The four original members of the Castaways were:
Steve Yeast, Macomb resident, MHS graduate, class of 1960, enrolled at WIU at the time the band was formed and was also working part-time as a disc jockey at radio station WKAI
Bruce Laughrey, pharmacist at Scott’s Pharmacy in Macomb at the time the band was formed.
Bill Bushnell, resident of Blandinsville and student at WIU at the time the band was formed.
Rod Hunter, Macomb resident and senior at Macomb High School at the time the band was formed.
The Castaways was born in 1962 when Steve Yeast was introduced to Bruce Laughrey by a mutual friend. Yeast knew Bill Bushnell and had previously met Rod Hunter who wanted to play drums in a band. Yeast, Laughrey and Bushnell met one afternoon at Derry’s Café and the band became a reality. Yeast was to play bass, Laughrey lead guitar, Bushnell would play sax and guitar and Hunter the drums. After a few practices Hunter got the nod to be the band’s lead singer. After a few months the foursome became five when Steve Yeast introduced another WIU music major, Ken Jandes, an outstanding sax man, to the group.
The Castaways found plenty of opportunities to perform during the 60’s, at teen hops for the YMCA, proms, high school dances, and nightclubs. The band was eventually pitted against another band in a Battle of the Bands contest in LaHarpe, IL. After that the Castaways began booking gigs at Western Illinois University in the new union Ballroom and at establishments in Gulfport, IL.
Personnel changes began to occur in 1964, and eventually resulted in a name changes to more reflect the personalities of the new members of the group. The name was changed to the Rising Sons in 1966.
The reunion in Macomb 47 years later is the latest chapter in this story of lasting friendship, born and nurtured by the individuals who, while pursuing higher education leading to successful careers in a variety of fields, shared their passion for the music in their youth while in Macomb.
TelSpan WorldWide Conferencing is proud to be the title sponsor of the Castaways reunion!
About TelSpan
Founded in 1989, TelSpan is an Indianapolis-based primary provider of conferencing related services, including web, audio, and video conferencing, streaming, recording, online registration, and operator-assisted event and Q&A conferences. TelSpan focuses upon providing high quality conferencing services to organizations worldwide with guaranteed E3 (Excellence Exceeding Expectations) service. For more information, please visit TelSpan’s website at http://www.telspan.com.
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Marie Nolan at 800-600-6458 ext. 650 or e-mail Marie at nolanm@telspan.com.
