[1][2] The group started in the mid-to-late 1950s as a high school band in San Luis Obispo, California.
[citation needed] Although their instrumental style predated the 1961-65 era of surf music, their success came during that period.
Their career took off when Norman Knowles took over as leader and changed their name from Gil Serna and The Rockets to The Revels.
[14] They were five members who were part of an 18-piece San Luis Obispo high school dance band called The Dreamers.
[19][20] The A side was written by Norman Knowles who had been inspired by Dan Darnold's reputation for drinking a beer in just four seconds.
[21] Early in 1960, The Revels were in San Luis Obispo at a Chevrolet dealership, playing for a March of Dimes benefit.
[22] The session wasn't going too good for the group so Knowles decided to ring Hilder to come over to help them with the experience he had.
Not having a label of his own at the time, Hilder and Norman Knowles started their own company as partners, splitting the costs as well as the profits.
The track featured an emotionless "Church Key", announcement, the sound of a beer can being opened and giddy laughter by Adkins.
[39] The August 1960 issue of Cashbox Magazine reported that Al Chapman of Modern Distributing had high expectations for a couple of singles.
One of them was "Church Key" and the other was a release on the Spry label, "Tall Quiet Stranger", by Nick Green and Don Jackson.
[40][41] Later that year, Impact Records said in the November 26 issue of Cashbox that the track was starting to click in several midwest areas.
[42] In the December 24 issue of Cashbox, it was noted that The Gonzos had their version out on the Donna label and gave it a B+ rating while The Revels were making some noise with theirs.
[50][51] Later that year was reported in the December 1, issue of Cashbox that Nico Records had acquired an instrumental of theirs from the Daco label.
Nico records which had offices in Dallas and Hollywood was headed by Bobby Boris Pickett, Ned Ormand and R.B.
[60] In 1989, he was working as an Amtrak ticket agent, and had his own 200-acre ranch near King City in the central California area.
[67] In 1990, Sam Eddy was contacted by a friend from Chicago, Jim Fichter who was hoping to get a copy of their original LP, Rampage.
The Best Of The Revels, which was released on Sundazed LP 5010 in 1994 with the assistance of Eddy, Norman Knowles and Tony Hilder.