Marshfield History: Marshfield Band The American Tea Company’s Hit ‘I Want You Now’ Hits Number 1 on the Music Charts in April

Monday, April 14th, 2025 -- 1:00 PM

Fifty-five years ago in Marshfield, Wisconsin, on April 10, 1970, The American Tea Company (ATC) had a number one hit record titled: I Want You Now.

The high school rock band had recorded it at the Golden Voice Recording Company located in central Illinois. This legendary studio recorded artists like Styx, REO Speedwagon and also the Ides of March with their hit record I’m Your Vehicle. You can hear the ATC hit song, I Want You Now, on YouTube.

The American Tea Company was formed in 1967 by high school friends in Marshfield, WI. At the time of its formation, the members were all between 17 and 19 years old. Early in 1969, the group won a “Battle of the Bands” in Medford.

That accomplishment qualified them to compete in the semi-finals in Eau Claire, where the ATC took second place in the Jaycees’ Regional “Battle of the Bands” at Regis High School on April 12, 1969.

Then they were disqualified from competing in the Wisconsin finals in Milwaukee as being too professional because they played too many paid gigs and several band members were in the musicians union, allowing them to get booked in better venues.

Had they competed and won the state title, they would have received a recording studio opportunity. They decided to write songs and make a record on their own. Members included Ken Rogers (guitar), Gary TeStrake (lead vocals), Jim Schuh (drums), Mark T. Nelson (keyboards) and Tim Haley (bass).

The group played rock inspired by the dominant radio sound of the day, which was CCR, The Doors, Santana and Steppenwolf. After two years of learning more than 100 pop chart and album songs, they were courted by Gary Van Zeeland Talent, the largest booking agency in Wisconsin.

Soon, they were working in a four-state area. Driving long distances in a station wagon with a trailer, the group played at dance halls, bars and high school dances in Wisconsin, Illinois, Upper Michigan and Minnesota. In Marshfield they played at the youth center, both high schools and at the Airway Bar.

The band’s recording is notable since it was the first stereo 45 recorded at Golden Voice. The singers double tracked their vocals at the suggestion of the session producer, who gave them lots of guidance since they had never been in a studio before.

The group’s experience in high school choral groups helped them record the vocal harmonies. The session engineer noted the voice control of singer Gary TeStrake, who could sing each vocal take almost exactly the same every time.

Records were pressed by RCA in Indianapolis and shipped to Marshfield. Just five weeks after recording, the record hit the Top 40 charts. On March 27, it hit number 27, April 3 it was second, and on April 10 the song reached number 1!

Then it slipped to second, and then to fifth and then to sixth. Six weeks on the Top 40 helped the possibility for booking better gigs. The group’s last show was Labor Day weekend, 1970. Despite hopes of being discovered and reaching the national scene, it never happened.

They disbanded just 17 weeks after hitting the Top 10, going on to attend different colleges. After disbanding, the band regrouped to play Marshfield Senior High School’s 1969 class reunion on July 29, 1989. In July 2001, the youngest band member, bass player Tim Haley, died.

Thirty-five years after disbanding, the group played the Rock and Roll Reunion with three other popular 1960s bands on June 25, 2005, at the SentryWorld Sports Complex in Stevens Point. Three members still perform.

Mark Nelson plays in a Marshfield band called the The Pointless Brothers. In the Chippewa Valley area, Jim performs with the Mark Healey & Jim Schuh Duo and Ken Rogers still plays jazz, popular and folk music in the Eau Claire area and Arizona.

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