NIGHTCAPS
Columbia, Tennessee
Original members: In front, Blake Pennington Bass guitar. Middle row from left Jimmy Kelley guitar, Bobby Carpenter keyboards and trumpet, Ray Journey guitar, and Ron Bass guitar. In back is Al Notgrass Clark drums.
The Nightcaps hailed from Columbia, Tennessee, and made a splash in Nashville from 1965-1970. They played gigs at Willow Plunge, Vanderbilt Fraternities, The Holiday Inn on Murfreesboro Road, lots of parties at MTSU, in Columbia, The Cellar in Shelbyville, and backed up B.J Thomas, Brian Hyland, and Ronnie Dove at The Auto Show in the Municipal Auditorium. They appeared with The Charades, The Exotics, and other Nashville-based groups at Battles of the Bands at skating rinks and other venues. They were also on Channel 5’s Saturday Dance Party, a la American Bandstand. When the ‘Caps hit the big time and were represented by Talent, etc., as an agent, their name changed to MANN. MANN recorded “Born St. Louis” for Capitol, and went on the road, touring the Southeast states in concerts in Knoxville, Charlotte, Nashville, Crossville, Huntsville, Atlanta, and MTSU’s arena.