My first band was RYDE (A.K.A. PA Feedback and the Glass Ass). I think we knew 2 songs. We once played a gig in someone's backyard complete with painted clown faces and we played the same 2 songs for about 45 minutes.

RYDE featured: Charles (Budder) Wilson - Drums ~ Tom Herron - Guitar ~ Jai Lambert - Guitar

In 1974, Budder Wilson and I hooked up with a couple of guys who could actually play guitars (David Love and Stan Bradshaw). I had to switch to bass or split. The band was called UNCLE BEN. As I recall, I didn't play the bass very well either but it helped learning the roots to chords when I picked the guitar back up a year later. The group was pretty good (no thanks to me) and played a few paying gigs and high school assemblies. Budder later went on to play with Harrison Calhoun and Blake Hendrix in the jazz influenced TIM-BUR. He also played with John Honey's LIQUIX EXCADZIA AND THE COSMIC RHYTHM UNIT and with REMINISCENCE (see below).

UNCLE BEN featured: Budder Wilson - Drums ~ David Love - Guitar, vocals ~ Stan Bradshaw - Guitar, Vocals ~ Jai Lambert - Bass

During my short tenure with UNCLE BEN I ran into Brooks Brown. I had known Brooks previously because we played together on a pee-wee league football team in 1969. I had heard that he played guitar (very well I might add) and so I kind of weasled my way into his band which at the time was called MOUNTAIN ASH. Brooks, even then in 1975, was an extraordinary guitarist and had written a few original songs one of which became an anthem of sorts for countless keg party gigs (you remember those days). The band played a couple of assemblies as well.

MOUNTAIN ASH featured: Brooks Brown - Guitar ~ Jai Lambert - Guitar ~ Harrison Calhoun - Bass ~ Brian McCowan - Drums

MOUNTAIN ASH would later become the beginnings of REMINISCENCE, a band that featured many different musicians and played countless keg parties and some large outdoor festivals until 1980 (the list below reflects musicians who played in the band at some time prior to 1977).

REMINISCENCE featured: Brooks Brown - Guitar, Bass ~ Jai Lambert - Guitar, Bass, Vocals ~ Harrison Calhoun - Bass ~ Brian McCowan - Drums ~ Budder Wilson - Drums ~ Louie Hunt - Drums ~ Shelby Collins - Vocals, Flute ~ Mike Gavin - Vocals

In 1977, I joined Clint Allen's band KIDZ, replacing guitarist/vocalist Kai Haley. KIDZ was a power trio with a flair for the dramatic (and some very good equipment thanks to Clint). In late 1977 a fire destroyed the Hot Springs mansion where the band practiced and seriously damaged much of the band's gear. Clint went on to form QUICK SISTER, a popular club and concert outfit.

KIDZ featured: Clint Allen - Drums, Bass, Vocals ~ Joe Warren - Bass, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals ~ Jai Lambert - Guitar, Vocals

In 1978, Reminiscence was revived and again, featured many different musicians over the next 2 years, playing countless parties and some large outdoor festivals (below is a list of musicians who played with the band at a given time between 1978-1980).

REMINISCENCE featured: Brooks Brown - Guitar, Bass, Vocals ~ Jai Lambert - Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Vocals ~ Larry Marchese - Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals ~ Louie Hunt - Drums ~ Linc Gurley - Drums, Vocals ~ Fred Morehead - Vocals ~ Shelby Collins - Vocals ~ Harrison Calhoun - Bass ~ Guy Galloway - Guitar, Vocals ~ Mike McGowen - Guitar

After moving to Boca Raton, Florida in the summer of 1979, I eventually hooked up with GULFSTREAM. The band played numerous club and college dates from Miami to W. Palm Beach and featured some very talented musicians allowing the group not only to play some of the AOR covers of the time but also to explore tunes by progressive acts such as Yes, Kansas, Genesis, and Steely Dan. The group also had some impressive original material and featured killer guitarist Dennis Recupero.

GULFSTREAM featured: Diane Driscoll - Flute, Keyboards, Vocals ~ Scott Straleau - Drums, Vocals ~ Bob Leto - Bass ~ Bill Oehme - Keyboards, Vocals ~ Dennis Recupero - Guitar ~ Jai Lambert - Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals