Uncovering Mark Lindsay’s musical odyssey to the Rebel Raiders and beyond

Vocalist Mark Lindsay sheds illuminating light on working with Beach Boys mastermind Brian Wilson, why Paul Revere and the Raiders have never been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or been taken seriously as one of the best garage rock bands of the 1960s, Rick Nelson, Elvis Presley, and loads more in an exclusive comprehensive profile. Seen here is the intensely sexy cover of “Mark Lindsay: The Complete Columbia Singles,” released on March 6, 2012. Image Credit: Real Gone Music / Sony Music Entertainment

“I didn’t have a life. Music was all I cared about doing. When we got off the road, everybody went home to their wives and girlfriends or whatever. I went right to the studio. That was my second home.” Music was obviously an all-encompassing, driving passion for Mark Lindsay.

The still active lead vocalist, songwriter, producer, and arranger of Paul Revere and the Raiders caught the entertainment bug as a four-year-old while boldly harmonizing with his big sister on “You Are My Sunshine” in front of a wildly appreciative Idaho audience, pretty much all spur-of-the-moment.

Lindsay largely spearheaded the creative path of the ’60s rockers — the band’s namesake Paul Revere preferred to handle concert and promotional responsibilities with a dash of sterling boogie woogie piano. AM radio airwaves were inundated by the two dozen singles released by the Revolutionary War costume-clad musicians that notched positions on the Billboard Hot 100, spearheaded by “Just Like Me,” “Kicks,” “Hungry,” “Good Thing,” “Him or Me (What’s It Gonna Be?),” and “Too Much Talk.” In the shoulda-been-a-hit category, the Raiders’ original take of intense garage rocker “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone” actually rivals the better-known version served up by the Monkees. Dick Clark even produced two music variety series starring…