DeMers Jerry

American musician best known as the bass guitarist in The Velaires, a rock and roll band from Sioux City, Iowa. The group began as The Screamers in 1958. They soon after changed their name to The Flairs (not to be confused with the doo-wop group The Flairs based in Los Angeles). However, after playing in the legendary Val Air Ballroom in Des Moines, and with numerous groups on the scene with that same name, they became The Velaires. The band consisted of Daniel Matousek on rhythm guitar, Bob Dawdy on lead guitar, Jerry DeMers on bass and Don Bourret on drums. The fifth Velaire was their full-time manager and booking agent, Dans older brother, Richard "Dick" LaMiere Matousek. In 1961, as The Flairs, they released their cover of Chuck Berrys classic, "Roll Over Beethoven" on Palm Records. Later in 1961, as The Velaires, they signed with Jamie Records and again released "Roll Over Beethoven". The record leapt onto the Billboard charts rising to No. 51 nationally and reaching No. 1 in Los Angeles. The original members would stay together until 1963 when Dan Matousek would reform the group and continue on until 1970 under the name of Danny and The Velaires. The Velaires were inducted in two state rock and roll halls of fame: Iowa Rock n Roll Music Associations Hall of Fame (1997) and South Dakota Rock and Roll Music Associations Hall of Fame (2013). Link to Wikipedia biography Read less