The group formed after
Stan Szelest's group Stan and the Ravens broke up in 1967. Two of its members, Calandra and Mallaber, joined Galla, Weitz, and Calire, in the group Tony Galla and the Rising Sons. In 1968, they changed the name of their group to simply Raven. Raven toured in
England in 1969 and were offered a recording contract by
George Harrison via
Peter Asher with
Apple Records. They turned it down to sign with
Columbia Records instead. Although they played at the
Woodstock Sound-Outs a year earlier, they declined invitations to appear at the
Woodstock and
Isle of Wight Festivals.
^Billboard - 26 April 1969 - Page 12
"Raven, which previously featured James Calire, a highly- talented organist and pianist, had better balance in its presentation as lead guitarist John Weitz stood out. Drummer Gary Malabur and bass guitarist Tom Calandra also were solid The unit has two good strong-voiced vocalists"
Richard DiLello, "
The Longest Cocktail Party" - An Insider's Diary of the Beatles, Their Million Dollar 'Apple' Empire and Its Wild Rise and Fall. - pg. 119 - George Harrison instructs Peter Asher to "look up" the Raven (U.S. band) while in New York City. (
ISBN1-84195-602-3)
Patti Meyer Lee and Gary Lee, Don't Bother Knockin' -- This Town's A Rockin' (Buffalo Sounds Press, October 20, 2000).
ISBN0-9701749-0-X.