Will Prines and Vesta Well Prines (now Johnson) are inducted members of the South Dakota Music Association Rock & Rollers Hall of Fame. They were inducted in 2019 for their award winning band Choozy Music and their part in helping bring rock and roll to the legendary Pomp Room back in the crazy, heady days of the mid 1970s.

After years of being on the road with Choozy Music they settled in Sioux Falls and started the first 24 track commercial recording studio in the state, specializing in music for radio and TV advertising for commercials and film, but also local and regional bands, singers, songwriters and were involved in many aspects of the music business. The studio became their primary focus for many years, but they still loved playing music before a live audience; a dance crowd, at clubs, concerts, holiday events, weddings, you name it. Wherever there was music, they wanted to be there with a band, playing the hits, the current popular songs in rock, R&B, country, blues, oldies, a few originals, you name it, for your listening and dancing pleasure.

This new band was dubbed Easy Street. The band originally featured Will on keys, guitar, and vocals; Vesta on keyboards, percussion and vocals; two musical brothers from Canada - John Wright on guitar and vocals, and his brother Danny Wright, on drums, vocals, "nose harmonica" and general silliness, which was shared by all. It was a musical mix that went over extremely well with audiences and gathered a huge following in the several states that they covered regularly - South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa.

There were so many opportunities to play live music at that time. Clubs such as The Sunbird, The Galley, The Fireside, The Holiday Inn, to name a few in Sioux Falls, and many corporate festivities, street dances, holiday and charity events that kept the band’s calendar booked year round. As an example, the band was so popular they were invited to come back and play over several years for St Patrick’s Day at the Downtown Holiday Inn, which was the center of the holiday festivities in those years. The band had people wall to wall, even some hanging onto the balcony above the great room, poolside, where the band’s stage was set up. Luckily, there were no casualties at any of the band’s performances, but some great music and a fun time was shared by all.

At one point, Danny moved to the Black Hills to pursue a different musical direction and the band added Mike Hurley to replace him. Mike was a great drummer and also sang lead on some songs, but had a very similar sense of offbeat humor that just fit the band perfectly. This incarnation of the band continued to play successfully in the region for several more years. Sadly, in the ensuing years both Danny and Mike have passed away. Both were great musicians and, just as importantly, were great people, great friends, and are dearly missed.

Awards