In the early 60s, John Howard Abdnor Sr. an insurance/business mogul turned record baron started Abnak Records in Dallas. Abdnor’s son, John Abdnor Jr. was the primary vehicle for the musical venture, as an outlet for the young adult’s creative interests. Abdnor Sr. quickly realized the monetary value to a successful record label when he signed The Five Americans and became their manager. Abdnor also started up the subsidiary label, Jetstar.
Abdnor Jr. recorded a few uncharting singles on his fathers label, in 63’ and 64’ only gaining airplay in his hometown of Dallas. Because of his father’s connections, scored a single on ATCO to reach a national audience. After this failure, Abdnor was paired with female vocalist Javonne Braga, forming the duo Jon & Robin. Javonne’s name was changed professionally to Robin, being a replacement of Jon’s original partner Robin Beavers, who wouldn’t work with Abdnor and quit before the group recorded any material. As Jon & Robin, Abdnor finally reached a national audience charting nationally in the top 20’s in 1967 with their hit “Do It Again A Little Bit Slower.” The duo’s backing band was a five piece known as The In Crowd.
A few sources, which turned up, stated falsely that the backing band for this duo was the Louisiana group, also named The In Crowd, who recorded for the Ronn Label. This In Crowd (the Abnak In Crowd) consisted of Bobby Rambo (guitar, percussion), Jim Glaves (keyboards), Pete Monlino (guitar), James Anderson (bass), and Rex Ludwick (drums). The group had a sound, which mimicked The Five Americans because of their great success in Dallas and nationally. The In Crowd tried to release a few singles with minimal success. When the second Jon & Robin full length was dropped the In Crowd was down to just Rambo and Glaves with three members of The Five Americans John Durill, Jim Grant, and Jimmy Wright, along with the Americans front man Mike Rabon doing all the production. In fact after the groups second single “Hangin’ From Your Lovin’ Tree” in mid 68’ the group disbanded and Rambo joined The Five Americans lineup in 1969.
Jon & Robin and The In Crowd never reached their initial success, received from their first charting hit, however did continue to chart in the low 100s. They released a full length in 1967, with their hit pushing it through, named Soul of a Boy and Girl. In 1968 with their second full length, Elastic Event, the group shifted gears and transformed their sound to more of a fuzzed, bubble gum, psych sound. This full length contained the single “Dr. Jon (The Medicine Man).” This single was not unlike the rest of this LP with fuzz blasting, summoning an aggressive tone yet still containing a strong pop sensibility, through catchy hooks and great harmonies. Dr Jon was written by Wayne Carson Thompson, made famous for writing The Box Top’s hit, “The Letter.”
Spearheaded from poor sales of their second full length each Jon & Robin tried a solo go of it, with minimal success yet again. Jon recorded a single “Save Me, Save Me,” which was coined Jon & The In Crowd notably with Robin’s name missing from the disc, and the flip of an earlier Jon & Robin Tune. Robin’s single “Dirty Old Man” was received just as poorly with a flip of another earlier Jon & Robin tune as well. The two reunited in late 68’ for a few more singles only to call it quits in 1969. Javonne Braga married Five Americans drummer Jimmy Wright in 1970. Jon tried to continue a music career with only dead ends following him in every direction. Jon ended up having a mental breakdown and was check in at Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, where he supposedly developed an affair with his psychiatric nurse. After Abdnor’s release, he and the nurse moved into together, where Jon’s mental difficulties followed, for Jon murdered her in the home.
LISTEN: Jon & Robin and The In Crowd – Dr. Jon (The Medicine Man)