A History of Rock and Roll on Long Island

The Serfs

A program from The New York Pavillion at The World's Fair dated September 15, 1965 shows a typical slate of acts. Among the groups is a significant band, The Lonely Surfers.

The Lonely Surfers were really an East Brentwood band called The Serfs. A promoter, not knowing the derivation of the name, decided that The Serfs would be confused with a California band and so, for this show, their name was embellished. For Larry Hoppen, a founding member of Orleans (of "Still The One" and "Dance With Me" fame), this was his first band.

Orleans, 1973
Lance Hoppen, Wells Kelly, John Hall, Larry Hoppen


"They were all older guys. I had to hide my age to be able to get into the clubs. At the first bar we played, they kept telling me to be inconspicuous. But when the bartender asked me what I wanted to drink and I said, "Yoo Hoo!";...(laughs). I had to stay outside in the truck and miss the gig!" Larry's brother, Lance, also a founder of Orleans, followed several years later in The Koloring Book, a powerhouse big band emphasizing horn arrangements.

Orleans, 1990

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© Richard Arfin 1991
Revised 1995
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