The “Golden Hits Of The 60s” 

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ROSE GARDEN

“NEXT PLANE TO LONDON”

(Kenny “KENNY O’DELL” Gist, Jr.)

Atco 6510

No. 17   December 30, 1967

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Rose Garden sprouted in Parkensburg, West Virginia.   Diana Di Rose had been a fan of beat poetry, the

sounds of bongos, and the aroma of espresso.   She per­formed at such New York night spots as the Bitter

End and the Night Owl, and appeared on TV’s “Hootenan­ny.” Just how they all came together is not known,

but by the end of 1966, Di Rose was part of a band named after her.   Rose Garden consisted of Diana Di

Rose, drummer Bruce Boudin (b. 1946),bassist/pianistWilliam Fleming (b. 1949), guitarist James Groshong

(b. 1947, Los Angeles), and lead guitarist Johnny Noreen (b. 1950, Los Angeles).

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The following year, Di Rose and her Garden group ventured to L.A. to improve their lot and, if possible, get

recorded.   As luck would have it, they met Charlie Greene and Brian Stone, two hip and hungry hot-shot

producers.   Greene and Stone were doing studio work for BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD, DR. JOHN, the Daily

Planet, the Rising Sons, and a whole horde of other ’60s acts.

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“Next Plane to London” was an innocent period piece from the pen of Kenny Gist, Jr., who grazed the Top 40

in 1967 as KENNY O’DELL with a peace-and-love single entitled “Beautiful People.”   With seemingly little

effort, “Next Plane” landed on the charts.   An album and “Here Today,” a Byrds-like follow-up, were quickly

pressed.   Neither sold well, but it didn’t matter:

Rose Garden’s season had passed, and the group disbanded.