Moorpark Intersection

From the San Fernando Valley in California. Originally known as The Coachmen, and then [a3786020]. Active 1967-1969 Matt Hyde (guitar, vocals) Jim (James) Kehn (drums, vocals) Terry Johnson (bass) Mike Dean (vocals, flute) sings lead on 'Flower' James Donnellan (as Jay Lewis) (guitar, vocals) Matt Hyde, Jim Kehn and Terry Johnson were original members of The Coachmen, a San Fernando Valley group formed around 1960. Jay Lewis (real name James Donnellan) joined The Coachmen soon after its inception replacing keyboard player Jim Hobson who left to join The Du Vals. During the 1960s, the band members also played with other groups in the area; in Johnson and Lewis' case, Bobby Bond & The Agents where they met Barry Brown (later a founding member of Morning (2)). Kehn meanwhile worked with Richie Podolor doing session work for the likes of Iron Butterfly, Blues Image and Duane Eddy. The above line up got together during 1967 and through jazz guitarist Howard Roberts got signed to Capitol Records, working with David Axelrod as producer. Kehn did session work on Donovan's "Barabajagal" album while Lewis worked in a bar band with Alban "Snoopy" Pfisterer from Love. When the "Forever Changes" line up imploded, Snoopy recommended Lewis to Arthur Lee as a replacement for John Echolsand he joined Love, reverting to his real name James Donnellan. Matt Hyde meanwhile began building recording consoles around town with former Coachmen Jim Hobson who was also doing session work on the side. They ended up building their own studio called The Recording Studio in Tarzana, California with financial partner, Joe Long. Kehn attended one of Love's sessions and suggested to Lewis that he take Love to record there, which they did with Hobson guesting on piano. When Donnellan (now reverting back to Jay Lewis) was dropped by Love in late 1969, he reunited with Barry Brown from Bobby Bond & The Agents in the deathroes of his latest group, East Lynne and the pair began talking about forming a new group. Hobson was approached and the trio formed the core of Morning (2). Kehn and Johnson were also recruited as side musicians and Hyde worked as an engineer on the group's albums.