Musically speaking, November 22, 1964 was a huge day in the history of Mankato, Minnesota. On that night international super stars The Everly Brothers came to town to play at the Kato Ballroom. Opening for the Everly Brothers was a group of four 16 to 18 year old Mankato lads known as The Gestures, who in the previous month had seen their own new record, Run, Run, Run, zoom onto the national charts. Together the Everly Brothers and the Gestures would draw the largest crowd in the history of the Kato Ballroom. Roughly 2,400 eager fans crammed into the Kato that night, eclipsing the previous record set in 1959 when Buddy Holly brought the Winter Dance Party to the Kato. The Gestures bassman Tom Klugherz tells how the show came about, or rather almost did not come about. Tom, When Herb Martinka (owner of the Kato Ballroom at the time) found out that the Gestures were scheduled to play at the North Mankato Municipal Building on the same night he had the Everly Brothers booked for the Kato Ballroom, he tried to get the Gestures gig cancelled. This was just after Run, Run, Run was released, and he was afraid we would kill his attendance for the Everly Brothers. We were pretty hot at that time, especially with the local kids. Gus (Dewey) told him, No, were not cancelling ... unless you pay us $400 and let us play at the ballroom with the Everly Brothers. Herb told Gus, No, I cant do that. So Gus told him, Well then well be playing at the Municipal Building. So he finally agreed to let us open for the Everly Brothers. A good move that worked out well for everyone Id say.
Posted on: Mon, 22 Sep 2014 01:52:39 +0000
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