The Lotus Duo, also known as Gary & Louise, featured Gary Brown (guitar / saxophone formerly of the Prophets) and Louise Morgan (vocals, blues harp) who were known throughout the coffeehouse circuit circa 1969-72. The Duo once opened a show for the Velvet Underground in 1969. Lou Reed paid compliments to the group for their original material especially the composition “Time Alone.” Through the early ‘70s the Lotus Duo traveled across the country, finally returning to the east coast and settling in Key West, Florida.
In late 1973 Gary and Louise returned to Baltimore. With Bob Albee (bass) they formed a new group called the Lotus Band that also included Michael Hedges (electric guitar, flute). The group performed at the Peabody Book Store & Beer Stube, Clark Street Garage, Angel’s Grotto, Jo’s Organic Bar, Jade Palace, Toni’s Dream, J.J. Gallaghers, and many of the Fells Point clubs.
Bottom: Michael, Louise
Hedges (see bio) attended the Peabody Conservatory and eventually embarked on a very successful career as an innovative acoustic guitarist.
A CD was released on Brownbeat 0198 featuring songs by the Lotus Band. The CD features Hedges on some cuts along with guitarist Joe Blacker who also appears on a couple of tracks.
1977 Lineup featured Brown (guitar, sax, vocals), Morgan (vocals, harmonica), and Albee (bass, flute), with Mike Goodman (piano), and Ben Kaplan (drums ex-Ooh La La, Ozz, Catwhistle). Subsequent bass guitarists for the group included Gene Ingham (Orange Wedge), then Rob Cherney.
Above: Ben Kaplan, drums Mike Goodman, piano
The Lotus Band performed at the 3rd annual End of the World festival…
Other members included Gil Reinhardt (guitar), Ken Wolle (drums), Angelo Grandinetti (bass)…
Seen at The Seagull Inn opening for The Ramones. Live photos below taken by Marjorie Gold.
(not pictured Louise Morgan). Photos courtesy of Gary Brown.
Angelo Grandinetti (bass), Gary Brown (guitar, sax)
As the group transformed “Gil Reinhardt and Louise Morgan left, replaced by Dave Woodworth and Bill Mayer to become Night Train.”
Kaplan joined the Jim Sellers Band. Kaplan was also a recording engineer on the Little Feat album recorded at Steve Boone’s studio. Ingham later played with the rock band London (early ‘80s), Slippery When Wet (late ‘80s), and other bands including more recently the band Sagamore. Goodman later with Shotgun… Cherney appears on Stephen Spano’s 1975 LP “Eye to Eye.”
Lotus group photos courtesy of Gary Brown
1999 (CD) Brownbeat 00198 Lotus Band
