Frank Coy

FRANK COY

Galen Niles and Chet Himes started jamming together with drummer Gary Crapster; then Himes brought in a friend of his, Frank Coy. Much as the Beatles had done before – when each new member brought in the next – Frank added his friend Pat Cosgrove. After a while, the band dubbed themselves Homer, though Niles is not sure why.

Homer released an album called Grown in U.S.A. in 1970. Bandmembers by that time were Phil Bepko (vocals), Frank Coy (vocals), Galen Niles (lead guitar), Howard Gloor (lead, steel guitar), Gene Coleman (drums), and Chet Himes (bass). The music ranged from psychedelia to progressive rock, with instruments that included a Mellotron. Christopher Cross – who had several hits in the early 1980’s including “Sailing” and got the Grammy in 1980 for Best New Artist – also had some involvement with the album. (Christopher Cross was born on May 3, 1951, same as me!).

(September 2011)

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Chet Himes and Galen Niles were the co-founders of Homer and lived at the same apartment complex when they were both in college at Texas State University. Himes recognized Niles as being in the Outcasts – which had only recently broken up – and tried to persuade him to join a band that he was putting together, but Niles said that he wasn’t interested. Himes kept at it; he recruited a lead singer, Frank Coy and a rhythm guitarist, Pat Cosgrove, so all he needed was a lead guitarist and a drummer. Finally, Galen Niles agreed to at least jam with them; he even brought in Gary Crapster, a drummer that he played in a band with while in high school.

After numerous gigs in the dance circuit in and around San Antonio, Homer decided to put out one of their best received songs, Willie Nelson’s “I Never Cared for You” as their first single, backed with a Homer original called “Dandelion Wine” (written by Frank Coy).

(April 2014)