A May 13, 1965 notice in the San Antonio Light lists five members:
Wink Kelso – vocals
Pat Wellberg – lead guitar
Bill Bellamy, III. – bass guitar
Tony Volz – rhythm guitar
Jimmy Taylor – drums
A November 18, 1965 article lists five members:
Wink Kelso – vocals
Pat Wellberg – lead guitar
Bill Bellamy, Jr. – bass guitar
Tony Volz – rhythm guitar
Eddie Phlager – drums (I’ve also seen his name spelled Eddie Pladger, or perhaps Phleger)
The Centurys opened for the Kingsmen at the Granada Ballroom and even played an engagement in Chicago in 1963. Unfortunately an extensive history of the Centurys early days by Bill Bellamy is now gone from the internet and not availabe on the Internet Archive. If anyone has archived all of mikesbandarchive.com, please contact me.
In late 1965 or 1965, the Centurys released a single on Mark, “Whole Lot of Shakin’ Going On” backed with a hot version of the Ventures’ “Gandy Dancer”.
In March of 1966, “Mrs. Mel Adcock, who owns and manages Swingtime Productions and manages many top bands, auditioned the Centurys as house band for a new television program called “Panda-Monium,” to be shown in the Houston area.”
To fit with the TV program, the Centurys changed their name to the Pandas and in May cut a great single on Swingtime SW-1001/2 “Walk”, an original by Will Bellamy and Wink Kelso. The flip was a cover of the Beach Boys’ “Girl From New York City”.
By September, 1966, Galen Niles had replaced Bill Bellamy. Galen had been in the Minuets. On the great but defunct mikesbandarchive.com site, the Minuets were described as having the longest hair in San Antonio in 1965. Members included David Frazier on vocals; Larry Murphy, rhythm guitar & vocals; Galen Niles on lead guitar; and Charlie Shoenfeld on bass and keyboards. Jim Ryan wrote: “Galen was playing a great Chet Atkins Country Gentleman and tuned before every set by just listening to open strings. They opened a show for us in Austin and almost stole the show.”
The Pandas were now a quartet:
Wink Kelso – vocals
Pat Wellberg – guitar
Galen Niles – guitar
Jimmy Taylor – drums
The article continues:
Pandas Currently Among City’s Best
Last May, the Pandas released their first single under the Swingtime label, “Walk” and “Girl from New York City.”
A hit locally, a movie of the Pandas introducing the new tunes was shown in Houston and Dallas. The record really hit big in Florida and the lads were immediately offered guest appearances in Jacksonville, Daytona Beach and Miami – offers they couldn’t accept because of school.
Wink Kelso, vocalist is a sophomore at Trinity University … He plays guitar, drums and the organ and has taken formal singing lessons.
Pet Wellberg, who plays the lead guitar and 12-string with the Pandas, was voted “Most Talented” in his senior class last year at Alamo Heights.
Jimmy Taylor, a Trinity University sophomore … plays drums with the Pandas and can swing his ax to any tune and make it come out great.
Galen Niles, a Trinity University freshman … has two hobbies – playing the guitar and teaching the guitar.
Galen formerly played with the Pipelines and the Minuets, both popular local bands. His favorite nationally known band is the Yardbirds, a name he speaks with awe.
The September 17 article has a follow-up and different photo of the Panda, but I don’t have access to that image.
The Pandas wouldn’t last much longer.
Galen Niles would go into the Outcasts.
In October 1967, Wink Kelso & the Kaleidoscopes appeared at the Casket in Kerrville.
Will Bellamy would play bass in Rachel’s Children.
More info or photos of the Centurys or Pandas would be appreciated.