PHOTO GALLERY - BANDS AND ARTISTS

Rick Cavender - guitar, voc / Cindy Geppert - drums / Paul Peter - bass, voc / Jeff Kruger - keys / Scott Walker, guitar, banjo, voc

The b&w photo is a performance at the MULESTALL, Alamo Heights HS 1974.

-- Cactus Pride was founded by Christopher Cross’s (Chris Geppert’s) younger sister, Cindy, a talented drummer and an accomplished poet/lyricist.

-- Cactus Pride featured singer/songwriter Rick Cavender (of the Cavender Auto Family) on vocals and guitar. He continues to perform and record with his current band, and has released three CDs of original music to date.

-- Two Cactus Pride members pursued post-music careers in medicine; Dr. Cynthia Geppert and Dr. W. Scott Walker.

-- Stephen Krause started his mixing career in the mid-70s with Cactus Pride. He currently works on the West Coast as a major motion picture music/scoring mixer and sound recording engineer. _ Jeff Kruger 09'

CACTUS PRIDE -BAND MEMBERS: Rick Cavender - guitar, voc / Cindy Geppert - drums / Paul Peter - bass, voc / Jeff Kruger - keys / Scott Walker, guitar, banjo, voc (Contributed by Jeff Kruger) Jeff writes: "I first saw this group perform as "River" at AHJS during the spring of 1972, with Rick, Cindy, Paul, and Mac Irvin on guitar. By the time our freshman year at Alamo Heights High School had started, Mac left the band...and although Paul¹s family had moved away to Austin, the distance was never an issue. Cindy invited me to audition, and I joined in early 1973. We had a brief musical collaboration with Rob Swain (later of Sinister Fox), then regrouped, asking Scott Walker to join in 1974. His addition helped escalate what we could now do as a five-piece band. Importantly, Steve Krause was a trusted band insider, who made himself available to help us, offer support, and tweak our sound. Practices were mostly held at the Geppert's on Newbury Terrace in Terrell Hills. Cindy had a Dokorder four-track reel-to-reel in our practice room, but we officially went to record during August, 1975 -- capturing four original songs at Sixth Street Studios in Austin (thanks, Chris). Guitar equipment was largely Fenders, Ovations and Martins ... Cindy had a totally kick-ass red-white-and-blue sparkle Ludwig set. We made some early instrument purchases from Steve Fest at Caldwell Music in North Star Mall, who was gracious and patient. Our set list was culled from the progressive country movement, with plenty of rock and some bluegrass as part of our mix. Gigs included a run at the Village Inn, numerous Mule Stall appearances, and lots of private parties and functions. As high school drew to a close, Scott graduated first, and was off to school back east. That was pretty much how it unwound, with everyone eventually setting out for their appropriate life's course. Cactus Pride was an extremely smart group of fun and talented students. They possessed a great deal of songwriting savvy and performing skills. I remember them fondly, and the awesome times (and music) we've enjoyed."

Photo below: Cactus Pride plays the Junior Cotillion 1976, San Antonio Country Club. Paul, Rick, Cindy, Scott and Jeff.

The two color pix below are VILLAGE INN, 1975

Contributed by Jeff Kruger