Newton’s favorite ‘show band’ to be inducted in Iowa rock ’n’ roll hall of fame

Steve Barnett wouldn’t have believed it when The 8 Track Band formed in 1989 that it would be destined for the Iowa rock ‘n’ roll hall of fame.

Back then the group was created for a stage production called “K-ROX” at the Newton Community Theatre. The band became a valuable fundraising tool and developed a strong following over the years, eventually touring to large and small venues all across the Midwest and playing for Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack.

Known for its eclectic songlists spanning four decades and its ability to effortlessly transition from one era of music to the next, The 8 Track Band prided itself in providing musical entertainment. Playing shows may not have been band members’ sole livelihood, but it played a huge part in their lives.

“We were just having fun,” Barnett, a keyboardist and founding member, said. “It was over a 22-year period. All our kids grew up during that period of time ... The band, we became like a family. We did everything together. So we cared about each other and that showed.”

In September, The 8 Track Band will be officially inducted into the Iowa Rock ‘N’ Roll Music Association’s Hall of Fame, alo ngside the Marshalltown-based Hot Jam band and 31 other inductees. IRRMA Vice-President Brent Brekke said the organization included extra bands due to the pandemic cancelations last year.

“Since we had to skip a year due to COVID-19, our board of directors wanted to make the 2021 hall of fame induction extra special by including two additional bands,” Brekke said in a July press release. “Each of these bands were already strong considerations for 2021.”

Several musicians and vocalists cycled through The 8 Track Band ensemble. Barnett estimates more than 50 people have played in the group since its inception at K-ROX. In 2011, the band played its last gig to about 1,000 fans at Sugar Grove Winery in Newton, which had sold out of refreshments.

Onstage, audiences could sense the band had a “genuine love for music.” Barnett suggested it was a mutual affection; the fans rocked just as much as they did.

“We didn’t act like a band that was better than they were — we were part of them and they were part of us,” he said. “Without them we wouldn’t have done anything. We did such a diverse number of songs and we did danceable songs. It was songs that made you remember things.”

By playing nostalgic tunes by The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Buddy Holly, Elvis, Bob Seger, Styx and The Temptations ensured audiences would not only recognize the songs, but jam out to them, too. The band would regularly have costume changes to reflect the music time shifts.

Being surrounded by a lot of people with a lot of talent who had a lot of creative ideas on how to be a good show band was an amazing experience for keyboardist Mark Burnett. It allowed the band the versatility and the ability to spend a great deal of time expanding its already vast repertoire of songs.

“We could keep trying to stretch out and challenge ourselves,” Burnett said. “It was crazy to do ‘Walking on Sunshine’ and then you can do ‘Pretty Woman’ or ‘Runaround Sue’ or ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ — there’s a lot of music that we were able to do. It was all over the place.”

Which might explain The 8 Track Band’s broad appeal among fans.

“It kept expanding and I think that’s what was so appealing,” Burnett said. “The more you can do the more people you can entertain and so the more demand there is for you.”

So to be inducted in the IRRMA Hall of Fame for that work is “very humbling” and “very exciting,” Burnett said. At the induction ceremony, The 8 Track Band will be coming out of retirement to play a 30-minute set at the IRRMA Hall of Fame & Museum in Arnolds Park.

“In the communications we’ve had in putting all this together, for me it’s been a flood of memories and of some really great times we had — so we get to do 30 more minutes of that,” Burnett said. “You get a lot of time to reflect. When you’re in the moment you never think about this kind of thing happening.”

But it’s happened. And after the first weekend in September it will be official: The 8 Track Band is a hall of famer. Barnett is moved by the recognition.

“Somebody did care about what we did for 22 years. Somebody noticed.”

Members of The 8 Track Band include: Larry Anderson, Lynn Stoulil Abfalder, Chuck Baird, Steve Barnett, Kris Breckenridge, Mark Burnett, Mark Carlock, Duwyane Dalen, Shannon Davis, Kim DeGraff, Dennis Farland, Doug Gibford, David Goos, Dave Heck, Dave Hoyt, Nicole Kalatzakis, Steve Knight, Dick Knoot, Kris Lauseng, Colleen Lowe, Rick Maly, Carolyn McKinstry, Frank Mullbrook, Bryce Parsons, Dave Robison, Kimberely Schnell Dean Stonner, Chris Wade, Julie Auten Wade and Randy Wadle.

Others who helped make the group successful were Steve McKinstry and Bill Jacobs.

“Being a part of The 8 Track Band fulfilled a dream of mine to sing in a band. However, this was no ordinary group. Having 10 to 14 vocalists allowed us to perform songs most bands couldn’t even attempt. There were many songs that in my opinion we did better than the original artists. Dave Heck’s leadership was the main reason our group stayed together so long. It was an honor to be a part of the band and the friendships we developed were special.”

—  David Goos, vocalist

“After Dave Robison and Randy Wadle moved away, the group was looking for a male voice to try and fill the huge shoes of these two original member vocalists. I got the chance to cover a Newton Country Club gig on very short notice. It went well and I got to join the most unique band I’ve ever been in. The final iteration of the group had 14 members, ALL of them singing on at least one song. Some nights some of us sang on up to 20 songs! And the instrumentalists were ROCK SOLID! There never will be another band like this.”

—  Mark Carlock, back-up vocalist • lead vocalist • trombone

“I loved all my years with the band. The people meant a great deal to me.”

—  Carolyn McKinstry, vocalist

“It was a wonderful band with wonderful people. I felt fortunate to be a very small part of its history.”

—  Steven McKinstry, emcee • promoter • publicist

“My dad, Dick Knoot was one of the founders (of K-ROX and a past member of the band). He has been gone for over 25 years – but I’m certain he is smiling down on this magnificent event! I traveled the United States as a young girl with my dad’s gospel quartet. I always told him if he would have sang rock and roll he would have been famous like Elvis. Well look at this fame now! My dad knew many people being a business owner, but some of his favorites were the ones he sang with. We spent some of the best times of our life doing musicals in the community theatre. Congratulations to the band. Thank you for continuing all (these) years and for being my dad’s friends! Special thanks to my dad’s “ Everly” brother, Chris Wade. My dad’s smiling down on you all for sure! What a talented group of people!”

—  Susan Knoot Hayes, fan

“I always said that to get up on stage and do what we did, every member had to have an ego, that is some real confidence in himself/herself. Yet with so many members – there were never fewer than 13 – and the ability to perform only a limited number of songs at each performance, it was impossible for the vocalists, which included everyone playing an instrument, to do vocals on anywhere near all the songs. Personally, what most impressed me about The 8 Track Band was that most of the members were able to bury enough of their egos most of the time for the good of the group to make the concept work. That is a difficult thing for four-piece bands to grasp; for a group of this size to be able to accomplish this for 20 years is truly amazing.”

—  Dave Heck, bassist • band manager

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com