Rod Crosby - El Paso Border Legend

                             The Inimitable Rod Crosby         

The Intruders was a rock band formed in El Paso, Texas on 1960. The original members were Rod Crosby, Les Lockhart, Donnie Webb and Bobby Wilson. Bobby Wilson, younger brother of Bill Wilson, drummer for the Rock Kings, started the group. The Intruders first gig was a Texas Western Kappa Sigma dance at the Downtown Hilton Hotel. Their pay was $40  ($10 per person). From that time in 1960 until 1973, Rod Crosby emerged as the band’s leader. The original members dropped out along the way. It became known as Rod Crosby & The Intruders, and Rod played full time until 1973, when Rod sought employment in the corporate world. In that 13 year period , the Intruders performed consistently, booked every weekend, and played hundreds of jobs at almost every high school in El Paso, all the NCO Officers Clubs on Fort Bliss, Biggs Air Field, McGregor Range and White Sands Missile Range, countless weddings, college parties, private parties and graduation parties. The group was fortunate to have evolved during a time when the Rock & Roll industry was thriving, growing leaps and bounds. The groups appeal was based off their ability to cover tunes precisely for dancing, always lending themselves to the desires of the audience, as opposed to the band.                    

Having performed for thousands of people for the past 60 plus years - Rod Crosby & The Intruders is one of a very few that can make that claim.              

In 2009, an entity called the Border Legends of El Paso was created to honor any and all local musicians with a body of performing work over a long period of time.                                         

The Border Legends of El Paso entity staged a non-profit concert, annually, to pay tribute to El Paso’s musicians, past & present, net proceeds going to charitable causes. The annual concert was produced by Rick Kern and Rod Crosby (co-producers).                     

Rick and Rod both had connections to the Bobby Fuller Four. In 1965 Rod was asked by Bobby Fuller to consider joining his group. Rod painfully declined due to his many obligations. The Bobby Fuller Four went to Hollywood to make their mark which they did with I Fought The Law, and more.              

However, Bobby was killed due to foul play, shrouded in mysterious circumstances, an unsolved murder to this day that remains on the E channels 10 Most Unsolved Murder Mysteries.                          

Two members of the Bobby Fuller Four joined Rod’s band not long after the tragedy. Rod picked up the bands musical torch and performs many of the Bobby Fuller Four songs to this day, as well as many of Buddy Holly songs, Buddy being Bobby’s and Rod’s greatest influence, unknown to either until it was discovered later as friends.                    

Current members of Rod’s Intruder band are drummer, Rick Benites, bassist, Ed Clore, guitarist, Paul Dillon, guitarist/keyboardist, Rick Armstrong and guitarist Rod Crosby. All members are vocalists, as well. They are still in great demand with many of El Paso’s annual high school reunions. Long live Rod Crosby & The Intruders and Never to Be Forgotten!

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