Biography
Originating in Jacksonville, Florida, during the mid-1960s, this folk-rock trio drew attention both for its sound, which supported steady income through area performances, and for featuring in its founding lineup the drummer Butch Trucks, later of the Allman Brothers, along with bassist David Brown, who would join Santana, and guitarist Scott Boyer, who later played with Cowboy. The group formed around 1966 at Florida State University in Tallahassee under the name The Bitter End. Boyer, Brown, and Trucks assembled the trio specifically to adapt Bob Dylan material to electric instruments in the style of the Byrds. Their local and regional shows proved lucrative enough that Boyer left college. In an interview with Michael Buffalo Smith for the Swampland site, Boyer recalled encountering other emerging local acts, among them an early version of Lynyrd Skynyrd still called The One Percent and the Second Coming, which included Berry Oakley and Dickey Betts. In 1968 the Tiffany System issued the single “Let’s Get Together” backed with “Wayward One” on the regional Minaret label; four decades afterward the B-side opened Psychic Circle’s compilation The Electric Coffee House.
Following a relocation to Miami and further discussions, the musicians adopted the name the 31st of February and secured a contract with Vanguard Records. They completed one self-titled album for the label in 1969 at Bradley’s Barn. Although the record reached stores to little critical or commercial notice—its Baroque pop approach already seeming dated—the band had already expanded beyond a trio by adding Duane Allman and his brother Gregg. This expanded lineup performed frequently in the Miami area yet never recorded the planned follow-up for Vanguard before the members parted ways. The Allmans achieved lasting recognition, with Trucks joining that group, while Boyer later formed Cowboy with Tommy Talton, formerly of We the People, and David Brown became a member of Santana in 1969 and also worked with Papa John Creach, Boz Scaggs, and additional artists.
Following a relocation to Miami and further discussions, the musicians adopted the name the 31st of February and secured a contract with Vanguard Records. They completed one self-titled album for the label in 1969 at Bradley’s Barn. Although the record reached stores to little critical or commercial notice—its Baroque pop approach already seeming dated—the band had already expanded beyond a trio by adding Duane Allman and his brother Gregg. This expanded lineup performed frequently in the Miami area yet never recorded the planned follow-up for Vanguard before the members parted ways. The Allmans achieved lasting recognition, with Trucks joining that group, while Boyer later formed Cowboy with Tommy Talton, formerly of We the People, and David Brown became a member of Santana in 1969 and also worked with Papa John Creach, Boz Scaggs, and additional artists.