Flat Cat

Flat Cat began in Sioux Falls, SD in 1981 when band leader Steve Samuelson got together with some musician friends to jam at a local recording studio.  They liked what they heard and agreed to start booking gigs.  Samuelson (guitar & vocals), Clint Kennedy (guitar & vocals), the late Clint Devries (bass & vocals), Bob Gripp (drums & vocals), and Mick Jensen (sound engineer) formed the inaugural line-up.  They built a following performing at local and regional venues over the next two years. 

1983 saw a second version emerge with the late Tim Sweeney (lead vocals), Dean Zimmer (drums), Tom Trimble (guitar & vocals), and Dave Vanderlinde (bass & vocals) coming on board with Samuelson and Jensen.  They continued to grow the band’s fan base and became a favorite wherever they performed.  

The third generation arrived in 1984 with Benjamin Dee (bass & vocals), Jimmy Weber (guitar & vocals), Fred Ellwein (keyboards & vocals), and Chuck Mauszycki (drums & vocals) joining Samuelson and Jensen.  Momentum from the first three years and a new song list contributed to their growing popularity playing bars,  ballrooms, street dances, and high school proms in eastern SD, northwest IA, and southwest MN.  

Dick Bartling (drums) replaced Mauszycki in the fall of 1985 and Brian Detmers  (guitar & vocals) replaced Samuelson when he retired from the band after New Year’s Eve of 1985.  With these two former members of Aaron Baron, Flat Cat continued playing weekends through the summer of 1986.  Detmers purchased the band name and equipment and assembled a new full-time touring version later that year. 

The Flat Cat brotherhood of musicians thanks the SDRRMA for this honor and recognizes the fans of the band over the years for their support.  It was a fun ride filled with many great memories.  

Awards