Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show, shortened from 1975 onwards to Dr. Hook,
were an American rock band, formed in Union City, New Jersey.
In addition to their own material, Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show performed
songs written by the poet Shel Silverstein.
The band had eight years of regular chart hits, in both the U.S.
-Wikipedia
Also known as:
Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show
From:
New Jersey, United States
Genres:
Rock, Outlaw Music, Southern rock, soft rock
Years active:
1967–1985
Associated acts:
Shel Silverstein
Name Origin:
When told by a club owner that they needed a name to put on a poster in the window of his establishment,
Cummings made a sign: "Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show: Tonic for the Soul."
The "Hook" name was inspired by Sawyer's eyepatch and a reference to "Captain Hook" of the
Peter Pan fairy tale, though, humorously, because Captain Hook was neither a doctor nor
wore an eyepatch.
Ray Sawyer lost an eye in a near-fatal car crash in Oregon in 1967,
and has worn an eyepatch ever since.
To this day, Sawyer is mistakenly considered Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show because of the eyepatch he wears.
Past Members:
Dennis Locorriere - vocals, guitar, bass, harmonica
(1967-1985)
Ray Sawyer - vocals, guitar, percussion, congas, maracas
(1967-1983)
Billy Francis - keyboards
(1967-1985; died 2010)
George Cummings - lead and steel guitars, vocals
(1967-1975)
Rik Elswit - lead guitar
(1972-1985)
Jance Garfat - bass
(1972-1985; died 2006)
John Wolters - drums
(1973-1982, 1983-1985; died 1997)
Rod Smarr - guitar
(1980-1985; died 2012)
Bob 'Willard' Henke - guitar
(1976-1980)
Leonard Wolfe - Keyboards
Joseph Olivier - drums
(1968)
John "Jay" David - drums
(1968-1973)
Walter Hartman - drums
(1982-1983)