The New Group: Rock n' Roll Band from Class of '66 by Bob Couser

The Class of ‘66 has had many fascinating life stories encompassing a wide-ranging mixture of career pursuits.  These have included law, medicine, journalism, broadcasting, education, agriculture, science, and music, to mention a few.  Seven classmates lived out their love of music during the years 1964-1968 as members of a Rock n' Roll band called The Group, which was later renamed The New Group.  In 2015, these seven classmates, as members of The New Group, were recognized by the South Dakota Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame for their contributions to the music scene in their native state.

The lives of Dewey Hunt, Dennis McDermott, Chuck Gugel, Jerry Adams, Rick Davies, Al Breaw, and Richard Herges mingled together at various times to  make their version of Rock n' Roll music from 1964-1968.  Dewey Hunt recalls first learning keyboard skills on the piano while in the second grade.  Dennis McDermott’s father Bill was a great enthusiast of music and planted the seed in Dennis’ ear at an early age.  With the exception of Richard Herges, they all had musical guidance from Solomon Koth during Monroe Junior High band classes from 1960-63.  Dale Dobberpuhl, a Monroe student teacher at that time, encouraged some of the students to organize a musical ensemble that would perform for the Symphony Group National Fraternity at Northern State University in Aberdeen.  Fittingly, Dennis McDermott (trumpet), Jerry Adams (trombone), Howard Bastian (Drums), Jim Gerharter (Piano), and Rick Davies (saxophone) founded the Five Aces in the 7-8th grade.  These young aspiring musicians practiced in their parents’ basements and had their inaugural performance as planned, and later they also performed at Helen’s California Kitchen for a special event.  Not to be outshone, fellow Monroe classmates Dewey Hunt (Keyboards and trumpet) Chuck Gugel (drums), Jim Hare (Saxophone), Brian Lee (trombone) and Al Breaw (guitar) organized another small band, which they never formally named.  This latter group can recall playing once at Dewey Hunt’s mother’s restaurant called Del’s Drive Inn, located north of Lee Park Golf Course on old US-281 highway.  According to Al Breaw, "I also remember that we actually got paid a few dollars.  I think it was from the guy over in the corner that kept asking, how do I get these guys to quit?"

The Group's First Year: 1964-1965
L-R: Stablein, Miranda, Gugel, and McDermott

Several years later, Diane Evenson asked Dennis McDermott to organize a small musical lineup to perform at the high school's Queen and Marshall coronation ceremony.  Dennis knew that Jose Miranda, a foreign exchange student from Brazil, played the guitar.  Jose was staying at the home of John Stablein, a member of the class of ’65, who also played the guitar.  In addition to John and Jose, Dennis invited Chuck Gugel, who played the drums, to join their musical set which they named The Group.  This original group put together a 3-song arrangement in December of 1964 and played at the Central's Coronation Ceremony.  That year they also performed at the Eaglean Follies and the Snow Queen Festival at Aberdeen’s Civic Arena. 

L-R: Breaw, Miranda, Gugel, Adams, Stablein
The Group On The Road

The Group practiced at John Stableins’ home at Mina Lake and rode to their performances in his Ford station wagon.  During the Spring and Summer of ‘65, the quartet performed at a Job’s Daughter’s gathering in the basement at the Kessler’s Store in Aberdeen, and also had appearances in Leola, Selby, and Ipswich, South Dakota.

The Group's 2nd Year: 1965-1966
L-R: Stablein, Davies, Gugel, Breaw, and Hunt

As the Summer of ’65 came to an end, Jose Miranda returned to his home in Brazil and John Stablein left the group shortly afterwards.  The band decided to expand their instrumental reach after hearing other groups touring the Midwest, such as the Fabulous Flippers.  Dewey Hunt came onboard providing exceptional keyboard skills, Rick Davies on saxophone, Jerry Adams on vocals, and Al Breaw on guitar. During their senior year, The Group had engagements at several locations, including The Green Door in Lemmon, the Opera House in Selby, the Blue Dog Lake Pavilion near Waubay Lake, South Dakota, where they played “Dusk til Dawn” shows occasionally.

The expanded New Group: 1966-1968
L-R: Hunt, Gugel, Olson, Palmer, French, Post, McDermott

Following their high school graduation in the Spring of ‘66, some of band members remained in the Aberdeen area and later enrolled at Northern State University.   Jerry Adams left the band, as he had many other interests.  Rick Davies left the band due to his educational pursuits.  Al Breaw left as well and formed a trio called Al’s Combo that became the house band at the Depot Club in Aberdeen.  New members signed up to form an expanded band which they called The New Group.  The new members included Jerry Selix (Guitar, Bass, Organ, Vocals: 1966-68), Jim Olson (Sax: 1966-68), Richard Herges (Bass: 1966-68), Randy Jones (Vocals, Alto Sax: 1966-67), Steve Post (Trumpet: 1967-68), Terry French (Guitar: 1967-68), Don Palmer (Guitar: 1968), and John Butcher (Sax: 1967).  The New Group performed at ballrooms throughout North and South Dakota, as well as in Minneapolis.   Of special note, they performed at the Red Dog Inns in Lawrence and Wichita, Kansas, and won four “Battle of the Bands” contests, the most significant being a 22-band contest in Fargo in 1967.  The New Group recorded a single entitled “Knock on Wood" at United Audio in Minneapolis, MN.  Locally, the group performed frequently in Aberdeen at the Depot Club and Shimy’s Bar.

The New Group band effectively split up following a meeting at Shimy’s in 1968, when it was decided that all things considered, the effort required to meet, rehearse, travel, perform, and the financial rewards, it was time for most to move on with their respective lives.

Dewey Hunt continues to have a rich and full musical career.  Besides the New Group’s induction, he was inducted as a member of several other groups into the South Dakota Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame.  Dewey continues to perform as a solo act, and his engagements have taken him throughout the United States and Canada, cruise ships through the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas, as well as stops in Hawaii and South Korea.  Dennis McDermott performed with other successful groups and jazz ensembles, and retired as the Band Director at Aberdeen Central High School in 2010.  Dennis was presented with the South Dakota High School Activities Association's Distinguished Service Award.  Chuck Gugel left the band in 1968.  Following his discharge from the U.S. Navy in 1972, He completed his B.A. degree from Northern State University in business administration.  Chuck continued to perform playing the drums with the Kiesz & Schmidt band intermittently from 1972-2000.  Al Breaw continued to perform as well after his stint with the New Group.  After spending time at the Depot Club from 1966-67, he hooked up with a band formed by Bill Lebold, formerly with the Mystics, and also Bob Stiles and the Country Swingers for the next three years.  Following that, Al played drums, rhythm and bass guitar with backup groups that traveled with Stonewall Jackson, Bobby Vee, Willie Nelson and Hank Williams, Jr. for another eight years.

Jerry Adams

Richard Herges

Chuck Gugel

Al Breaw

Dewey Hunt

The Class of ’66 can take great pride in these talented classmates for all the great musical moments and memories they have provided throughout the years.  They truly have been outstanding goodwill ambassadors for Aberdeen Central High School and especially the Class of ‘66.  Visit our YouTube site to see a tribute video to The New Group Band.

Dennis McDermott

Rick Davies