The Castaways
Inducted 2025
Original promotional 8×10 photo from 1965. Courtesy Soma Records.
“Liar, Liar- pants on fire. Your nose is longer than a telephone wire. You ask me baby, why I’m sad. Been out all night, I know you’ve been bad. Don’t tell me different, I know that you lied. Come to me honey, and see how I’ve cried…”
And the rest is history!
In 1963, the original founding members of The Castaways were Dennis Craswell on drums, James Donna on keyboards, Bob LaRoy Folschow on lead guitar, Roy Hensley on rhythm guitar, and Dick Roby on bass guitar. The band’s first performance was at Jerry’s Pizza in Richfield, Minnesota. As the band became well known, they began to perform at teen dances, drawing ever bigger crowds. In 1964, The Castaways opened for Jan and Dean at Parade Stadium in Minneapolis, and for The Everly Brothers at the Prom Ballroom in St. Paul.
On April 3, 1965, The Castaways recorded “LIAR, LIAR” at Kay Bank Recording Studios in Minneapolis. The song was written by James Donna and Dennis Craswell. Released on the Soma Records label, “LIAR, LIAR” hit the charts a few months later, reaching #1 regionally and #12 nationally on The Billboard Hot 100. The song remained on the Billboard chart for 33 weeks.
By the fall of 1965, The Castaways had sold nearly one million copies of their infectious smash single “LIAR, LIAR” and were literally on fire– one of the hottest rock and roll bands in America. The band went on a West Coast tour, appearing on television shows Hollywood A-Go-Go, Shivaree, Where the Action Is, and various other Dick Clark productions. The group filmed a cameo appearance in Hollywood movie It’s a Bikini World. In California, The Castaways shared the big stage with The Beach Boys, Sony and Cher, The Byrds, Glenn Campbell, Little Anthony and The Imperials, The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Beau Brummels, The Turtles, The Gentrys, and many other legendary groups. The band did two more West Coast tours during 1965 / 1966.
The song “LIAR, LIAR” has been used in the soundtrack for four major Hollywood motion pictures: It’s a Bikini World, Good Morning Vietnam, Lock Stock & 2 Smoking Barrels, and Married to the Mob.
In the fall of 1966, the Vietnam War broke up the “Glory Days” of The Castaways when Bob Folschow was drafted into The United States Army, and James Donna left the band to resume his college education.
The 1967 Castaways Mk. 2 with producer Bill Traut in Chicago. Photo by Mike Barich.
Dennis Craswell and Roy Hensley reorganized the band with three new members: Dennis Libby and Tom Husting from the Robbinsdale, Minnesota rock and roll band Dudley and The Doo-Rytes, along with Greg Maland from Minnesota’s organ-driven early rock legends Gregory Dee and The Avanties. The band continued to tour and record for years, eventually morphing into The Blackwood Apology in 1968. The album the group recorded with legendary Chicago producer Bill Traut is titled The House of Leather, widely-regarded as the very first Rock Opera. The album was turned into a play performed Off Broadway in New York City, and was reissued in the mid-2020s on colored vinyl. After disbanding, Dennis Craswell went on to play drums for Minnesota Music Hall of Fame 2024 inductees Crow. In the mid-1970s, Craswell pioneered the use of electronic drum applications, foreshadowing drum machines and MIDI computer recording technology.
The Original Castaways, who currently perform Winters in South Texas and Summers in Northern Minnesota. Photo courtesy Dennis Craswell.
Currently, The Castaways drummer Dennis Craswell along with Logan Stewart perform as The Original Castaways. The duo can boast of eight nominations for the Valley Star Award, and have received The RGV Trophy for Best Novel Band in South Texas. The Original Castaways are the number one draw at Margaritaville Beach Resort on South Padre Island in Texas, featuring not one but two Trinidad steel drums, adding to their Early Rock and Roll and Island Music. Logan Stewart plays drums, trap set, lead steel drum, and vocals. The mix of oldies and Island Music- and of course “LIAR, LIAR”- has made the duo a current popular attraction, and their Summer work all across the Midwest makes them truly the national version of The Original Castaways- small but powerful- keeping in the tradition of The Castaways have set since 1965.
The Castaways, who perform at car-related events in the Twin Cities area, and have for over 50 years! Photo courtesy James Donna.
In 1973, James Donna restarted The Castaways. He is bandleader and keyboardist, with Bob Donna on guitar and vocals, Rick Snider on drums and vocals, and Dave Maetzold on bass and vocals. In 1982, Dave Maetzold retired, and Ralph Hintz took his place on bass and vocals. James Donna’s Castaways are one of Minnesota’s longest performing rock ‘n’ roll bands. After 50 years, they continue to rock on stage today! The band has been featured at thousands of major festivals, car shows, street dances, class reunions, wedding dances, ballrooms (including George’s Ballroom in New Ulm), and other events across the Midwest. The band plays “LIAR, LIAR” at every performance- keeping alive the tradition of The Castaways from the early days. As former band member Dave Maetzold has said, “Our fans today are Swifties from the 60’s!” James and The Castaways would also like to recognize their long-time sound engineer, Don Stowell. Now a published writer of Minnesota Rock and Roll history, James Donna is the author of LIAR, LIAR: from Garage Band to Rockstars: The Story of Minnesota’s Castaways in the 1960’s. The book does a great job telling the amazing story of The Castaways– from 1963 until today.
My wife and I watch the Original Castaways while in South Padre Island TX at Laguna Bob’s. This year we watched them play in Park Rapids MN and last year in Detroit Lakes.
Denny went on the play drums for Crow along with my wife’s first husband, Larry Weigand
Larry came down the SPI three years ago to sit in for a couple days
Fun group to watch.