STYX Pre-1972: The Trade Winds / TW4 Quiz

Answer: Another group called the Trade Winds turned out a national hit

The group did not sign its first record deal until 1972, and they had four members well before the name change. Another group of the same name had a hit called "New York's A Lonely Town". TW4 reportedly continued to use the Trade Winds moniker on occassion even after the name change.

Answer: There Were Four

Many assume TW4 to be a shortening of the Trade Winds name with the 4 signifying the number of group members. While the 4 did signify four members, the name of the group was actually There Were Four or TW4 for short.

Answer: Yes, he existed. His name was Tom Nardini

I do not know why he left the group, but he was apparently a member at least as early as 1962 and was still around into the late '60s. If anyone knows more, I will be happy to post it! (Steve Nardi was my Seventh Grade Science teacher. Nardini reminded me of his name, so I threw it in!)

Answer: At the college they were enrolled in

According to an internet article by Chuck Miller: "...the Panozzos and DeYoung enrolled in Chicago Teachers' College, a division of Chicago State University. Still keeping their musical dreams alive, TW4 sang and performed in the college cafeteria, where their college brethren cheered their every performance. Another student, John Curulewski, played an acoustic guitar in the cafeteria one day, and Dennis DeYoung invited him to join TW4."

To view this AMAZING article in its entirety visit: http://www.racerrecords.com/Styx/goldmine.html

Answer: True

JY reluctantly joined in 1970 because his band had broken up. Many reports say Young was doubtful that his Hendrix-influenced style could gel with the Beattles-influenced Trade Winds/TW4 sound. But what a sound it created, especially when Shaw added his style to Styx in 1975 which was even more seemingly incompatible with Young's.

Answer: Torch, Kelp, Styx

Styx was chosen because it was the only name no one hated and mystical names were very marketable at the time. (I have NO CLUE how Kelp made the final three!)

Answer: 1960

The Trade Winds started when DeYoung asked to join the Panozzos, thus ousting the accordian player they practiced with before that day.

Answer: The South Side

Although not limited to this area, most of their work came on the South Side.

Answer: True

They were doing concerts for promoter Dex Card and continually drew larger crowds.

Answer: True

Wooden Nickel was a subsidiary of RCA and, as such, promised TW4 great distribution. Wooden Nickel, however, did little to promote them until after they had made it big on the A&M label and had national name recognition. RCA has actually distibuted more of the original four Styx albums since they left the label than they did when they had them under contract.