The Wallets

The Wallets were a band from the Twin Cities, who recorded on the local Twin/Tone Records label in the 1980s. The Wallets were founded as an experimental group by accordionist Steve Kramer and managed by Bob Hest. The Allen Toussaint-produced debut album Take It was released in 1986, described by Spin as urban soul and funk with "a Cajun smell to their work". The album saw the band described as "art rockers who not only want to groove but know how to groove". Kramer decided to retire the band in spring 1988, but waited until their final album, Body Talk, was released late in the fall before announcing the split. The Wallets performed their final show at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis on January 23, 1989. Kramer and Hest later formed an advertising agency, currently known as Hest & Kramer, Van House Weber, noted for its use of music in television ads for clients such as Target Stores, MTV, Time Warner, and Buick. Kramer died in January 2013 at age 59. The Minneapolis Star Tribune summed the band's style up as a "mix of polka, rock, rhythm-and-blues, jazz and whimsy". The band received several Minnesota Music Awards ("Minnies"), with ten nominations in 1987. Take It (1986), Twin/Tone Body Talk (1988), Twin/Tone 17 Songs (1989), Twin/Tone Catch a Falling Star (1983), Spiffola 333 "Night Before Christmas" (1983) "Totally Nude" (1986) Baenen, Jeff (1997) "Ex-band mates finf success in ad world", Reading Eagle, December 26, 1997, retrieved 2010-08-25 Stim, Rich (July 1987). "Wallets: Take It". SPIN. pp. 26–7. Retrieved August 25, 2010. "The Wallets Put Art Rock in the Pocket", San Jose Mercury News, November 16, 1986 "It's official: Wallets will fold as newest album is released", Star-Tribune, November 4, 1988 Bream, Jon (January 22, 1989). "Wallets' Last Gig Will Reprise Many Memories". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Bream, Jon (January 24, 1989). "Wallets Are at Their Zany, Brilliant Best in Farewell Show". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Archived 2007-09-12 at the Wayback Machine Bream, Jon (1997) "Ex-Wallets finally get musical payoff - off the stage", Star-Tribune, August 24, 1997 Baenen, Jeff (1998) "The Beat Goes On--to TV Jingles; Advertising: Two rock band graduates make their past pay off in music for commercials", Los Angeles Times, February 12, 1988 Fischer, Reed (January 21, 2013). "RIP Steve Kramer of the Wallets (1953-2013)". City Pages. Retrieved March 30, 2014. Tillotson, Kristin (January 21, 2013). "Steve Kramer of the Wallets dead at 59". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Retrieved March 30, 2014. "Going-out-of-business party", Star Tribune, December 29, 1988 "Nominees announced for state music awards", Star-Tribune, April 2, 1987 Twin Tone Records Hest & Kramer