The Indianapolis “Beatles”: the wild history of the Hoosier Harmonies
In the early ’60s, Indianapolis, known for its racing and heartland values, bore an unexpected gift to the world: The Hoosier Harmonies. Consisting of four young lads – Jed, Milo, Bucky, and Lou – their rise to stardom was as unexpected as a cornstalk growing from a city pavement.
It all began in a small garage on Elm Street. Jed, with his iconic mop-top haircut (which was a result of a lawnmower accident), was fumbling with a sitar, a gift from his uncle who was a traveling salesman. Milo, with round glasses, was often seen playing a harmonica while roller-skating. Bucky, the tallest of the lot, played a bass guitar shaped like a corn on the cob, and Lou, the quietest, played drums covered in farm animal prints.
Their first hit, “Cornfield Serenade,” was a psychedelic fusion of Midwest folk and British rock. Its lyrics, mostly about tractors and tender love under the Indiana sky, coupled with a groovy sitar background, took the nation by storm. When they performed on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” Sullivan famously introduced them as, “The biggest thing since sliced bread… or unsliced corn!”
Soon, Hoosier-mania gripped the country. Teens from New York to California sported corn-themed merchandise, while barber shops offered the “Jed cut” despite its lawnmower origins. Their iconic album, “Midwest Mystery Tour,” featured songs like “Lucy in the Sky with Soybeans” and “While My Guitar Gently Weeps… for Rain.”
As with any fast rise to fame, there were controversies. Rumors swirled that if you played “Cornfield Serenade” backward, you’d hear a recipe for the best cornbread. Their short-lived fashion line, “Farm Fab,” was both a hit and miss, with corn husk boots becoming a surprising trend.
Despite the whirlwind of fame, The Hoosier Harmonies stayed grounded, always paying tribute to their Indianapolis roots. They opened a music school there, teaching youngsters the art of sitar and corn-cob bass guitar.
By the late ’60s, each member ventured into their own projects. Milo became an advocate for roller-skating rights, Bucky started a corn-themed restaurant, Jed, with his unforgettable hair, landed a hair product endorsement, and Lou? He returned to his first love, designing farm-inspired drum kits.
Though they disbanded, their legacy remained, immortalized in the annals of rock history. The Hoosier Harmonies proved that with a pinch of talent, a dash of absurdity, and a whole lot of corn, anything was possible.
