Zaharas
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ZAHARAS was a southern rock band that originated in Hickory, North Carolina in 1977. The group consisted of Mick Lail, Gary Freeman, Cecil Crotts, and Glenn Freeman. After many years of playing in groups which played only covers of songs by other bands, the members of ZAHARAS decided to play only original tunes.
Mick Lail, lead singer and lead guitar player, was the driving force behind the band as well as the chief songwriter. Cecil Crotts, backup singer and rhythm guitar player, collaborated with Lail on several songs. The Freeman brothers, Gary on drums and Glenn on bass guitar, were musicians and left the majority of the song writing to Lail and Crotts.
The band had a good local following and was seen as a novelty for playing only original songs. After several months, playing at sold out clubs was common as people wanted to see these guys who were bucking the trend.
The shows that ZAHARAS put on were the usual rock and roll type that was common in that day except for their clothes. All four guys changed into different outfits after each set. The highlight of the night was the last set when Cecil wore black velvet pants with a matching shirt, Glenn wore a brown satin suit, and Mick came on stage with a pearl white satin suit that fit like a glove. Gary wore whatever was comfortable for him as everyone knows drummers get hot playing a long set.
The band recorded two albums during their brief time together. The first album, Livin' Ain't Easy, is now a collector’s item and is still being sold all over the United States and a few countries in Europe. The second album, Blackbird, came a little over one year after Livin' Ain't Easy, and was quite a bit different. Lail reached into the darker parts of his life and came up with some classics that dealt with sex, drugs, rock and roll, and the occult.
The group stayed together for almost four years and never actually broke up. They just quit playing. Lail continued to write and play with friends when he had the chance, and Gary showed up many times to keep a beat.
The darkest day in the bands history came when drummer Gary Freeman died as a result of a fire. Gary died a hero as he rushed into a burning home to save his brother Glenn, who he thought was trapped inside. Gary didn't know that Glenn had already gone out the back door and was safe.
The only member of the band who is still active is Mick Lail who is still writing songs and recording. Mick has recorded a solo country CD, another rock CD, and is currently still writing for a second solo rock and country collection. Most all of these songs are very much different from what ZAHARAS played many years ago, but one can still hear the old band in there if one listens closely.
Lail has made a webpage for the band that you can reach through this link: http://www.micksplace.net/mick/music.htm.
The band may no longer be playing, but the music will live on as long as there is a fan somewhere in the world.
All information on this page as of 06-05-06 was contributed by J.M. Lail.
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