The Moonrakers

Eine Kleine Rockmusik:

Making music should not be left to the professionals. -Michelle Shocked

Of all noises, I think music is the least disagreeable. -Samuel Johnson

It's Party Time: The band played for a Salem HS Graduation Party on Friday, May 28, 1965 at the downstairs of the Smith Cabinet Company, now known as Child Craft Industries, office on East Market Street. The photo below was taken at that party. The band members are from left to right: Gary Robertson, Gary Fultz, John Menaugh, John Marshall, Joe Litehiser. This photo was taken by Lee Smith.

The Who? The Moonrakers of Salem, Indiana were a very popular (locally) rock and roll band comprised of Joe Litehiser, Jr., lead guitar and vocals, Gary L. Robertson, rhythm guitar, Gary L. Fultz, rhythm and lead guitar and vocals, John Marshall, bass guitar, and John R. Menaugh, vocals and drums.

Our Hit Parade: The band specialized in doing cover tunes from the Top 40 hits of the 1960's groups such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Monkees, Herman's Hermits, The Beach Boys, The Ventures, and many others.

The band was together from about late 1964 to 1965.

We've graduated! Shouldn't we look happier?

At the Hop: Click to hear an MP3 selection of a Moonrakers soxhop (4.5MB) from 22 May 1965 at the American Legion Hall on South Main Street.

Click to see an "Official Moonrakers Play list"

Dance Fever: The Moonrakers put on and played for dances at the American Legion Hall, the Brady Shrum Elementary School, the Salem Roller Rink, and a private party (John Begley's birthday pool party) and the Senior Class Graduation party. See the draft Moonrakers Dates and Events List. Please help us finish it.