Tree Cloud's Band Inducted Into Kansas Music Hall of Fame
Forrest R. "Tree" Cloud is the retired Chairman of the Board of IBT.In December, 1965, Forrest "Tree" Cloud joined a band called Eric and The Norsemen, playing bass guitar and helping out on backup vocals and harmonies.
He was joining a group with an established audience. During their heyday, few bands in Kansas worked the crowds as hard as Eric & The Norsemen. Led by Tree's friend and fraternity brother, Roger Johnson, they epitomized the garage bands of the era, covering the latest hits with a few original songs thrown into the mix. Entertaining at weekend dances and high school proms, they built a loyal following across the plains.
Their music was loud, fast and great for dancing. The Norsemen had fun on stage, and the audiences had fun with them. The band started running radio ads on KOMA in Oklahoma City whose signal covered a wide area. As the ads said: "Be there when their ship hits the sand." And, young people turned out in droves.
During the summers of 1966 and 1967, kids would drive for hours to hear the Norsemen play. It was a significant time in the lives of a lot of Midwestern kids, and Eric and the Norsemen were part of it.
Known as the "Wildest Show in the Midwest," Eric and the Norsemen played to large and enthusiastic crowds in a nine-state area. Although they were only together for less than four years, they have lived on in the memories of those who saw them. On March 18, 2006, they were inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame.
In connection with their induction, the band had their first public performance since August 1968. And, they rocked the joint entirely.
Join the people at IBT and Tree's many friends in congratulating his friends and their band for a well-deserved recognition.
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