From Chuck Morris, Fb, 12/17/24: Another one passes. Mike Brewer of Brewer and Shipley. Loved them! “One toke Over The Line” – that song was not played on bunch of stations because it was about Pot. But the song put them on the map. (Boy, have times changed). One show I had with them and (new band at the time) The Ozark Mountain Daredevils (both managed by my old buddy Stan Plesser). “If you Want to Get to Heaven” was big hit for Ozarks.
Brewer & Shipley was one of the very early country rock bands with great harmonies. 1970. 2 years before Eagles first record.
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Michael Brewer (April 14, 1944 – December 17, 2024) was an American musician. He and Tom Shipley were the music duo Brewer & Shipley.
Brewer formed a duo in Los Angeles during early 1966 named Mastin & Brewer with singer/songwriter Tom Mastin. The group recruited drummer Billy Mundi and bass guitar player Jim Fielder for live performances, opening for The Byrds and Buffalo Springfield during spring 1966. When Mastin left during sessions for an album, Brewer enlisted his brother Keith and the pair recorded a lone single 45 for Columbia Records company, “Need You”, backed by “Rainbow” (written by Tom Mastin and Brewer before the former’s departure).
Mundi became employed with The Lamp of Childhood and then The Mothers of Invention while Fielder had also joined The Mothers of Invention (and later Buffalo Springfield and Blood, Sweat & Tears). After recording the single, Brewer met his old friend Tom Shipley and they initiated a duo together.
Their third album, 1970’s Tarkio, included the song “One Toke Over the Line,” which became an unlikely pop hit in 1971, reaching #10 on the Hot 100.
During 1983, Brewer released an LP, Beauty Lies, of which Dan Fogelberg was the producer. The album has never been released on CD.
Brewer died at his home in Missouri on December 17, 2024, at the age of 80.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Brewer_(musician)
Photo: Mike Brewer | https://www.legacy.com/news/celebrity-deaths/mike-brewer-1944-2024-one-toke-over-the-line-singer/