Monocled Alchemist

Article published in El Rincon, Carpinteria High School magazine | 02/12/65

The Dovers | Tim Granada Leads The Dovers | Tim Granada, leader and organiser of The Dovers, who have recorded rock and roll songs, presented an exclusive interview to El Rincon. Although several other sources have sought to publish material on The Dovers. Tim decided to let his old Alma Mater publish an exclusive interview.

Tim Granada has lived in Carpinteria all of his life. He attended Carpinteria schools, and graduated from CHS. During his high school years, Tim participated in football, basketball, baseball and track. Also, his curriculum included two years of band, in which he played a trumpet, tuba and French horn.

When asked about his records, Tim was quite cooperative in supplying all the information leading up to his first recording, and the start of a career.

Tim’s real interest in music started in high school. He played various instruments of the brass section. During this time, Tim did not play a guitar. However, his father, brother and uncle all played that instrument. Gradually, Tim became interested in the guitar and began to play it. He has now been playing a guitar for one and a half years. Tim says “the guitar runs in the family” Also, Tim can play any instrument of the brass section, as well as a harmonica, piano and saxophone.

First Hit Song

Before Tim and The Dovers actually cut a record they cut several demonstration tapes in Santa Maria. This led to their first hit song “She’s Gone.” This record was played on several radio stations, including KIST, KACY, KRLA, and KBLA. The song was written by Bruce Clawson, a guitar player of The Dovers, and was arranged and sung by Tim Granada. The song has been out about two months.

After cutting this record, his first. Tim was presented a pair of sun glasses. The awarding of a pair of sun glasses after cutting a record is a famous tradition in Hollywood. Tim calls these glasses his “lucky glasses,” and he always has them with him. Tim’s newest record, which came out during the week of Nov. 15, is “I Could Be Happy,” written by Tim. On the reverse side is “People Ask Me Why,” also written by Tim.

Tim stated that The Dovers really received a lucky break because Tim was well acquainted with Johnny Fairchild, a KIST disk jockey. Since Tim understands the difficulty in cutting a record, he is always looking to help new talent enter the recording field, and is interested in helping talented people in the profession.

Dovers Organised

Actually, The Dovers were organized quite coincidentally. Tim, at first, was a member of a band with the cousins of Ernie of Ernie and the Emperors. The band was called The Currents. This band lost the drummer, and acquired Tony Rivas, who plays the saxophone, and Bruce Clawson, a guitar player.

But, Tim stated “the band wasn’t good enough.” Then Rick Morinini and Bob Ladewig joined with Tim, Tony, and Bruce; this new band was called The Del Mars and it consisted of only these five members. The Del Mars were quite established. However, when the band decided to cut a record, their manager thought the band should acquire a new title. Thus, the Del Mars became The Dovers.

The Dovers first recording greatly changed Tim’s life, as well as the lives of the other band members. Tim is mobbed with phone calls and letters. He has a secretary who answers many of the letters. But Tim likes to personally answer the letters that possess a lot of feeling. He also receives quite an assortment of phone calls from girls. He usually takes the calls himself, whenever he is home and has the time.

Tim likes to talk on the phone because he likes “to hear what people have to say.” Also, when he talks on the phone he usually has a pencil and paper with him, and if, while talking to a girl on the phone, she says something that suddenly gives him an idea for a new song, he writes it down.

These phone calls come at all hours of the day and night. For instance, Tim can recall receiving phone calls as early, or as late, as 2 a.m. and 4 a.m.

Tapes His Ideas

Besides taking notes while talking on the phone, Tim has several other little antics. For instance when Tim is working, or just walking around, he carries a tape recorder with him. If heTsuddenly gets an idea for a song, he sings it into the tape, whether it is just some words or a tune. Tim stated that his music and songs are “a result of emotions,” so he always carries a tape recorder to record his ideas for songs according to his personal feelings.

Also, Tim and another band member, Bob Ladewig, who are the two long-haired guitar players, like to walk down the street and listen to the remarks made about them by the youngster and elderly ladies.

For instance, little children usually scream, “Look at the Beatles.” and elderly ladies ask them “Are you boys or girls.” Bob and Tim get a ‘real bang’ out of this, Tim also likes to ride around Carpinteria and go to the beach. “He is a really great surfer,” scream some of Tim’s fans. Other favourite pastimes of Tim’s are to read, loaf and write new songs and music.

Unusual Schedule

Not only has his sudden fame changed his life by bringing him phone calls and letters from his fans, but also it has resulted in a rather unusual schedule. Tim’s average day consists of practicing all day, and sleeping from 11:00 or 12:00 until 6:00 a.m. Also, he sometimes catches up on his sleep after work or in any spare time he may have. Although at the present Tim is leading a rather hectic life, he is rewarded by people getting enjoyment out of his music.

“As long as people enjoy my music, I don’t mind all the work I put into it,” stated Tim. He said that he might receive a phone call in the evening asking him to appear at a certain place within a few hours. However, Tim doesn’t always accept these offers. Before The Dovers ever agree to make an appearance, all the band members and the manager give their approval.

The band will not play at any place that a member may not want to go. This is because Tim feels that ‘if they appear at a place they don’t like, they won’t try their best to present a good performance.

When asked if he had ever been mobbed, Tim stated, “Yes.” The worst gang that mobbed The Dovers was at Fresno during a performance there last summer. Tim said that evidently the group must have liked The Dovers music.

Another question put to Tim Granada was, “What is the reason for the variation of attire dining a performance.” The Dovers are quite decorative on stage, since they all wear different colours and different types of clothing

Future Plans

Tim’s future plans are to continue producing records. Currently, Tim is under a five-year contract to write music with the Roman Music Company. His records now are coming out with the “Mira-mar” label. Although Tim likes to write music and sing, his true ambition is to be a producer of records, since he enjoys arranging music.

Tim stated that he would prefer to live around Fresno, but he would also like to have a house here in Carpinteria for his parents. Tim, who is extremely fond of his parents stated. “If it wasn’t for my parents I wouldn’t be where I am today. My parents encouraged me, and they supported me when I was staying home and writing songs”

Tim and The Dovers are working on an entire collection of their “own” songs and they plan a tour of the western states in the near future. They plan to produce many more records, and Carpinteria High School wishes them all the luck in the world. We know they’ll succeed. (Shirley Douglas)