DESCRIPTION:
The Humans

Dick Doolan - vocals
Danny Long - vocals and harmonica
Bill Kuhns - lead guitar and vocals
Gar Trusselle - keyboards
Marty Busch - bass
Jack Dumrese - drums

The Humans were from Albion, New York, with the exception of bass player Marty Busch who was from nearby Medina, New York. The band in the summer of 1964.

Their band's moniker- The Humans- was a dig at all the groups naming themselves after insects and animals.

They toured throughout the northeast, opening for some big acts such as Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels. They also played the Rheingold Festival in Central Park, Manhattan in 1966.

Their only 45 has a fine folk-rock original on the A-side, "Take a Taxi". The instrumental passage is a neat combination of twelve-string guitar and organ.

For years now, it's been overshadowed by the B-side, "Warning", which has become almost an anthem in garage-rock circles, and rightly so. It's a well-arranged combination of ringing guitar chords, thudding drum beat and bass line, simple organ melody, a great rough lead vocal answered by a second singer and a harmonica solo.

Lead guitarist Bill Kuhns wrote both songs. It was recorded at Riposo Studios in 1966 and released on the Audition label, which had a number of classic mid-60s singles.

According to keyboardist Gar Trusselle...

"We were managed locally by Al Cecere in Rochester. As far as we knew, Al Cecere was the sole owner of Audition. He had some connections so he got us signed up with Premier Talent Associates (PTA) in NYC. Our agent with them was Rich Nader who went on to promote R&R revivals across the country."

"We also opened for the Hollies, Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels (several times) and played a two week gig in Miami with the Standells."

"We were friends with "The Heard" as they were also managed by Al Cecere. We alternated at Oak Orchard Lanes in Albion [with] Caesar and His Romans from Buffalo. By the way, Oak Orchard Lanes was quite a hot spot. In the summer, the owners would cover all 12 lanes with plywood and have dances on the lanes with some pretty big names. A couple that come to mind are the Rivieras and the Shadows of Knight."

The Humans were also there when some rock 'n roll history was made. According to Bill Kuhns, the band was there the night Jimi Hendrix was discovered...

From the Medina Journal-Register 1980:

The most historic part of the (New York) trip though was a trip to the Cafe´Wha? made by the group in the company of Rich Nader (of Premier Talent) and Charlie (Chas) Chandler of The Animals.

Kuhns relates the story... "After the concert with Mitch Ryder and the DW in NY, we went down to the Village and saw Jimi Hendrix. He was not Jimi Hendrix Experience yet, he was Jimi James and the Blue Flame."

Hendrix was not supposed to appear, his back-up band was playing that night but the club owner introduced him around and sent him home to get his guitar.

"Then he opened up with "Wild Thing" which became his national anthem, so to speak," Kuhns remembered. Then he did "Foxy Lady" and "The Wind Cries Mary".

Doolan says, "It blew us right off the wall", and Kuhns added, "most inspiring thing I've seen in my whole life."

Chandler was then to take over and produce Hendrix into stardom.