Members:    
Tim Fleischer   -   Electric Wurly Piano and Lead Vocals
Larry Gates   -   Guitar and Backup Vocals
Asa McGhee   -   Bass and Lead Vocal
Darwin Conley   -   Lead Guitar and Lead Vocals
Ron Garver   -   Drums and Backup Vocals    

Bio:
Circus was started in West Jefferson by former Metronomes lead guitarist Larry Gates. One Sunday afternoon, he and four other very different guys (in personality and musical backgrounds) converged in Larry's home in West Lafayette (near West Jeff) and jammed for hours. The sound was very solid and fresh.

Tim had not played publicly for nearly five years.  Since the time when Tim and Larry did play together in The Edicates, they had become brother-in-laws.  Larry was a soul guitarist turned country. Darwin was a very talented country/bluegrass musician.  Ace McGhee was into The Beatles and the british invasion, but he also dabbled in country music. Ron Garver had a "classic oldies" edge. Tim was into pop music.

Many feel that this diversity is what led to the well rounded sound of the group as well as the diverse reportoire - They played Willie Nelson to Peter Frampton, and everything in between.  

Some might argue that this same diversity is what led to the band's short lived,  one and a half year existence.  The group played at schools, bars, and corporate parties all over the state. The band played one job under the name of Dynasty. Tim suggested the name "Circus" at the next rehearsal and that name stuck.  It was a name suited to this three ring act.

After about 8 months to a year, the direction of the band was steering heavily towards country music and there were some personality glitches as well. In mid 1978 Tim knew that country music was not in his future and that a change was soon to come. He received a timely phone call from an old friend, Joe Dodge, inviting him to come and jam with a band he was putting together. The band was a pop / dance band called Allspice.

In June, the original Circus split up. It was at that time "The Circus Band" was born.  Darwin and Larry fronted that version which became a very successful country / southern rock act.

They were in demand by all the large country dance venues that were sprouting up all over central Ohio.