The Band
The Baboons formed in 1989. It all started when Don Buchanan (guitar and vocals) and former Baboon's drummer Steve Alford, had been playing at River City Saloon on "open mike night" (an old Gorge favorite hang out). They had become the weekly house band known as "The Chumps". Don and Jerry Pickerd (guitar, vocals) had been getting together at Jerry's house to play guitars and mostly Beatle's songs (Jerry's all-time favorite group). Since Don and Steve had been playing, they got the idea to join Jerry and make some music together. One day, Jerry bumped in to his old friend Bob Van Alstine and mentioned that he had some friends coming over to play some music. Knowing Bob was into music, Jerry asked him to come over to his house and sing. Don, Steve, Jerry, and Bob being the original line-up, they started getting together once a week to play. Bob was not a bass player but had played the guitar. Soon he was learning bass lines on a six-string guitar to see if it was worth buying a bass guitar. A few months later, Bob bought his first bass. Soon the band was putting together a list of songs. By word of mouth, the band started getting their first gigs. In need of a name, Jerry jokingly said, "You guys use to be in a band called 'The Chumps'. How about 'The Baboons'?" Everybody laughed and the name stuck. They played their first gig as "The Baboons". And the rest is history.
In 1996, Steve Alford left The Baboons since he was playing in another band. The Baboons, in need of a full-time drummer, tried out a couple local drummers. They remembered Darryl Agersea, a drummer for the "Livewires" (a local blues band). Darryl really 'dug' The Baboon's sound. He would always tell the guys how much he would like to play drums for The Baboons. Two weeks after Darryl started, The Baboons played at The Northshore Bar & Grill on a Friday night, a wedding reception at The Castle on Saturday, and a private party that Saturday night. The band wore Darryl out, but he passed the audition.
The Baboons have been going strong now for over a decade. They play 50's through 00"s music, playing a wide variety of classic rock, country, and ballads. The band has played at local clubs and bars in the Columbia River Gorge, for wedding receptions, private parties, festivals, and their favorite gig - New Year's Eve. The Baboons are a fun, good-time band, with a little something for everybody.
Click on the players faces to find out more about them
NOTE: under construction
From left to right:
Darryl Agersea - drums and percussion, Don Buchanan - guitar & vocals,
Bob Van Alstine - bass guitar & vocals, Jerry Pickerd - guitar and vocals