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The Bishop, Dave Myers and The Deacon, Gary Dawson, standing in front of the DJ booth at John's Drive-In.
Rich Robertson and band mates with guest recording artist at John's Drive-In, January 1962.
Rich Robertson and band mates playing for the crowd at John's Drive-In March of Dimes Marathon, January 1962
Jack, co-owner of John's Drive-In at the soda fountain, January 1962.
One of many bands to perform at John's Drive-In.
Gary Dawson interviewing Glenn Leasher co-owner and driver of Infinity jet dragster on display at John's Drive-In, 1962.
The Dell-Coeds and David De Leeuw after appearing on KNTV Ch. 11 Record Hop hosted by Frank Darien, January 1962.
David De Leeuw with a John's Drive-In regular.
Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys
Judi Jacobsen and Rod McKuen
Beach Boys and Dee Dee Sharp
Members of the house band
Herb Alpert (Tijuana Brass)
The Aristocrats Lou Oris, Pete Canales and band mate
Jim Satcher with Beach Boy Dennis Wilson
After a weekend show Jim Satcher could be found entertaining the late night crowd at the Garden
City Hofbrau in San Jose.
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Dave Myers behind the wheel of the Infinity" jet dragster on display at John's Drive-In.
Have you ever been to John's drive-in,
down in San Jose where the DJ's spin,
all your fav'rite songs, you could sing along,
down at John's drive-in.
John's drive-in was quite the scene,
rock n' roll music and fast machines,
and the prettiest girls you've
ever seen,
were (all) down at John's drive-in.
The Deacon, the Bishop and Diamond Jim,
dropped out of
college one summer and then,
they started playing music and bless my soul,
ev'rybody's dancin' to the rock n' roll!
There were rock n' roll bands and recording artists too,
Smokey and the Miracles even tried something new,
and all the car hops were in the grove,
down at John's drive-in.
Dionne Warwick was rumored to say,
do
you know the way to San Jose,
Where they rock the night away,
down at John's drive-in. © Jim Satcher
Gary Dawson, Dave Myers and Marc Nelsen, three of the original cast members who started the
DJ show at John's Drive-In, are pictured with Big Bill and friend in front of the disc jockey booth at John's Drive-In, January
1962.
How
it all began. In May of 1961, three San Jose City College students majoring in broadcasting started a disc jockey show at John’s
drive-in restaurant.
The show started on the roof of the restaurant. Requests
were placed in a bucket and lifted up by rope to the roof where the DJ's would use a bullhorn to announce the next record
to to be played on the jukebox. The
show was soon moved to a booth on the ground. Turntables and microphones were run through a control panel and connected
to the restaurant’s PA system.
The disc jockeys were Gary Dawson (The Deacon), Dave Myers
(The Bishop), Lincoln alumni (Diamond) Jim Satcher, Marc Nelsen, Kenny "Blues Man" Parker, Dennis (Angel) Cliff,
and others. John Lester of KLIV put Jim Satcher in touch with San Francisco record distributors
who provided the DJ show with records and recording artists to
perform at John's drive-in.
They included the Dell-Coeds, Donna Loren, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Mary Wells, the Cascades, Martin Balin, the Letterman and Dick n' Deedee. Local bands also
performed at the drive-in. What started
out as a class project and a way to entertain friends in the summer of '61, turned into full time jobs For Gary Dawson
and Jim Satcher. In addition to their disc jockey duties, Gary Dawson took bands on tour
while Jim Satcher hosted the Battle of the Bands and concerts at the Santa Clara Valley Youth Village (Whatzit Club) in Santa Clara, and record hops and concerts in the south bay area in conjunction with Tempo Productions and KYA radio
personalities Tom Donahue and Bobby Mitchell.
Lincoln alumni Lou Oris and Pete Canales and The Aristocrats
were the featured band and performed in concert with recording artists Bobby Freeman, Little 'E,' Sue Torney, Donna Loren, Bobby Rydell, Leslie Gore, Timi Yuro, Lee Dorsey, to name a few. Other concerts hosted by Jim Satcher featured Joe Piazza & The Originals
with Sly Stewart on organ.
Sly would later form a new band called Sly & The Mojo Men,
produce records and be heard on KSOL radio. Sly is best remembered for creating a unique style of funk that Sly & The Family Stone brought to Woodstock.. Marty Balin, who appeared at John's, went on to form the Jefferson Airplane and perform at Woodstock. Jim Satcher entered military service where he entertained the troops and was heard on Armed Forces radio in Vietnam.
Jim Satcher taking 'five' from programming duties at John's Drive-In.
John's drive-in Top 60 play list
Jim Satcher, Dave Myers and David De Leeuw with Cheerleaders from San Jose High at John's Drive-In.
Gary Dawson with March of Dimes poster boy David De Leeuw and a lovely car hop at John's Drive-In, January 1962.
Gary Dawson, Marc Nelsen and Ken Parker with the Dell-Coeds, the first recording act to appear at John's Drive-In, January 1962.
Disc Jockeys:
The Deacon - Gary
Dawson The Bishop - Dave Myers Diamond Jim
Satcher Marc Nelson Kenny "Blues Man" Parker Dennis "Angel" Cliff Program Director: Jim Satcher Car hops: Dottie, Lollie,
and others The
men in blue: John and Tobie.
Supporting
Cast: John Lester, KLIV, Tom Donahue and Bobby Mitchell, KYA & Tempo Productions, Frank Darien, Stu Parks
& Jan Moellering, KNTV, Pete Marino, Melody Sales, Carl Scott, King Records and Warner Bros. Records, Judi Jacobsen and
Olin Harrison of Acme Sales, Walt (Cal) Calloway, Vi Orphans, Eric Distributors, Chuck Gregory, H.R. Basford, Jerry Hoff,
Bay Distributors, Ken Bonaccorso, Whatsit Club, Don graham, D&M Sales, Dick Carpenter, Dot Records, Bill Keane, Field
Music, Denny Zeitler, Independent Music, Chuck Dier, A.H. Meyer, Jerry Sher, Stone Distributors.
Johnny, Aristocrats Manager, Sue Torney, Jim Satcher, Donna Loren and Carl Scott, Warner Bros/Electra A&R 
Lou Oris and Pete Canales and The Aristocrats
Righteous Bros, Bill Medley & Bobby Hatfield with Nino Tempo
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Jim Satcher, program director and disc jockey
at John's Drive-in, with the Dell-Coeds and David De Leeuw at Channel 11 KNTV Record Hop to promote the March of Dimes Marathon at John's Drive-In.
Gary Dawson and Dave Myers at work inside the DJ booth at John's Drive-In, 1962.
Jim Satcher and Ken Parker with the five Superiors at John's Drive-In, January 1962.
David De Leeuw and friend collecting money for the March of Dimes at John's Drive-In.
Recording artist Mary Wells with the Miracles at the Whatsit Club after appearing at John's drive-in on the Diamond Jim Show, 1962.
Gary Dawson promoting a recording act on his show at John's Drive-In.
Jim Satcher, Dave Myers, Big Bill, Ken Parker, Gary Dawson and friends celebrate the end of the
36 hour March of Dimes fund drive, January 1962.
Gary Dawson at the Million Celler in San Francisco.
Rich Robertson and band mates entertaining the crowd at John's Drive-In.
Record and concert promoter and all around great guy Pete Marino, Jr.
Jim Satcher and Sue Torney, our very own Brenda Lee.
Pete Canales and Lou Oris of the Aristocrats
Dee Dee Sharp with her mother and Dionne Warick
Members of the Aristocrats
Donna Loren, Bill Medley, members of the house band
and Donna's mother Ruth Zukor
Bobby Freeman at rehersal
Beach Boys with Glenn Campbell (center) standing in for Brian Wilson
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