PHOTO GALLERY - BANDS AND ARTISTS

GIANT SMILING DOG - Wink Kelso - voc / Phil Arroyo - guitar,voc / Tommy Davis - guitar / Mike Novak - bass / Kevin "Kid" Conway - drums / David McDavid - sax,horns / Wesley Jameson - trombone / Richard Garcia - sax,flute,trumpet (Later replaced by Les Leonhardt on trumpet).

( Contributed by David McDavid ) David writes: "The name Giant Smiling Dog came from the label on a huge box that Wink Kelso and I found in a back alley behind a toy store near Waikiki Beach. We were playing there in a little dive called The Lemon Tree in the summer of 1970 as Wink Kelso and the Kaleidoscope." Mike Lowell writes: This band was very popular around SA about 1972. They were a 7 or 8 piece group which featured a horn section and specialized in music by Chicago and Blood Sweat and Tears and the like. They drew large crowds whenever they played and did the music letter perfect from the records. The lead singer was a charismatic fellow named Wink Kelso who I hear went on to Broadway theater type activities later on. I believe the play was called "Alice in Wonderland". I'm sorry to report that Tommy Davis passed away a few years ago. He was a veteran of many bands, well loved and is missed by many. After the band broke up, most of the members went on to form other groups listed on this page.

( Contributed by Chris Holzhaus ) Chris writes: "The very last version of this group was: Phil Arroyo - guitar,voc / Mike Novak -bass,voc / Wink Kelso - vocals / Rick Favela - Drums / Chris Holzhaus - guitar,vocals. The horns were dropped when this last version was organized. It didn't last but 6 months and was the final adventure of the group. I do know Rick Favela was the original drummer." Bill Lieber writes: "I remember Giant Smiling Dog (as well as Pablos Grove) did a great rendition of "Living in the Palace of the King".

Wink Kelso, Tommy Davis, Mike Novak, Phil Arroyo and rest of the gang

Photo Contributed by Sam Kinsey