The Jesters were a white soul/R&B band in Athens, Georgia, United States, formed in 1964. They lasted 50 years. Among the acts they either toured with or opened for were Jerry Butler, Marvin Gaye, Patti LaBelle, The Marvellettes, The Platters and Jackie Wilson.
Background
1964 - 1970 Along with Zodiacs and the Blue Blenders, they were one of the pop bands in the Athens area.Athens by Patrick Garbin Five The Music Scene AND Culture, Page 80 They played Motown and Beach music which made them well suited to back up other touring acts such as Marvin Gaye, The Drifters and The Platters. The group was formed in 1964.Flagpole Friday, May 30 50 Years Later, The Jesters Say Goodbye By T. Ballard LesemanAthens Banner Herald Monday, September 05, 2011 Blueprint: Athens High Class of '66 reunion a success By Jim Massey In their early days they did venues like campus fraternity houses, rented halls and lounges and even a navy hall. They also played at the Georgian Hotel, Charlie Williams' Pinecrest Lodge. David Prince left the band in 1966 and joined a psychedelic band in Athens called October People.Athens Banner-Herald Friday, November 27, 2009 Longtime Athens musician playing Saturday by Chris Starrs One of the venues they played in the late 1960s was the Shelby Teen Club in July 1968. Other groups to play there in that period were The Attractions, The Embers and The Monzas.Shagging in the Carolinas by Fessa John Hook Page 91 Also in that year, they recorded an album that was made up of the rhythm and blues hits of the day.
The group broke up in 1970.Gainesville Times June 28, 2008 Jesters keep rockin’, 40 years later by Jeff Gill
1982 - 2014 They got back together again 12 years later in 1982.Gainesville Times June 28, 2008 Jesters keep rockin’, 40 years later, Band with local roots opens The Arts Council’s summer series by Jeff Gill In 2014, the band decided to call it a day and played their farewell concert at the Georgia Theater.Motovo 30 Things You′ll Never See In Athens, GA Again 25. The Jesters Playing Smooth Grooves The event was for Harold Williams who had suffered serious injuries following a fall.The Covenanter May 4, 2014 Page 6 The Jesters 50th Anniversary and Concert for Harold Williams
Original and founding member Harold Williams died on May 17, 2015.Athens Banner-Herald May 19, 2015 Harold E. Williams (1949 - 2015) Obituary
Members
Davis Causey, guitar, 1964 Artie Christopher, vocals, 1965-1968, Steve Hartley - Lead vocals, 1967-1969, 1981 - 2000s Mike Haynes, keyboards, 1994 Cleon Little, bass, 1968 - 2004 Bill McDonald, sax, 1964 Scotty Piotrowski, trumpet, 1964
Tom Ryan, bass, 2004 - 2000s Freddy Seagraves, drums, 1964 Donny Whitehead, sax, 1966 Harold Williams, sax 1964 Billy Young, trumpet, 1964 Clarence Young, organ, 1982 - 1995
the Heeey Baby Days OF BEACH MUSIC The Photos - Heeey Baby Daysathensmusic.net Jesters, The Sure ThingHey Baby Days Band Directories Jesters / Athens, Georgia
List of past members
David Aaron, guitar - 1968 - 1969 Don Allgood, organ - 1965 - 1966 Monty Black, bass - 1968 Freddie Brown, keyboards - 1965 Davis Causey, guitar - 1964 - 1968, 1981 - 2000s Artie Christopher, vocals - 1965 - 1968 Larry Coffeen, saxophone - 1964 - 1965 Mike Haynes, keyboards - 1991 - 2000s Steve Hartley, vocals - 1967-1969, 1981 - 2000s Lawrence Hill, trumpet, vocals - 1968 - 1969 Bill MacDonald, saxophone - 1964-1969, 1981 - 2000s Cleon Nally, bass - 1965-1979, 1981 - 2000s Joel Osner - 1964 - 1968
Scott Piotrowski, trumpet - 1965-1968, 1981 - 2000s Bobby Prince - 1964 - 1966 David Prince, 1964 - 1966 Tom Ryan, bass - 2004 - 2000s Ed Saye, vocal - 1964 - 1966 Freddy Seagraves, drums - 1964 - 1969, 1981 to 2000s Donny Whitehead, saxophone - 1964-1969, 1981 - 2000s Harold Williams, 1964 - 1968, 1981 - 2000s Billy Young, trumpet - 1965-1969, 1981 - 2000s Clarence Young, keyboards - 1982 - 1995 Diana Young, vocals - 1965 Hey Baby Days Athens, Georgia Band Directories, Jesters
Discography Sure Thing - SKU: 1933 - (2010)
References
External links The Jesters "Higher and Higher" A concert for Harold Williams @ GA TH Band photos Athens, Georgia Band Directories, Jesters Southern Garage Bands - The Jesters