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Jerry Yester
Jerry Yester
Jerry Yester
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Jerome Alan Yester (born January 9, 1943[1][2]) is an American former folk rock musician, record producer, and arranger. Yester has been a member of several bands including The New Christy Minstrels, Modern Folk Quartet, The Association, Rosebud and The Lovin' Spoonful.[2][3][4]

Yester started his career in 1960 performing with his brother Jim. He later joined The New Christy Minstrels and later Modern Folk Quartet, replacing member Stan White. Yester would later form Rosebud in the 1970s and tour with The Association in the 1980s.

Yester would play piano on the Lovin Spoonfuls debut single Do You Believe in Magic, he later became the Lovin' Spoonful's guitarist after Zal Yanovsky left the band in 1967,[5] and recorded the album Everything Playing with the band that same year. The Spoonful broke up in 1969, Yester went on to be active in the music industry working on other projects during the time the band was split up. In 1991 he reunited with Joe Butler and Steve Boone to tour again as the Lovin Spoonful, playing guitar, keyboards and singing. Yester toured with the band until 2017.

Yester also has produced and arranged albums by many musicians and released two solo albums, Just Like the Big Time Only Smaller in 1990 and Pass Your Light around in 2017, as well as the album Farewell Aldebaran in 1969, where he collaborated with his wife Judy Henske.[6]

Biography

[edit]
Yester in 1967

Yester was born in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, and grew up in Burbank, California. He formed a duo with brother Jim Yester, the Yester Brothers, and started playing folk clubs in Los Angeles in 1960. When Jim enlisted in the army, Jerry joined the New Christy Minstrels, and then, in 1963, the Modern Folk Quartet.[7] The MFQ released two albums in the next two years, and Yester also branched out into other recordings, playing piano on the Lovin' Spoonful's "Do You Believe in Magic" in 1965.[8]

The MFQ split up in 1966, and Yester began work as a solo artist and as a producer, with his wife Judy Henske, whom Yester married in 1963,[9] his brother Jim's band the Association,[7] the Turtles, and Tim Buckley, for whom he produced Goodbye and Hello and Happy Sad.[1] The following year he joined the Lovin' Spoonful, replacing Zal Yanovsky, whom he also later worked with as producer.[7] In 1969, Henske, Yester and Yanovsky put together the cult album Farewell Aldebaran,[7] on which Yester played nearly a dozen different instruments. The following year Yester and Henske formed a new band, Rosebud, but the band dissolved in 1971; the couple then divorced.[7]

Yester continued to work as a producer and/or arranger on albums by the Turtles, Pat Boone, Aztec Two Step, and Tom Waits,[7] and in the 1970s, also performed with the Association and the re-formed Modern Folk Quartet.[7] In the mid-1980s, he moved to Hawaii[3] and formed a dance band called Rainbow Connection with his brother Jim, and Rainbow Rastasan (Rainbow Page). In 1988, the MFQ began periodic touring of Japan, and have since recorded seven CDs for Japanese labels, including one (Wolfgang) using the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

In 1990 Yester released a solo album, Just Like Big Time Only Smaller.

In 1991, both Yester brothers joined a re-formed Lovin' Spoonful with Butler and Boone.[10] Yester would sing some of the band's songs and play keyboards and guitar. Yester subsequently resided in the area of Harrison, Arkansas, where he produced and arranged in his own studio, Willow Sound. At Willow Studios Yester would produce the album Stick and Stones May Break My Bones but Names will Never Hurt Me by the No-Neck Blues Band at the studio in 2001.[11]

On October 6, 2017, one day before Yester was arrested, he released a solo album titled Pass Your Light Around.[12]

[edit]

The Oklahoma attorney general's office began investigating Yester in 2017.[13] On October 7, 2017, Yester was arrested for 30 counts of possession of child pornography in Arkansas and was released on a $35,000 bond.[14][15] As a result of his arrest, he was dismissed from The Lovin' Spoonful, the band canceled several tour dates, until they found a replacement.[16] In a statement Steve Boone and Joe Butler said they were shocked.[17] The band eventually replaced Yester with keyboardist Murray Weinstock and resumed touring.[18][19][20] Yester pleaded guilty to eight counts of distributing, possessing or viewing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child on October 9, 2018.[21][22]

In July 2019, Yester was sentenced to two years in prison after his conviction for child pornography possession, and he was required to register as a sex offender.[23]

References

[edit]
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Jerry Yester

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Jerome Alan Yester (born January 9, 1943) is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and arranger associated with the and pop scenes of the and . He began his career as a member of the , a vocal group that blended folk traditions with close-harmony arrangements, releasing albums on Records from 1963 to 1966. Yester later joined in 1967 following the departure of guitarist , contributing keyboards, vocals, and songwriting to albums such as and participating in live performances that sustained the band's touring presence into the . Yester's production and arranging credits include work with artists like and , as well as co-founding the experimental rock band Rosebud with his then-wife, folk singer , yielding the 1971 album Fill the Morning with Blood Around. His compositional style often incorporated psychedelic and country-rock elements, reflecting collaborations across genres. In 2017, Yester was arrested on federal charges related to child pornography, pleading guilty in 2018 to possession and receipt of material, for which he received a sentence of five years' probation and lifetime supervised release. This legal matter marked a significant controversy in his later career, following decades of musical activity.

Early Life

Childhood and Musical Influences

Jerome Alan Yester was born on January 9, 1943, in . His family relocated to , when he was six months old, where he spent his formative years in a mid-20th-century Southern household adapting to West Coast life. Yester grew up in a musical family environment, with his older brother Jim, born in 1939, playing piano during their youth. At age 15, around 1958, Yester began learning guitar and joined a local band, performing at junior high school dances and women's clubs, which provided his initial hands-on exposure to live music and stage performance. By age 17, following his high school graduation in 1960, Yester collaborated with his brother on renditions of folk songs by , reflecting an emerging affinity for folk traditions amid the burgeoning music scene. This period of self-directed musical experimentation and familial encouragement, facilitated by the family's early move to the area, laid the groundwork for his subsequent immersion in West Coast folk circuits.

Musical Career

Folk Quartet and Early Groups

Jerry Yester began his involvement in organized folk ensembles in 1961 as part of the Inn Group, a vocal trio with John Forsha and Karol Dugan, which was incorporated into the newly formed New Christy Minstrels by founder Randy Sparks. The New Christy Minstrels emphasized commercial folk music with large-group harmonies and upbeat arrangements, releasing their debut album Presenting the New Christy Minstrels in 1962, which won a Grammy Award for Best Folk Recording. Yester contributed vocals to the group's polished, ensemble-driven sound during this period, performing on early recordings and tours that popularized folk revival hits like "Green, Green." In 1963, following his departure from the New Christy Minstrels, Yester joined the Modern Folk Quartet (MFQ), replacing original member Stan White amid the group's rising profile in Los Angeles folk clubs such as the Troubadour. Comprising Yester alongside Chip Douglas, Cyrus Faryar, and Henry Diltz, the MFQ focused on intricate four-part vocal harmonies over acoustic instrumentation, blending traditional folk with subtle jazz elements. Their debut album, The Modern Folk Quartet, released that year on Warner Bros. Records and produced by Jim Dickson, showcased these strengths on tracks emphasizing close-knit arrangements and original material. A follow-up, Changes, appeared in 1964, further highlighting the quartet's harmonic precision amid the folk revival's commercial peak. As the music scene evolved post-Beatles, the MFQ experimented with electric instrumentation and folk-rock leanings, reflecting broader shifts from pure acoustic folk toward amplified ensembles, though the group disbanded by mid-decade without achieving major commercial breakthrough. Yester's experience in these early harmony-focused outfits honed his skills in vocal blending and arrangement, setting the stage for subsequent ventures in more diverse genres.

Involvement with Major Bands

Jerry Yester contributed piano to The Lovin' Spoonful's debut single "Do You Believe in Magic," recorded in 1965, prior to his formal association with the band. In May 1967, following Zal Yanovsky's dismissal amid drug-related legal issues and artistic disputes, Yester joined as guitarist and vocalist, participating in the recording of the album Everything Playing, released that November. His tenure helped stabilize the group during a transitional period, with contributions to tracks like the single "Six O'Clock," though the band's cohesion eroded after John Sebastian's departure in 1968, leading to its effective dissolution. Yester's involvement with The Association centered on production and arranging rather than full membership, building on his brother Jim Yester's role as a core vocalist on hits such as "Cherish" (1966) and "Windy" (1967). He produced their 1968 album , enhancing the group's signature elements through intricate vocal harmonies and orchestral arrangements that complemented their style. This work supported the band's commercial peak, though internal dynamics, including lineup changes, limited his direct performing credits on earlier singles. No major conflicts tied specifically to Yester's input are documented, but his arranging expertise aided the lush sound defining tracks like "" from the prior year's .

Production and Arranging Contributions

Yester produced Tim Buckley's Goodbye and Hello in 1967, incorporating orchestral elements that amplified Buckley's fusion of folk, jazz, and emerging psychedelic influences through layered instrumentation and vocal harmonies. This work marked a shift from Buckley's debut toward more experimental arrangements, with Yester overseeing sessions that featured brass and strings to underscore thematic contrasts in tracks like "No Man Can Find a Place Among the Stars." He repeated the role for Buckley's Happy Sad in 1969, paring down to and minimal percussion for a folk sound, as heard in songs such as "Buzzin' Fly," which peaked at number 25 on informal charts of the era's underground releases. In 1969, Yester produced for , guiding the album's direction with intricate production techniques that blended pop hooks and studio effects, evident in tracks like "You Don't Have to Walk in the Rain," which utilized backward tapes and layered vocals for textural depth. His arrangements emphasized harmonic complexity, contributing to the album's commercial peak at number 10 on the Billboard 200. Yester handled production and string arrangements for ' debut Closing Time in 1973, adding cello and violin quartets to enhance the album's jazz-folk intimacy, particularly on the title track and "," where orchestral swells supported Waits' piano ballads. He extended arranging duties to Waits' Small Change (1976), integrating horns and strings for nocturnal atmospheres in cuts like "," and Heartattack and Vine (1980), where blues-inflected orchestrations bolstered rawer ensemble tracks. These contributions bridged folk-rock roots with urban jazz realism, influencing Waits' early output through verifiable discographic enhancements in genre-blending production. Additional production credits include Pat Boone's The Drugstore's Rockin' (1977 original sessions, compiled 2010), where Yester adapted Boone's style toward revival with tight rhythmic arrangements. He also oversaw reissues and singles collections for and , preserving folk-rock artifacts via archival mastering.

Key Collaborations and Projects

Yester and vocalist , his creative partner during this period, released the collaborative album Farewell Aldebaran in 1969 on Frank Zappa's label, employing unconventional instrumentation including , , and the Chamberlain keyboard to create a sound. The duo co-wrote several tracks, with Henske handling lead vocals and Yester contributing arrangements and multi-instrumental performances. Building on this partnership, Yester and Henske formed the short-lived band Rosebud, which issued its sole self-titled album in 1971 on Straight/Reprise Records (catalog RS 6426). The record fused , , and country-soul influences across ten tracks, six of which were original compositions credited jointly to Yester and Henske, including "Western " and "." Supporting musicians included keyboardist and drummer , with Yester overseeing production and playing guitar, keyboards, and bass. Rosebud's album garnered retrospective praise as a in rock circles for its eclectic arrangements and Henske's powerful vocals but saw no significant performance or mainstream sales upon release, reflecting the niche appeal of its experimental style amid shifting music trends. An expanded reissue in 2017 added ten bonus tracks, underscoring enduring interest among archival listeners.

Personal Life

Relationships and Family

Yester married folk singer in 1963. The couple resided together in Laurel Canyon following the birth of their daughter, Kate Yester (later known professionally as Kate DeLaPointe). Yester and Henske divorced around 1972. No additional marriages or children for Yester are documented through the 1980s.

Later Activities

In the 1980s, Yester toured with , contributing to their live performances during a period of lineup changes and revival efforts. He also handled orchestral arrangements and conduction for specific tracks on ' album , released in September 1980, including "Ruby's Arms" and "Saving All My Love for You." Yester released his debut solo album, Just Like the Big Time Only Smaller, in , featuring original material and reflecting a shift toward independent, lower-profile recording endeavors amid evolving industry conditions. His output remained sporadic thereafter, with occasional uncredited session work and arrangements documented in discographies, but no major productions or band affiliations dominated the or early 2000s. Yester maintained involvement in live music into the 2010s, performing as part of The Lovin' Spoonful's ongoing touring configuration alongside drummer Joe Butler and bassist Steve Boone. On August 11, 2016, he joined his former collaborator Judy Henske for a performance and discussion at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, marking the reissue of their 1969 collaborative album Farewell Aldebaran by Omnivore Recordings.

Arrest and Charges

On October 5, 2017, Jerry Yester was arrested in , by the Arkansas Attorney General's Cyber Crimes Unit following an investigation into distribution of material. Yester faced 30 counts of distributing, possessing, or viewing material depicting sexually explicit conduct involving minors under 18 years old, with charges based on recovered from devices seized during the operation. The case originated from state cybercrime efforts targeting peer-to-peer networks used for sharing such content, where investigators identified Yester's IP address linked to uploads and downloads of prohibited files. In the immediate aftermath, The Lovin' Spoonful removed Yester from the band, and scheduled performances were canceled, including a November 17, 2017, concert at Oklahoma City's Tower Theatre.

Trial, Plea, and Sentencing

Yester initially entered a not guilty on January 8, 2018, to the original 30 counts of possessing , a Class C felony under law. On October 9, 2018, he changed his to guilty as part of a deal reducing the charges to eight counts of distributing, possessing, or viewing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child. The agreement avoided , consistent with practices in such cases where prosecutors often secure convictions by narrowing charges to encourage admissions, reflecting high resolution rates via pleas rather than full . In July 2019, Boone County sentenced Yester to two years in prison on the eight counts, along with a requirement to register as a . No public records indicate appeals or violations of supervised release conditions post-sentencing.

Professional Repercussions

Following the October 2017 charges, terminated Yester's membership in the band, with drummer and bassist deciding he could no longer participate in reunion performances or activities. This decision, confirmed by band publicist Mark Logsdon, stemmed directly from the allegations and preceded Yester's October 9, 2018, no-contest plea to one count of distribution of . The removal prompted immediate cancellations of scheduled shows, including the band's November 17, 2017, concert at Oklahoma City's Tower Theatre, as promoters cited the scandal's impact on viability. Yester's July 16, 2019, sentencing to two years in prison, followed by five years of probation, further entrenched his exclusion, with no documented return to live performances, productions, or industry collaborations thereafter. Industry patterns post-conviction reflect broader rejection of artists linked to such offenses, evidenced by Yester's absence from credits, tours, or public musical endeavors since release, contrasting with his prior arranging and production roles. No verified attempts by Yester to rehabilitate his professional standing through statements or projects have surfaced, aligning with systemic aversion to risks in .

References

  1. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jerry-yester-mn0000847890
  2. https://www.discogs.com/artist/303658-Jerry-Yester
  3. https://omnivorerecordings.com/jerry-yester/
  4. https://ww3.sunnyday.jp/spoonful/jerry.html
  5. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0947743/bio/
  6. https://www.fox6now.com/news/former-lovin-spoonful-band-member-pleads-guilty-to-child-porn-charges
  7. https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/lovin-apos-spoonful-apos-jerry-151932559.html
  8. https://www.bhamwiki.com/w/Jerry_Yester
  9. http://timbuckley.net/interviews/yester-room_109-1.shtml
  10. http://www.richieunterberger.com/modernfolk1.html
  11. https://www.jango.com/music/The%2BNew%2BChristy%2BMinstrels/_full_bio
  12. http://www.musicamnezia.com/1960-new-christy-minstrels/
  13. https://www.discogs.com/artist/490564-The-Modern-Folk-Quartet
  14. https://music.apple.com/us/artist/jerry-yester/2415469
  15. https://www.mixonline.com/recording/classic-tracks/classic-tracks-lovin-spoonfuls-do-you-believe-magic-366002
  16. https://pleasekillme.com/lovin-spoonful-steve-boone-interview/
  17. https://sandiegotroubadour.com/summer-in-the-city-looking-back-on-the-lovin-spoonful/
  18. https://vinyldialogues.com/VinylDialoguesBlog/and-then-along-comes-the-association-again-to-transport-us-back-to-our-youth/
  19. https://www.popcultureclassics.com/jim_yester.html
  20. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jerry-yester-mn0000847890#credits
  21. https://theartsdesk.com/new-music/reissue-cds-weekly-judy-henske-jerry-yester
  22. https://www.discogs.com/release/4333245-Rosebud-Rosebud
  23. https://omnivorerecordings.com/shop/rosebud/
  24. http://www.rebeatmag.com/rosebud-judy-henske-jerry-yester/
  25. https://chasblaum.net/2023/03/29/judy-henske-jerry-yester-farewell-aldebaran/
  26. https://fromthevaults-boppinbob.blogspot.com/2023/12/judy-henske-born-20-december-1936.html
  27. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/04/arts/music/judy-henske-dead.html
  28. https://www.goldminemag.com/articles/henske-yester-revisit-aldebaran/
  29. https://sandiegotroubadour.com/judy-henske-a-remembrance/
  30. https://musicbrainz.org/artist/e4c5ddc6-3acb-4a8b-b3d1-1b865afd2f92
  31. https://www.discogs.com/release/859570-Tom-Waits-Heartattack-And-Vine
  32. https://grammymuseum.org/event/an-evening-with-judy-henske-jerry-yester-celebrating-farewell-aldebaran/
  33. https://www.ktlo.com/2017/10/11/harrison-man-arrested-for-child-porn-member-of-lovin-spoonful-band/
  34. https://consequence.net/2017/10/jerry-yester-do-you-believe-in-magic-musician-arrested-on-30-counts-of-child-pornography/
  35. https://news.pollstar.com/2017/10/11/lovin-spoonful-member-arrested-on-child-porn-charges/
  36. https://www.oklahoman.com/story/entertainment/columns/brandy-mcdonnell/2017/10/11/oklahoma-spoonful-concert-canceled-after-member-jerry-yester-arrested-child-pornography-charges/60569431007/
  37. https://okcfox.com/news/local/tower-theatre-cancels-lovin-spoonful-concert-after-child-porn-allegations-against-member
  38. https://www.wral.com/story/former-lovin-spoonful-member-pleads-not-guilty-to-child-porn-charges/17242479/
  39. https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/outreach/back-to-school/former-lovin-spoonful-sentenced-for-child-porn-charges/527-092dc9ba-b5ec-4b73-9609-93035049a836
  40. https://ultimateclassicrock.com/jerry-yester-child-pornography/
  41. https://www.imdb.com/news/ni61606540/
  42. https://fox59.com/news/former-lovin-spoonful-band-member-pleads-guilty-to-child-porn-charges/
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