Illini 411: Whatever happened to the local band One Eyed Jacks?

Question courtesy of Paul Fardy, MS ’64 AHS, PHD ’67 AHS

Question courtesy of Paul Fardy, MS ’64 AHS, PHD ’67 AHS

By Ryan A. Ross

A: Founded at the U. of I. in 1966 as a Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity band, the “Jacks” quickly became one of the Midwest’s most popular live acts, opening for iconic bands such as The Doors and Jefferson Airplane. However, they had trouble translating their live success into a hit record. Blaming the problem on frontman Budd Carr’s singing, the Jacks replaced him with future REO Speedwagon singer, Mike Murphy, in 1969. But the band never really broke through, and it disbanded in 1973. Carr would go on to a long career as a music supervisor in film and television, and a manager for acts such as Carole King and Kansas, while guitarist Tom Kelly would go on to write some of the biggest hits of the 1980s for other artists, including Madonna’s “Like a Virgin.”