The Coming Generation

A garage rock band active in the late 60s.

History[edit | edit source]

They played shows around town in 1968 and 1969, according to The Tennessean. In 1968, they shared a bill with The Feminine Complex at a Health Fair at 100 Oaks, and played at the Hullabaloo with The Nightcaps. Many band members hailed from Litton High School.

Their only 7" was released in 1968 on a label called Volunteer Records, whose only release was this single.

The A-side "So Tired" is an original composition with songwriting credit for Butch Foster and Downs, possibly the organ player John Downs. The B side cover "I Got Misery" is considered "a rare example of a U.S. garage band covering a Nederbeat gem by a Dutch contemporary – in this case, The Motions," by Tim Perlich on his blog comparing the B side of the 7" which was a cover.

Vocalist Butch Foster passed in 2014 in Madison with his obituary mentioning traveling the world singing. Organist John Downs Jr passed away in 2018 in Hendersonville. His obit mentioned The Coming Generation with guest comments discussing his time as a trumpet player at Litton High School and working at Madison Music. After the Coming Generation, Foster and Downs later played in The Whole Dam Family. Down and other members from the Whole Dam Family also played in the groups Charade, KIXX, and The Most Valuable Players.

Members[edit | edit source]

Butch Foster - Vocals

Vernon Martin - Bass

John Downs Jr - Organ

Richard Brown - Guitar

Joe Reynolds - Drums

Butch Foster, John Downs, Joe Reynolds, Mike Elkins and George McNeil are deceased.

Early Members

Mike Elkins- Bass

George McNeil - Drums

Release[edit | edit source]

1968: So Tired / I Got Misery ‎(7") on Volunteer Records, cat #101

Popsike mentions that the single had a Precision Record Pressing engraving with a Nashville Matrix stamp. Precision was a record pressing plant and distributor, active through the late 1960s and early 1970s.