About the band
With a genesis at local acoustic jams, Eldorado’s five-member Flashback Prophets emerged in 2024 as a tight ensemble of seasoned musicians with a deep love and respect for the classic era of ‘60s and ‘70s rock ‘n roll, R&B and blues.
But don’t mistake the Prophets for a derivative, predictable “classic rock” band. With precise instrumentation, on-point arrangements, tight vocals and soaring harmonies, Flashback Prophets’ uptempo, groove-driven, and highly danceable shows offer a curated selection of standout cuts, hidden gems and a growing list of compelling originals that will move your body, mind and soul.
This timeless music is our sweet spot. Yours too?
Plan to catch Flashback Prophets and experience our Dangerous Grooves at shows in and around the City Different and at choice venues throughout Northern New Mexico.
Band Members
Gregory Vaughan
Guitar, vocals, and sound and video editing
Other than playing in a popular college band at Texas A&M in the ‘60s, Gregory has honed his musical talents as a recording artist. In his recording studio, Standing Wave Music, Gregory plays electric and acoustic guitar, bass, hand percussion, and keyboards to craft original songs.
To date, Gregory has 10 album releases to his credit on all the major streaming platforms, including Spotify and Pandora. He combines his love for music with his love for video by creating visual soundscapes that are available for view on Vimeo, where he has uploaded a catalog of 92 videos.
Many of his original songs are atmospheric and eclectic, built on rich synthesizers and his always-melodic guitar work. Gregory is a master at composing and recording music that ranges from muscular and powerful to soothing and hypnotic.
Dennis Ritschel
Guitar, vocals, and cowbell
Dennis is a native New Mexican, having grown up in Albuquerque. He credits his two older sisters for his interest in music as they were the perfect age for the ‘60s British Invasion and were always playing music in the house when Dennis was growing up.
This led to him eventually taking guitar lessons and forming his first band in high school—Universal Joint—which played at talent shows and school dances. In college, he was part of a few bands, including Murphey’s Law—a mainstay at campus parties—and had a local hit with “Jimmy’s Got A Chainsaw,” which was particularly popular around Halloween.
After raising a family and a career as an attorney, Dennis was anxious to start playing more music again. He’s written several compelling originals, including a couple of jewels played by the Prophets.
Frank Lampe
Bass and vocals
Like many other musicians of a certain age, it all started seeing the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show in January 1964, although music has always been very important to Frank. Having grown up in Cleveland, he spent many, many nights with a transistor radio tucked next to his pillow, tuning into the burgeoning ‘60s music scenes both on the shores of Lake Erie and in Detroit.
After a long hiatus from middle-school music making, including as the singer in a Doors cover band, he started up again in the early 1990s, playing bass guitar in the Boulder, Colo.-based Organic Mechanics. A couple of working bands later, including the Braxton Hix Blues Band and Barrel of Blues, and with a move to Santa Fe, he found in the Prophets extremely capable, like-minded souls playing the music that has fed him all these years.
Rick Cormier
Percussion
Rick’s musical journey began at age 10 when he was given his first snare drum. His passion led him to trade drum kit for guitar and write 180 original songs in his 20s, before exploring synthesizers to compose instrumental music in his 30s. In his 40s, he switched to playing hand drums. In 1979, at the insistence of friends, Rick’s reluctant audition for the chorus of the musical “HAIR” unexpectedly landed him the lead role.
Since the ‘90s, Rick has been hosting community drum circles in Massachusetts, Maine and now the Different Drummers Drum Circle in Santa Fe. Once called “The Johnny Appleseed of Drumming,” Rick has drawn thousands of people, from children to seniors and from 26 countries, into the world of community drumming. Describing Rick when he ‘cuts loose’ on a hand drum, one newspaper reporter aptly labeled him “The Wildman” and said, “He represents the pure joy that music can invoke.”
Julia Spinelli
Drums & Vocals
Julia received a toy drum set from her parents when she was five years old and loved beating on that little set as a youngster. She played in school band in 5th, 6th and 7th grades. After that, she felt she needed to focus on academics.
Julia didn’t play her Ludwig drums much until she was 40 and was invited to fill in for the drummer in a friend’s band. The rest, as they say, is history. Not only has she been playing percussion in more than a dozen bands since then, she also enjoys and excels at singing. Julia likes a wide variety of musical genres and has played many of them, but her heart is all in for old-school rock ‘n roll. Most recently, in Santa Fe, she has played with Queen Bee (formerly Rasminko) and Zydeco Squeeze, and she still plays with The Right Time, in addition to becoming the Prophetess in Flashback Prophets.
Music
Video Promos
The video, below, was our previous line up before Julia joined as our drummer. We recorded 1-minute segments of 12 different songs to provide an overview of our music and stage show. This timeless music is our sweet spot. Yours too?
Gigs
Lamy, NM 87540 United States
The Flashback Prophets return for the sixth time to the intimate Nuckolls brew pub at the Lamy train station for an indoor performance. The vibe here is relaxed, with a cozy pub feel. A packed house at the old train station creates a powerful shared musical experience that keeps people coming back for more. Come[…]
The Prophets have been hired to perform for a small house party in Eldorado. Although we are a solid 60’s and 70’s rock and blues band, we can also pull back to offer a more acoustic act for smaller venues such as house parties. Keep us in mind when you seek entertainment for your event. […]
Again, the Prophets have been hired to perform for a large house party in Eldorado. Although we are a solid 60’s and 70’s rock and blues band, we can also pull back to offer a more acoustic act for smaller venues such as house parties. We can scale up or down to suit the event. […]
Santa Fe (Eldorado), NM 87508 United States
The Flashback Prophets will take the La Tienda Stage in Eldorado for the third time in support of the weekly Farmers Market event. This outdoor venue next to the Eldo Taphouse is a relaxed and popular social event in Eldorado. The Prophets will feature their new line up with Julia Spinelli on drums, and will[…]
Press
Flashback Prophets in the News
“Flashback Prophets: Long Live Rock!”
Greet Eldorado Magazine (before Julia joined us)
Santa Fe New Mexican
Producers and Booking Agents
As a group of long-time, experienced musicians, Flashback Prophets is ready to work with you to rock your patrons’ world. Our set ups are simple and straightforward and we are very flexible around venues, stage set ups, etc. Also, we’re not a loud band, unless you want us to be.
With a lively backbeat always in play, Flashback Prophets rocks with the best of them, yet we can also dial things down to fit pretty much any venue or event—indoors or outdoors—such as festivals, cultural events, bars, taphouses, restaurants, parties of all kinds and worthy fundraisers.
The information on this site, as well as current song list, tech specs/stage set up, videos and additional photos, is available in the attached Electronic Press Kit as downloadable documents for review, marketing and event promotion. We invite you to get in touch (see below) to set the table for one or a series of mutually beneficial and seriously fun musical happenings.