Reunion Band

History

This year -- 2011 -- Reunion celebrates its 40th year of powering parties in Texas. To follow a year-by-year chronology of the good times (tracing the band's roots to the late 1960s) go here. Or keep reading for a quick overview....

In 1971, the Supreme Court ordered busing to achieve racial desegregation. Police and military arrested thousands of anti-war demonstrators in Washington. The Pentagon Papers were released. 18-year-olds got the vote.

Three Dog Night's "Joy to the World" was #1, followed by Carole King's "It's Too Late" and The Bee Gees' "How Do You Mend a Broken Heart." The Undisputed Truth joined the one-hit wonder bunch with "Smiling Faces Sometimes." Marvin Gaye asked "What's Going On," The Temps used "Just My Imagination," and Rod Stewart sang to "Maggie Mae."

At McCallum High School in Austin, another sound was brewing. The school's top rock musicians (from such bands as Springfield West and Bittersweet) were jamming with the high school band's top brass players. Chicago and Blood, Sweat and Tears were the progressive bands of the time and their songs provided the basis of the new band, which became known as Reunion.

Reunion 1971-1978

wpe8.jpg (57929 bytes) Circa 1977. Clockwise from lower left: Sam, John, Paul, Kelly, Tommy, Scotty Crooks, and Andrew.

Perhaps more of a horn-rock ensemble than a straight no-holds-barred dance band, the early realization of Reunion rocked around the state playing night clubs (including the legendary Armadillo World Headquarters and Mother Earth), countless fraternity parties, the George McGovern presidential campaign, and other events. During that time, disco was king. Amazingly the songs Reunion learned then are now hotter than ever with the revival of the craze in the '90s. Most members were in college during that time preparing for their careers. In fact, the band you see today is almost entirely professionals as there are several college degrees (but no Music degrees!) on stage.

Reunion 1986-1988

wpe6.jpg (215364 bytes) Circa 1987. Clockwise fron lower left: Alvin Grant, Kelly, Sam, Paul, John, Tommy, Andrew, and Jim Brauer.

In the mid-'80s, literally after having not seen each other for a decade, the members of the band had a reunion at a popular Sixth Street night club. The evening clicked, and the band once again became a fixture in central Austin's night spots. Still mixing rock with soul, Reunion once again rose to the top of Austin music. But, as bands so often do, the guys drifted apart again to raise their families and advance their careers.

Reunion Today

Row 1: Stephen, Sam, Kelly, and Paul Hudspeth. Row 2: Andrew, Lorrie, and Tommy. Row 3: John, Paul Gillia, and Dave Hazlett.

For the past decade, the members of Reunion have been at it again, bringing excitement to every gathering they attend. The band has grown -- even added the female touch -- and makes regular appearances at Austin's top clubs, including the Warehouse District's Cedar Street Courtyard and Lake Travis hotspot The Oasis. The band is more polished, more show-driven, and more danceable than ever and is a favorite for weddings, bar mitzvahs, corporate events and community celebrations. The fun factor which has seen the band through more than a quarter century remains the driving force for both the band and its audience. By mixing classic rock, Motown, hard-core funk, '70s disco, and timeless ballads which appeal both to baby boomers as well as their kids, Reunion is THE band to bring it all together when you're in the mood to party.

You may get the feeling that Reunion is more family than business. You'd be right. Over the past quarter century the members have watched each others' families grow up, faced challenges and triumphs together, and kept it all going with an over-riding love of music and one another. You see the camaraderie -- the family -- there on stage. Indeed, our sons are now bringing a second generation to the Reunion stage.

The smiles are real. The fun is infectious. And it spreads throughout any venue in which Reunion appears.

Reunion has been quite a ride -- and the final chapter hasn't even begun to be written. Party on!

Thanks, Kathy, for the photo!

Other bands before Reunion

Austin's always been a musical Mecca, and it was no different in the 1960s and 70s when numerous bands were active. Reunion became the confluence of several such groups including:

Bittersweet (above)
The Mac HS Band
The Boxx
Springfield West
The Shadows of Doubt
Klick
Money
England
Bamboo
Harriet Court

And for a real trip down memory lane, check out these historic photos from four decades of rock from Reunion.

Aug. 1, 1966

About Our Home: Austin

The history of Reunion is part of the history of Austin. From playing classic-but-no-longer -extant Austin venues to entertaining thousands of Austinites over four decades, Reunion and the Capital City are inexorably linked. Here are some sites that explain the city's -- and Reunion's -- history:

The Coxville Zoo. We knew it as the "Ooooo" after the Z fell off the sign.

Historic Photos, like the 1922 Capitol tornado.

Historic postcards, including the Villa Capri!

Austin Postcards.com, some great shots.

Armadillo World Headquarters, the world-renowned club where Reunion played (once) in the early '70s. "This ain't Woodstock," one harried roadie observed while we were setting up.

Uncle Jay and Packer Jack...on a coffee mug. If you weren't on the Uncle Jay Show in the '60s you were not in the elementary "in" crowd.

Places that are gone, including photos by Gregg Cestaro Terminix and its oft-stolen bug and the Stallion and its grease-encrusted roaches.

2-J's Restaurant, a North Lamar Restaurant with mezmerizing lighting and Toonerville hamburgers where Sam, Kelly and Jim Brauer came up with the name of Oregon Reunion in 1971. There was already a band named Oregon and we had nothing to do with the northwestern state, so Oregon was dropped. Reunion, however. remained. 2-J's is EZ now -- a change that's hard to handle.

The original Oasis. A ratty South Austin club next to a massage parlor that Reunion 'owned' for much of the '70s. The lines were long when we played there and when the door opened tons of smoke escaped. No bother, the clientele constantly created more as they consumed beer so cold it froze in the bottle when the bartender popped the top. No photos, just memories. Featured manager Bog who once wrote on a napkin: "Great band -- but you can hear it in Dallas. Turn it down or turn it off. Bob." His signature looked like Bog, so that's what we called him. Another memorable manager: Said (sah-YEED) of The Sheik Club, a demanding clock-watcher whom Paul bear-hugged.