www.timothychipman.com

This is a short history of how I got here musically. I was nine when my parents bought my first guitar for me. That would have been December 16, 1962. It was a very pretty Silvertone acoustic and I think my sister or brother might even have it to this day.
When I was about 12 years old two friends and I started a little band and called it “The Justice Three” (just us three)(ha ha).

We were very serious, however, and soon got a job playing the student council dance at our local high school in Glidden, Iowa. Very scary stuff for junior high kids. We knew 13 songs in all. We’d play them and then take a short break and play them again.

Tim at age 16.

My band mates were Steve Zimmerman who played the Hammond Organ and Dwight Haggard, who switched off on drums and guitar with me. I believe we all sang. Steve’s dad played in a big dance band and he let us use his PA, which was probably our best piece of equipment at the time.

We progressed with the help of other local musicians, including Tony Bowman and his band, Bo James and the US Male, from Coon Rapids, and a great bunch of guys from Carroll who we became fast friends with. Their band was the Fifth Generation. They were really serious and seriously good, especially for the time period we’re talking about. ( 1968-71) At one point the Fifth Generation broke up and the bass player, Mark Brenny, came and played with us for a while in a band called the “Solar Creation” (wow!). Mark really kicked our butts at the time and we became as a band, much better. At that time we acquired a neighbor boy, Dave Platt, who I believe was only 14, to play drums.

Left to Right: Tim Chipman, John Richardson, Harry Wampler, and Bernie Gronstal

A while later another guitar player and I got together with the drummer from the Fifth Generation, Bernie Gronstal, and formed Forest Hill. I had played with John Richardson before and he called his old friend Harry Wampler, another guitar player and we had our band. The four of us actually won one of the Battle of the Bands at the state fair Teen Town.

Bernie went to college and Steve Eberle took over drumming for most of the winter. After that we hired an old friend of mine, Ted Klotz of Manson, to handle the drums. We were then hired by Mid-Continent Agency in Lawrence, Kansas, to cover for one of their bands called the Blue Things. I think at this time I was 17. We were on the road at that point for about 3 or 4 months. John and Harry went home and a bass player by the name of Groucho (Dan Sylvester) and a guitar player by the name of Leach (Lyle Waring) joined Ted and I for a short time before the three of them got drafted. (Remember the draft?) I went back to Glidden and finished high school.

John, Tim, and Harry goofing off at the Forest Hill house.

Tim, Ted Klotz, and John Richardson.

Not long after that I joined the Young Raiders along with Ted, and then the Flippers. These bands were all owned by Mid-Continent in Lawrence. Ted and I later made one more effort at a band and formed Sailin’, and though it was a very talented and versatile band, it folded as well.

(Left to Right) Todd Finney, Terry Becky, John Markland, Tim Chipman, & Ted Klotz formed the band "Sailin'."

I played a stint in Iowa City with two of the old Fifth Generation members in a band that Charlie Ferguson formed called Axe. In those years Charlie, Bernie and Mark were like big brothers to me and I’ll never forget them for that. We may even get to play together again, sometime soon.
I’ve left out many names and details but I’m sure most of you are sleeping by now anyway. If you’re reading this and feel left out call me and I’ll put you right in here.

No Joke
Tim

Musical History Players Inspirations Family	This is a short history of how I got here musically. I was nine when my parents bought my first guitar for me. That would have been December 16, 1962. It was a very pretty Silvertone acoustic and I think my sister or brother might even have it to this day. When I was about 12 years old two friends and I started a little band and called it “The Justice Three” (just us three)(ha ha). We were very serious, however, and soon got a job playing the student council dance at our local high school in Glidden, Iowa. Very scary stuff for junior high kids. We knew 13 songs in all. We’d play them and then take a short break and play them again.	Tim at age 16.
	My band mates were Steve Zimmerman who played the Hammond Organ and Dwight Haggard, who switched off on drums and guitar with me. I believe we all sang. Steve’s dad played in a big dance band and he let us use his PA, which was probably our best piece of equipment at the time. We progressed with the help of other local musicians, including Tony Bowman and his band, Bo James and the US Male, from Coon Rapids, and a great bunch of guys from Carroll who we became fast friends with. Their band was the Fifth Generation. They were really serious and seriously good, especially for the time period we’re talking about. ( 1968-71) At one point the Fifth Generation broke up and the bass player, Mark Brenny, came and played with us for a while in a band called the “Solar Creation” (wow!). Mark really kicked our butts at the time and we became as a band, much better. At that time we acquired a neighbor boy, Dave Platt, who I believe was only 14, to play drums.
	Left to Right: Tim Chipman, John Richardson, Harry Wampler, and Bernie Gronstal	A while later another guitar player and I got together with the drummer from the Fifth Generation, Bernie Gronstal, and formed Forest Hill. I had played with John Richardson before and he called his old friend Harry Wampler, another guitar player and we had our band. The four of us actually won one of the Battle of the Bands at the state fair Teen Town. Bernie went to college and Steve Eberle took over drumming for most of the winter. After that we hired an old friend of mine, Ted Klotz of Manson, to handle the drums. We were then hired by Mid-Continent Agency in Lawrence, Kansas, to cover for one of their bands called the Blue Things. I think at this time I was 17. We were on the road at that point for about 3 or 4 months. John and Harry went home and a bass player by the name of Groucho (Dan Sylvester) and a guitar player by the name of Leach (Lyle Waring) joined Ted and I for a short time before the three of them got drafted. (Remember the draft?) I went back to Glidden and finished high school.

	John, Tim, and Harry goofing off at the Forest Hill house.	Tim, Ted Klotz, and John Richardson.

	Not long after that I joined the Young Raiders along with Ted, and then the Flippers. These bands were all owned by Mid-Continent in Lawrence. Ted and I later made one more effort at a band and formed Sailin’, and though it was a very talented and versatile band, it folded as well.



	(Left to Right) Todd Finney, Terry Becky, John Markland, Tim Chipman, & Ted Klotz formed the band "Sailin'."

	I played a stint in Iowa City with two of the old Fifth Generation members in a band that Charlie Ferguson formed called Axe. In those years Charlie, Bernie and Mark were like big brothers to me and I’ll never forget them for that. We may even get to play together again, sometime soon. I’ve left out many names and details but I’m sure most of you are sleeping by now anyway. If you’re reading this and feel left out call me and I’ll put you right in here. No Joke Tim