Merrell Fankhauser

Merrell Wayne Fankhauser (born December 23, 1943, Louisville, Kentucky, United States) is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist, who was most active in the 1960s and 1970s with bands including the Impacts, Merrell & the Exiles, HMS Bounty, Fankhauser-Cassidy Band, and Mu. In addition, 12 songs recorded by Merrell & the Exiles were later released under the group name Fapardokly, even though that group never actually existed.

The Impacts After moving to San Luis Obispo, California in his teens, he began playing guitar,

Fapardokly Fankhauser left the band and moved to Lancaster, California. The band — which also included John "Drumbo" French — had some regional success with songs including "Can't We Get Along", but then broke up. Fankhauser moved back to the coast, formed a new band, Merrell and the Xiles, and had a minor hit with "Tomorrow's Girl" in 1967.

An album followed, which included old Exiles songs and newer psychedelic folk material. (drums). Despite its later cult acclaim, the album was not a success.

HMS Bounty Fankhauser and Dodd then formed another, more overtly psychedelic, band with Jack Jordan (bass) and Larry Meyers (drums), naming it HMS Bounty. They won a recording contract with Uni Records, and their self-titled album was released in 1968, followed by the single "Tampa Run". However, success was again thwarted, by personal and record company problems, and the band split up.

Mu Reuniting with Jeff Cotton in 1970, Fankhauser then formed Mu. as well as producing new surf albums credited to The Impacts. Fankhauser has also produced radio and TV shows such as his long-running Tiki Lounge.

In June 2015, Fankhauser released an mp3 rock album titled Signals from Malibu.