1968

Gary Puckett and the Union Gap Lucas County Fairgrounds, Toledo, Ohio Ticket Price -- Free w/fair admission I believe that Gary Puckett was the first concert I ever saw. I would have been 14 at the time. I recall that they did "Young Girl" and "Lady Willpower." And the outfits. Unbelieveably to me, I also remember that the opening act was named Merging Traffic. It seems like they had garnered the spot by winning a Toledo area "Battle of the Bands" contest. It could have been Carlton Winfree's old band. It seems like maybe they had horns, but I wouldn't swear to it. I was 14. I was probably more worried about whether or not we could throw together a baseball game after we got home. Why do I remember them? The signs. They're everywhere. For 38 years, every time I've seen a "Merging Traffic" sign on the highway, my memory bank echoes back, "Gary Puckett."