Bitter Ind
Bitter Ind promo poster
Jacksonville-based folk-rock band with own area TV show in mid-1960s; released one single under the name Tiffany System on SSS Intl., a cover of Dino Valenti’s “Get Together.” Included drummer Butch Trucks (Allman Brothers Band), guitarist Scott Boyer (Cowboy, Gregg Allman Band), and bassist David Brown.
(poster courtesy Southern Garage Bands)
[...] guitarist, performed with drummer Butch Trucks and bassist David Brown in The Bitter Ind and 31st of February; later joined Capricorn Records acts Cowboy and Gregg Allman. Also see Bitter [...]
[...] Jacksonville, bassist with The Bitter Ind and 31st of February; went on to work with Cowboy, Gregg Allman, Al Kooper, Charlie Daniels, Martin [...]
Back in the mid to late sixties I heard on WLOF in Orlando a beautiful version of “It’s All Over Now Baby Blue” with a guitar riff that pleasantly haunts me. The dj credited the Bitter Ind. I would love to track down a copy in any format of this lost crown jewel.
I saw them perform in Dec.’68 at the Fountain Blue Hotel in Miami. Saw Duane play with them later(outside at the pool).
First met them in December 1965 while I was in Jax for my enlistment physical (I failed).
Last I heard (2009) David Brown was out in San Francisco working in Norton Buffalo’s band “The Knockouts.” Since Norton passed away a few months ago I don’t know what David is up to.
David also played with Boz Scaggs and was on his first album (the one where Duane Allman plays the lead on ‘Brother Can You Loan Me a Dime?’.
The show with the Bitter Ind was on channel 12, called “Something New” if I remember correctly, produced by Virginia Adler. Our neighbor (who was like a big brother to me), Denzel Rogers, was the MC for the show. We used to go to the tapings.
The Bitter Ind/Tiffany System played at Teen Town in Cocoa Beach regularly in 1966 and 1967. They were great, a folk-rock power trio. I was pleased to learn that Scott Boyer went on to form Cowboy, and then of course there were Butch and David. I really liked them at the time and, in fact, their subsequent success proved that they had a lot of talent.