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 and 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
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 and 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 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)