Highway Call was inducted into the South Dakota Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
Announcing the 2022 Hall of Fame Inductees! | The South Dakota Rock and Roll Music Association
The Highway Call Band / Silver Creek has been playing in the South Dakota area under these 2 names for over 3 decades and is still going strong.
Silver Creek 1985-2000
After having previously worked together in Sherwin Linton’s Silver Shadow Band, Curt Henry (bass, vocals), Gary Thomas (guitar, vocals), and Mark Close (drums, vocals) got together to form Silver Creek in 1985. They played as a 3 piece band in the eastern South Dakota area performing early rock and roll and country. In 1988 Jim Juntunen (guitar, vocals) joined the band adding a classic rock and blues influence. The band played mostly in South Dakota but also ventured into Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska.
When Mark Close moved to Pierre, Lynn Thayer drummed with the band for a short time. In 1991 Mark Werner joined on drums and vocals. Silver Creek continued to play extensively in the region and won several Wrangler Music Showdowns including at the South Dakota State Fair after which they performed at the regional contest in Wichita, KS. Mike Nepodal was added on sax and keyboards in the late ’90s.
The Highway Call Band 2000-to present
Silver Creek disbanded in early 2000 and later that year Curt, Jim, Mark, and Mike reformed as The Highway Call Band with more emphasis on classic rock, blues, and country rock. Dallas Meseberg joined on drums when Mark developed repetitive motion/arthritis issues in his hands in 2006. The Highway Call Band played from 2008-2012 with Curt, Dallas, Jim, and Josh Juntunen also on guitar and vocals with Mike N. adding sax and keyboards on occasion. Jim, Josh, and Dallas also played in the TeleJazz Quartet with Chris Barber on bass playing jazz standards and originals in eastern South Dakota and were featured on SDPB’s No Cover No Minimum. Sadly, Mike Nepodal passed away in 2014.
With Josh moving to the Grand Forks/Crookston area in 2012 Highway Call continued with Curt, Jim, and Dallas playing as a 3 piece band or adding various guest artists as a fourth member including Josh J. on guitar, Mike Nepodal, Jarret Larson on piano, Rod Ward, Gary Snow, Gary Thomas, or Jim Groth on guitar during the course of 2013. By the end of that season, Gary Thomas had rejoined the group on guitar and vocals with Josh traveling down to South Dakota to play with the band on occasion.
The Highway Call Band participated in the Fuzzy Dice Show for several years including performances at the Kool Deadwood Nights car show every August and continues to play that show as The Dice Guys. They also perform as Karl Williams and the Highway Call Band regularly.
In 2018 Terry Church replaced Dallas Meseberg on drums and vocals.
(3) Highway Call Band | Facebook
