicians - I lived a few houses down from Boomer Hough of the Maundy Quintet. They would sometimes bop over if they heard us rehearsing in my carport - Boomer, Bernie, Don and Tom et al. And, Honey Combs and Ann Cowles were friendly with us for a while - I think Ann and Wilson dated briefly and I see that Ann has also posted on this website. Too cool. Vic

This is for all the members of Beau Geste and their friends! I run a Don Felder website ( www.feldermusic.com )and I added a Gainesville 60/70's page about the bands who ran togther during that time including Beau Geste. There is also a link for bandmates who have lost touch to get a hold of one another. If your interested or know one of the bandmembers who is e-mail me (or have them e-mail me)and I'll send a password to get in. It's confidential and closed to the public. Thanks, Cathy