Pacific Gas & Electric (band)
Pacific Gas & Electric ( PG & E) was an American blues-rock band that existed from 1967 to 1973. Her biggest hit was Are You Ready? from the year 1970. Unusually for the time, the band had members of black and white skin color.
Band History
The band was formed in Los Angeles in 1967. The original members were Tom Marshall ( guitar), Brent Block ( bass), Glenn Schwartz ( lead guitar, formerly of the James Gang ) and Charlie Allen (drums, formerly of Blueberry Jam ). When it became clear that Allen had the best voice, he was the frontman and Frank Cook ( previously with Canned Heat ) joined as drummer. At first they called themselves Pacific Gas and Electric Blues Band, but shortened the name when they got a contract with Kent Records. Their first album, Get It On (1968 ) was only moderately successful, but the band's performance at the Miami Pop Festival in May 1968, gave them a new contract with Columbia Records.
The breakthrough for Pacific Gas & Electric in 1970 with their second Columbia album Are You Ready. The title song reached position 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the same year they were involved in the music of the film Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon by Otto Preminger with Liza Minnelli in the title role.
It was followed by various personnel changes and enhancements, including with keyboard and wind instruments. Under pressure from the utility company of the same name the band name was changed in 1971 in PG & E. In 1973, the group split up. Charlie Allen took in this year on a last album, Pacific Gas & Electric Starring Charlie Allen with studio musicians.