Micah

The progressive rock band, MICAH, was formed in Terre Haute, Indiana in the summer of 1971. The original band members were Gus HERNANDEZ (bass), Martin (Marty) HORNE (lead guitar), Gary Taylor OHLSON (keyboards, Hammond B3 organ, synthesizer), Robert (Bob) ROWE (lead vocalist) and George Robert WOLFF (drums, percussion). Robert (Bob) ROWE was the lead vocalist, although other band members did vocals on different songs. After organizing and performing as MICAH in Indiana, the band moved to upstate New York about four months later and performed throughout the mid-Hudson Valley and upstate New York. The band lived in Latham, New York. MICAH quickly attracted attention and a large fan base with their extraordinary keyboards and guitar-driven music and dynamic performances. MICAH's powerful and unique English-style hard rock/progressive rock sound and the musicians' talent were quickly recognized, and they were offered a recording contract with Sterling Award Records in New York City. MICAH recorded an original album, "I'm Only One Man", a music suite composed and written by Gary Taylor OHLSON and Martin HORNE. The album was produced by Sterling Award Records and Record Album Productions (RAP) in New York City in late 1971. Songs featured on the album included He's a Dreamer and I'm Only One Man, and have found their way on to YouTube and can be heard today. I'm Only One Man is considered to be a very rare and exceptional progressive hard rock album, and it is highly prized by collectors today. The suite contains: He's a Dreamer, Look Around You, So You Can See, I'm Only One Man, You Don't Really Care, Remembrance of Things Past, Finale. The album lists the following as the artists: Gus HERNANDEZ (Bass Guitar), Martin HORNE (Lead Guitarist), Gary OHLSON (Organ, Vocals), Bob ROWE (Lead Vocalist) and George WOLFF (Percussion, Vocals). The album, I'm Only One Man, is a true anomaly. The music on the first side of the album was recorded live in a quadraphonic studio in New York City in one day without any rehearsals and performed in its entirety without any breaks. What is heard on the album is the engineer's raw studio recording without any double tracks and no effects on the vocals. I'm Only One Man was a complete music suite. Recording and vocals work continued on the second day in the studio. The album did not contain a number of different songs; it consisted of one complete original musical suite which filled the entire first side of the album and continued on the second side. The album was issued as an unmastered work - pure, recorded-as-played music performed by the artists. Adding to its uniqueness, the I'm Only One Man album was only partially completed when it was pressed and released. The second side was not finished, and is only about 11 minutes long. The band members felt the album could have been better if they had had more time to track the music and use their own equipment - some of the musicians were using studio equipment rather than their own instruments. It is unclear how many I'm Only One Man albums were released - rumor has it that only about 1000-1200 copies were issued - and very few are now in existence. In addition to the I'm Only One Man album, there were at least two very rare promotion photographs of the MICAH band taken in Terre Haute Indiana, and a number of 45 RPM singles. It is unknown how many 45 RPMs containing I'm Only One Man (Side A) and So You Can See (Side B) were issued. The I'm Only One Man album is consistently listed on Reissue Wish Lists, and songs have recently reappeared and been played on music stations. The Micah line-up changed when Gus HERNANDEZ (bass) and Bob ROWE (lead vocals) left the band to pursue other interests. Tom GILLIS (bass) and David I FEDER (lead vocals) joined the band. MICAH continued to perform and produce original music until it disbanded in 1974, with members going on to pursue individual music projects.