Grange Fair band preview: Paul Revere’s Raiders

After years of new members and an evolving sound, Paul Revere & the Raiders is back in action as Paul Revere’s Raiders.

The group is the modern compilation of members who used to make up Paul Revere & the Raiders, the widely known rock band of the ’60s and ’70s. Their hit song “Kicks” (1996) was ranked 400th on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and their No. 1 single “Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)” was a Platinum-certified classic.

The current band continues this tradition of success.

Longtime members include Doug Heath, Ron Foos and Danny Krause. In honor of Paul Revere, his son, Jamie Revere, will rejoin the show, and completing the talented lineup are Darren Dowler and Tommy Scheckel.

Heath, on guitar and vocals, can claim seniority when it comes to Paul Revere’s Raiders. He joined in 1973 and brought with him experience from playing with Leon Russell and Merilee Rush. Heath also has been featured with other stars, including Righteous Brothers, Bill Medley, Billy Ray Cyrus and Nancy Sinatra.

Foos, on bass guitar and vocals, has been a steady, 40-year member of the Raiders. Yet this does not nearly cover all of his accomplishments. Foos has also toured and recorded with Randy Bachman, The Beach Boys, Mary Wilson, Jon Raymond with Kenny G and many more.

Krause, on keyboards and vocals, began his career at the age of 15 and hasn’t looked back. He was raised in an atmosphere of classical music and jazz, and his influences include his jazz drumming grandfather and his mother, who once sang with Paul Revere & the Raiders.

Krause joined the band more than 35 years ago and has blended his style with the Raiders.

Revere, on guitar and vocals, was destined to join the crew as his father’s son. He continued the legacy by joining from 1990 to 1997, then rejoined in 2014.

Dowler, on lead vocals, has appeared on Broadway and in multiple films and television series. He’s sung with The Righteous Brothers, Fifth Dimension, the Jordanaires and the Beach Boys and was the original lead guitarist for The Backstreet Boys.

Most notably, Dowler performed with The Lettermen for 10 years and was inducted into The Vocal Hall of Fame in 2004.

Scheckel, on drums, is best known for his 27-year stint with The Buckinghams, famous for “Kind of a Drag,” “Susan” and “Don’t You Care.” He has been a Raider for 10 years.

This story was originally published August 16, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Grange Fair band preview: Paul Revere’s Raiders."