The Escorts / The Do's & The Don'ts

One of The First Rock N Roll Bands In Iowa

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The Escorts from 1962 to 1966; name changed to The Do's & Don'ts in 1966

The Escorts / The Do's & The Don'ts were inducted into the Iowa Rock N Roll Music Association's Hall of Fame in 1997. When the original group, which included Dick & Zelda Sherman (bass guitar and keyboard respectively), Roger Booth (drums and lead vocals), and Dick Burns (lead guitar), started in 1959 nobody knew that they would make Iowa rock music history.

Iowa Music History

They were one of the first professional bands in Iowa to play Rock N Roll music. They were also the first one in the state to feature a female keyboard player in what was mostly an all-male music business. Zelda joined in 1962.

Washington, Iowa

The Escorts'  first official date was playing in the store window for the grand opening of the Montgomery Wards' store in Washington, Iowa. They didn't stay long in the Wards' window, as The Escorts quickly became Eastern Iowa's #1 touring and recording rock music attraction.

60's Rock Hit Recording

In 1966 they were signed to New York's Red Bird Records recording label and quickly came out with I Wonder If She Loves Me, written by Roger Booth. (Listen to I Wonder If She Loves Me).

It was listed as a spotlight single in the July 2, 1966, issue of Billboard Magazine. Record World Magazine listed it among singles coming up, reaching #35 in the August 20 & 27 issues. KIOA Des Moines listed it at #14 on July 4, 1966; WAKX Duluth listed it at #6 on August 5, 1966; and WEBC Duluth listed it at #5 on August 6, 1966. See it listed at #9 on The Northland's Original and Only Fabulous Forty Survey from WEBC - Duluth. It was with the release of this record that The Escorts changed their name to The Do's & The Don'ts  at the urging of the record label. They currently use both names, The Escorts / The Do's & The Don'ts.

The Escorts started in 1959, Zelda joined in 1962.

Iowa Rock Music Awards

For ten years straight they won an award from the National Ballroom Operators Association for having a band of neat appearance, providing a wholesome form of entertainment and top quality of danceable music. In 1965 and 1966 they won awards for being Iowa's Best Dressed Band. They appeared with such groups as Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs, The Four Seasons, Tommy James & The Shondells, The Everly Brothers, Dickey Lee, and Gary Lewis & The Playboys.

Original Rock N Roll Records

In all, The Escorts / The Do's & The Don'ts  released twelve records during their career, the most by any Iowa rock and roll band during the 50's, 60's, and 70's. These original recordings are now available on CD or MP3 download. Place your order now for the The Escorts/Do's & Don'ts Hall of Fame CD

Iowa Rock Band

The Escorts / The Do's & Don'ts
Pictured above:
Dick Sherman, Bass Guitar
Zelda Sherman, Electric Piano/Organ/Keyboard
Frank Glaser, Electric Guitar
Walt Dean, Sax
Pictured at left:
Rick Sherman, Drums

Note: Dick Burns, the original lead guitar player, passed away in 1984. Larry Smith, who played trumpet and keyboard with the band for many years, passed away in 2001.

Recent Festival and Concert Performances

• Kalona Days, 130th Anniversary, Kalona, Iowa
• Wheatland Sesquicentennial Celebration, Wheatland, Iowa
• Friday'loo, Lincoln Park, Waterloo, Iowa
• Vining Quasquicentennial Celebration, Vining, Iowa
• Opened for The Turtles, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• Livermore Daze Quasquicentennial festival, Livermore, Iowa
• Hog Wild Days, Hiawatha, Iowa
• New Year's Eve Extravaganza 2004, Zazza's Clarion Hotel, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• Lincoln Highways Days, Clarence, Iowa
• Old Settler's Days, Salem, Iowa
• Sauerkraut Days, Blairstown, Iowa
• Festival of Trails Celebration, La Porte City, Iowa
• St. Jude's Sweet Corn Festival, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• St. Joe's Fun Days, Marion, Iowa
• Summer Dance Party, Electric Park Ballroom, Waterloo, Iowa
  (helped raise $5000 for the Iowa Rock N Roll Music Association)
• 1997 Iowa Rock N Roll Music Association's Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony,
  The Roof Garden, Arnolds Park, Iowa

(Source: Iowa Rock N Roll Music Association's Hall of Fame 1997 Yearbook) An earlier version of this article was first published on the Internet in 1996 under a different domain name and server. Previous locations of this site include www.channel21.com/music/escorts and showcase.netins.net/web/dosdonts.

For information on how to nominate a band, person, or entity into the Iowa Rock N Roll Music Association's Hall of Fame, or how to become a member of the Iowa Rock N Roll Music Association, or for information on the Museum of Iowa Rock and Roll History visit www.iowarocknroll.com.