In the Seventies, the group called RASTUS ,from Cleveland, Ohio , was a popular Horn band, in the style of the groups Chicago and Tower Of Power, and toured the U.S. on the same bill with those bands and others.
RASTUS recorded two albums to rave reviews and had a large fan base until the group , after many personal changes, finally disbanded in the late seventies.
Rastus. “Rastus” 1971 Live Double Lp US Milwaukee Jazz Rock.
In 1968 a group of gentlemen came to see me in Detroit to ask if I might be interested in producing a band consisting of six men. After listening to the tape of the band, I decided to go to Cleveland to listen to the band live.
The band at that time was called The Fifth Amendment. Later to be changed to The Sixth Amendment when they added another man. The band would later be called Rastus and would become the terror horn band of all time.
This band, when it was on….was scary to behold. No one wanted to follow this band on stage. As a matter of fact, Rastus gained a thirteen week contract to open for The Ike and Tina Turner Review. After the third show (which took place at Cobo Hall in Detroit), Ike Turner came up to me and said, “Gotta cut you loose!” When I asked Ike what he meant, he simply stated, “Your band’s too hot. You are supposed to set us up. Not kill us before we play!”
This is the story of a truly great band who never had the opportunity to be heard. Listen in to the interview with Jim Cantale and myself as we go through the heartbreak and agony of a band that should have made it all the way to the top but, for various reasons, never got the break they deserved.
This series of shows is dedicated to those members of Rastus who have gone on before us. To magnificent drummer and wonderful friend, Smokey Smelko. To cutting-edge horn man, Vic Walkuski. And last, but not least, to Mr. Angelo Crimi (manager) who hung in to the bitter end with this phenominal band and, thank God, is still living in Cleveland. Without these people, Rastus could never have survived the short time they did.