"Ace of Cups", featuring Mary Microgram (Denise Kaufman)
Ace of Cups is an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1967 during the Summer of Love era.[2] It has been described as one of the first all-female rock bands.[3][4][5][6]
Origin
San Francisco, California, United States
Genres
Rock, R&B, folk rock
Years active
1967–1972, 2017–present
Labels
High Moon
Website
Official website Edit this at Wikidata
Past members
Mary Gannon
Marla Hunt
Mary Ellen Simpson
Diane Vitalich
Denise Kaufman (Jewkes 1968-1971)[1]
—
Joe Allegra
Jerry Granelli
Noel Jewkes
Lolly Lewis
The members of Ace of Cups were Mary Gannon (bass), Marla Hunt (organ, piano), Denise Kaufman (guitar, harmonica), Mary Ellen Simpson (lead guitar), and Diane Vitalich (drums). Lead vocals were sung by all members of the band except Vitalich, and all five sang backup. The songwriting, too, was divided among the band members.[7]
Background Edit
Gannon was born in New York and moved to San Francisco in the early 1960s. She played bass for a short while in a band called Daemon Lover. Hunt, who had grown up in Los Angeles, had been playing the piano since she was three. Like Gannon, she also moved to San Francisco in the early 1960s. Hunt was introduced to Gannon through a mutual friend, and Gannon suggested that they form an all-female rock band.[8]
Simpson was from Indio, California. She began playing the guitar when she was 12. Like Gannon and Hunt, she moved to San Francisco in the early 1960s. Vitalich, a San Francisco native, was a veteran of several bands. She once played drums with Bill Haley and the Comets. Simpson and Vitalich joined Gannon and Hunt's band around the same time.[9]
The last woman to join Ace of Cups was Kaufman. She also had the most colorful background of the group. Kaufman had been arrested during the Free Speech Movement at Berkeley,[10] and she was involved with Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters (who dubbed her "Mary Microgram"
.[7] In a 1995 interview, Hunt remembered her first impression of Kaufman:
I'll never forget when she walked in. She's wearing cowboy boots, a very short skirt, a wild fur coat and a fireman's hat. Her hair's stickin' straight out on the side. She's got these big glasses and this big guitar case—she's like 5'3" and it's almost as big as she is. Even in San Francisco she stood out.[11]
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ace_of_Cups
They shared the stage with the Dead, Hendrix, and many more, but never got a record deal.
The band reunited, in the video aee splices of the original band, in the 60's, and as they appear today.
Kaufman (Mary Microgram) is a renowned yoga teacher today, having taught many celebs, such as Jane Fonda.
VHQ
Damn, this makes me feel good!
= new reply since forum marked as read
Obscure?
I'll say!
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I have this one signed by the late artist Gary Grimshaw from the late 60s. Some big bands and lots of local ones. Ticket price for all of these bands was $3.50.
Thank you!
If I had kept all the psychedelic art I once owned, I wouldn't be old and broke!
I've spent about a million bucks on ebay for vintage/antique radios!
For the rec!
(Remembers his manners)
I was misinformed.
Will edit, thanks.