Amish

Amish was a Canadian hard-rock/psych band that made a 1972 self-titled album on Sussex Records. Bassist Mike Gingrich resurfaced later in the decade with symphonic-rockers Nightwinds.

Members: Ron Baumtrog (keyboards), Doug Stagg (vocals), Mike Gingrich (bass), Jack Byrne (guitar)

Background

Amish formed in 1970 in Galt, Ontario, when organist Ron Baumtrog and bassist Mike Gingrich teamed with singer Doug Stagg, drummer Jack Byrne, and guitarist Richard “Rich” Botts.

Baumtrog and Gingrich came from nearby Preston, where they played R&B covers in F.J. and the Impressions, a horn-equipped group whose repertoire included Grant Smith and George Oliver. Baumtrog took classical piano lessons in his early teens, then bought a Hammond organ. Stagg and Byrne came from Galt, while Botts came from Michigan. 

The group took the name Amish from the religious community in the Galt area and built sets around material by McKenna Mendelson Mainline, the Modern Rock Quartet, The Doors, and the James Gang. Amish worked clubs and schools across the Galt–Preston area, then expanded to university pubs and summer beach venues across southern Ontario. They cut a demo with Dram Productions, presented by manager Bill Gefross to Sussex Records in Los Angeles.

In February 1972, Sussex booked Amish at GM Studios in Detroit with producers Mike Theodore and Dennis Coffey. Botts could not enter the United States because of his U.S. Army desertion status, so Detroit guitarist Joe Gutz joined the recording lineup. Amish cut nine songs in nineteen hours at GM. The nine-song master included eight originals plus Traffic cover “Dear Mr. Fantasy,” engineered by Milan Bogden.

Discography:

• Amish (1972)

Sources and notes

• Contemporary/near-primary material preserved by Outsider Rock — old Amish article based on contacts with Doug Stagg, Ron Baumtrog, and Mike Gingrich. This is the strongest source for the pre-Amish history: Preston roots, F.J. and the Impressions, Grant Smith and George Oliver covers, Hammond B-3, the original five-man lineup, early repertoire, Dram Productions, the demo tape, Sussex contact, Botts border problem, and Joe Gutz. Kevin Julie explains that he obtained the information through conversations and correspondence with Stagg, Baumtrog, and Gingrich. (Outsider Rock)
• The Preston Reporter, March 4, 1972 — “Amish Finish Their First Album; Hoping For A Release In April,” by Dave Coates. The period article places the sessions in the first week of February, gives the nineteen-hour recording time, identifies nine tracks, explains the Botts/Gutz substitution, and names the production personnel. The surviving clipping is reproduced at high resolution.
• Ron Baumtrog — current autobiographical page. Baumtrog states that he started with classical piano lessons in his early teens, bought a Hammond organ in the mid-1960s, and recalls Amish playing school dances, university pub dates, and summer beach venues in southern Ontario. (Ron Baumtrog)
• Museum of Canadian Music. Useful cross-check for the 1970 Galt formation, F.J. and the Impressions connection, lineup, early cover repertoire, Gefross/Sussex connection, GM Studios, and Gutz substitution. (Museum of Canadian Music)
• The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia. Independently repeats the Galt formation, Baumtrog/Gingrich precursor band, original lineup, Sussex arrangement, and Detroit recording circumstances. (The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia)