PHOTOS

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2003 Reunion Rehearsal

2003

1965

on Jim Wood's TV Show

LINKS

Journey's End Ranch
William D. Elliott, Attorney and Counselor

Band History

The Five Coachmen of Sherman, Texas existed from 1964-1966. They were composed of Wayne Rickman (lead guitar, vocals), Mark Wright (rhythm guitar, vocals), Bob Starnes (bass, vocals), Steve Chase (keyboard), and Bill Elliott (drums).

During this period of the British Invasion, The Coachmen performed extensively throughout North Texas and Southern Oklahoma. Their song list was composed of the leading songs of the day, but leaned toward R & B, as interpreted by the British groups.

Wayne Rickman's brother was manager of The Five Americans. We would go to Dallas occasionally and watch them practice in a house in an older part of Dallas. Man, those guys could play! Wow. What an impression that made on us.

Among the venues for The Coachmen during their era were high school proms and dances in Sherman, TX, Gainesville, TX, Bonham, TX, Greenville, TX, and Durant, OK, VFW & Knights of Columbus halls all over, local conventions, courthouse lawns, etc. The Coachmen played extensively in the German communities west of Sherman, TX in Muenster, Texas. The Coachmen was the first rock n' roll band to perform for a Sherman High School assembly, which produce excitement and controversy at the time.

We did not record on record, a great regret, but we did have some tapes, but no one can find them. Also, we were the house band for the Sherman TV station equivalent of American Bandstand televised on Saturday afternoon hosted by Jim Wood, local DJ, but no one kept a tape. Also, we did not have the money, being from a small town.

Interestingly, to me at least, is that small towns recruited their live music from a larger town in the area. Sherman, being 30,000 persons, was where smaller towns in the North Texas area went to get their music. We were the dominant band at the time. Not that many in smaller towns had the resources to get a Dallas band, unless it was particular special.

The military draft and college took their toll and led to the disbandment of the band in 1966. After The Coachmen disbanded, they were succeeded by The Upper Level and The Marquees as the leading bands in Sherman, Texas.

Reunion Video with Interviews of Band Members