Music, Murder and 1960s Memories in New Book

Like so many baby-boomers who have begun to reflect on the turbulence and the excitement of the 1960s, Kathy West took the journey back.

 But what she began to relive were the memories that books and movies are made of -- the roller coaster ride of a group of New Jersey musicians and songwriters in their quest for stardom, many of whom became industry icons, and one who didn’t, because of his untimely death. 

‘A Song for You: The Quest of the Myddle Class’ is the culmination of West’s memories of a rare period in musical history intertwined with the story of her first love, Rick Philp, who was slain in 1969 while a college student.

He was the lead guitarist of the Myddle Class, a band that was hailed as ‘the greatest group on the east coast’ in the mid-1960s, according to West, a resident of Manalapan, NJ, who was raised in Morris County, NJ. 

She will present her story, share memorabilia, and sign books on Thursday, August 11 at 6:30 p.m. at the as part of its ‘Jersey Rocks’ exhibit, touted as ‘A History of Rock & Roll in the Garden State’ which began in May and will run into September.

The Journey Back

In early 2010, West was prompted to review letters, photographs and other memorabilia that she had tucked away for decades.

“My curiosity was piqued after I was told that someone was looking for me. It was someone who wanted to find out more about Rick’s death,” said West.

West, who began dating Philp when they were still in high school, forged friendships with a group of performers poised for stardom whom she met as the New Jersey based-band gained popularity. They included: Carole King and her husband, Producer Gerry Goffin, and James Taylor.

West and Philp attended Watchung Hills Regional High School in Warren, NJ with classmate with Dave Palmer, the lead singer of the Myddle Class, who later achieved international fame with the band Steely Dan.

Charlie Larkey of Mountainside became the bass guitarist for The Myddle Class and Carole King's second husband.

Michel Rosa, of Berkeley Heights, the band’s drummer and organist, Dan Mansolino, of Plainfield along with many others also shared this part of a unique crossroads in musical history.

“This era of music became what is now considered classic Rock & Roll,” said West.

“Through the process of revisiting the events and reconnecting with the remaining members of the group, it has helped me to reach a sense of closure with the loss,” said West.  

“After facing a deeply suppressed heartache, I’m at peace with the past and now I’m just focusing on how fortunate I have been to have lived such a thrilling youth sharing loving relationships with an extremely talented, sensitive and unique circle of friends.”

West, who holds a master’s degree in psychology, said she believes that it is important to deal with personal psychological burdens so that one can gain a better understanding of themselves and what motivates their behavior. 

Striking a Chord

‘A Song for You’ has been reviewed by ‘Garage Hangover,’ a Web site devoted to the garage band phenomenon.     

“The Myddle Class was a sensation in New Jersey, in Greenwich Village and even in Albany, but none of their singles made the national charts and the band faded away as members went off to college and found other musical avenues to pursue. This was a common story in the 1960s, and one that usually would not be worth writing a book about, but the Myddle Class was not an ordinary band, and their story is far more intricate and compelling than most.”

In addition to her appearance at the Morris Museum, book signings are scheduled for: Scotti's Record Shop in Summit on Friday, August 12, 4 to 6 p.m.; the Westfield Street Fair on Sat. Aug. 27, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and the Red Bank Street Fair, Sunday, Sept. 18, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The first 20 book sales at the Morris Museum will include a free CD of the music of the Myddle Class and friends.

For more information about the free presentation and book signing, visit the Morris Museum Web site: http://www.morrismuseum.org/