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San Diego was a great place to be in the early 1970’s. The world had discovered the singer/songwriter and the Vietnam War was winding down. Craig Ingraham had moved to San Diego in 1971 to play six nights a week with Danny Salmas in the Gaslight Room at the Midway Chuckwagon Restaurant. Beatle boots, white bell-bottom pants, fluffy shirts with pointy collars and that silly white vest, Monday through Saturday for eleven months. But as his hair grew longer, his days on the gig grew shorter. It all blew up on that historic Monday night when Muhammad Ali and Joe Frasier fought for the second time, the “Thrilla’ in Manila”!
Monday nights were slow in the Gaslight Room, the fight was on closed-circuit television in the San Diego Sports Arena and Craig wanted to go. The club was owned by a mysterious fellow named Yale Cahn, a quiet, menacing presence, who never liked Craig in the first place. It really seemed to bother Mr. Cahn when he passed out the paychecks for the band.
Craig went to the club manager, a rather short, scary guy with a crooked nose and a shiny suit and explained that he could go see the fight and be back to the club and only miss the first set. Since there was usually no one in the club for the first set but the band, bartenders and waitresses, the other guys could play without him. The club manager agreed. This he would later deny when Craig was stating his case to Mr. Cahn who was about to fire his ass. By this time, Craig’s hair was down to the middle of his back and he basically didn’t give a flying fuck about the gig anymore. He had bought a Martin D-28 guitar and was writing his own songs and recording them at night on his front room floor with his good buddy George Buzzetti. Now Craig was a singer/songwriter himself and ready to do something about it.
And that’s when the mythical band was born.
- (flute/vocals) – classically trained musician. A Jewish girl with that great, wild hair and personality. The girl with a platinum flute.
- (violin/vocals) – such a talented person. Filmmaker, actor, writer, singer and Jose Sinatra’s alter ego (aka The Hose).
- (vocals) – just out of the Navy and loving sunny Southern California after growing up in the frigid Northeast.
- (percussion/vocals) – that’s Arcia, not Garcia. Craig and Sodie played as a duo for awhile and won $100 bucks at the Palomino Club open mike contest. He taught Craig so much about rhythm. How to really lock in.
- (bass) – so much fun to play with. The hippy spirit informed by James Brown. His cat Brendan lived to be about 20. I think they were both vegetarians. Brian is brilliant, he teaches physics.
- (drummer) – his parents were Tunisian and Elvio’s drumming showed it. Rock, pop, soul, R&B, Latin rhythms with that North African soul.
- (piano/B3) – David was only 18 and a real prodigy. David grew up to be the David Benoit, world-renowned composer, pianist, and conductor. He is a multiple Grammy winner with numerous hit records to his credit. Although known as a pianist, some of his best solos were on the B3.
- (vocals) – singer, dancer, choreographer. Toured and played Broadway with Sammy Davis, Jr. After a year in Europe, Deb moved to San Diego to be with Craig and joined Freedom Quest.
David, Brian and Elvio would drive from Los Angeles to San Diego where the rest of the band lived, to rehearse Freedom Quest at Craig and Deb’s house in North Park. It was a time of festivals and tribal gatherings of all sorts and that’s where Freedom Quest found its audience. They were a 10-member band of committed artists who, like everyone else, were seeking redemption through rock ‘n roll. Each Freedom Quest concert was a happening, whether playing to hundreds by the beach or thousands at the Starlight Bowl in Balboa Park. There was freedom in the air and freedom in the music.
Craig began to take the band into the recording studio and Space Brothers Records was born. The idea was to have a record company that respects the artist--a company where both artists and label share equally in the profits. These early recordings have recently been transferred to CD and they sound great. There is also motion picture footage of the band in concert. Both the Freedom Quest music and film footage will soon be up on the website.
Recently, Craig and Debbie have reunited to start up Space Brothers Records once again. The first release is WORLD ON FIRE—SONGS FOR PEACE. This album is a reaction to the uninformed, jingoistic patriotism that has reared its ugly head since the horrors of 9-11. A collection of 11 songs, 6 written by Craig Ingraham and 5 written by his good friend and legendary Seattle bass player, singer/songwriter Rob Moitoza. Craig is currently putting together his second album WORDS & MUSIC. SBR is currently recording our friend and great pianist Tom Hanson for his upcoming solo album release. Also available on SBR is Rob Moitoza’s SPEAK OUT!
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