Judd Hamilton

Judd Douglas Hamilton was still attending college when he was in The Furys. He wrote a song which when released put the group's name in the KMEL Top 10.[1] From meeting people and progressing through the musical inroads, he was responsible for the classic surf record, "Wax 'em Down".[2][3] Both Judd and brother Dan were members of The T-Bones.[4] He was responsible for putting together the touring version of the group, which also recorded as The T-Bones.[5][6][7] The January 22, 1966 issue of Cash Box listed the T-Bones' line up as 23 year old Judd Hamilton on rhythm guitar, his 21 year old brother Danny on lead guitar, 24 year old drummer Gene Pello, 23 year old bass guitarist George Dee, and 23 year old organist and saxophonist Richard Torres. They had also just completed an LP.[8] Both Judd and Dan were also members of The Marketts.[9][10]

Hamilton also acted in film as well as writing and producing. He produced the classic horror slasher Maniac which starred Joe Spinnel.[11][12]

Hamilton was possibly mistakenly credited with being a member of The Chambers Brothers. The source was an article in the March 28, 1970 issue of Record World. Apparently, Hamilton was at a party for an American International Records signing and there was confusion about the Chambers Brothers signing to the label or, and Hamilton being a member of the group. The next issue (April 4) clarified that The Chambers Brothers were not with American International and were with Columbia Records. It also stated that Hamilton was not a member of The Chambers Brothers.[13][14]

Judd and Dan Hamilton were the cover subject as well as main article in the surf music magazine, Pipeline #77, the story of JUDD & DANNY HAMILTON.[15]

Hamilton and Caroline Munro were picked up on the Soul music radar with their single, "You Got It" (Aquarius AQ 3) which was a UK radio hit in 1976.[16][17]

In 1964 along with former Dolton Records label mate Bill Shaw, he was working for Regency Records as an A&R man.[40][41] One of the acts he recorded was Danny and the Memories who went on to be Neil Young's band Crazy Horse. He also brought together Pat and Lolly Vegas (later Redbone) his brother Dan, Leon Russell, Dave Gates (later Bread) and Gary Leeds (later the Walker Bros.) to record as the Avantis, producing "Gypsy Surfer" and the surf classic, "Wax 'em Down".[42][43] Backed with "Gypsy Surfer", it was released on Chancellor C-1144 and became a local hit. It was also picked by another label and bootlegged. The label was an infamous label called Astra.[42][44]

After recording the final T-Bones album Dan Hamilton rejoined the group for a Japanese tour with the lineup once again including the Hamilton Bros., along with Joe Frank Carollo and Tommy Reynolds. After the Japanese tour the T-Bones disbanded. Dan, Joe Frank and Tommy got back together in 1970 as Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds. With Judd now living in London and helping from behind the scenes the former T-Bones signed a record deal with ABC Dunhill and their first single, "Don't Pull Your Love Out", became a million selling gold record, reaching No. 1 on Cashbox and No. 3 on the Billboard charts in 1971. Reynolds left the group in 1972 and with new member Alan Dennison on keyboards they eventually signed with Playboy Records and their first single, "Fallin' in Love", became their next gold record hitting No. 1 on the Billboard Charts in 1975.[45][6]

In 1990, after spending twenty years in Europe, Hamilton had returned to Spokane. He started his own small recording studio and was looking forward to working on a project with his brother Dan as the Hamilton Brothers. It did not happen as Dan Hamilton died just before Christmas in 1994. In an interview that appeared in an article of the January 5, 1995 edition of the Spokesman-Review, there was a strong indication that Hamilton was going to produce a greatest hits CD on a Spokane label.[46]

Hamilton had a co-starring role in the Richard Quine 1969 Western, A Talent for Loving which starred Richard Widmark, Topol, Geneviève Page.[47] He played the part of Jim, one of Major Patten's (played by Richard Widmark) adopted sons. It was allegedly on the set that Hamilton met Caroline Munro who was to become his wife.[48] In 1978 he co-starred in the sci-fi film Starcrash alongside Caroline Munro, Christopher Plummer, David Hasselhoff, Marjoe Gortner, Joe Spinell. Along with Joe Spinell he was the executive producer for the 1980 horror film Maniac which starred Spinell and Caroline Munro.[49]

In 1980, he played a major role in the television special, 1980 Sci-Fi Awards, where he was an executive producer and writer. The event was hosted by Caroline Munro and Mark Hamill. Other attendees included Maud Adams, Roger Corman, Buster Crabbe, Scatman Crothers, music group ELO, Richard Keil, John Saxon, Stephanie Mills etc. During a rehearsal, Caroline Munro was overcome by a fever and nearly fell from the stage.[50][51][52]

In 1981 he co-wrote the screenplay, executive produced and co-starred in his last film The Last Horror Film, which starred Caroline Munro and Joe Spinell.[53][54]

• Superstar in a Masquerade, by William Sargent · 2021, ISBN 9781646288960 - Judd Hamilton
• The Spokesman-Review, Thu., Jan. 5, 1995 - Music Still Keeps Late Rock Star’s Memory Alive by Doug Clark
• New Age Universe - Judd Hamilton
• Sonic Hits - Judd Hamilton

• 45Cat: Judd Hamilton
• Pipeline Issue 77: The Avantis – The T-Bones – The Ventures – all part of the Judd & Danny Hamilton Story
• Discogs: Judd Hamilton
• IMDb: Judd Hamilton
• Northwest Music Archives HAMILTON, JUDD