This month’s Under-Appreciated Rock Band is a Los Angeles psychedelic rock quartet called Music Emporium. The bandmembers are Casey Cosby (organ and vocals), Dave Padwin (lead guitar, acoustic guitar and vocals), Carolyn Lee (bass guitar, acoustic bass, piano, organ and vocals), and Dora Wahl (drums and percussion). A rock band that was half men and half women was rare enough in those days; but in this case, the women represent the excellent rhythm section (bass and drums). In that respect, Music Emporium might be unique among 1960’s bands. Their eclectic background and the fact that three of the four bandmembers are classically trained musicians lend additional interest to their music.
Dora Wahl (who, like Casey Cosby, had also previously played the accordion) was the drummer for a 13-piece band called Brass Plus. Her 21st birthday present was tickets to a concert by Cream, where she got to sit directly above Ginger Baker’s drumset. Dora Wahl had become best friends with Carolyn Lee, the bass guitarist for Brass Plus, and recruited her for the new band. Lee was proficient at string bass and was just learning to play electric bass.
Carolyn Lee of Music Emporium hadn’t started singing though until she joined an a capella choir at Long Beach State, where she was seated beside Karen Carpenter; Richard Carpenter was their accompanist on piano. The brother and sister would later become world famous as Carpenters, but not many people know that Karen was also a drummer – in fact, she described herself as a “drummer who sings”. Dora Wahl knew both of the Carpenters also.
The music by Music Emporium varies considerably and is never better than when Carolyn Lee is singing, particularly on the fantastic “Velvet Sunsets”. Casey Cosby handles most of the lead vocals, with Dave Padwin sitting in for his punky song “Sun Never Shines”. Casey Cosby’s organ defines their sound, though Dave Padwin’s guitar is also prominent.
In 1970, Casey Cosby received his draft notice but managed to avoid Vietnam by taking a job at West Point playing accordion and heading up their glee club; he spent 17 years as an Instructor of Cadet Music there. Casey Cosby and Carolyn Lee were married shortly after Music Emporium broke up.
(October 2013)
