User:Keown100/The Astronauts (surf band)

The Astronauts were an American surf rock band of the 1960s.

1959-1960 The Stormtroppers
High School classmates Bob Demmon and Stormy Patterson began playing with drummer Brad Leech in 1956, and eventually settled on the name The Stormtroppers. In 1959 Jim Gallagher replaced Leech as the Drummer, and Rich Fifield and Dennis Lindsey were added to the lineup. The Stormtroppers recorded a little-known album for the Palladium label in 1960.

1961-1968 The Astronauts
In 1961, the band changed their name to The Astronauts. After backing Del Shannon and Dick & Dee Dee at live shows, the band secured a recording contract with RCA Records. Their first album, Surfin' With the Astronauts, was released in 1963. The album included the Billboard Top 100 hit Baja.

The band appeared in the movie Surf Party in 1964. They appeared in the movies Wild On The Beach and Out of Sight in 1965. In 1966, they appeared in the film Wild Wild Winter.

In 1966, Lindsey left the band and was replaced by Mark Bretz. Gallagher was drafted into the Army, and was replaced by Ron Jenkins.

1968-1969 Sunshineward and Hardwater
In 1967, Demmon left the band, and was replaced by Bob (Mouse) McLerian. The band changed their name to Sunshineward, and recorded an album for Capitol Records. A subsequent lineup toured with the name Hardwater.

Discography

 * Surfin' With The Astronauts (1963)
 * Everything Is A-OK! (1963)
 * Competition Coupe (1964)
 * Astronauts Orbit Kampus (1964)
 * Rockin' With The Astronauts (1965)
 * Go...Go...Go!!! (1965)
 * For You From Us (1965)
 * Down The Line (1965)
 * Travelin' Men (1967)