They were originally called Bangor Flying Circus – Dave “Hawk” Wolinski, guitarist Al DeCarlo and drummer Michael Tegza. In 1970 they evolved into Madura.
Looking back on their heritage, Wolinski and DeCarlo had known each other since high school days when they original formed a band called The Thunderbirds. In 1967 they formed Bangor Flying Circus, releasing one self-titled album on ABC/Dunhill (DS 50069) in 1969. Tegza had come from another Chicago prog-rock band H.P. Lovecraft.
But even before they could go into the studio, Tegza left to form a second generation version of Lovecraft. Stepping into his spot was drummer Ross Salomone, who had just finished an album with Chuck Hollins and David Starr titled Sidewalks Talking (Ovation OV-1407).
It was with that lineup that guitarist Terry Kath and drummer Danny Seraphine of Chicago heard at the Whiskey a Go Go in Los Angeles and were so blown away that they insisted their producer, James Guercio, produce the band. To do so, Guercio actually had to buy out their Bangor Flying Circus Dunhill contract to make it happen, and insisted on a name change. That’s when they became Madura. It’s said the band name was inspired by the Meenaksi Temple in Madurai, India.
The group released two albums between 1971-73 under the Guercio’s direction that wandered from blues-rock to jazz-rock, all in a progressive vein. Their sophomore release was actually the first album produced at Guercio’s Cairbou Ranch Studio.
Their song “Free From the Devil” was also included in James Guercio’s 1973 film Electra Glide in Blue. Madura can be seen in the movie in a brief concert scene performing the song live. Wolinski also played a bit part in the movie as one of the drivers. When it came time for film editing, the “Free From the Devil” scene in Electra Glide in Blue was cut down to a couple minutes at the end of the drum solo. Here is the original and complete version, it was Al DeCarlo’s masterpiece and closed out every Madura show never failing to electrify an audience. https://youtu.be/-KHzFlz2L9U. And here’s Madura performing “Free From the Devil live in 1973 film https://youtu.be/ySzDi7p1QdY
While at Caribou Ranch, DeCarlo sat in on the debut solo effort Skinny Boy (Columbia) from Chicago vocalist Robert Lamm. Salomone also sat in on the Lamm project as well as an album for Gerard McMahon.
After releasing a couple of albums, Madura seemed to have no clear direction. DeCarlo was becoming involved with other projects and left the band, leaving Wolinski on keys, Salomone on drums, and Billy “Nest” McPherson on reeds. Guercio called in another Chicagoan, James Vincent (aka Jim Donlinger), a guitarist who had worked with Rotary Connection and Aorta, to try and shore up the band. According to Vincent in his book Space Traveler, “I decided that this band was worth a try, but I was not willing to live in Colorado, so I told Jim Guercio that if the band would relocate to the Bay Area, I would agree to give it a shot. Everyone accepted, and Guercio bankrolled their move to San Francisco.” But it was not long after the relocation that the Salomone left the band. That, coupled with recognizing Wolinski and Vincent were not on the same page musically as Nest, Vincent notes, “The bottom line regarding the James Vincent and Madura merger is that our short-lived effort to put something together as a band did not work out. This left little time for our joint venture, and we were simply going nowhere fast. The monthly advance that Jim Guercio provided was not enough to live on, so none of us were in a position to turn down any work that was offered elsewhere. Out of sheer frustration and lack of funds,” it appeared the end was in sight. Most of the players sans Vincent returned to Chicago. Wolinski was next to leave, going to work with Rotary Connection’s Minnie Riperton. DeCarlo and Salomone next brought on Dennis Polkow and the group continued for a short time. Then Salomone departed, moving to California. After going through other drummers, “it was never quite the same,” notes Polkow, and Madura finally was put to rest.
Salomone went on to sit in on sessions for Air Supply’s Love and Other Bruises (Columbia), Rocky Pamplin and the J.T. Connection; and masterminded a project as the Westside Strutters turning the music of George Gershwin into disco-flavored material for Parachute Records. He married and retired from music in 1985; helping his wife run a lucrative cosmetics business. He continued to play in a very low key, almost recreational fashion. He’s a retired widower now, deeply into astronomy.
Wolinski went on to become a key component in the success of Rufus. That led to industry interest as an in-demand songwriter/producer starting up a production company partnering with Chicago drummer Danny Seraphine. His work can be found on sessions ranging from Chicago, Peter Cetera and the Eddie Boy Band to Michael Jackson and David Bowie.
Tegza is now a pastor in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. And Al DeCarlo? He passed away in 2018. For his story – The Unfamous Life of Alan DeCarlo https://youtu.be/svGoVofp1ms
Discography
ALBUMS
1971 Madura (Columbia KC 30921/22)
1973 2 (Columbia KC 32545)
SINGLES
1973 Save the Miracle b/w Windy One (Columbia 4-46022) 1973
1971 Johnny B. Goode, Part 1 b/w Johnny B. Goode, Part 2 (Columbia 4-45483)
“Johnny B. Goode” https://youtu.be/iqIuREW_qOw