The Inspirations were from the Rock Falls/Sterling, Illinois area. The group featured identical twin brothers Keith and Ken Newell on guitar and bass respectively, along with keyboardist Michael Murphy and drummer Dennis Milby. Other members included Bruce Jensen on guitar and Don Dowd on bass. They released one single in 1966 – “Baby Please Come Home” https://youtu.be/SOxFnzEh5RQ b/w “That Girl” (Feature 110).
Soon afterward, they changed their name to the 13th Precinct with a lineup of Mike Murphy, Bruce Jensen, Don Dowd and Dennis Milby. They headed to Chicago to record some demos and caught the ear of New York producer Paul Tannen, who took the band to Nashville to lay down tracks for what became their next single released in 1968 – “Junk Yard” https://youtu.be/WNYn8Ml9NuY b/w “You Gotta Be Mine” https://youtu.be/ZyFJPYrS-5s (TRX 5005).
As Feature Records was owned by the band’s manager/agent Ken Adamany, they played a lot in the Oshkosh/Janesville/Madison area of Wisconsin which was Adamany’s base of operations, but primarily worked as the house band at The Barn in Sterling, Illinois. The biggest notoriety they received was when they appeared on ABC-TV’s Happening ’68 with Paul Revere and the Raiders.
In 1969, Milby was forced to leave the band due to an injury, and with the band’s future in question, Murphy left to join the One-Eyed Jacks, and then spent three years fronting REO Speedwagon. Tom Kurtz replaced Milby on drums, and then Tim Dowd joined on guitar and vocals as the 13th Precinct continued into the 1970s.
Where are they now?
After the 13th Precinct, Ken Newell played in a Madison, Wisconsin band called the Nigh Tranes who had one release, “Hangover (Swamp Fever)”b/w “Rockin’ Abe” (Cuca). When REO moved to Los Angeles, Murphy left and worked in several projects, including tours with Joe Walsh in 1981 and 1983. Over the years, he’s worked with Chuck E. Weiss and the Goddamn Liars, and Billy Vera and the Beaters. He also spent time touring with classic artists Johnny Rivers, Seals & Crofts, as well as the Blue Hawaiians. In the late 90s, Milby resurfaced playing with a country band in the Sterling area. Jensen was forced to quit playing after a motorcycle accident and runs a dog grooming business. Newell circulated through various bands in the central Illinois area before he lost a finger working as a carpenter and had to retire from the business. Family took precedence over performing for Don Dowd, who quit playing in 1978. He lost a battle with lung cancer in 2008.
(First two photos The Inspirations, second two photos 13th Precinct.)
Discography
The Inspirations – Baby Please Come Home b/w That Girl (Feature 817R-110) 1966
“Baby Please Come Home” – https://youtu.be/SOxFnzEh5RQ
13th Precinct – Junk Yard b/ You Gotta Be Mine (TRX 45-T-5005) 1967
“You Gotta Be Mine” – https://youtu.be/ZyFJPYrS-5s
“Junk Yard” – https://youtu.be/WNYn8Ml9NuY
(Thanks to Gary Myers’ book On That Wisconsin Beat for much of the information included here.)