"Little Joe" Hupp, (guitar, piano) founded this group in the early 1960s, and had some success playing throughout the Midwestern United States.
Starting in 1967, they expanded their lineup to include more brass instruments, and regularly toured the Midwest, opening for Dickie Lee, Rufus Thomas, The Shangri-Las, Bobby Vee, and The Everly Brothers.
[5] They disbanded in 1972; that same year, Little Joe Hupp released a locally produced full-length, Heavy Metal Whale, under the name Smoke Ring, which did not feature any of the band's previous members.
Lindy Gallaher (bass player from "Isaac" in Kansas) was the first to arrive, along with Colin Keefe (trumpet and lead vocals) and Mike Ragatz (trombone) from another regionally based horn band, "The Chancellors".
Lindy suggested two other members from "Isaac": Robert Orr (keyboards and trombone) and Larry Stewart (trumpet, sax, and flute).
The new players moved into Kings Ballroom (owned by band manager Joe Hupp) and put an entire show together in three days.