Allen
Barr ~ Guitar
Chet
Dow ~ Piano
George
Johnson ~ Drums
Gailen
Ludtke ~ Guitar
Wayne
Morisset ~ Bass
Bruce
Reddick ~ Guitar
Del-Fi
Recording Artists
"Rockin'
Matilda" & "Blowin the Blues"
There is a rumor running around that there might be an attempt at a reunion of sorts for the Swags. I hope it is true. It would be nice to see the "boys" together again.
Webmaster, PNWBands.comA couple of guys were introduced to Rock`n' Roll early in high school and decided to put a band together. They took there name from Link Wray' B-Side of Rumble, The Swag. Gailen Ludtke liked the song and named his newly formed band after it. Gailen played 1st guitar. He also played saxophone on Blowing The Blues. The band was formed in 1957 and continued until 1960. Jim Bailey, from Anacortes, WA heard the Swags play and wanted to record them. Jim started a record company and named it WESTWIND. He and Gailen co-wrote Rockin' Matilda in 1960. "Rockin' Matilda/Blowing The Blues" was originally recorded on WESTWIND-WW1003 (Westwind Records, Anacortes,Washington). This record was issued with a picture sleeve of the band.(1960). Shortly thereafter, Jim sold the rights to DEL-FI and they produced and sold about a quarter of a million copies. The record shot up to number one in Hawaii. The band saw very little of the money that was made from this record.
Jim Doidge, June 2003.
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Last Update: 9 February 2007
Credits: Don Rogers, Darryl Riffero, Ron Roe, Jim Doidge, Margy Kane, Stan Boutilier
