Bluestone Union Part 1

Band history, Part 1: 1971 – 1974, Bluestone Union members were: Ron Sukalac, lead guitar, backing vocals and band leader; Wally Gunn, drums and backing vocals; Gary Braden, bass guitar, keyboards and backing vocals; Mike Kwitowski, lead vocals, percussion and backing vocals; Kirt Campbell, keyboards, bass guitar, backing vocals and lead vocals and Bill Callaghan, rhythm guitar and backing vocals.

Bluestone Union was a rock band based in Lake County. Mentor, Ohio to be exact and its members belonged to the Painesville Musicans Union Local No. 657. They rehearsed in the basement of Ron Sukalac's parents house at State Rt. 84 and Middlesex Rd. , usually two or more times a week, starting the summer of 1971. Gary from Cleveland Hts. and Wally from South Euclid, were the only non-Lake County members.

The band was a merger of Gary, Ron and Wally, who were learning songs while looking for a lead vocalist and Mike, Kirt and Bill who played together in a high school rock band called, The Celebration. The Celebration also included Mike O'Neil and Rick Harrison and had just broken up.

Mike, Bill and Kirt were invited to play and talk about joining together to form Bluestone Union. Mike and Bill were exactly the guys Wally, Ron and Gary were looking for, lead vocals and second guitar. Kirt had a great singing voice and range, but he was also a bass guitarist! They wanted his vocals, but Gary was a better bass player and Kirt a better singer. It was decided to go with two bass players, to try and keep everyone happy.

Gary booked the band after they had enough songs rehearsed. The band's first paying job was at The Union Jack,* at Noble and Mayfield Roads, in South Euclid, Ohio, Friday, October 22, 1971. Complete with two bass guitarists, the band earned $100 for their first gig.

(*note: Wally used a Union Jack flag, as a visual symbol for the band throughout their entire time together, hanging it behind his drum set up on stage.)

The sound man was Ron Arnett, a friend and neighbor of Ron Sukalac's. The roadies were John Benaugh and Paul Chambers, friends and classmates of Gary's. The club had a street level bar and a larger room in the basement. The roadies got their initiation, as all the equipment had to go down a flight of stairs and back up later, after numerous pitchers of beer!

The group's set lists were full of the hardest danceable rock on the Top 40 of the 60's and 70's, mostly British band covers by The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Humble Pie, The Who, Moody Blues, Small Faces, Rod Stewart, Free, Led Zeppelin and others. Mike, Kirt and Bill also liked American rock by Neil Young, CSN&Y, Jo Jo Gunne and The Doobie Brothers. Originals came in later. In those times, bands that wanted to play live in schools, clubs and bars had to play well known cover songs or stay in the basement.

After a number of gigs and complaints from Gary that his notes and Kirt's clashed. Kirt was talked into playing keyboards and singing. As it turned out, both guys could play keyboards, guitar and bass. So there was some "musical chairs" going on during the sets, with the guys switching instruments now and then. Ron worked at Arrowhead Music, in Mentor and ordered a keyboard for Kirt.

The band played just about every place in the Northeast Ohio area that had live rock bands. They were a good looking group of guys, had a good stage show, rock star clothes and hair styles and were very danceable. They were known for their vocal harmonies and the high range of second lead vocalist, Kirt Campbell, who could carry a Led Zeppelin, Slade or Small Faces tune without using falsetto!

Later they started adding original songs to their set list by Bill and Gary, but never professionally recorded the songs. A "Live From The Utopia" recording, by their sound man, Ron Arnett, is the only audio available. It contains a jam with ex-Mods, Choir, Cyrus Erie and Raspberries lead guitarist, Wally Bryson, who was in the club after a Raspberries rehearsal and invited up to play.

Next: Part 2: Pre-Bluestone Union Bands and more gigs!