The Es-Shades Official Website

Let’s start at the beginning ... in 1965 drummer Sonny Swinehart and lead guitarist Cathy Fissell met in school -- they decided to team up and start a band. The first two gigs were just the two of them playing at a birthday party and at the local Spencer Union Hall dance. They took their band name from Sonny’s uncle Don Esbenshade, who also became the band’s manager. Then the band added rhythm guitarist Mark Lance and accordion player Tom Clifford (who soon bought a keyboard --a Farfisa organ, if I recall correctly!). After the jobs started to fly in, Mark switched to bass guitar and new rhythm guitarist Rick Peters was added. They played very frequently all over Ohio and into Michigan. The band was considered ahead of its time and unique in the fact that they had a female lead guitarist. Unheard of in an otherwise all-male band at the time. Of course that fact hasn’t really changed over the years! And she was considered quite good.

Rick Peters left the band in 1966 and was replaced on rhythm guitar by Pete Todd.

On April 28, 1967, keyboardist Tom left the band and Rick Stuart was hired. October 7th, 1967 saw drummer Sonny leaving the band. He was replaced by Richard Carmichael. Cathy’s sister Connie sat in on drums for a few gigs in-between.

Near the end, long time rhythm guitarist Pete Todd left the band and was replaced by Norman Blaha.

The band played MANY battle of the bands (usually winning) and opened for quite a number of concerts with the likes of “Jon & Robin & the Inn Crowd,” “The Five Americans,” “The Rationals,” “The Outsiders," “Terry Knight,” “The Pleasure Seekers” (Patti Quatro’s first band), “Lee Rand,” and “The Scot Richard Case (SRC).”

On August 3, 1966 the group released a 45 of two cover songs, “Good Lovin” and “Never Met a Girl Like You Before” on the B-W label. Then on July 9th, 1967 the band recorded four original songs. They then released a 45 of two of those songs on the United Audio label. These two songs have since become HUGE cult favorites. The songs are “Without My Love” and “Anyday, Anywhere," both of which were written and sung by Mark Lance.

Alas, on March 7th, 1969 the band played its last gig at Medina High School in Medina, Ohio. Although the band hasn’t been together for many years, the buzz about the Es-Shades keeps growing to this day! Strange!