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Novac Noury - Composer, Performer The Kingdom Come Rehearsal - August 8, 1967 |
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Images by Demian back to the Gallery Index
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During my days in Manhattan, 1967-69, among the many music and dance concerts, art shows, and scores of movies, I also attended many rehearsals. Seeing a rehearsal was always instructive for me, and, sometimes, was better than the performance itself. For a group newly assembled by Novac, called “The Kingdom Come,” I wasn’t just a witness. I photographed one of their rehearsals.
In those days, he used the name Jerry Novac. During the rehearsal, his job was to convince the drummer, John (Beedo) Dzubak, and especially the guitarist, Ron (last name not known), to work with his new form of composition. The result was outstanding, unique, inspiring music.
I met Jerry through my very good friend Peter Bramley. Peter and his wife, Florrie, along with Bill Skurski and his wife Gail Burwen, were just beginning to create a commercial art studio in NYC. Peter was a creative, person magnet; making friends was his specialty, but that’s another story ...
Jerry, and his girlfriend, Terry (__?), were homeless before I met them, crashing at the Village Theater, where they rehearsed, sleeping on a pile of costumes. Peter knew of an apartment at 305 E 6th St., which became their home.
The Village Theater was originally named the Commodore Theater. It was built in1925, and located at 105 Second Ave. in Manhattan. Originally, it hosted Yiddish vaudeville and movies. Later, it held rock, blues, soul, folk, and jazz concerts. The hall was most famous when named Fillmore East, and was operated by Bill Graham (1968-1971). After that, it became the New Fillmore East, (N.F.E. Theater, aka the Village East). The second floor housed the East Village Other (1965-1972) alternative newspaper; an important outlet for underground comix.
In 1967, the hall had a stage, curtain, lights, and lots of seats, of a certain age. Like most theaters, rehearsals were lit by only one antique Mazda lamp, enclosed by an iron cage on a tall post. This was the only lighting used for these photos.
About two months after the rehearsal I photographed, they performed as warm-up for the headliner at a public performance. Jerry’s group was superb.
In July 2020, Novac told me his musical form was inspired by an appearance of Dr. Timothy Leary at the Village Theater, on May 13, 1967, called “An Evening with God.” Besides Dr. Leary, it featured Rev. Malcolm Boyd, Dr. Harvey Cox, Len Chandler, and Paul Krassner. Other members of the band, not photographed: Jerry (__?) on sax, Bob Rosicia (spelling?) on trumpet, and Steve (__?) on Trombone.
Jerry Novac and John Dzubak had been one of the many members of the NYC-based group called Soul Survivors.
In 1970, Jerry created a vinyl album called “Novac/The Fifth Word.” It was released on “Embryo Records,” and produced by Herbie Mann. Jerry Novac – vocals, organ, organ bass pedals, piano
These Days Novac Noury continues his music making, and owns a home in the southern area of Manhattan. John “Beedo” Dzubak, Sr. is a musician, composer, and lyricist. He has written musicals, and been in the music industry for 50 years. |
| All images were shot with a 35mm camera, using Ektachrome and Tri-X films. All were scanned using an Epson Perfection V500 Photo, captured in VueScan, and retouch using PhotoShop Elements. |
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Sweet Corn Productions || 206-935-1206 || demian@buddybuddy.com sweetcornmedia.com || Seattle, WA || Founded 1971 All contents © 2023, Demian, Sweet Corn Productions |