Timeline/1960s

1966

Summer 1966: Houstonians Mayo Thompson and Frederick Barthelme work on an unfinished film. They eventually abandon the project and decide to start a band, The Red Crayola
September 1966: The Red Crayola line-up adds Steve Cunningham, Bonnie Emerson, and Danny Schacht. The line-up soon consolidates to Mayo Thompson (guitar, vocals), Frederick Barthelme (drums), Steve Cunningham (bass).
Late 1966-1967: The group plays live shows around Houston, Texas
December 16, 1966: First known published mention of the group

Flyer for show on January 14, 1967
Article in the Houston Chronicle, January 18, 1967
The Red Crayola performing live, 1967: Mayo Thompson, Frederick Barthelme, Steve Cunningham

February 1967: Record producer Bob Steffek approaches the group to record a single. The band's first recording session results in unreleased single Dairymaid's Lament / Free Piece.

March 1967: Following a performance in the KNUZ Battle of the Bands, The Red Crayola signs to independent label International Artists
March? 1967: They records demos for the band's first album
April 1, 1967: "Free Form Freak-Out" recording session with The Familiar Ugly

April 5, 1967: Second recording session
April 10, 1967: Third recording session: "Pink Stainless Tail", "Hurricane Fighter Plane", "War Sucks"
April 13 & 19, 1967: Mono mix
April 25, 1967: Mastering
April-May 1967: Recording sessions for the band's first album
June 1967: First album The Parable of Arable Land is released

July 1967: The group travels to California to perform at the Angry Arts & Berkeley Folk Festivals (later released as Live 1967)
July 1967: Recording session with guitarist John Fahey. Their label International Artists forces the group to hand over the tapes to return to Houston
1967: The band breaks up; Frederick Barthelme moves to New York

Late 1967: The Parable of Arable Land was an unexpected success so International Artists asks for another album. The band reforms as "The Red Krayola" with a new drummer. The new line-up is Mayo Thompson (guitar, vocals), Steve Cunningham (bass), Tommy Smith (drums)

January 16, 1968: The group is interviewed by Mother magazine
February? 1968: Sessions for the band's second commercially released album
May 1968: Second album God Bless the Red Krayola and All Who Sail With It is released

1969: Thompson and Cunningham visit New York to consider working on Opera for Five
1969: Mayo Thompson illustrates Frederick Barthelme's first book, Rangoon