Tom Salles began playing with the Sanders brothers when he was a freshman in high school. The band ‘The Morelochs’ became very popular at Merced High and was booked often at high school dances and local dance concerts. The band was unique in that 5 of the 6 members sang well which allowed the group to cover Beatles songs as well as any of the harmony based groups of the 60’s.
The Moreloch’s also recorded original music at small local studios as well as major studios,such as Paramount and Gold Star, in Los Angeles. Tom, Jim, Jeff, and Bob, who is the oldest Sanders brother and who also became the band’s first manager, were all instrumental in providing the group with collaborative original material.
After a couple of years, the band changed it’s name to the Crystal Syphon and began performing original music. The Crystal Syphon performed all over California and appeared at The Avalon Ball Room and The Fillmore a number of times. Crystal Syphon opened for nearly all the major San Francisco bands in the 60’s as well as other major artists from that era. The band also enjoyed being part of the writings of former San Francisco Cronicle music reporter, Ralph Gleason.
Posters featuring The Crystal Syphon and posters advertising their appearance with other groups, have become very collectable and are featured on the internet. One simply has to Google
'Crystal Syphon' and sites such as Wolfgang’s Vault will list these items. Some are selling for $1500.00 and more. Other links will provide more information about the band and what light shows and other major artists they performed with.
During the next decade Tom formed the band Boogeyman with John Fox (guitarist), Gabe Romo on drums, and 'Syphon' bassists, Bob Greenlee. The version of that band was short lived but, Boogeyman did record and release a two song 45 rpm record with side A titled ‘Old Styx River” and the B side featured ‘There is Light There.’ Although Jeff Sanders didn’t play on the record it was his first assignment as a recording consultant during the session at Victory Studios in Fresno.
John Fox got into some legal issues and Romo left so Jim Sanders came back for a short while and Tom asked Jeff to take up drums and join the band. Soon the band was off and working. Although Jim left to start his own business in Philadelphia, Tom and Jeff continued playing in clubs until Jeff moved to Los Angeles and got into the recording business. Jeff and Tom kept communications and when Jeff became established in the recording industry he would arrange opportunities for his friend to record in Los Angles doing various music projects Tom was working with. Another origional 45 was produced titled 'Over and Over' which was later rerecorded with Nashville studio musicians and released internationally by Heidi Marie
Tom continued recording and playing until he decided to return to school and work for a degree in business administration and a teaching credential in music. He attended and graduated from Merced College, California State College, Fresno, and Chapman University. After school, Tom became the band leader of various groups that worked as the house band for Mulligan’s Sports Bar where he became the entertainment director, and later, night club manager. He also worked for Congressman Dennis Cardoza when Dennis was running for state assembly. While in politics Tom became friends with Chad Condit who offered Tom a job working for Governor Grey Davis. Salles was also affered a job in education which he feels fortunate to have chosen due to the fate of both Condit and Davis in California.
Tom’s first education assignment was teaching music, math ,and literature at the Mc Swain School District. After a couple of years, Tom Joined the Dos Palos/Oro Loma JUSD music staff where he has taught both High School and Middle School Marching band and general instrumental music, choir, and guitar. He remains with the Dos Palos School District where he still teaches music and holds the position as Director of Bands and District Music Chair. Since the Dos Palos District is on a traditional schedule, Tom spends his summers working The Merced Fair and the Chowchilla Fair as an entertainment and promotions director. Tom said he’s glad to be back with the Sanders brothers and working with Tom Clarkson and Anthony Parber as well. He believes they all have a music in common that they really like and that makes it fun to rehearse and perform for the appreciative audiences that come to the Project's shows. Tom says, "If I'm reliving my childhood then I strongly recommend the experiece for everyone. It's a blast."
