Members of the Cover Band “River” at the Cliffs of Mankato, Minnesota, Circa 1979. From Left to Right: Paul Gjenvick, Duane Shelton, Gerry Smith, and Rick Croce. GGA Image ID # 21a6f6dc07
“River” was billed as a Cover Band that made the stage come alive, bringing performances with unlimited energy. River has the devotion, enthusiasm, and love for its music to make it a formidable rock band on the Mankato music scene today. The current members of River include Rick Croce on drums, Paul Gjenvick on rhythm and lead guitar, keyboards, and vocals, Duane Shelton on lead and rhythm guitar and lead vocals, and Gerry Smith on bass guitar.
The Cover Band River Gets Ready Back Stage. Left to Right: Rick Croce, Duane Shelton, Gerry Smith, and Paul Gjenvick. GGA Image ID # 21a7a8c6e0
River in Concert 1980 shows (Foreground to Background): Paul Gjenvick, Gerry Smith, and Duane Shelton. GGA Image ID # 21a82b7e61
The adrenaline kicks in for the first song in a concert at Mankato State University. All of River’s members were students at MSU. I don’t even remember the first song, but if I were to guess, it would be something like “Hot Blooded” by Foreigner or “More Than A Feeling” by Boston.
Paul Stops to Pose for a Centerfold During a Concert at Mankato State in 1980. GGA Image ID # 21a861a89d
I don’t recall who took this photograph, but it turned out to be the band’s defining photo. Every time we played around town, I would wear this exact costume. I got the idea from a cover band I saw several years prior called the “Home Brew,” which played at the Ruby Restaurant in Keystone, South Dakota, mixed with the lead guitarist from the Gene Cotton band. That really captures the late 1970s look.
Some years later, in my past life, some art designers at the company I worked for used this photo and made it into a poster-size image. I thought I would never live that down, as it was on display for almost a month. They even captioned it, “Do you think I’m ready for a centerfold?”
A Few of the Surviving Photographs of “River”
Paul and Kay Having Some Fun at a Concert in 1980. GGA Image ID # 21a8643d86
Paul and Kay Relax During a Break from a Concert ca 1980. GGA Image ID # 21a88f886a
Back at Our Humble Studio After a Concert. Back Row: Duane Shelton and Gerry Smith. Front Row: Rick Croce and Paul Gjenvick. GGA Image ID # 21a89caa2c