General Assembly

A soul-inspired rock'n'roll band that started in the late 60s.

History[edit | edit source]

Through his work in The Continentals, Larry Perigo had played large events, college parties, combo parties, as well as Printers Alley and black clubs in Jefferson St. Using the experiences as the house band at different types of venues helped to establish The General Assembly Show, building from its jazz, R&B and soul influences, as a solid club act. General Assembly was a house band for several local venues and eventually had a residency in Las Vegas.

After returning from Las Vegas with the General Assembly, Larry Perigo later started The Headliners, which remains active today.

From Discogs:

"Born in Nashville, TN. Larry Perigo started playing guitar at 9 years old and began a singing career in bands in 1963. He was later encouraged by a band member to give the saxophone a try. This resulted in him becoming a part of several local favorite bands throughout the 60‘s. In 1969 his band (The General Assembly Show) became a part of the Phil Harris Show in the main showroom at a Las Vegas hotel which featured the Harry James Orchestra and Frank Sinatra, Jr."

Their 1969 7" release was engineered by Jerry Tuttle. All of their album releases were on their own independent label G.A.S. Records. Their first S/T album from 1969 was recorded at Woodland Studios and engineered by Lee Hazen. Their last two LPs were recorded at their own AssemblyLine Studios.

The liner notes for their second LP, "Volume II" were written by Mickey Krietner, owned of the Captain's Table in Printer's Alley: "It doesn't take a trained ear to detect these four handsome young guys are skillful technicians on multiple instruments and a fine blend of voices occurs throughout their production and dance numbers. The General Assembly are four young professionals that light up a room and have the uncanny ability to completely captivate the audience night after night."

The liner note for their third album, their second S/T, was written by Mack Williamson of W.O.R. mag and Gran Tour Music: "They are the General Assembly, young men of enormous talent, humor and foresight, they have established themselves as one of the finest groups in the country. They are signers but they are more musicians, and their singing arrangements are as orchestral as vocal. Each of the four is a superb musician, Their instant acceptance and respect is a tribute to their greatness. Now in their third year they move aheads with their third album they will set a new pace, they will create and then will invent into the musical future. We expect much from the group, and we are sure after you hear the,m, you will agree they are professionals, filled with talent and the ability to entertain any audience. This year the Assembly will be appearing with the Phil Harris Show in the Music Hall of the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas."