Shaker Heights

ROCKHAPPENZ Public Collection

Shaker Heights  —  
Steve Moffatt (Bass Guitar), Reg Garters (Guitar/Vocals), and Errol O'Daniels (Drums/Vocals) ......

The history Shaker Heights band goes back to 1981:

For a fundraiser for the local primary school at Halswell it was decided to stage a fashion parade.  The organising committee agreed it would be good to have a band playing some incidental music at the event, but of course they had no funds for such an extravagance.  It was suggested that three parents of kids at the school who had been in bands in the '60s and '70s may be able to help.  Errol O'Daniels (ex The Tremolaires) and Steve Moffat (ex Ovation) were good friends and keen musicians.  It was suggested that they contact Reg Garters (ex The Telstars), one of the parents, as he was also keen on music. Things just followed on from there and these three guys got together and found an immediate chemistry.

Errol O'Daniels, Reg Garters and Steve Moffatt

Reg did the bulk of the singing and played the guitar, Steve played bass and Errol did drums and vocals.  They did their first gig at the Fashion Parade.  It was a great success and the three fellas agreed they wanted to do more - and more they did.  For the next 20 years they entertained at a wide variety of gigs, clubs, functions and charity fund-raisers which they all enjoyed greatly.  Their name Shaker Heights had an interesting genesis.  Once they started playing together the boys agreed they had to find a name for their trio.  There was lots discussion until they settled for Shaker Heights.  The name had its origins through Reg's work with the New Zealand Institute of Management.  A visiting professor from Shaker Heights in Cleveland, Ohio in the United States of America came to work for the Institute in Christchurch each year.  It was agreed that Shaker Heights had a ring to it and so they stuck with the moniker.  The boys continue to entertain.  Errol and Steve are members of the well-known bluegrass group, Rural Delivery, while Reg performs one man presentations with singing and voice impressions.