The Escorts / The Do's & The Don'ts

Iowa Rock Band Makes Music History

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60s Oldies Rock N Roll Band Inducted into Iowa Hall of Fame

The Escorts / The Do's & The Don'ts were inducted into the Iowa Rock 'N Roll Music Association's Hall of Fame in 1997. When the original group, which included Dick & Zelda Sherman (bass guitar and keyboard respectively), Roger Booth (drums and lead vocals), and Dick Burns (lead guitar), started in 1959 nobody knew that they would make Iowa rock music history. See a picture from 1959 of The Escorts at the bottom of the page.

Iowa Music History

They were one of the first professional bands in Iowa to play Rock N' Roll music. They were also the first one in the state to feature a female keyboard player in what was mostly an all-male music business.

Washington, Iowa

The Escorts'  first official date was playing in the store window for the grand opening of the Montgomery Wards' store in Washington, Iowa. They didn't stay long in the Wards' window, as the Escorts quickly became Eastern Iowa's #1 touring and recording rock music attraction.

60s Rock Hit Recording

In 1966 they were signed to New York's Red Bird Records recording label and quickly came out with I Wonder If She Loves Me. (Listen to I Wonder If She Loves Me). It was listed as a spotlight single in the July 2, 1966, issue of Billboard Magazine. Record World Magazine listed it among singles coming up, reaching #35 in the August 20 & 27 issues. KIOA Des Moines listed it at #14 on July 4, 1966; WAKX Duluth listed it at #6 on August 5, 1966; and WEBC Duluth listed it at #5 on August 6, 1966. See it listed at #9 on The Northland's Original and Only Fabulous Forty Survey from WEBC - Duluth. It was with the release of this record that the band changed their name to The Do's & The Don'ts  at the urging of the record label. They currently use both names, The Escorts / The Do's & The Don'ts.

Iowa Rock Music Awards

For ten years straight they won an award from the National Ballroom Operators Association for having a band of neat appearance, providing a wholesome form of entertainment and top quality of danceable music. In 1965 and 1966 they won awards for being Iowa's Best Dressed Band. They appeared with such groups as Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs, The Four Seasons, Tommy James & The Shondells, The Everly Brothers, Dickie Lee, and Gary Lewis & The Playboys.

Original Rock N Roll Records

In all, The Escorts / The Do's & The Don'ts  released twelve records during their career, the most by any Iowa rock and roll band during the 50's, 60's, and 70's. These original recordings are now available on CD or cassette tape. Place your order now!

Iowa Rock Band

The Escorts / The Do's & The Don'ts  continue to perform in Eastern Iowa, playing great 50s & 60s oldies music. Dance to this Iowa Rock N Roll Hall of Fame band at any of the great location's listed on their current concert schedule. The current members, (1997 to present) include three of the originals; Roger Booth, Dick Sherman, and Zelda Sherman. Frank Glaser, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998 with Al & The Untouchables, plays lead guitar. Rick Sherman plays the drums. Frank and Rick have been with the band for over 25 years. The current group made a live recording in 2004. Place your order now!

Note: Dick Burns, the original lead guitar player, passed away in 1984. Larry Smith, who played trumpet and keyboard with the band for many years, passed away in 2001.

Recent Festival and Concert Performances

• Friday'loo, Lincoln Park, Waterloo, Iowa
• Opened for The Turtles, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• New Year's Eve Extravaganza 2004, Zazza's Clarion Hotel, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• Hog Wild Days, Hiawatha, Iowa
• St. Joe's Fun Days, Marion, Iowa
• St. Jude's Sweet Corn Festival, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• Festival of Trails Celebration, La Porte City, Iowa
• Sauerkraut Days, Blairstown, Iowa
• Livermore Daze Quasquicentennial festival, Livermore, Iowa
• Old Settler's Days, Salem, Iowa
• Lincoln Highways Days, Clarence, Iowa
• 1997 Iowa Rock 'N Roll Music Association's Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Roof Garden Pavilion, Arnolds Park, Iowa
• Summer Dance Party, Electric Park Ballroom, Waterloo, Iowa (helped raise $5000 for the Iowa Rock 'N Roll Music Association)

(Source: Iowa Rock 'N Roll Music Association's Hall of Fame 1997 Yearbook) An earlier version of this article, written by Rick Sherman, was first published on the Internet in 1996 under a different domain name and server. Previous locations of this site were www.channel21.com/music/escorts, home.quixnet.net/~ricks, and showcase.netins.net/web/dosdonts.

For information on how to nominate a band, person, or entity into the Iowa Rock 'N Roll Music Association's Hall of Fame, or how to become a member of the Iowa Rock 'N Roll Music Association, or for information on the Museum of Iowa Rock and Roll History visit www.iowarocknroll.com.