The Centurians

{{Short description|US musical group}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = The Centurians | image = | image_size = | image_upright = | landscape =  | alt = | caption = | background = group_or_band | alias = The Centurions (reunion spelling) | origin = [[Costa Mesa]], [[California]], U.S. | genre = [[Surf music|Surf rock]] | years_active = Late 1950s–1960s<br />1990s–? | label = [[Del-Fi]] | associated_acts = | website =  | current_members = | past_members = *Dennis Rose *Joe Dominic *Ernie Furrow *Jerry Dicks *Pat Gagnebin *Jeffrey Lear *Ken Robison }}

'''The Centurians''' were an [[instrumental]] [[surf rock]] band started by Dennis Rose from [[Newport Beach, California]]. They were active in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Their music has been used in at least two films. They reformed as '''The Centurions''' in 1995 and released new material.

==Background== The group originated from [[Costa Mesa, California]], they were a septet.<ref>''Becoming the Beach Boys, 1961–1963'', By James B. Murphy – [https://books.google.com/books?id=iYneCQAAQBAJ&dq=%22The+Centurions%22Dennis+Rose%22&pg=PA283 Page 283]</ref>

In recent times, they are best known for their recording "Bullwinkle Part II", a dark and saxy surf tune from their album ''Surfers' Pajama Party''. This song is featured in the 1994 film ''[[Pulp Fiction]]''<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/pictures/surf-music-and-seventies-soul-the-songs-of-pulp-fiction-20140521/the-centurians-bullwinkle-part-ii-0794363 | title=Surf Music and Seventies Soul: The Songs of 'Pulp Fiction' | publisher=Rolling Stone magazine | accessdate=7 July 2014}}</ref> where it is used to highlight a scene.<ref>[[Mtime.com]], 2013-09-18 – [http://i.mtime.com/eskare/blog/7677563/ Log, black" music, refreshing surfing – "Pulp Fiction" music (日志 “黑色”音乐，爽快冲浪——《低俗小说》的音乐)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220181605/http://i.mtime.com/eskare/blog/7677563/ |date=2019-02-20 }}</ref> It was also used in an episode of the TV show ''[[How I Met Your Mother]]'' entitled "[[Girls Versus Suits]]". Less well known is their cover of the classic song "Intoxica" a twangy and upbeat surf instrumental originally by [[The Revels]], used in the 1972 film ''[[Pink Flamingos]]''.

==Career== ===1960s=== In 1963, their line-up consisted of Pat Gagnebin, Ken Robinson, Dennis Rose, Joe Dominic, Dennis Kiklas, Ernie Furrow, and Jeff Lear.<ref>''Surfin' Guitars: Instrumental Surf Bands of the Sixties'', Robert J. Dalley – [https://books.google.com/books?id=z9EiAQAAIAAJ&q=%22The+Centurions%22Ernie+Furrow%22 Page 50]</ref> When they released their album on [[Del-Fi]] records in 1963, its cover was identical (as well as catalog number) to [[Bruce Johnston]]'s release, hence the title "''Surfers' Pajama Party''"<ref>''The Music Lover's Guide to Record Collecting'', By Dave Thompson – [https://books.google.com/books?id=GtGGDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22BRUCE+JOHNSTON%27S+SURFING+BAND%22&pg=PT444 -]</ref> – which was not the name The Centurians had in mind. {{Citation needed|reason=Confirmation needed that this is what they did or didn't want.|date=February 2019}} Their name was changed from ''The Centurions'' to ''The Centurians'' sometime after 1967 for legal reasons.<ref>''Surf & Hot Rod Music of the 60's: Collectors Quick Reference'', By R. Duane Cozzen – [https://books.google.com/books?id=_25gCgAAQBAJ&dq=%22The+Centurions%22The+Centurians%22Surf&pg=PA36 Page 36 THE CENTURIONS]</ref>

In 1966, some of the music they recorded, along with music by [[Dave Myers and The Surftones|Dave Meyers and the Surf Tones]] and [[The Sentinals (band)|The Sentinels]] was involved in legal action by Al Schlesinger against the [[Del-Fi|Del-Fi Records]] label. Schlesinger was representing Anthony Music and its principal shareholder [[Anthony Hilder]] in an action pursuing $122,000 over royalties not being paid as per an alleged agreement for the masters of albums and another album, ''Battle of the Surf Bands''.<ref>''Billboard'', 26 Mar 1966 – [https://books.google.com/books?id=5SgEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Tony+Hilder+Billboard&pg=PA4 Page 4, Anthony Music Sues Del-Fi]</ref>

===Later years=== In June 1995 Dennis Rose reformed the group as "The Centurions" with Dennis Rose (guitar), David Jobes (drums), Charly Grey-Son (bass), Perris Alexander (keyboards), [[Norman Knowles]] (tenor sax) and Dennis Rehders (tenor and baritone sax). They recorded a new album called ''Bullwinkle Part III'' produced by Dennis Rose and Perris Alexander.<ref>''[[Surfin' Guitars: Instrumental Surf Bands of the Sixties|Surf Bands of the Sixties]]'' (Second Edition), by Robert J. Dalley – {{ISBN|1560750421}}, 9781560750420 – [https://books.google.com/books?id=z9EiAQAAIAAJ&q=Reforming Page 53]</ref> A review of the 1995 re-issue of ''Bullwinkle Part II'' by Alan Taylor, editor of UK magazine ''[[Pipeline Instrumental Review]]'', stated that "The Centurions had more than one string to their bow. Their tough rhythm section, raunchy sax and deep resonant lead guitar had worked up a whole album's worth of instrumentals for [[Bob Keane]]'s label. You can savour the band's sound on all twelve tracks and several stand out as genuinely classic surf performances".<ref name="PipelineMagCenturions">{{cite journal |editor-last=Taylor |editor-first=Alan |date=1995 |title=The Centurions |journal=[[Pipeline Instrumental Review]] |issue=29 |page=42 |issn=1470-8353}}</ref> In August 1995 the group performed a concert at ''Pierfest'' <ref>Surf City Foundation Festival (1995)</ref> in Huntington Beach.<ref>The Centurions Surf Band, Myspace – [https://myspace.com/thecenturionssurfband/mixes/classic-the-centurions-album-395636/photo/123337028 Photos]</ref><ref>Perris Alexander – [https://plus.google.com/105834427811577742875/posts/CMc9MCtDudj Jul 4, 2016]</ref> In 2000, the band performed at the [[Pipeline Instrumental Review|Pipeline Instrumental Rock Convention]] in [[London]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pipelinemag.co.uk/?page_id=376 |title=Pipeline Convention 2000 |website=pipelinemag.co.uk |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526213529/http://www.pipelinemag.co.uk/?page_id=376 |archive-date=May 26, 2024 |access-date=September 1, 2024 }}</ref>

==Legacy== The song "Bullwinkle Part II" was used in the 1994 film ''[[Pulp Fiction]]'' and features on the [[Pulp Fiction (soundtrack)|soundtrack album]].<ref name="PipelineMagCenturions"/> The film's success led to the band's reunion. In 1999 "Bullwinkle Part II" was covered by [[Elliot Easton]]'s Tiki Gods on the Del-Fi tribute compilation "Delfonic Sounds Today!".

==Original members== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |+ List |- ! scope="col" | Name ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes # |- ! scope="row" | Dennis Rose | guitar and bass | |- ! scope="row" | Joe Dominic | drums | |- ! scope="row" | Ernie Furrow | guitar and bass | |- ! scope="row" | Jerry Dicks | keyboard | |- ! scope="row" | Pat Gagnebin | sax and harmonica | |- ! scope="row" | Jeffrey Lear | bass | <ref>{{Cite web|title = Tales of Balboa (March 2005 / Vol 7 No 3)|url = http://www.talesofbalboa.com/backissues2005/03-05.html|website = talesofbalboa.com|accessdate = 2015-05-30|date = }}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | Ken Robison | sax, flute and clarinet | |- |}

==Discography== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |+ Film |- ! scope="col" | Act ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Label and catalogue no. ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes # |- ! scope="row" | The Centurians | ''Surfers' Pajama Party''<br>(Recorded Live on the U.C.L.A. Campus) | [[Del-Fi]] DFLP 1228 | 1963 | <ref>Worthpoint – [https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/bruce-johnstons-surfing-band-surfers-1788862583 BRUCE JOHNSTON'S SURFING BAND: Surfers' Pajama Party LP]</ref><ref>''The Music Lover's Guide to Record Collecting'', By Dave Thompson – [https://books.google.com/books?id=GtGGDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22BRUCE+JOHNSTON%27S+SURFING+BAND%22&pg=PT444 -]</ref> reissued in 1995 on CD as ''Bullwinkle Part II'' by The Centurions (Del-Fi CD 71250-2)<ref>''Blue Suede News'', Volumes 25–36 – [https://books.google.com/books?id=h6c4AQAAIAAJ&q=Bullwinkle Page 130]</ref> |- ! scope="row" | The Centurians a.o. | ''Surf War - The Battle of the Surf Groups'' | Shepherd Records – SLP 1300 | 1963 | six tracks on a compilation |- ! scope="row" | The Centurions | ''Bullwinkle Part III'' | myspace online release | 1995 | |- |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{discogs artist|424490|The Centurians (as The Centurions)}} * [https://myspace.com/thecenturionssurfband/ Myspace: The Centurions] * {{YouTube|l2aYcC5JedQ|"Bullwinkle, Pt. II"}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Centurians, The}} [[Category:American surf rock music groups]] [[Category:American musical sextets]] [[Category:American musical septets]] [[Category:Musical groups from Orange County, California]] [[Category:Del-Fi Records artists]]