Les Bleus

Blue-eyed soul combo the Bleus formed in Gadsden, AL, in mid-1965. Singer/percussionist Tony Lumpkin, guitarists Larry Sivley and Paul Smith, and bassist Terry Moore comprised the original lineup, with Lumpkin moving solely to vocal duties with the addition of drummer Cliff Blackwood. Keyboardist Dana Loconto completed the roster, and in the fall the Bleus made their public debut following a high-school football game. A series of "battle of the bands" competitions followed; at one such event in Tuscaloosa, the Bleus defeated the Hour Glass, featuring then-unknowns Duane and Gr...