Raven (American Band)

Raven (American Band)

Raven was an influential rock/blues band formed in 1967 in Buffalo, New York, and active until 1970. It was composed of Tony Galla (lead vocals), Jim Calire (piano/vocals), Gary Mallaber (drums), John Weitz (guitar), and the late Tom Calandra (bass guitar). Managed by Marty Angelo, the band played throughout the United States, appearing at such popular venues as the Electric Circus (nightclub), the Fillmore East, Steve Paul's Scene, Unganos in New York City, the Grande Ballroom in Detroit, Chicago's Kinetic Playground, and many others.

The group formed after Stan Szelest's group "Stan and the Ravens" broke up in 1967. Two of its members, Calandra and Mallaber, joined Galla, Weitz, and Calire, in the group Tony Galla and the Rising Sons. In 1968, they changed the name of their group to simply "Raven", and their first recordings in New York were produced by David Lucas. These songs included "Farmer's Daughter" (written by Szelest), "No Turning Back" (written by Calandra), and "Howlin' for my Baby" (written by Willie Dixon and Howlin' Wolf).

Raven toured in England in 1969 and were offered a recording contact by George Harrison via Peter Asher with Apple Records. They turned it down to sign with Columbia Records instead.