Staff Writer
BATH — A new book by Maine author Will Anderson, “When Rock & Roll Rocked Maine,” includes vignettes of various home-grown rock and roll bands, including one from the Houlton area.
Photo from “When Rock and Roll Rocked Maine”
THE ELDORADOS — This photo of the Houlton-based Eldorados was included in a history of rock and roll, “When Rock and Roll Rocked Maine” by Will Anderson. Pictured here in early 1959 in a recording studio at Bell’s TV & Appliances are, from left: Wayne McGinley, Richard Sullivan, Bob Little and Tommy Bell.
A nostalgic look back at the early years of rock, the book features photographs from around the state, history from the musical revolution and reminisces from Maine musicians.
Among the stories included in “When Rock & Roll Rocked Maine” are memories from Richard “Sully” Sullivan of Houlton who shared the story of “The Eldorados,” a rock-and-roll group he was part in 1958 with Wayne McGinley, Bob Little and Tommy Bell.
“We were all in high school. The drummer’s father owned a TV repair service that had an old recording studio in the back. He would cut 78s.,” he says in the book. “It got us interested (in the music of the day). I was big into Buddy Holly and the Ventures and rock’n roll in general.”
The Eldorados, together through the summer of 1960, played around the area, Sullivan recalls, in Oakfield and Island Falls.
Susan Swett sang with the group some and some of ElDorados signature songs included “Hey Paula,” “Peggy Sue” and “Think it Over.”
Andersen’s chronology of the music covers the entire state with various areas represented by rare photographs, posters and more.
A fan of 1950s rock and roll himself, Anderson grew up listening to and loving Fats Domino, the Heartbeats, Chuck Berry and others. “When Rock & Roll Rocked Maine” is his 12th book on Maine and New England pop culture. Andersen currently lives in Bath with his wife Catherine.
