Raven

:(This page is about the American band. For the British band of the same name, see Raven(2)).
Raven was an American rock band with blues and soul influences, formed in 1967 in Buffalo, New York, and active until 1970. 
It was composed of Tony Galla (lead vocals), Jim Calire (piano/vocals), Gary Mallaber (drums), John Weitz (guitar), and Tom Calandra (bass guitar). Managed by Marty Angelo, the band played throughout the United States, appearing at such popular venues as the Electric Circus (nightclub), the Fillmore East, Steve Paul's Scene, Unganos in New York City, the Grande Ballroom in Detroit, Chicago's Kinetic Playground, and many others.
The group formed after Stan Szelest's group "Stan and the Ravens" broke up in 1967. Two of its members, Calandra and Mallaber, joined Galla, Weitz, and Calire, in the group Tony Galla and the Rising Sons. In 1968, they changed the name of their group to simply "Raven". Raven toured in England in 1969 and were offered a recording contract by George Harrison via Peter Asher with Apple Records. They turned it down to sign with Columbia Records instead. And although they played at the Woodstock Sound-Outs a year earlier, they declined invitations to appear at the Woodstock and Isle of Wight Festivals.
==Links to Peel==
In his Disc & Music Echo column, published on 20th June 1970, Peel praise the band after seeing them perform at the Nag's Head in Wollaston. He described the band as playing closely but like a family and having an updated funky sound. In the same article, he mentioned meeting up with the band's piano player, Jim Calire, and eating macrobiotic chips down the road. He described his piano playing as beautiful and eccentric, as well as hoping that their record company renew their contract after their first LP didn't sell as many copies.
==Shows Played==
;thumb|220x220px1970
*13 June 1970: Feeling Good (7") Columbia 4-44988 (US release)
== See Also ==
*Disc & Music Echo: Peel Columns‎‎
==External Links==
*Wikipedia
*Discogs
Category:Artists