PHOTO GALLERY - BANDS AND ARTISTS

HEYOKA - Mike Grothues - voc,flute / Dito Garcia - guitar,gtr synth,voc / Dennis Bonnet - guitar,voc (later replaced by David Alcocer) / Val Mora (replaced by Sam Davis, replaced by Pat Hood, replaced my Mike Mullins) - bass,voc / Gerardo Ramirez - drums.

(Contributed by Zach Hammock) Zach writes: "In '77 and '78 we saw Heyoka several times. Once in '77 they played up in Kerrville at the Municipal Auditorium there and tore up the place with a rendition of "Train Kept A Rollin". We Comfort high school boys took our dates up there to their first real rock concert, and got those poor country girls all worked up. (?!?!) We Hill Country farm boys were never the same. Later, my friends and I saw them at a Battle of the Bands at the Sunken Gardens Theater that had Overload as the second-to-last act before Heyoka. Overload was killer ......but Heyoka won the day...an unbelievable version of the Scorpions' "Sails Of Charon". I moved to Dallas in '79, and in that year and 1980, I saw them at a place called Gertie's several times. Excellent Floyd and Tull covers, but their highlight was Judas Priest's "Victim of Changes". I actually have tapes (recently converted to CDR) of shows they did in Houston in 1980 and 1981. More information on this band and many others you list on your site could be obtained from Bill Lee of LSA, inc. who saw Heyoka dozens of times, and to this day still promotes shows with the likes of S.A. legends such as Legs Diamond, Budgie, Moxy, Mahogany Rush, and others. He's a key to much of the past in S.A. rock, as he was also very close to Joe Anthony and Lou Roney of KMAC/KISS fame. I hope this is of some value."

(Contributed by Raul Silva) Raul writes: "I was a member of Heyoka in 1972-1973. I left the band after I joined the Marines soon after I graduated from high school. During my tenure on rhythm guitar we played high school dances, private parties, and church festivals. We used to practice at Val Mora's garage and St. Luke's Church auditorium, where Mike, Ditto, and Val played at mass. A newspaper article written back in the band's heyday was sent to me when I was stationed in Europe and the guys were nice enough to include me as an early member. I lost the article and wish I had something to connect me with the band because when I tell people I used to play with them they get excited, as many have fond memories of Heyoka."

(Contributed by Michael Grothues) MG writes: "I would like to invite you (everyone) to join us on April 24th, 8:00p.m. 2003 at Sunset Station to witness a 'clowning achievement' in S.A. music infamy- ( Yes a REUNION ) Yes, that's right. Dito, David, Pat, Gerardo, and I are scraping off the cobwebs to rear our ugly heads in defiance of mediocrity, old age and sanity."

(Contributed by Dito Garcia) DG writes: 1st of all, Greetings & Salutations. As I recall, Sam Davis came to know Paula thru their affiliations w/ Heyoka. Sam replaced Val for a short time, (then came Pat). Paula ,who we grew up with, sang some vocals with us in the studio on Wooden Birds. Sam always used to say "this girl should go professional!" Upon Sam's departure from Heyoka, he took his Rickenbacker under 1 wing & Paula under his other wing & put her on the stage. Gotta go for now."

(Contributed by Bubba Henze) BH writes: "Heyoka - Very tight with some interesting original songs. I saw them play Captain Beyond's complete first album at Charlie's and I was really impressed. I knew Lenny and he was helpful with advice on stage lighting. The guy made his own dimmers!"

Photos by Karen Torgerson / Contributed by Mike Grothues / Pat Hood