The Savonics

The Savonics were an eight piece group from Oakland, CA whose members were in high school at Berkeley High and college at Laney and Merritt Colleges when they first formed. The played regularly on weekends at The Catacombs in Berkeley, CA. Winning talent shows around the bay area they eventually won studio time at Costal Records where they cut a demo which never reached the public and then later won talent shows that got them on Dick Clark's Happening 68 and a recording contract with MTA where they recorded their single "Soul Groove" at Golden State Recorders with Leo Kulka. Members were: Marty Leggett, vocals; Tony Newson, lead guitar; Glen Colbert, drums; Hollis Carr, Sax; Melvin Jenkins, Bass; Howard Heckerson, organ; Johnnie Tompson, Trumpet; Tommy Mathews, Trumpet. Colbert, Newsom and Jenkins went on to play in The Ebony Jam Band. Not to be confused with The Savonics, also from Oakland who backed Eugene Blacknell in the early 60s.