DA YOOPERS

'Da Yoopers' are a travelling comedy show and musical group from Ishpeming, Michigan, United States. They are known primarily for their humorous songs and skits, most of which center around life in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.^[1][2]

Contents

History

Tourist Trap

Members

Current members and contributors

Past members and contributors

Discography

References

External links

History

Da Yoopers was founded in 1975 by drummer Jim DeCaire and guitarist Joe Potila, along with keyboardist Lynn Anderson and bass guitarist Jim Pennell. The band toured throughout Michigan's upper peninsula for several years, before recording their first album, ''Yoopanese'', in 1986 on their personal label, You Guys Records. A second album, ''Culture Shock'', was released a year later. This second album featured several comedy songs, including "Second Week of Deer Camp" and "Rusty Chevrolet" (the latter a re-write of Jingle Bells), both of which became local hits. In addition, "Second Week of Deer Camp" would later be used on several Dr. Demento shows. This album also featured dialogue between songs, a feature later duplicated both in concert and on subsequent albums.
By the release of ''Camp Fever'', the band's third album, Pennell was replaced with "Doc" Bradbury; in addition, Lynn married Jerry Coffey, who assumed a role as percussionist and vocalist. Additional members came and went on other albums, many of them local musicians who only appeared on one album. ''Yoop It Up'' was released in 1989, followed by ''Yoopy Do Wah'' in 1991, the latter being the band's first release on compact disc. Also that year, a compilation titled ''For Diehards Only'' was released, featuring a selection of songs from the group's first four albums.
After the 1993 release of ''One Can Short of a Six-Pack'', both Joe Potila and "Doc" Bradbury departed the group. Potila was replaced with guitarist Jim Bellmore, who made his first appearance on the 1995 album ''We're Still Rockin’''. Dan Collins, who had previously appeared on two other albums as a vocalist, also signed on as rhythm guitarist, and Reggie Lusardi assumed the role of bass guitarist. Two albums were released in 2000: ''Jackpine Savage'' and ''Naked Elves in Cowboy Boots'', the latter an album of Christmas music. 2004 saw the release of ''Songs for Fart Lovers'' and ''Diehards II'' (a second compilation composed of songs from the first four albums), with the two-disc ''21st Century Yoopers in Space'' following in 2006.
Various other members have also been added to the group's lineup, including several stage actors who act out the band's songs and skits in concerts.

Tourist Trap

Da Yoopers also own and operate a gift shop near Ishpeming called "Da Yoopers Tourist Trap". This gift shop features various Upper Peninsula-themed merchandise.

Members

The band has seen many changes in membership over time. Many albums feature local musicians who only appear for one or two albums.

Current members and contributors

★ 'Glenn Adams' - vocals, sketch comedy, narrator (''studio only'')

★ 'Jim "Schween" Bellmore' - guitars, bass guitar, keyboards, fiddle, flute, mandolin, dobro, harmonica, banjo, vocals, sketch comedy (1995-present)

★ 'Richard "Dick-E-Bird"/"Danglin' Dick"/"Dickling" Bunce' - bass guitar, sketch comedy (1994-present)

★ 'Lynn Coffey' - keyboards, synthesizers, flute, saxophone, percussion, vocals, sketch comedy (''known as Lynn Anderson until 1988'') (1975-present)

★ 'Jesse DeCaire' - bass guitar, drums, electric guitar, vocals, sketch comedy (1989, 1995-present) (''studio only'')

★ 'Jim "Hoolie" DeCaire' - drums, percussion, whistle, vocals, sketch comedy (1975-present)

★ 'Barbara Johnson' - vocals (''studio only'')

★ 'Sandy "The Toivola Twister" Kemppa' - vocals (1987, 2006-present) (''studio only'')

★ 'Kim Lenten' - accordion, vocals (2004-present) (''studio only'')

★ 'Reggie Lusardi' - bass guitar, vocals, sketch comedy

★ 'Robert "Dill" Nebel' - sketch comedy

★ 'Bobby "Sy" Symons' - drums

Past members and contributors

★ 'Terry Austin' - background vocals (''One Can Short of a Six-Pack'')

★ 'Dave "Doc" Bradbury' - bass guitar, vocals (1988-1994)

★ 'Jerry "Cuppa" Coffey' - congas, percussion, vocals, sketch comedy (1988-2000s)

★ '"Cowboy" Dan Collins' - rhythm guitar, vocals, sketch comedy (1987, 1994-2000s)

★ 'Joe DeLongchamp' - vocals, sketch comedy (''Camp Fever'', ''Yoop It Up'')

★ 'Molly Frounfelter' - background vocals (''Yoop It Up'')

★ 'Roger Herman' - vocals

★ 'Bertha Hintsala' - vocals

★ 'Elaine Hintsala' - vocals

★ 'Terry Holmgren' - banjo (''Culture Shock'')

★ 'Jeff Jennings' - vocals

★ 'Chris Kukla' - sketch comedy

★ 'Jerry "Mungo" LaJoie' - vocals, sketch comedy

★ 'Pete "Casanova" LaLonde' - sketch comedy

★ '"Billy Bob" Lansgon' - sketch comedy

★ 'John Mykkanen' - vocals

★ 'Pierre Ogea' - vocals (''Culture Shock'')

★ 'Jim Pennell' - bass guitar, vocals (1975?-1987)

★ '"Dancin'" Dave Poirier' - sound technician, video technician, sketch comedy

★ 'Joe Potila' - guitars, vocals (1975-1994)

★ 'Mike "Mikku" Powers' - sketch comedy

★ 'Bruno Sarvello' - garbage can bass, vocals, sketch comedy (''Culture Shock'', ''Camp Fever'')

★ 'Briana Ulrickson' - background vocals (''Yoop It Up'')

★ 'John von Behrens' - spoons (''Camp Fever'')

Discography

References

1. allmusic ((( Da Yoopers > Biography )))
2. Da Yoopers Deconstructed

External links

★ Da Yoopers' Official Website