rock pilgrimage

2011-11-23T06:33:00.000-08:00

Viewing these Silver Spring Flash Mob Robbery 7 ELEVEN security tapes on Youtube is a TRIP! ("WHERE TWINKIES?")
When Jacquetta & I visited JOE'S RECORD PARADISE in Silver Spring on 11-11-11 to pay our respects @ THE HOLY IMMACULATE SHRINE OF ROOT BOY SLIM, we saw some rilly SKETCHY dudes hanging out on the sidewalk after dark downtown for no particular reason. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4JZAJ7mK5I

2011-11-01T01:17:00.001-07:00

Hey y'all~

I'm heading up to Baltimore Sattiddee.
That place beeze TERRA NOVA~INCOGNITA fo' my old Wiregrass butt.
If I'm gonna spend some time up there in YANKEE LAND, I'm gonna have to
ESTABLISH A CA$H FLOW so
a natural place for me to look for said BREAD is
THE MONETIZATION of my blog ROCK PILGRIMAGE.

I coined the term ROCK PILGRIMAGE on blogger.com on February 7, 2005.
http://rockpilgrimage.blogspot.com
Right now, when you google "ROCK PILGRIMAGE",
you get 22,000 results & I'm #1.
http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&source=hp&biw=1008&bih=553&q=%22rock+pilgrimage%22&btnG=Google+Search
A lawsuit's already been filed against a cat in Great Britain by a BBC affiliate & the cat contacted me to see whether I'd coined the term before the BBC affiliate.
I HAD NOT but I do have a claim to the name.
http://www.absoluteradio.co.uk/music/pilgrimages/index.html?utm_source=left_nav

Went to http://register.com (boy, I like that address name!)
& bought the rights to http://rockpilgrimage.net

Y'all think about me while I'm up there in that cold, cold NORTH.
Check out my stuff & PLEASE SEND ALL SUGGESTIONS & OTHER UNWANTED COMMENTS to robertoreg@gmail.com

I'll be chasing down the ghosts of Edgar Allen Poe, Root Boy Slim & Michael O'Donoghue http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_O%27Donoghue

ROOT BOY!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roC_JLOcnxE&NR=1
best,
r

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilgrimage

Answer the Call...

A pilgrimage is a ritual that belongs to no single religious or cultural tradition. One simply must answer the call to go, and when they are moving through the environment at a natural pace that awakens the senses, they perceive and connect to the environment as it is.

http://www.lynyrdskynyrdhistory.com/tr.html

Since time immemorial, people have journeyed to special places to restore their faith in whatever they felt was important for their lives.

This pilgrimage could be a spiritual journey or it could end up being a journey filled with spirits.

ROCK PILGRIMAGE is a documentary television series & website for Rock & Roll Pilgrims. ROCK PILGRIMAGE examines the cities in which THE rock & roll pioneers were raised.

The show & website take the viewer on a virtual pilgrimage

A Pilgrim's Progess

Hey y'all~
We all hip to THE PILGRIMAGE TO GRACELAND.

Well, now we gotta get EVERYBODY hip to ROCK PILGRIMAGE.

Years ago pilgrimages were exclusively for Religious Nuts but the Twentieth Century introduced THE CULT OF PERSONALITY so NOW we gotz "religious" pilgrimages to the tombs of Lenin, Mao, Ho, Martin Luther King & ELVIS.

Well, TIME TO CHECK OUT THE PILGRIMAGE FO' ROCK & ROLL!!!!
ROCK PILGRIMAGE http://rockpilgrimage.blogspot.com

I've decided that I'm gonna be the star of ROCK PILGRIMAGE.
I'm just gonna be my own damn self & leave Tuscaloosa in search of wisdom on the Westside of Jacksonville, FL. or any other damn place I wanna go & explore.

I'm a cat who likes money, music & LOVES gettin' high wid some nookie so there's gotta be a place for me on cable TV.

ROCK PILGRIMAGE will be like a really good Hunting & Fishing Show.
It'll show the kids new & innovative ways to get high.

A film crew will meet me for THE WESTSIDE STORY in Jacksonville & the rest will be history!

best,
r

AN ECSTATIC PILGRIMAGE!!!!

I see ROCK PILGRIMAGE~JACKSONVILLE
as sorta PILGRIMAGE TO GRACELAND for Southern Rockers.

Published Thursday, June 10, 1999

Westside Story http://www.lynyrdskynyrdhistory.com/tr.html

By Matt Soergel
Times-Union staff writer,

Gimme Three Steps, arguably the best Lynyrd Skynyrd song that didn't end in a 29-minute guitar solo, has opening lines that perfectly capture a time - and a place.

Ronnie Van Zant sang it: ''I was cuttin' a rug down at a place called the Jug/With a girl named Linda Lou.''

There's deep significance to that song - and we're not talking about how amazing it is that Skynyrd, later in the song, successfully rhymed ''feller'' with ''hair colored yeller.''

No. It's because those lines are so Westside. And we mean that in a good way.

Can you imagine a place called the Jug in Baymeadows? What are the odds of finding a girl named Linda Lou in Mandarin? And what do the good citizens of East Arlington know about cuttin' a rug?

SKYNYRD'S WESTSIDE

Visit our Lynyrd Skynyrd section

As symbols of the Westside, Lynyrd Skynyrd left its mark all over that part of town. Here, with help from the Freebird Foundation's Web site (www.skynyrd.com) is a little tour of Skynyrd's Westside:

Robert E. Lee High School: At 1200 S. McDuff Ave., this is where Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington and Bob Burns went to school, and where they met tough gym teacher Leonard Skinner, after whom they later named themselves, sort of.

The Little Brown Jug: At 2517 Edison Ave., it inspired the ''cuttin' the rug'' line in Gimme Three Steps, but probably just because ''jug'' rhymed with ''rug.''

The West Tavern: At 5301 Lenox Ave., it's now called the Pastime (''cold beer, pool''). This is where the Gimme Three Steps scuffle really happened.

The Still: At 4506 San Juan Ave., it's now the SOS Lounge. It's where some of the band's earliest performances were. Later bought by Leonard Skinner and renamed after himself.

220 Riverside Ave.: An office building that Skynyrd bought in 1976 as a recording studio and rehearsal hall.

Lakeshore Athletic Association baseball fields: At 5300 Park St., this is where, as the story goes, Rossington met Van Zant and Burns. That fateful meeting happened after Van Zant hit a line drive that hit the back of Burns' head.

- Matt Soergel/staff

No. This is a Westside song, all the way.

''Skynyrd is a true representation of the Westside,'' said Van Zant's widow, Judy Van Zant Jenness. ''They were not pretentious. Their stage presence, their attire - their songs were about real events and real people. They were the good ol' boys.''

Unpretentious. Good ol' boys. Real people.

As Skynyrd represents the Westside, so does the Westside epitomize Jacksonville - or at least the Jacksonville that existed before the latest suburban boom fired up.

It's an area that, in some ways, is the most Jacksonville part of Jacksonville.

''That is the character of what Jacksonville was, throughout most of the 20th century - really until the last 15 or 20 years,'' said University of North Florida historian James Crooks.

''The Westside, I would say, would be the truer Jacksonville. It reflects the blue-collar, Bible Belt community that most of Jacksonville has been through most of its history . . . the Westside is the remnant of the old Jacksonville.''

Dispelling an image

The Westside - the vast expanse west of the St. Johns River all the way to the county line - is also a mysterious place to many newcomers, who've settled far away in other parts of the city. Bill Riley, a host on WBWL (600 AM) The Ball, a sports-radio station whose offices are on the Westside, will vouch for that.

''People will have absolutely no idea, when you tell them you're on Lenox [Avenue], how to get here.''

Knowing nothing about the area doesn't stop people from making jokes about the Westside.

''We have some callers in particular, generally from Ponte Vedra, who like to take shots at the Westside - pickup trucks, cars on blocks, education level, that kind of stuff. But the whole 'Westside' thing is almost a point of pride with Westsiders. They're very sensitive about it.''

Riley - who treks in from the Beaches - admits to joining in the funning at the Westside's expense, every once in a while.

''I actually had a guy - true story - who came to a live show I had at Coggin Honda. He came out in his pickup with his dog in the back - a big mean dog chained in the back of his truck. He came all the way from the Westside to Coggin, which is on Atlantic Boulevard, and he said: 'Are you Bill Riley?' I said, 'Yeah,' and he said, 'You need to stop making fun of the Westside.'

''I said, 'I say it endearingly.' Then he said, 'I don't think so. Stop picking on the Westside.'

''Then he took one of my free T-shirts.''

Roger Malphurs, 35, is a proud Westsider, born, raised and settled there, a block from where he grew up, near Normandy Boulevard and Cassat Avenue. He works on the Southside, though, braving the madness on that side of the river five days a week.

''I speak with people at work, and they have a very negative connotation about the Westside - that there are a bunch of rednecks, weirdos over here. Well, we're not glamorous - I'd be the first to tell you that - but you'd get better property over here than you would in Mandarin, that's for sure.''

Malphur's father, Ralph, who like his son is a citizen-activist for the Westside, sums up his feeling about his neighborhood in a few short words - a phrase that's heard often on the Westside.

You might read a little defensiveness into it when some people say it. But not with Malphurs. Not at all.

''The Westside is the best side,'' he says. ''And we mean that.''

An area with roots

The Westside is a huge, diverse area of uncertain boundaries. Most consider Beaver Street the northern edge and the Argyle area near the Clay County line the southern boundary. Some include in it tony neighborhoods such as Avondale and Ortega. Almost everyone agrees it stretches as far west as Jacksonville does, to the county line.

It's changing, just like every part of Jacksonville.

Expensive subdivisions are popping up here and there. Winn-Dixie is building a huge warehouse. And many hopes are pinned on Cecil Field's planned conversion to a high-tech center once the Navy closes the sprawling base in September.

Peggy Talbert, owner of K.C. Bar-B-Q resturant that she and her husband, K.C., opened on San Juan Avenue in 1969.

-- Bob Self/staff

Even so, going over to the bustling Southside, say, can be a bit of culture shock to the die-hard Westsider. Curtis Johnson, 67, a lifelong resident, feels it.

''It's really crowded, it seems to me. I look around and think, 'Boy, they're putting everything over there.' I see all the growth over there, you're stuck in traffic - but boy, I kind of get envious over there sometimes.''

Johnson lives in the Sweetwater neighborhood, tucked just inside Interstate 295 off Wilson Boulevard, a mile from where he grew up. It used to be all farms, like the one his ancestors - ex-slaves from a plantation near Live Oak - started in 1868.

Sweetwater went through some rough times itself, with drugs and prostitution. It's cleaned up now, though, largely because of the efforts of those who live there.

Johnson wouldn't want to live anywhere but the Westside. For him, it means big lots, inexpensive property, a small-town atmosphere. ''I see all those pine trees out here, people with all these big yards,'' he said. ''It's a hidden treasure, and people are going to find it.''

Peggy Talbert runs K.C. Bar-B-Q, a neighborhood institution on San Juan Avenue. She and her husband, K.C., opened it in the late '60s. He died a year ago, and she has run it on her own since.

To her, the Westside's all about family.

''I think probably the Westside of town has more people that have been here generations, several generations of family. Houses, a lot of them, don't even go on the market when they're selling, 'cause they just go to families,'' said Talbert, who lives near the restaurant.

''Those areas out on Hodges [Boulevard] and all that, that's new people. I think the Westside is the old people, people who've been around Jacksonville for a long time.''

A different ballgame

Mike Hogan is a Jacksonville city councilman whose family goes back several generations on the Westside.

''I think west Jacksonville is more the old true South,'' he said. To him, that means lots of churches, extended families and a slower-paced life.

Cedar Hills Sharks Kristen Leino gets tagged out at home during her team's fast-pitch softball game recently against the Lake Shore Wild Angels at the Lakeshore Athletic Association ball fields on Park Street.

-- Bob Self/staff

Newcomers to Florida, after all, tend to cluster closer to the beach: ''They come from the Midwest, where they never saw a beach, and they say, 'If I'm going to live in Florida, I'm going to live at the beach.' ''

Westsiders, though, tend to be from the South, and they want space around them, said Hogan, who lives in Confederate Point. The Westside can provide that, though Hogan admits the area has its problems.

''We've been begging developers for some time to build more upscale housing. The development of the Westside has been so nondescript from a planning standpoint. Right next to each other, you might have a trailer, a mobile home, a 3,000-square-foot home and a business that's been there for years.''

Still, he likes the Westside for its old-fashioned qualities. Take youth sports, for example: Hogan's got nothing against soccer, but on the Westside, it's still a relatively newfangled thing - kind of a yuppie curiosity.

''All my boys play baseball,'' he said proudly.

Still, a couple of years ago, his youngest son decided to play soccer at Paxon High School. He was fast, but he was still at a big disadvantage to the other players, who'd been playing the sport in other parts of town since they were 5 or 6.

It was a different kind of experience.

''We were noticing all the Volvos around when we came out for the first game. And all the parents were standing around yelling, 'Mark the man, mark the man!' We had no idea what they were talking about.''

Hogan laughs.

''Soccer's growing, but baseball and football still rule on the Westside.''

Working people

Don Walton runs Don's Music & Pawn on Blanding Boulevard, a gathering place for musicians, home to new guitars and some choice older ones too.

The Westside's full of musicians, from Skynyrd on down to the humblest bar band.

''We've got people, third-, fourth-, fifth-generation musicians, here. Their grandfathers came out of the mountains, West Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and they played for entertainment before TV,'' said Walton.

''It's been passed down, almost like a craft.''

That's one of the reasons he, a Northside native, opened his store on the Westside - and then chose to live there, in the Lakeshore neighborhood.

''There are a lot of good hard-working honest folks here, for the most part. They're not pretentious. Most of them have done better than their parents, and they try to instill a lot of that in their kids. Still, by and large it's lower-middle class. But there's a lot of pride in that, in not slipping.

''I think people go, 'Well, with hard work you can get there.' ''

2011-10-02T23:56:00.001-07:00

ROCK PILGRIMAGE -THE ARS QUEST 2010 - 2011 -- First Installment 9/25/11

This story is too long - I'll never get it done if I don't do it in installments!!

"Alright! Now it's STAR TIME; let's get down to the basics. That's right! Well, in our last show, I gave a big introduction and all and… That's pretty exciting. But tonight, on this second show, let's look deep into the artistry of this man. It all started in a small town… No, no, no!! I'm not going to go into that! Please welcome from Washington DC, Mr. Root Boy Slim!" -- Bob Greenlee, introducing Root Boy Slim's second set, 69th Amendment Tour, Albany NY, 9-28-91

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_Boy_Slim

Bob Greenlee & Root Boy, backstage, Grog & Tankard, WDC 9-91

Well it did actually start out in a rather small town… After Congress got involved and pulled the rug out from under my 28 year employment, I found myself on the road doing radiation work, at this point in the small town of Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Twenty-five hundred miles away from home, what did I have to do for Thanksgiving?? Well my coworker, Lindsay, was going to visit her aunt and uncle, Ginger & Jim, in Alexandria VA, nearly 500 miles from Oak Ridge, and not far from Washington DC. Heck, I've got a bunch of friends in Washington DC, all of whom I met through Root Boy Slim, so I invited myself to Dick and Linda Bangham's for the Thanksgiving weekend. That timing worked out rather nicely, as my friend, Ron Holloway, was playing the day after Thanksgiving with Deanna Bogart. Deanna played with Root Boy Slim years ago; a multi-award winning musician, I never had a chance to meet her or see her perform, so what luck!

http://www.rootboyslim.com/

http://www.ripbang.com/Home06.html

http://www.ronholloway.com/

http://www.deannabogart.com/

The morning after a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner with Lindsay, Jim, & Ginger, I headed to Dick & Linda's in Silver Spring MD. I hung out with Dick and Linda, generally shadowing them around while they worked or immersing myself in the innumerable cultural artifacts & oddities about their home. I took a little walk with Dick down by the creek at the end of their property in the chilly weather. With comp'd tickets & backstage passes in hand (Dick's been a friend & associate of Deanna's for years & creates her CD covers) we headed to the show at the Weinberg Center for the Performing Arts in Frederick MD. Fabulous show, everything I expected and more!

Duane & Dick

Deanna & Ron

I arranged ahead of time to hook up with Joe Lee - some might say the *infamous* Joe Lee - and he was going to take me to meet Butch Willis at the "home" where Butch is a patient. But Joe bagged out on me; he lives a few hours out of DC now and couldn't leave his 2 dogs out in the cold weather - nor leave them unsupervised in the house. I really did want to meet Butch. I've admired Butch's rather bizarre recordings for sometime. Well, if I couldn't hook up with Joe & Butch, I guess the next best thing is a trip to Joe's Record Paradise to pay homage at the Root Boy Slim shrine - and the store itself! The shrine, created in the early 90's by Patti Paul for her husband Frank, features a pair of Root Boy's unwashed boxer shorts, left at my home the day after the 1990 baptism of my son, Clark (Root signed on as Clark's Godfather). Perusing the used vinyl, my ARS rock pilgrimage began - there in the bin was a copy of the Atlanta Rhythm Section's double LP re-release of the first two albums…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1lUmm7mzQc

http://www.joesrecordparadise.com/

Root Boy Slim Shrine at Joe's Record Paradise, Silver Spring, MD

Source of the Boxer Shorts! Look REAL closely, you'll see them against the baseboard near foot of the bed

Clark & Slim

LP receipt!!!! I'll find that receipt yet!!!

Of course, the cover wasn't signed by Mike McCarty at that time!

Returning to Oak Ridge after my fun-filled fabulous weekend in Washington DC, I started to think about my brother-in-law, Larry's, autographed Back Up Against The Wall LP that he had lost years ago. I started thinking maybe I can re-create that album for him… Gee, I'm not that far from Georgia, I wonder if I could find the guys from ARS and have them sign this album?? Thinking quickly turned into action - a feasibility study!! So I started searching the 'net, trying to find the guys. I sent my sister, Sue, an email and told her about the exciting idea I was working on turning into reality:

From: Straub Duane

Subject: you won't believe...

Date: December 3, 2010 9:14:16 PM PST

To: Gomez Susan

...what I've been up to **most of the day** for Larry... I got a box at the post office & was going to send an ARS vinyl LP (I picked up in WDC last weekend) - same as the CD you already got - to replace the autographed one he lost yrs ago.

Was thinking about the trip I'm taking next weekend to visit an old army buddy in Anniston Alabama, and I figured I'd detour through Doraville and take a picture of where Studio One (ARS' studio) used to be & send it to Larry (I found the address on the web a couple weeks ago). Then I thought - HEY, maybe I can find some of the ARS guys on the web and get them to autograph *THIS* LP.

I stopped wrapping, starting searching the web, found Buddy Buie, the manager/songwriter, called, got his wife & she gave me his email address to make my request. Now I'm waiting to hear back & see if I can go down his way next week end - or heck, in a rental car tomorrow, get his autograph on the LP, and maybe he can give me some contact info for the other guys and they might sign as well? Heck, I'll drive all over to get them.

I think there's a fair chance of hooking up with him, he's a couple hrs south of my friend. BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE!!! :-) I went online and -incredibly- found & purchased the *exact* same LP Larry had - the individual album !! (The CD you got & the vinyl LP I have in hand are "combo" releases of both the 1st & 2nd albums, and do not have the original artwork.)

So I'm scared as crap that the guy will get it to me from New York by wed, or thurs at the latest, AND that I will somehow have it in my HANDS by crack of dawn Friday, since it will not fit in my mailbox here, so I don't know it they leave it on the floor of the apt building mailroom (where it might disappear), give me a notice to pick it up, or what!! Arghhhhh!!!

Oh well, Larry deserves it, right??!!?? :-)

Burn or file this msg so he don't see it. I figure if I can't get all this together, I'll just have Kathy sign the names!! HA!!

BTW, I've been thinking more about the 1st xmas item in the email I sent other day, the "vintage" Super Reverb amp cover. I'm really wanting that now, & it is just up there for anyone to buy on ebay- there's only one available. If you think you guys, with contribution from Mom & E, can get it for me ($84 total cost), please do asap before someone else scarfs it up. If you don't think so, please let me know asap so I can scarf it up myself! :-)

OH, one more thing - Buddy Buie's address is at "mac.com", Apple's email service. So I told his wife I've long been involved in the Mac community & she said they were totally Mac at their place. In the email, I sent this:

BTW, when Gloria gave me your email address, I mentioned I've been deeply involved in the Mac community for years. I've been Macworld Conference Faculty 8 times, and January 27th will be the 11th year I'll be performing with my Mac industry "luminary" friends in the Macworld All Star Band. Our lead guitarist puts on the Macworld Expos, our keyboardist is Macworld magazine editor Chris Breen, on rhythm is Bob LeVitus, author of over 50 Mac books, and others.

Here's a pic of me with my "Rev. A iMac Bass" (those are original 1998 "Rev. A" iMacs on the pickguard) from last year's gig:

http://mic.smugmug.com/M-U-S-I-C-I-A-N-S/INDIE-ROCK-METAL/Mac-World-2010/11312001_e9ggd#794064264_KMdw2

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Buddy Buie was easy to find, heck, he has a business & needs a web presence, so I called his office to ask if he'd sign this LP, and followed up with an email. :-)

http://www.manta.com/c/mm85526/buddy-buie-enterprises-inc

From: Straub Duane

Subject: A special request for Buddy

Date: December 3, 2010 2:11:09 PM PST

To: Buie Buddy

Hello Buddy,

I just spoke with someone in your office, maybe your wife, Gloria? My name is Duane Straub; I met you 2 nights in a row in July 1973 at the Ash Grove in LA - remember me?? Ha! (We gave the guys a HUGE beer mug the second night, a few years later Robert said it was still in the back of the studio - maybe he was just being nice.)

My brother-in-law *had* a copy of Back Up Against the Wall autographed by you and the ARS the second night - we sat in the front pew at stage edge - JR was the greatest rhythm player I'd ever seen!

Incredibly, he lost that album years ago - he used to take old LPs to the swap meet - he NEVER would have sold it, and can only imagine it mistakenly got mixed in with swap meet LPs. :-)

Fast-forward 15-20 years, I'm temporarily working in Oak Ridge TN. Last weekend at (my friend) Joe's Record Paradise in Washington DC, I picked up the vinyl re-issue of the first 2 ARS LPs - gee it would have been gold if I'd found Back Up Against the Wall itself...

I was wrapping it up today to mail to Larry, my brother-in-law, in Long Beach CA, and was thinking about my planned trip next weekend to visit a friend in Anniston. Larry & I are such die-hard fans, I figured I'd detour through Doraville and take a picture of where Studio One used to be & send it to Larry (I found the address on the web a couple weeks ago). Then I thought - HEY, maybe I can find some of the guys on the web and get them to autograph *THIS* LP.

I stopped wrapping, starting searching the web, & here I am wondering if I can come down your way next week - or heck - I'll jump in a rental car tomorrow (I have no wheels here) - and get your autograph on this LP. And maybe you can give me some contact info for the the other (original/Ronnie) guys and they might as well? Heck, I'll drive all over to get them.

Sorry, didn't mean to go on so long... Larry is also getting the CD release of the first 2 LPs - I ordered that before finding this LP.

BTW, when the nice lady gave me your email address, I mentioned I've been deeply involved in the Mac community for years. I've been Macworld Conference Faculty 8 times, and January 27th will be the 11th year I'll be performing with my Mac industry "luminary" friends in the Macworld All Star Band. Our lead guitarist puts on the Macworld Expos, our keyboardist is Macworld magazine editor Chris Breen, on rhythm is Bob LeVitus, author of over 50 Mac books, and others.

Here's a pic of me with my "Rev. A iMac Bass" (those are original 1998 "Rev. A" iMacs on the pickguard) from last year's gig:

http://mic.smugmug.com/M-U-S-I-C-I-A-N-S/INDIE-ROCK-METAL/Mac-World-2010/11312001_e9ggd#794064264_KMdw2

Thank you for your consideration,

Duane Straub

I'm off work Friday-Sunday, ready to jump if you can help me out.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Larry had his Back Up Against The Wall LP signed in July 1973 when the ARS played two nights in a row at the Ash Grove in LA.

http://www.ashgrovemusic.com/

One thing leads to the next, so to truly duplicate Larry's LP, I thought, I wonder if I can find an original copy of Back Up Against The Wall?? I went onto eBay, and HOLY SMOKES, there was a copy of Back Up Against The Wall with a buy it now price of only $8.95!!! I believe some people have paid over $100 for that LP!! My fingers were shaking as I submitted to buy it now.

I hadn't heard back from Buddy, but I was headed to visit an ex-Army buddy in Anniston AL, about 2.5 hours from Buddy, in just a few days, so I had the album fast shipped to me so I'd have it in case Buddy came through for me. It cost more to ship the LP than it did to purchase it! :-) The seller was a great guy and sent it off to me with a leap of faith, the rush postage costing more than he'd estimated and more than I'd paid him. I had to have it delivered to the property manager's office because I only had a tiny mailbox in my World War II Manhattan Project era apartment. The manager's office would be closed before I could get there from work, so I made special arrangement with her & picked it up just in time, the night before I would head to Anniston before dawn…

-------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Thanks, re: ARS LP

From: Straub Duane

Date: December 4, 2010 6:39:22 PM PST

To: expressrich

Thanks for calling Rich, & thanks in advance for sending the LP off quick delivery.

This is a present for my brother-in-law who lost his copy years ago.

BTW, you know about the late Root Boy Slim? From WDC, he had a great following in Albany late 70s thru early 90s.

Regards,

Duane

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

I followed up with Buddy again via email, and sent off a help request message to Robert Register who I discovered in my ARS contact search as mention of ARS members show up frequently in his blog. My two ARS LPs carefully protected, and my ARS contact search findings in hand, I hit the road for Anniston in my rental car with hopeful anticipation that Buddy would reply to my emails or return my phone calls in time that I could swing by his place on this trip to AL.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

From: Straub Duane

Subject: Re: A special request for Buddy

Date: December 6, 2010 7:51:59 AM PST

To: Buie Buddy

Hi Buddy,

Hopefully you've seen my (sorry, long winded) message sent Friday evening. It just keeps getting better on my end -unbelievably - I found a copy of Back Up Against The Wall on eBay and I'm having it overnighted to me.

Will I be able to hook up with you Friday, Saturday, or Sunday to have you sign it? Are you able to give me contact info on the other guys or pass my info on to them?

I'll only be in Tennessee for one or two more weeks.

Appreciatively,

Duane

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Straub Duane

Subject: ARS & my quest

Date: December 8, 2010 6:36:30 PM PST

To: Register Robert

Bcc: Gomez Susan

Hello Robert,

I am on a quest, making some progress, yet concerned I may fall short of my goal - in what is likely a one chance shot:

I would like to get Buddy & ARS' (circa 1973) autographs on a copy of Back Up Against The Wall. I'm pursuing this as a gift for my brother-in-law; I've spent hours and hours on this, but he's worth it - he's been good to my sister for over 37 years now.

The background & current status is this: In July 1973 my (late) brother, future brother-in-law, Larry, and I saw ARS two nights in a row in a teeny club in Los Angeles called the Ash Grove. On the second night, Larry had the band and Buddy sign his Back Up Against The Wall LP. Some years later, 15 to 20 years ago, Larry lost that album.

I live in California (as do Larry & my sister), but I'm on temporary work assignment in Tennessee. I'm headed to Anniston AL this weekend to visit an old ex-army buddy & thought I'd go a few hours out of my way just to get a picture of where Studio One used to be so I could send it to Larry, showing him this is where it all happened! :-)

Then, a couple days ago, I miraculously found and bought a copy of Back Up Against The Wall on eBay & had it overnight delivered to me. Then I commenced HOURS of searching the web (6 days now) trying to find contact info for Buddy & the guys. I spoke with Gloria, sent an email to Buddy, then spoke with him today. He says while he's happy to sign the record, visiting guests this weekend preclude him from doing so. He asked me to call him middle of next week to see if we might get together next weekend.

I briefly spoke with JR's wife just a couple hours ago and left a message for him. I've left a message with "Willie," the contact (in New York) for the band Robert apparently is playing with, Street Survivors. I have spoken with or left messages with a SLEW of Ronnie Hammonds, D. Daughtrys, and Barry Baileys (whodda thunk there are at least *3* Barry Baileys within 50 miles of Atlanta who play guitar???), and found only an address for a Paul Goddard in Norcross.

I don't expect you can share contact info for the guys, at least without prior permission, but please do if/when you can. Can you share my quest with them & give them my contact info?

There are sooooo many more nuances & ways that ARS music has resonated with Larry & me and been intertwined in each of our lives. I'd love to share lots of it with someone like you who might care, but for the sake of not going on longer than I already have... I hope just this small part of my story will resonate sufficiently with you and the guys such that they'd allow me the opportunity to drive all over heck to meet up with them to sign this LP. Hopefully not too much of an imposition, but if it turns out so, I will at least not be kicking myself in the rear for years to come for not having asked, especially when it seems the planets are perfectly aligned for this endeavor to simply fall into place.

With much appreciation,

Duane Straub,

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Register Robert

Subject: Re: ARS & my quest

Date: December 8, 2010 9:44:16 PM PST

To: Straub Duane

Duane~

I have the email addresses for Buddy, Robert, Paul & Dean. I know J.R. but I've never met Barry or Ronnie. I also have the email address for Mike McCarty who did the cover art.

I am forwarding this to them. That's about all I can do. I hope those 5 reply to your email.

This is a worthy endeavor & I wish you luck in getting your autographs.

best,

Robert Register

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next installment:

me n daoust pic

Paul

ash grove emails & link to ARS performance

more, more, more!!!!!!

2011-08-28T22:05:00.001-07:00

"Sun, Aug 28, 2011 at 10:13 AM">10:13 AM (13 hours ago)

LP came yesterday -- THANK YOU!!! WOW- I guess that's a wrap, huh?!?

Not my intention to keep the excuse train going... Spent 11 hrs on a resume yesterday, will finnish today after late yesterday's input from my proof reader. 2 or 3 more resumes slated for today, **hopefully** they'll be much quicker.

Yesterday also saw arrival of our Japanese exchange student, & we gotta move out of our "summer home" in Santa Cruz today as my son's summer sessions at UC Santa Cruz ended yesterday.

That's the news from SF!

Absolutely the VERY best,
D

PS: The pic of Yost standing drumming on rockpilgrimage is the only one I know of. Geeez, must be plenty more out there somewhere, Huh? Maybe in people's shoe boxes, tucked under their beds.

2011-08-08T22:26:00.000-07:00

Hey y'all~

Already planning my little vacation during the Saturday, Aug. 20th weekend. I've got my backstage pass for the ALS~Lou Gehrig's Disease gig with The Rhythm Section & Joe Billy. Promise I won't bother nobody.
I'll just be passed out in the back of that Bay Limo with the stripper pole. May end up on Dauphin Island before it's all over with. Of course, the only way I'll be able to accomplish that feat will be to submit to constant adult supervision. http://www.downtownmusicfest.com/

This is an excerpt from a pamphlet entitled THE D.U.D. IN LIVINGSTON, ALABAMA published in 1975 by the Livingston, AL Bicentennial Commission. It was written by D.P. Culp, a former President of Livingston State.
Here's the story of how George Fluker, Sr., passed the position of drummer for the annual DUD parade down to his son & my good friend, the late George Fluker, Jr.

Sumter County and the Town of Livingston are populated by people
who have close ties of friendship. It would be difficult to determine whether this holds DUD together, or if the traditional community effort contributes to the closeness of the people in the area. They certainly give serious thought to preparation of their own acts for the coming year, and to the perpetuation of the festival itself.

Many evidences of this serious interest might be cited, but perhaps the feeling with which people accept and promote the custom can best be illustrated by the fact that roles and responsibilities in DUD are handed down from age to youth as an inheritance. For example, many years ago, Mr. W.S. Nichols, President of the Bank of Sumter, was a leading figure in the DUD parade. Because of his position of leadership, he always did much of the word-of-mouth advertising for the parade and invariably appeared at the head of the group as it left Sleepy Hollow and moved out toward the Town of Livingston. He frequently carried, or had someone carry, a drum to beat a marching rhythm. In his later years, he began inviting George Fluker, a young boy of the time, to serve as his assistant. Within a few years, it became evident to everyone that George Fluker had become an assistant to Mr. Nichols as parade leader, and heir to the position of drummer or leader. Evidently, Mr. Nichols had chosen George because he had no son of his own and because George, being a very congenial young fellow, took an interest in the parade and acted the part of drummer very well. Consequently George Fluker became parade drummer, or leader.

In later years, after Mr. Nichols' death and George Fluker's ascendency to head drummer, Jim Williams, whose mother was a niece of Mr. Nichols, was brought in as a very young boy to accompany George Fluker as an assistant, much in the same manner as George Fluker earlier served as assistant to Mr. Nichols. As a result of this, Jim Williams early became known as an assistant to the drummer, or leader of the parade, and still plays this role. In 1964, he came home from his foreign language professorship at Washington and Lee University to serve as a drummer at the head of the parade.

In more recent years, George Fluker's son, GEORGE FLUKER, JR., had served as an assistant drummer, or leader, of the parade. In fact, George, Jr. made his first parade trip at the age of sixteen months and has not missed a march since that time. Consequently, it is anticipated that GEORGE FLUKER, JR. will continue to serve as drummer for the parade throughout his life.

This custom of passing on from father to son, from age to youth, specific leadership positions in the DUD parade, indicates its significance in the community and its prospects for survival in future years.

In any event, DUD is very much a part of the lives of residents in Livingston and Sumter County. It is "what you do on New Year's Eve," in spite of inclement weather or other conditions. On December 31, 1963, fourteen inches of snow stalled traffic and disrupted life generally, but the DUD parade "came off" as scheduled.

DUD in Livingston is a significant New Year's celebration, particularly and peculiarly adapted to the people of Livingston and Sumter County. It began in the days when men traveled on foot or on horseback. Who knows? The time may come when young men will fly home from outer space to take their places in the DUD parade!

George was a great guy and a terrific friend. Here's some more stuff I posted about him back in '09 including a circa 1961 photo of Fluker leading the D.U.D. parade in Livingston. http://robertoreg.blogspot.com/2009_10_11_archive.html.

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/11/iron_bowl_75_where_are_they_no.html

GEORGE FLUKER

Front page article in the BIRMINGHAM POST-HERALD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4,1997

STABBING MAY GIVE CLUES TO MURDER MYSTERY
By Steve Joynt
Birmingham Post-Herald

Birmingham police are investigating a multiple stabbing death from last month that has lent new intrigue to the 13-year-old unsolved slaying of a former UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA FOOTBALL PLAYER.

On May 8, 1984, the body of Richard Bryan,33, was found floating in a tributary of the Tombigbee River in Choctaw County.

He had been shot three times with a shotgun: once in each shoulder and once in the back of the head. Bryan's body was wrapped with baling wire and weighted with a logging chain.

Even though no one was ever arrested in connection with the case, Bryan's mother, Cissy Stehl, who has doggedly investigated the killing on her own and offered a reward that has risen to $75,000, filed a wrongful death suit against three men, including another former Tide player.

The suit was dismissed in June of 1990 because authorities, including Choctaw County Sheriff Donald Lolley, refused to turn over information from the investigation, saying the case was still open.

Shortly before 2 a.m. on May 24, one of the three men who had been named as defendents in Mrs. Stehl's suit was found in a Birmingham alley, stabbed 29 times.

The victim, George Franklin Fluker, Jr., 46, of Freeport, Fla., died at University Hospital at 5:45 a.m. that day.

Birmingham police Detective Damian Williams said Fluker's death is a case of many odd circumstances but, as yet, there are no clear answers. The fact that Fluker may have been involved in Bryan's death years ago, Williams said, "probably has no direct bearing on his own death, but it is interesting."

Sheriff Lolley said that his investigators interviewed Fluker years ago, "more on the witness side of the Bryan case. I would not say that he was a suspect in the actual death."

However, Lolley said he believes that Mrs. Stehl was on the right trail with her lawsuit, " and if Fluker's death might help solve this case, I'll go up to Birmingham myself."

Mr. Stehl said she takes no satisfaction in what happened to Fluker and that she feels for his family.

"No family should have to go through what this family had gone through," she said, "But if his death shakes something loose about what happened to my son, I would welcome that relief."

Fluker was attacked behind 5231 Court Q, directly behind the home of his friend Sherman Crosby, Williams said.

Crosby and his wife were out at the time and did not return until after police responded to a neighbor's call that a man in the alley was screaming for help.

Police found Crosby's home ransacked and the phone lines cut, possibly to disable the alarm system. But, Crosby told police, nothing was missing from the house.

"The burglary created a lot of questions," Williams said. "I don't know if Fluker rolled up on the burglars or whether something else was going on."

Fluker was still able to talk when help arrived, but he was unable to provide any clues about his attacker, Williams said. He only said,"They got my car." His car was found by police later, abandoned in the 1400 block of 47th Street Ensley.

Police found $1500 in Fluker's wallet, but he may have had more when he was attacked, Williams said.

When Fluker was loaded into an ambulance, police found a .22-caliber pistol that had been lying underneath him. He told police that it was not his gun.

Fluker and his wife were driving from Florida to Tuscaloosa, Williams said, and had stopped in a Hoover hotel for the night. She told police that her husband had called Crosby at Crosby's cellular phone and talked to him for a couple of minutes. Then he said he was going to get some food. That was the last she saw of him.

Crosby has denied that Fluker called his phone and told police he DID NOT EVEN KNOW FLUKER WAS IN TOWN.

"There's a lot of things about this case that don't make a helluva lot of sense right now," Williams said. "If that old murder case from Choctaw County will help shed some light on this, I'd be happy to hear it."

Bryan, a reserve fullback and a defensive tackle for the Tide from 1972 to 1974, was last seen on May 3, 1984. He had just returned to Tuscaloosa from a trip to the Bahamas and Florida when he received an urgent call that he told his girlfriend was from Robin Parkhouse and Edwin Gates, Jr., the other two defendants named in Mrs. Stehl's suit.

He set out to meet them and was never seen alive again.

Eighteen months later, Parkhouse, an All-American defensive end for Alabama and co-captain of the 1971 SEC championship team, was arrested in a Baltimore hotel in possession of three kilograms of cocaine. He was sentenced to seven years in a federal penitentiary.

"I've never really stopped trying to find out who killed my son," Mrs. Stehl said,"He had his problems, but this should never have happened to him."

Mrs. Stehl lives in Port Royal, Va., but she and her youngest son still sometimes travel to Alabama to follow up on leads they receive in the case. To this day, talking about her son Richard's death brings her to tears.

She has accuse Lolley of all kinds of things in connection with the case, from bad police work to purposely misplacing or destroying evidence.

"I certainly sympathize with her," Lolley said," I'd love to take this case to trial, but there has to be some solid evidence to do that."

Bryan had tried for several NFL teams and finally landed a spot with a World Football League team. But the league folded before he could play a single game.

He returned to Tuscaloosa to begin pre-med classes at Alabama, looking toward a career in sports medicine.

When she heard about Fluker's death, Mrs. Stehl said, "Everything just came up into my throat. I don't know what this is going to mean, but I feel like something's got to happen now."

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Robert,

Thank you for responding. George was a card in school. The music and guitar was his passion. This is so sad to hear. What a talent. I would like to know more about his history like head of the D.U.D.and what else went on in his life . he was such a great friend when we were at Marion. It is like Stevie Ray, what a waste of talent. What more you can tell me would be appreciated.

I also remedmber seeing Rubber Band at the Old Dutch in P.C. plus the Magnicificent Seven and of course The Tyn Tymes, from here in Gadsden,(still playing and are great) after 30 some odd years.

Thanks again for your reply

Jim

P.S. I listen to this great SOUL music all day (Sanford Townsend Band etc.)

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Robert,

My name is Jim L. and I live in Gadsden, AL. I have been reading about Tippy Armstrong on your great blog site. What brought me to your site is my search for The Late Great George Fluker. George and I both attended Marion Military Institute back in the late sixties. As a matter of fact we lived in the same barracks on the same floor so I saw him every day for quite a while. I also had the great honor and pleasure of playing guitar in a band along with George. Man how George could play. I thought I was pretty good but George was light years ahead of me. Here at age 59 I am still trying to catch up. We really had some great times together. Anyway, I have often wondered what has happened to George. I wanted to ask if you had any information. I can't seem to find much.

Once again, enjoying your site and would appreciate any info you have

Thanks again

Jim

Group Picture from Capn Dean's Wedding:
Tippy is third from left,followed by his wife,Nancy Derrington,Fluker, THE NOTORIOUS Crockett Roberts and Eve Owen
[photo courtesy of Dean White]

Left to Right:

MY OLD BUDDY FROM LIVINGSTON, THE LATE GREAT GEORGE FLUKER,FORMER HEAD OF D.U.D., CAPN DEAN, AND TIPPY
[image courtesy of Captain Dean White]

D.U.D. Parade

December 31st

In Livingston, Alabama the New Year’s Eve celebration, or parade, known locally as DUD is a highlight of the year. This celebration for the changing of the year has become a tradition in Livingston and in Sumter County. The local residents have apparently given very little attention to the origin of the custom, but they consider it an important part of their civic and social life. From one year to the next, people quietly plan their acts and costumes for the DUD parade on the evening of December 31st.

According to History of the Town of Livingston, Alabama, prepared in 1928 by Dr Robert D.Spratt, the DUD Parade originated in 1857 by Colonel T.B. Wetmore, Ben B. Little, and Mr. John McDaniel. By the time this was recorded in 1928 no one really knew how the DUD got started. It is believed to have been a custom carried over from England and Scotland.

In the older days, the maskers called themselves the "Indomitables." There was a march of the maskers at night and a parade on horseback in daytime. The custom almost passed out during the Civil War, but was revived some years afterward and has continued to the present day. The older name "Indomitables" passed out of use in the late 1800's when "some stupendous wit began to call the maskers ‘Damned Ugly Devils’ and so we have the D.U.D."

above text courtesy of http://www.ci.livingston.al.us/dud_parade.htm

from the December 29, 1971 issue of Livingston, Alabama's HOME RECORD:

HE WILL CONTINUE D.U.D. TRADITION FOR HIS FATHER

George F. Fluker Jr. , of Livingston, a senior at the University of Alabama, expects to see the Crimson Tide play Nebraska in the Orange Bowl New Year's night.
But he has to be in Livingston some 24 hours earlier.

Plane seats for Miami being as scarce as they are for this greatest-ever game, George may or may not make it to the Orange Bowl by game time. Be that as it may, he intends to be in Livingston Friday night, New Year's Eve. He will be here because he has a job to do, a tradition to uphold, a trust to fulfill.

That job and that trust is to lead the annual D.U.D. parade, the ancient and colorful event which takes place in Livingston and nowhere else in the world. George will march at the head of the line of costumed and disguised men and boys, beating a drum and leading them through the streets to the neighborhood of the Courthouse Square, where judging and general frolicking takes place.

It is no overstatement to say that this job of leading the line is a tradition for the 21-year-old Fluker. He participated in his first D.U.D. parade at the age of five months, and he has been in every one since. His grandfather, C.R. Moon, transported the baby, in his first parade, in a little red wagon. The little fellow's father, George Sr., was with them, performing his customary job of beating the drum and leading the line.

For, you see, it was George Jr.'s father who got him started on this D.U.D. tradition, a tradition that the father himself had been a part of since he was five years old. It was way back in 1913 when W. S. Nichols, who then was the regular leader of the D.U.D. parade, invited the little Fluker boy to march with him in the big shindig. The boy was delighted and continued to take part, shouldering the main responsibility after Mr. Nichols could no longer perform.

Through the years, George Sr. missed only one D.U.D. parade, as well as anyone can remember. That one came during World War II when he just couldn't make it home from his Army duty.

George Sr. won't make it to the parade this year----not in the flesh.
He died August 11 of this year following a severe heart attack.

But he will be very much present in spirit and in the hearts of his wife, Mrs. Martha M. Fluker, his daughter, Mrs. Susan Howze, his mother-in-law, Mrs. C. R. Moon and many, many others.

And int he heart of his son, George Jr., who will carry on without his dad for the first time. The young man's heart will be full and it will be heavy. But he will march and he will beat his drum and he will lead the line. Ty Cobb, his friend who now is employed in Birmingham, expects to be here to march with him.

"I've got to have some moral support," George said.

"I didn't mention it to Boy," Mrs. Fluker said. ("Boy" being the name often used by the young man's parents as he has grown to manhood). "I wanted him to do what he was able to do. One night he came in and said, 'Well, Mama, I'm going to march in Daddy's place.' "

And so he will be out there Friday night, with his friend and his costume and his drum. No one will know just how he feels as he leads the way along the route which he so often covered in the company of his beloved father.

But few will doubt that as the shadowy figures come out of the darkness and frolic their way toward the Square, with Boy leading the way, Boy's father will know and be glad.

----John Neel

D. U. D.'s WILL MARCH AGAIN FRIDAY NIGHT IN LIVINGSTON

It all started way back in 1857...
114 years ago...
and has been going on every year since that time.
This year, as in years past, on New Year's Eve, the DUD's will march again.

Livingston Mayor Drayton Pruitt, following the tradition set at a time no one remembers,
has issued the proclamation which sets aside December 31 as DUD night and has ordered
"each and every able bodied male resident of said town to set aside all duties and cares of his
ordinary life and dress himself in costume and disguise and proceed to Sleepy Hollow where he shall be joined by all other male residents of said town."

And thus is has been, that each year on December 31, all the men of the town, rich and poor, friends and enemies, forget their cares and join together "to march, deport and exhibit themselves in a foolish and frivolous manner upon and throughout the streets of Livingston."
This year will be no different from the other 113.
On Friday night at 7 p.m. the men will gather in Sleepy Hollow and the parade will begin.

The parade will end at the Bored Well pavilion and the awarding of prizes will culminate much hard work...
mostly by wives and mothers who came up with the ingenious costumes and disguises.
The "Dressed Up Dudes" or , if you prefer,
"Damn Ugly Devils"
prance and cavort around the pavilion to the amusement to all except maybe a few small
frightened children, while awaiting the decision of the judges.

The DUD parade has been held each year including one December 31 several years ago when a heavy snow covered the town. Granted, there were few marchers and fewer spectators but the parade was held and tradition kept alive.
Tradition will continue Friday night.

Who will be the winners?
No one knows.
You will just have to come out and see for yourself, but one thing is certain...
there will be a parade and there will be a winner.

Following the parade of "Dudes" and "Devils"
another tradition will take place when the Masquers Club holds its annual New Year's Eve Masquers Ball.

Although not as old as the DUD's (this will be the 20th ball)
the Masquers have set quite a tradition of their own and each year come up with elaborate costumes and decorations.

2011-08-01T02:16:00.001-07:00

This afternoon I drove over to B'ham & attended a superb lecture & slide show by renowned photographer, Rowland Scherman.
Rowland Scherman, Shades Valley's Pete Owen, legendary B'ham & Gulf Coast entrepreneur,Mountain Brook's Joe Wallace,owner of Cast Stone of Alabama
http://artfolkgallery.org/index.php

Rowland won a Grammy in '68 for his image on the cover of DYLAN'S GREATEST HITS. Pete made some of his major business decisions hanging out in the bar Rowland owned in B'ham back in the Seventies & Eighties called Joe's Bar.

Joe Wallace runs Cast Stone of Alabama http://www.caststoneofal.com
Joe certainly understands ROCK PILGRIMAGE. http://rockpilgrimage.blogspot.com
According to Pete, Joe has actually visited the Brookhaven MARTA stop that was built on the site where Bill Lowery's Talent Agency & MASTER SOUND studio were located.
Joe knew he was walking ON SACRED GROUND!

Joe & Pete. Pete likes ROCK PILGRIMAGE because of his interest in the travel business. http://www.susanferguson.worldventures.biz

http://www.susanferguson.rovia.com

Pete

2010-07-31T02:04:00.001-07:00

Hi Roberto,

I was in Tuscaloosa in school, a couple of years ahead of you--probably overlapping you a bit. I think we were friends with some of the same people, including Marshal Hagler. I have wondered over the years what happened to Art Schilling, where he was, etc., and sad to came across the fact that he died. Very sorry to hear that. Can you tell me what happened to him--how he died and when?

Thank you.

Best,
T

FROM BRUCE:

I do not know any details of his death. I only learned that he died sometime after he played the deputy sheriff in the movie with Lou Gossett being the sheriff in rural south with the flying nun starring in the lead role.

Got the movie stuff wrong. Holly Hunter was the female lead and Richard Widmark was the sheriff in the movie "A gathering of old men" Gossett played the black handy man and Art was the racist deputy sheriff. Small role, but he was able to portray all the redneck racist that he grew up with in Alabama. I got a pic of him by Marshal.

Robert,
Sorry I attached a bad pic. Here is a better(?) one of Art Schilling (left) and Charlie Hayward.

Did you get the email that Art died in 2003 of cancer?

Bruce

"Photo 2. Somebody's front porch in T-Town. Sitting - Lou Mullinex (always liked that picture of Lordy Lou), Standing left to right - Jennifer Toffel (now Mrs. T.), The late Art Schilling (miss that boy) and Jenny Fraley. *PHOTO BY JENNIFER TOFFEL"
- JOHNNY TOWNSEND http://www.johntown.com/

Who is this cat who played with the Tuscaloosa All Stars?

He is Art Schilling. Keyboard player and actor. He was the red neck deputy sheriff in the movie "A Gathering of Old Men"

Hopper

Subject: Ayn Rand Playboy Interview

Here's Ayn Rand's '64 Playboy Interview:
http://www.ellensplace.net/ar_pboy.html

BOY HOWDY!!!!
We had a BLAST @ BOTTLETREE http://www.ticketbiscuit.com/bottletree/eventspotlight.aspx on 3rd Ave.S. in B'ham Sattiddee afternoon with THE LOCUST FORK BAND! http://www.locustforkband.com/

Frank Bromberg, Macey Taylor http://www.myspace.com/taylorbroadcastservices & John McClusky

BOTTLETREE http://www.ticketbiscuit.com/bottletree/eventspotlight.aspx

THE LOCUST FORK BAND! http://www.locustforkband.com/

THE LOCUST FORK BAND! http://www.locustforkband.com/

THE LOCUST FORK BAND! http://www.locustforkband.com/

THE LOCUST FORK BAND! http://www.locustforkband.com/

THE LOCUST FORK BAND! http://www.locustforkband.com/

BOTTLETREE http://www.ticketbiscuit.com/bottletree/eventspotlight.aspx

BOTTLETREE http://www.ticketbiscuit.com/bottletree/eventspotlight.aspx

Macey Taylor http://www.myspace.com/taylorbroadcastservices
playing keys on ONE WAY OUT.
Had flashbacks of THE BEAST & BETTY gettin' caught by CRAIG in the little cottage behind 1519!

BOTTLETREE http://www.ticketbiscuit.com/bottletree/eventspotlight.aspx

BOTTLETREE http://www.ticketbiscuit.com/bottletree/eventspotlight.aspx

Robert "KA$H" Register

Macey Taylor http://www.myspace.com/taylorbroadcastservices

THE LOCUST FORK BAND! http://www.locustforkband.com/

Our WONDERFUL BARTENDER @
BOTTLETREE http://www.ticketbiscuit.com/bottletree/eventspotlight.aspx

BOTTLETREE http://www.ticketbiscuit.com/bottletree/eventspotlight.aspx

Will somebody PLEASE tell me who this son of a bitch is.

THE LOCUST FORK BAND! http://www.locustforkband.com/

2010-07-22T00:39:00.001-07:00

L ~

Let me know if I'm off on this.

After we spoke, the first thing I wrote was "Crewcuts, Beatles, Newberry's, Kress- Beatles, Woolworth"

These mental images from my teenage years in Dothan are exactly what I want to communicate in
ROCK PILGRIMAGE ~ JACKSONVILLE.

THAT'S THE FRIST IMAGE I WANNA CAPTURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!

1961 school day pictures of about 30 famous rockers from Jacksonville contrasted with their '66 & '67 photographs.

EXCUSE ME, but when Elvis came back from Germany, he was ONE morbid joke.
He was somebody your older sister built a shrine to in her bedroom.
Chump!
The Beatles were something!
Even before they came over, the Kress on the NW corner of Main & Foster in Dothan had Beatle dolls & the girls from over on SILK STOCKING AVENUE bought all of 'em up the first Saturday they were up for sale and the ones who missed it REGRET IT TO THIS DAY!

I guarandamntee you it was the same way in Jacksonville but way mo' worser.

At the same time, both towns, Dothan & Jacksonville were under TOTAL SEGREGATION & EVERBODY had been living next to bases that had given THE NIGRAS they SILVER RIGHTS since 1948!

I'm talkin' FIFTIES ALICE IN WONDERLAND!!!!

Dizzzzzzzzzzzzzz wadn't no states rights thing.

These FOLK believed dark-skinned folks stank and had cooties.

In Dothan, it were mo' worser than CASTRO!

It's no accident that those cats from Jacksonville named their band after Leonard Skinner.

Am I wrong?

best,
r

Wednesday, July 07, 2010

Robert ,
Just a quick note . The Kress store also had Beatle wigs , Beatle boots , and many other items us Southside boys couldn't afford . Your idea for the rock show sounds like it could be a hit , keep it up . See you at City Fest .

http://dothancityfest.com/?page_id=63
David A.

2010-07-21T01:02:00.000-07:00

Here's the first list of locations for shooting ROCK PILGRIMAGE~ JACKSONVILLE:

1) Brickyard Road http://www.blog.hr/print/id/1620797290/lynyrd-skynyrd.html

2)The Still 4506 San Juan Ave.

3) Woodstock Teen Center Beaver Street

4) Riverside Studios 220 Riverside Ave.

5) Ronnie VanZant's Grave

6) The Bolles School 7400 San Jose Boulevard http://www.bolles.org/contact

7) Lee High School 1200 S. McDuff Ave. http://www.duvalschools.org/LEE/

8) The Riviera Apartments 1700 Blanding Boulevard

9) The House Ronnie VanZant Grew Up In

10) The House Gary Rossington Grew Up In

11) The House Allen Collins Grew Up In

12) The West Tavern 5301 Lenox Ave.

13) FREEBIRDLIVE 200 1st St. N., Jacksonville Bch, FL http://www.freebirdlive.com/

14) The Little Brown Jug 2517 Edison Ave.

15) Hell House http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/2007/03/

16) St. Vincent's Hospital 1 Shircliff Way http://www.jaxhealth.com/

2010-07-17T19:00:00.001-07:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilgrimage

Answer the Call...

2010-07-08T00:54:00.001-07:00

Hey y'all ~

This is a warning shot across the bow.

I want each one of you to participate in a conference call to be scheduled one day neck week, July 12 to July 16, so DEFINITELY get back to me soon so we can set a date & time!!!!

I'm gonna pitch ROCK PILGRIMAGE ~ JACKSONVILLE
to producers & NETWORK consumers on this conference call.
(I never been on a conference call in my WHOLE DAMNED life so I may NEEDZZZZZZZZZZ to do two or three before this BIG ONE~ SOWZZZZZZZZZZZ GIT REDDY)

Unfortunately, I have to write 5 or 6 minutes of dialogue between now & neck week.

I'll git it done & shoot it to you before the conference call.

Anywayzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

You happen to be in my ideal group
so if you don't want to participate at any time between July 12 & July 16, let me know so I can invite someone else ~

Laurie Bensberg Herselmen ~ female view of Austin

Kathy Parish Swigler ~ female view of Panama City Beach

Phoebe Lewis ~ female view of being Jerry Lee Lewis' daughter

Buddy Buie ~ male view of Dothan

Rodney Justo ~ male view of Tampa Bay

Lance Miccio ~ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2293493/
President of Happy Trailers HD http://www.happytrailershd.com/main/

Blackwood Entertainment ~ http://www.blackwoode.com/

Ken Babbs ~ male view of Pensacola Beach

Jimmy Dean ~ male view of Panama City Beach

Dave Muscari ~ TV executive in Dallas & UA Alumnus

Igor ~ William Alford, Samson native, & old Tuscaloosa head.

Bruce Hopper ~ ditto on "old Tuscaloosa head."

best,
r

From left to right is... Joe Wilson on keyboards.....Dennis Yost on drums...... J.R. Cobb on guitar...and Wally Eaton on bass. I have no idea where they are playing.

Saturday, July 03, 2010

This is a proposal for a documentary/ reality show/website/BOOK
called
Southern Rock Pilgrimage http://rockpilgrimage.blogspot.com

Ownership of the title is simple.
IT'S MINE!!!!
I OWN the son of a bitch!

When one googles
"southern rock pilgrimage"
one gets only 4 hits.
THOSE POSTS ARE MINE!
http://rockpilgrimage.blogspot.com/2005_02_01_archive.html

I also have a claim to the first use of the term "rock pilgrimage" in the U.S.
but
apparently the term was coined in the U.K. a couple of years before '05.
http://www.absoluteradio.co.uk/music/pilgrimages/

Each episode of SOUTHERN ROCK PILGRIMAGE will focus upon ONE city.
The city will be THE STAR
& the rockers will be the tour guides.
Their commentary in cemeteries
& at the sites of former crash pads, estates, night clubs, girlfriend's houses, dope dens, recording studios, restaurants, etc. etc. will be accompanied by the appropriate music & archival footage.

All I want is a piece of the action.

The pilot should be shot in Jacksonville
It'll be a little cheap & nasty.

A couple of members of my immediate family invented copper wire fighting over a penny.

In my humble opinion,
this pilot will challenge the frugality of Coen Brothers production practices.
MY NINJAS KNOW HOW TO CUT CORNERS!!!!

Everybody connected will sign a contract.

Best,
rr http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=9859983&nav=0RdEGLBs
http://cottonkingdom.blogspot.com
http://snakedoctor.blogspot.com

A few years ago, CMT aired a documentary on Southern Rock. Below you will find a list of the scenes devoted to Lynyrd Skynyrd. The difference between CMT's documentary & SOUTHERN ROCK PILGRIMAGE will be the focus will be upon the cities instead of the groups.

11] Funochio's
Atlanta

Al Kooper
Gary Rossington

12]elementary school baseball field
5300 Park St.
Jacksonville

Van Zant Brothers

13] Robert E. Lee H.S.
1200 S. Mc Duff Ave.
Jacksonville

14]
1000 ALABAMA AVE.
Sheffield [ed. note:?]

Billy Powell
Ed King

15] HELL HOUSE
somewhere outside of Jacksonville {need to get the address}

16] 3864 Oak Cliff Industrial Blvd.
Doraville, Ga.

17] 2600 Geneva Avenue
San Francisco, Ca.

Judy Van Zant

18] Lasalle Square
Providence, R.I.

some Carter guy

19] Lakeside Amusement Park
Lakeside Road
Macon

20] Amite County, MS

Thursday, July 01, 2010

1914 DOTHAN FAIR

2010-06-13T19:14:00.001-07:00

image courtesy of Bruce Hopper
The first pic is of Stach @1976. Squatting is Scott Wetterau, Standing left to right is Bill Brown, Susie Bright, Bruce Hopper and Travis Rozzelle.

image courtesy of Bruce Hopper
TRAVIS

The third pic is a later version of Stache @ 1977, sitting is _(having a senior moment)___ Pate, Standing r-l is Travis Rozzelle, Kevin Peterson, Donnie Walker and Bruce Hopper.

2010-05-29T17:51:00.001-07:00

Robert,

I surely appreciate your response regarding Travis. Roger will be MOST APPRECIATIVE of any information and/or photos of his brother and, as his contact, I must express my most sincere gratitude to you and anyone else who will share info/photos.

Unfortunately, he is currently incarcerated. They have some very strict specifications on the mail.

If anyone wishes to mail to me, it is:

Kathy Rozzelle Pittman

5626 Lucy Grade Road

Ashford, Al 36312

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you & anyone else for anything they can contribute to him. Unfortunately, he could not receive tapes or CDs but he can get photos up to five per letter no larger than 4x6. MAY GOD BLESS YOU & OTHERS FOR HELPING OUT WITH THIS!!

Kathy

Monday, April 05, 2010

Robert,

I knew Travis's brother Roger. Did she give you an address for him? If so I could make some copies and send them to him. When I tried to scan and send them to you digitally, they did not turn out too good. Also, Nancy Evans White, posted some old pictures of Stache when he was in that band and they are on Facebook.

Bruce

In this photo: Donnie Walker, Nancy Evans White (photos), Nancy Evans, Travis Rozzelle, Bruce Hopper (photos), Kevin Peterson

Hopper One Mo' Agin: "Travis kneeling on left "

From Bruce Hopper: "Travis, bottom left "

2010-03-31T22:34:00.000-07:00

Robert,

It was while doing a web search for "Rozzelle" that I happened upon your Rock Pilgrimage data & saw the name of "Travis Rozzelle." Travis's Dad (Pete) was my Dad's brother. After Uncle Pete died, we unfortunately did not see or hear much of his widow & children. Although Palmetto & Reform were my parents's homeland, we moved to different locations due to my Dad's construction work.

It was quite coincidental that I learned the location of Travis's brother, Roger. I have been corresponding with him since the week of Christmas 2009.

I noted that "Hopper" had posted he would try & find some pics to send you. If you should have any available pics of Travis, I would appreciate your forwarding them that I might send them to Roger. He has only two pictures of his family~one is of his late sister Cindy & the other was of him, Cindy, his Mom, Travis & Wayne from perhaps the early 1960's. He would be so grateful for any information/photos that could be shared.

My computer is very old, my printer died three years ago but, if you could possibly print them, I would be glad to reimburse you. It would certainly mean a lot to Roger OR if you prefer, they could be mailed directly to him. I WILL AWAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU FIRST!

In reading info on your site, I noticed the name of a local, Norman Andrews. When I first moved near Dothan, I often heard him at the Heart of Dothan~they had a club "The Mouse Trap" but also heard him numerous other times.

Thanks,

Kathy Rozzelle Pittman

2009-10-11T09:58:00.001-07:00

Robert,

I don't know if you and I have met before, but I was at UA from 68-72 and I knew Jesse Pribbenow very well. I appreciate you letting everyone on the Chukker list know about his death. I am sending you a photo for your blog. It was scanned from the Corolla (I think 1971).

His friends are sponsoring a web guestbook at for people to sign:

http://www.legacy.com/gb2/default.aspx?bookidb36426668404&cid=full

I'd appreciate it if you could post this to your blog.

Best,

Janet Stevenson
The Dunwoody Jazz Society is now on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/dunwoodyjazzsociety
http://www.meetup.com/dunwoodyjazzsociety
http://www.dunwoodyjazzsociety.com
http://www.jazztonesradio.com
http://www.janetstevenson.com

Jesse Marvin Pribbenow died in Dothan(a.k.a. Dusty LaMont)

Friday, Oct 09, 2009

Jesse Marvin Pribbenow died in Dothan in the early morning hours of Oct. 7, 2009, after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 58.

He requested that a memorial service not be held and that his body be gifted to the South Alabama School of Medicine.

Born in New Orleans, La., on Aug. 16, 1951, he was adopted into his loving Jasper home where he lived much of his life. Jesse lived a full life few would have the courage to attempt with many careers and endeavors. An accomplished musician and singer/songwriter, he performed many years as a young adult including studio music. He retrained in many fields over the years to accommodate a variety of careers as a computer programmer, cameraman, laboratory technologist, carpenter, boat builder in Maine, oyster fisherman and radioman during his Navy service. His last “hobby-turned-career” led him to develop a career as a commercial truck driver to see the country until his illness forced his retirement.

Jesse held an intense interest in classical music and history as well as a desire to continually learn. Even as his death approached, he would be found taking notes during video lecture series on DVD.

In the last 18 months of his life, he was able to call Dothan his home and was supported by many of the wonderful people of Dothan as well as the excellent care and compassion of the staff and volunteers of Covenant Hospice. He reconnected with many past friends and made new ones. His was an interesting life.

His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Albert Pribbenow of Jasper, and his brother, Bert Pribbenow of Birmingham, preceded him in death.

Jesse probably would have suggested, “In lieu of flowers, please enjoy your life today. It’s your greatest gift.”

2009-06-24T01:24:00.000-07:00

Big Dave & THE Q~

Wanted you two cats
TO BE
da frist
to see dese.

best,
rr

BERT!

2009-06-21T07:53:00.001-07:00

Hey Robert,I saw the query about Travis Rozzell. His first name when we were in the same class at Tuscaloosa High (1967) was Horace with Travis being a little used middle name. By the time we started playing together in "Stache" in the mid to late '70's, he was going by Travis. Stache eventually morphed into "Highway" by the time we were the house band at the Holiday Inn in 1978-79. Travis was a great all around musician. He sang and played lead. The first guitar that I remember him using was a Gibson Les Paul. It was the classic gold top, that showed green where the finish was worn. That guitar was stolen after a gig at a Troy STate Frat house. He then got a custom Strat with humbucking pickups. We drifted apart after I left performing music during my music promotion days at the Chukker. Saddly the last time I saw Travis was at his benifit concert at the old train station. Travis died shortly there after from a brain tumor. I will dig up a few pics and send them to you.Hopper

2009-02-18T22:27:00.000-08:00

This is a proposal for a documentary/ reality show called
Southern Rock Pilgrimage http://rockpilgrimage.blogspot.com

Ownership of the title is simple.
IT'S MINE!!!!
I OWN the son of a bitch!

When one googles
"southern rock pilgrimage"
one gets only 4 hits.
THOSE POSTS ARE MINE!
http://rockpilgrimage.blogspot.com/2005_02_01_archive.html

I also have a claim to the first use of the term "rock pilgrimage" in the U.S.
but
apparently the term was coined in the U.K. a couple of years before '05.
http://www.absoluteradio.co.uk/music/pilgrimages/

Each episode of SOUTHERN ROCK PILGRIMAGE will focus upon ONE city.
The city will be THE STAR
& the rockers will be the tour guides.
Their commentary in cemeteries
& at the sites of former crash pads, estates, night clubs, girlfriend's houses, dope dens, recording studios, restaurants, etc. etc. will be accompanied by the appropriate music & archival footage.

All I want is a piece of the action.

The pilot should be shot in Jacksonville
It'll be a little cheap & nasty.

A couple of members of my immediate family invented copper wire fighting over a penny.

In my humble opinion,
this pilot will challenge the frugality of Coen Brothers production practices.
MY NINJAS KNOW HOW TO CUT CORNERS!!!!

Everybody connected will sign a contract.

Best,
rr http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=9859983&nav=0RdEGLBs
http://cottonkingdom.blogspot.com
http://snakedoctor.blogspot.com

A few years ago, CMT aired a documentary on Southern Rock. Below you will find a list of the scenes devoted to Lynyrd Skynyrd. The difference between CMT's documentary & SOUTHERN ROCK PILGRIMAGE will be the focus will be upon the cities instead of the groups.

11] Funochio's
Atlanta

Al Kooper
Gary Rossington

12]elementary school baseball field
5300 Park St.
Jacksonville

Van Zant Brothers

13] Robert E. Lee H.S.
1200 S. Mc Duff Ave.
Jacksonville

14]
1000 ALABAMA AVE.
Sheffield [ed. note:?]

Billy Powell
Ed King

15] HELL HOUSE
somewhere outside of Jacksonville {need to get the address}

16] 3864 Oak Cliff Industrial Blvd.
Doraville, Ga.

17] 2600 Geneva Avenue
San Francisco, Ca.

Judy Van Zant

18] Lasalle Square
Providence, R.I.

some Carter guy

19] Lakeside Amusement Park
Lakeside Road
Macon

20] Amite County, MS

2008-05-05T19:55:00.001-07:00

Friday, April 25, 2008

Robert,

Here are the pictures of Jim Coleman that I promised you. The band shot is of Mr. Wizard done during a break in the taping of our two PBS specials (1971?). The photo was taken by one of the studio guys, possible Bill Connell. Left to right: Jim Coleman lead guitar, Bruce Hopper Bass (but sitting at the drum kit), Asa Gaston drums (playing with Jim's Gibson) and Jimmy Butts guitar and lead vocals.

Bruce Hopper

The next two pics should be credited to Marshall Hagler. One is of Jim taken at The Chukker. Of course Jim had to be different and drink Schlitz when everyone else drank Pabst.
Maybe that is because he was left handed.

The last pic is: Eddie Hinton, Jim Coleman and unidentified female (maybe someone knows who she is). [ed. note: I was told that the girl is Hinton's first wife]

In thinking of my relationship with Jim, one story comes to mind. Mr. Wizard practiced at my old garage apartment on 22nd ave. I always learned songs by looking at the guitar player's hands to see what chords he was playing. In Jim's case , he was left handed and I could not read the chords that he was playing. I then looked into the mirror in the bedroom and could catch Jim's reflection. Lo and behold, when you see a mirror image of a left handed guitar player, it looks like a right handed guitar player!

Bruce Hopper

Hey y'all~
What a sad & miserable day at Evergreen Cemetery yesterday but
I met so many citizens of ZERO, NORTHWEST FLORIDA;
folks I'd corresponded with over the years who I'd never met face to face.

TALKIN' 'BOUT OPENING UP SOME OLD & FEEBLE MEMORY CELLS!!!!

Heard this cat next to me with this Aussie accent & asked him, "You ain't Keith Glass are you?"
Sure enough it was Aussie ROCKER Keith Glass!

Back in 2004, our old Aussie mate, Keith Glass, sent us something SUPUH from DOWNUNDUH!!!!!!!

http://www.shownet.com.au/glass.html

Robert,

This is nothing to do with Roy or Alabama but try these shots on -
recently discovered photos of Jerry Lee and The Crickets doing a live radio
broadcast for another Melbourne station 3AW in 1958 - the tapes are
missing but may turn up.
Keith Glass

JERRY LEE LEWIS ROCKIN' IT DOWNUNDER

BUDDY HOLLY AND THE CRICKETS- THAT'S
JOE MAULDIN ON BASS & JERRY ALLISON ON DRUMS

Robert,
'Preciate your kind remarks relayed to me by my sister-in-law Sandy Price Wallace (your email, 3.10.2008).

I've been sporadically following your blog and find much of interest therein. Indeed, I had discovered it several months ago after googling "Wilbur Walton, Jr." Hell of a good singer, ain't he (even after all these years)!

image courtesy of http://myspace.com/thebopcats

I also discovered my name amidst the ramblings. Bro' Tanton kindly included me among the real guitarists who played with "The Chimes." In point of fact, my involvement was limited to a single club gig in Pensacola, weekend of July 26-28, 1968, when John Bedsole's parents wouldn't permit him to go! My records show that I earned a whopping $37 for the gig, and my fondest memory of that weekend (perhaps, my only memory!) is of one of the Morris brothers eating cold chicken gizzards for breakfast in our motel room with a "why not, they're good" look on his face.

Thanks, Robert, for refreshing so many happy memories of music in Dothan!

It's been a really long time, but I'm proud to have been a little acquainted with so many fine musicians in our grand hometown. Sad to hear of so many who have passed, but great to see and hear David Adkins, Frank Tanton, and Richard Burke still at it and making cool sounds in the 21st century!

I don't know if I'll make it to the 40th reunion. Sandy told me about it when she and Alan visited here in late October. Given the outrageous price of gasoline, and the fact that my wife doesn't travel well,
I'm just not sure, but I haven't ruled it out yet.

Memorial images courtesy of Gail DePass & http://classof68.myevent.com/3/miscellaneous5.htm

If I could bring guitar and amp and reunite musically with John Bedsole, Jay Kochis, and Jerry Wise, but alas, Jay and Jerry are gone, too.

I did put a bit of personal info and a couple of photos up on the reunion website. I didn't get to make music my career, but I have been blessed to incorporate it largely into my ministry over the years. I actually sang "Georgia Pines" in a benefit concert, 20 years ago, in South Dakota.

Tell you one thing: Every year, early spring, I get real nostalgic for the smell of fresh green grass in our back yard on Oak Drive, the sight of azaleas and camellias blooming up and down Oates St, and the taste of a cherry coke from Creels!

Blessings,

Bruce Wallace

Hey Bruce,Do you remember our freshman year at Bama when you needed a loan & we walked downtown and had a beer at the Chukker?

Now that you mention it!
How much do I owe you?- Bruce Wallace

You came back to town a couple of years later & paid me back.

I think it was only $100 but YOU NEEDED IT BAD
That Spring!
~rr

'Fraid I don't remember the fiscal episode, but those were dire days indeed. I do remember going for the beer. Glad to hear I repaid you! - Bruce Wallace

Robert,

Just a note about an Eddie Hinton connection. In 1966 Sid White and I recorded a single at Boutwell's studio in Birmingham.The songs were Town Clown b/w Stop and Listen.I think my Mother and a few other relatives bought a copy. Eddie Hinton was the engineer and producer of the session.

BILL HANKE

2008-03-08T16:46:00.000-08:00

From the Dothan Eagle:

Norman Andrews
Mr. Norman Andrews of Gordon passed away at his home Monday, Feb. 25, 2008. He was 73. Memorial services will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may to made to Pet Pals or to the family, 2390 Grimsley Road, Gordon, AL 36343. Mr. Andrews was born April 11, 1934, in Houston County and lived most of his life in and around the Dothan area. He was the son of Ralph W, and Willie Mae Ball Andrews. An accomplished singer and musician, Norman was best known as the lead singer of the group "Norman Andrews and the Concrete Bubble" around the 1950s to the 1980s. He and his wife Pam gave their whole lives helping others less fortunate than themselves as well as helping homeless animals. They have operated and maintained a non-profit animal shelter, Pet Pals, for the past 35 years. Survivors include his wife of 43 years, Pam Andrews, Gordon; sister and brother-in-law, Winona Murphy and Jim Duffard. If his friends had it to say ever again, they would say he is/was a card. Southern Heritage Funeral Home and Crematory, (334) 702-1712, is in charge of arrangements. Sign the guest book at www.dothan eagle.com. There will be a benefit for Norman at Cowboy's Night Club April 13 (Sun. @ 2-6pm) http://www.cowboysofdothan.com/ image courtesy of http://www.myspace.com/cowboysofdothan Norman's widow Pam, has a lot of medical and funeral expenses and no insurance but a lot of Normans' former bandmates and friends will be jamming there and donations of $10 and up will go to help defray Pams' debt. Anyway for more info, e-mail me @ pianodave@comcast.net, Thanks, David Adkins Robert, I remember Norman Andrews. Obviously I met him through John Rainey.http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=198156299 I remember when I first started with Roy Orbison and the Candymen, we would all stay at the Heart of Dothan Motel. It seems like we would always be hanging out all nite @ Buie's City Cafe after the clubs on the Strip closed. Norman was there a lot with us. He was a wonderful guy. Always full of life and excited about just making music. John Rainey had a way of bringing together the good guys. Norman was definitely one of them. I know that he will be very much missed by the Dothan musical community. I also know he's up there with Roy Orbison, Bill Gilmore, Fred Guarino, lil' Bobby, and John Rainey Rockin' for the Lord!!!! Robert Nix..................................... Norman Andrews was a good guy. Wow, 73! If you had anything to do with music in the Dothan area, you couldn't escape knowing Norman. The first time The Candymen played in Dothan (well, we didn't exactly play, we were driving through and John Rainey wanted us to sit in at a couple of clubs) we sat in at The Oasis and the Alibi. Norman was playing at one of the clubs,and Dean Daughtry at the other. I have great memories of seeing him at The 1890s with The Concrete Bubble. JET by Paul McCartney comes to mind. He always had a funny story, and I don't recall him ever saying a bad word about anyone. Dothan has lost a big part of their musical history. Rest in Peace Norman. Rodney Justo >Hi Robert, >I don’t know if you remember me. I played in the local area with a number of bands including two stints with Norman at the 1890 club in Dothan. First, do you have any more details about Norman’s passing, arrangements, etc., and can you give me e-mail addresses for Frank Tanton (who I played in some bands with and was also in my wedding). George Cheshire would also be good as I also worked with him. I actually entered the music scene in Dothan in around 1970 working with Mike Griggs and Jerry Keel. We worked out of an old radio station studio downtown over Mike’s Father’s flooring store just down the block from the Houston Hotel. I then went on to work with Jerry Wise in a band called “The Shop” and after that played with several musicians/bands locally and eventually with Norman when The Bubble was the house band at the 1890. Our line up at the time was Norman, me on Keys, Kruschev (remember him?) on guitar, Dickey Burrows on Bass, Wayne Andrews on drums, and a horn section with Joe Buffard and Jeff Crocket (saxophones), and a guy named Freddie on trumpet (sorry, last name eludes me). I would love to contact some of my old friends and pay my sympathies to Pam. Does Richard Burke also ring a bell? Thanks for your reply. Max Montgomery Robert I posted a tune that was on a Concrete Bubble Tape on our MySpace www.myspace.com/playgroundrecordingstudio Best Lancaster

2008-01-25T00:51:00.000-08:00

KS:

Been about a year since we reconnected.

The reason I won't write fiction anymore is because it is an absolute unwarranted plunge into the subconscious. http://snakedoctor.blogspot.com

You gonna have to pay me money to do that shit.

I think my Daddy's favorite book was THE RAZOR'S EDGE by Somerset Maugham.

"The man I am writing about is not famous. It may be that he never will be. It may be that when his life at last comes to an end he will leave no more trace of his sojourn on earth than a stone thrown into a river leaves on the surface of the water. But it may be that the way of life that he has chosen for himself and the peculiar strength and sweetness of his character may have an ever-growing influence over his fellow men so that, long after his death perhaps, it may be realized that there lived in this age a very remarkable creature."

W. Somerset Maugham, THE RAZOR'S EDGE:
http://www.angelfire.com/electronic/bodhidharma/mentor.html

Here's the stab I made in Snake Doctor http://snakedoctor.blogspot.com
at the meaning of unrequited love.

Grover needed to smoke some reefer.

Opening his unlocked front door, Grover reached up to the
foyer closet’s door casing. Pulling down his little tin box, he
returned to the front porch, pulling the cord on both ceiling fans
as he strode across the cypress planks toward his green porch
swing. After checking the horizon to see whether the coast was
clear, Grover Moss, known affectionately to his friends as “Fur
Trader,” leaned back and took a hit off the pipe he made from the
antler of a twelve-point he’d killed at Ft. Rucker almost 40 years
before.

After five tokes of his favorite blend, Grover gazed out over
his grassy field and accessed his progress.

“Boy, I miss that dog. I’m gonna have to find a little Zero
soon.”

It was lonely without his dog. Walking back to the front
door, Grover reached inside to the corner bookcase that held his
photo albums. Returning to the swing, he poured over the pages
looking for pictures of his beloved pit bull. Sure enough, he
found photographs of Zero, but he also found more than he was
looking for. Grover found the pictures of Florrie. There she
stood, a Southern angel, in that aquamarine bathing suit her
mother sewed wearing Grover’s Wekiwahatchee High School class ring
on her left hand.

Keeping with his morning’s horrible memories of Zero’s death
in the enormous jaws of Old Tom, and the gas explosion on
Tustennuggee’s riverfront, Grover thought of monsters again. Only
this time the monsters weren’t giant flesh and blood, red-eyed
reptiles. These monsters were made out of strong emotions. These
were green-eyed monsters; disturbing feelings Grover could not
deny.

He was still in love with her.

“How in the hell could this happen?” Grover asked himself.
“What kind of bond could connect me to a damn woman I haven’t seen
or heard from in twenty-seven years? I’ve got to get over that
cunt. Man, I need a drink!”

Back on the swing with a cold bottle of India pale ale,
Grover looked at Florrie’s picture once more and it hit him. There
was his answer in full living color: so simple, so plain and
simple. Her hands! Grover’s whole world was right there in
Florrie’ s fingers!

Suddenly, stoned and rocking in his porch swing, Grover
Milton Moss, Esquire, made a miraculous discovery. Now he
understood the monster; not Old Tom but his other monster.
Grover’s monster was the thought of never being touched by Florrie
again in his lifetime. Here Grover found his greatest fear and as
any redneck knows, the best thing to do when scared is to go ahead
well armed. At that moment, Grover completely embraced the
unrequited love he held for his old girlfriend, Florrie Walker.

“Good God, this feels good” Grover yelled.

It felt good to have Florrie on his mind. Those thoughts were
more precious than gold. For the first time in almost thirty years
Grover fully grasped the joy and virtue contained in the
recollections of his youthful love with that beautiful woman.Memories
of Florrie were his most important possession, and the
determination to become the man worthy of Florrie's affection now
consumed Grover's soul.

CHAPTER 10

Blow ye the trumpet of Zion, and sound an
alarm in my holy mountain: let all the
inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day
of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand.

Joel, Chapter 2, Verse I

Leon Walker never named one of his saurian progeny “Old Tom,”
however, the tag certainly fit. Old Tom had gained quite a
notorious reputation over the generations. He had been credited
with every crime imaginable, so why not blame this explosion on
him too?

Leon knew better. He knew Old Tom was nothing more than a
convenient myth country people used to blame all their misery on.
Leon’s big babies weren’t legends. His gators were tools in the
hands of the Almighty God, and their bellowing would be the
forewarning of mankind’s coming doom. Every April morning brought
a warming of the waters and soon melancholy Leon, a hick Dr.
Frankenstein, would hear his monsters barking at the moon;
ferocious creatures who even their demented creator could not
control.

2007-12-26T21:32:00.000-08:00

DAVIS, RODNEY REEVES, age 54, died February 28, 2007. He was born in Opp, AL to Willard and Josephine Davis who preceded him in death. He lived in Birmingham for the last 32 years. Rodney loved music and was a great guitar player who played at Carnegie Hall and American Bandstand with Sailcat, a local band. He will be missed by his wife, Kate Pope Davis and their three Scotties: Fergus, Buster and Maggie; his sisters, Vivian (Syd) Parrot of Chattanooga, TN and Teresa (Paul) Hartsfield of Childersburg, AL; and his brother, Ken (Linda) Davis of Pelham, AL and his many nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, March 3rd at 1 p.m. at Johns Ridout's Southside Chapel. The family will be receiving friends from 12 until 1p.m. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Dougal's Fund, Inc. for medical care for Scotties with serious illness. Send c/o Kathleen McGuigan (Andes), PO Box 1085, Fairhope AL 36533 or online contact http://www.welcome.to/dougalsfund

Left to Right are Bill Connell, Court Pickett, Rodney Davis (seated in the middle), Wyker and Ronnie Brown.

Left to Right are Otis Hale, Jerry Rightmer, Johnny Townsend , Jimmy Varley, Roger Johnson and Ed Sanford.

Robert,
The last few years have been a very sad time for some of us old geezers. With the news about Rodney, I've lost nine old musical comrades in that time. Some you know about like Art Schilling, Joe Rudd and Rodney. This morning I got the call that my old friend and bass player for The Sanford/Townsend Band, Jerry Rightmer passed away in a convalescent hospital in Ventura, California. Jerry, like Rodney was one damn sweet guy and they will be missed most assuredly.
I'm enclosing a few photos.

So long old friends. We will meet in that sweet by and by...............
Johnny Townsend

Dear Robert !
THANKS for mentioning these two great Cats...and also my best friend Art Shilling....seems like everybody is buyin' The Farm larely...too many good Cats are leaving us.....

May God bless and keep them all !
wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwyker aka SAILCAT
http://www.mfvr.com/

an old post by Wyker on Mighty Field of Vision yahoogroups that's icing on the cake[even though there may be a little bit of confusion 'bout the Candymen]....
About the same time that the Rubber Band was on it's last leg the same thang was happening to The James Gang...the Southern James Gang...which featured Wilbur Walton as their singer...the other members also doubled as The Candymen when they backed up Roy Orbison....most of those cats later formed The Atlanta Rhythm Section...Buddy Buie from Dothan produced both The James Gang and ARS...I used to go to Hotlanta back in the 60's and stay with Buddy and Robert Nix...Nix was the drummer for these groups in those days...and now all of a sudden I just remembered where I lost my first wedding ring...and that was at Nix's apartment..damn I'm firing some old memory cells tonight...amazing how the old human mind can be inspired to recall events in the long lost past .....

Anyway...when the Rubber Band finally snapped and broke up I still had a bunch of gigs lined up to play and no band to do it....the Christmas party session was about to happen and Wilbur Walton was also left with all of the gigs that James Gang had contacted to play....I had known Wilbur for years...when I was in high school I used to go down to Tuscaloosa and attend all of the fraternity rush parties and Wilbur was in college then and he was a member of The Sex Above Everythang Frat...in laymen's' terms that would be The SAE's......anyway Wilbur called me one day and said that he was holding a bunch of James Gang gigs and that he would pay me to put a band together...I think he offered me some pretty good money too...so I told him that I had the same problem...gigs and no band...so the best way to solve the problem was to put one band together to cover ALL the gigs......

One night we were The Rubber Band and maybe the next night we were The James Gang......I played bass and I hired Court Pickett to sing....and Lou Mullenix on drums...and I think Jim Coleman was on keyboards...and Tippy Armstrong played guitar on some of the gigs and Ronnie Brown played guitar...and on some gigs Frank Freidman played a second guitar....Frank was a founding member of THIS SIDE UP....

Court sang lead when we were The Rubber Band...and Wilbur sang lead when we were The James Gang.......this worked out pretty well at first when the gigs were far a apart....and in different towns.....we were all making great money and having a ball doin' it.....except when Wilbur had to do the singin'.....by this time he was a real big drunk...and would not sing until he was totally juiced up...it took us a while to get his M. O. down...he would say the PA was broken and tell us to stall with more instrumentals....we finally figured out what he was up to...and we just played a bunch of freeform jams...remind me to tell the cat tale of how we brain washed a crowd in Auburn with a one chord groove that put the whole place in a trance dance.....

Anyhow......thangs were going fine until about the middle of the Christmas session and we played a gig in Mobile as The Rubber Band....then the next night in the very same building we came in as The James Gang...we got away with it until the third night when we played the same place for a different girls club as The Rubber Band again.......it was really scary to be on the bandstand and to watch people in the crowd whispering to each other...you could read their lips..."Was'nt that the same guy that played with..so and so band.the other night......well.... I don't know how we ever got out of there alive that last night...but we did......I'm sure their was some fast talkin' involved and some fast cars too.....!"

2007-04-01T22:00:00.001-07:00

HEY Y'ALL:

You have no idea how wonderful it was to copy & paste the new stuff destined for http://myspace.com/tippyarmstrong
& post it at ROCK PILGRIMAGE!!!! http://rockpilgrimage.blogspot.com

IMAGINE THIS!

We could put up a myspace site up for all of those dead cats listed at the top of ROCK PILGRIMAGE! Same thing goes for the gahzillion customers of the CHUKKER who, unfortunately, are no longer with us. Like Rick Hirsch said, myspace.com is the perfect medium for a memorial page.
It allows the page to grow.

Group Picture from Capn Dean's Wedding:
Tippy is third from left,followed by his wife,Nancy Derrington,Fluker, THE NOTORIOUS Crockett Roberts and Eve Owen
[photo courtesy of Dean Smith]

Left to Right:
MY OLD BUDDY FROM LIVINGSTON, THE LATE GREAT GEORGE FLUKER,FORMER HEAD OF D.U.D., CAPN DEAN, AND TIPPY
[image courtesy of Captain Dean Smith]

this is a Polaroid taken at the Whiskey A Go Go in LA when Tippy played with the Heart band.
Left to right: Ed Sanford – B3 Hammond, Johnny Townsend – vocals, Bobby Dupree – drums, Keith Brewer – bass guitar, and Tippy – guitar.
I got some tapes with Tippy playing I’d like to get to Rick.
BOBBY DUPREE

2007-01-25T17:39:00.000-08:00

Subject : WBAM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WAPE-AM
http://www.birminghamrewound.com/radio-tv2.htm
Click here to hear Dan Brennan do a rock 'n roll show promotion!: http://www.birminghamrewound.com/listening_room.htm
This is an unbelievably GREAT Lou Christie in Alabama page:
http://www.geocities.com/antlion7/LouChristieAlabama.htm
Tons of WVOK SHOWER OF STARS Photos on Harold Brown's WVOK Memories:
http://wvok-memories.tripod.com/

The following BIG BAM posters courtesy of http://www.geocities.com/antlion7/LouChristieAlabama.htm

Robert,
You MUST remember that I was a mere babe in arms during the Big Bam era...heh...heh...heh!

My aunt & uncle used to take me & one of my girlfriends to almost every show. I think we just bought general admission tickets at the door. We always spent the night at the Holiday Inn on the corner of the Eastern bypass & what is now 85N. Once, Paul Revere & the Raiders http://www.paulrevereraiders.com/ stayed at that same Holiday Inn...we weren't very impressed with them at the time since they thought everyone at that hotel should be bowing down to them (and there WERE those that did...but not us!).

At the Winter Spectacular, our main reason for going was to see Roy Orbison.http://royorbison.musiccitynetworks.com/
We shared one pair of binoculars & argued over whose turn it was to use them. Of course, Roy WAS the king in our eyes!! And naturally, he & The Candymen stole the show as far as we were concerned. We weren't too impressed with Sonny & Cher http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_&_Cher
though, just curious as to why they had on thos e fuzzy boots & vests! They looked rather weird to us.

? & the Mysterions http://www.pharaohweb.com/96tears.html
were fun to see since we had never even seen a photo of them & wondered what was so mysterious!

I do remember The Rockin Gibraltars http://www.heybabydays.com/photos_73.htm
& their "Bavarian" outfits...but we forgave them for that cause we loved them, too.

The McCoys http://www.rickderringer.com/index.html
were another favorite.

My uncle LOVED "Bread & Butter" by the Newbeats,http://www.larryhenley.com/
so he had to sing along with them. We were sooo embarrassed! I remember the parking lot was filled to capacity & someone had broken off my uncle's the antenna on his VW. Or maybe it was his Cutlass...can't remember.
Well, I guess that's all I have to report for now. Wish I could remember more, but you must realize that there were a LOT of brain cells that were deleted during the late 60s & 70s...so it comes back to me in bits & pieces!!
Oh, I do remember seeing The Who tear up their instruments at the end of a show, remember Lightin' Lou Christie (my uncle said that my aunt never got the binoculars above his waistband while looking at him!), Billy Joe Royal, Tommy Roe, Pat Paulsen (running for President!) & many more. If you'll supply the names, I'll tell you whether I was there! I just need a little "prompting"!! We ALWAYS had to stop by the WBAM station & go in to fill out a request & put it through one of those "bank teller" looking drawers & rode back to Dothan with baited breath until our request was played & our names were announced on the radio. Boy...we wuz Big Time then!!!
Later Tater,
da Queen

2007-01-11T20:19:00.000-08:00

THE PROMOTIONAL POSTER OF THE WBAM, BIG BAM WINTER SPECTACULAR, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1967!

From:"Rodney Justo"
To:"robert register"
Subject:Re: HEY EL NIXO! HOW COME PAUL GODDARD PUSHES HIS GLASSES UP THE BRIDGE OF HIS NOSE?
Date:Sun, 5 Jun 2005 09:12:45 -0400

I'll tell you a story about that WBAM show in Montgomery.

We were co-headliners with Sonny and Cher.When I say we, I mean Orbison.Well, Roy was the most docile and non-confrontational person you could imagine.We were congregating backstage talking with some of the other acts that were on the show,
( I think we were talking with the Mc Coys) but when Cher's people started walking the backstage area where the dressing rooms were, saying that she wouldn't go on till the area was completely clear,Roy said in his soft south Texas accent "I'm afraid that she might be a little late for her show" meaning that he wasn't going to leave till he was good and ready.
I think that the Rubber Band was on that show and did "I can't help myself"
Robert also ran into Mac Rebanek, later known as Doctor John, who he knew from Jacksonville and was playing piano in Sonny and Chers band.

RODNEY THE ROCKER JUSTO

From:"Robert Dupree
To:"robert register"
Subject:Re: O.K., ROCK PILGRIMAGE Tour Guides, Get Out Your Pencil & Paper! I'm Gonna Teach Ya Sumthin'.
Date:Sun, 5 Jun 2005 18:30:12 -0500

Robert,

Tell Rodney that was a great story about Roy and Sonny and Cher. Also tell him that the band playing "I Can't Help Myself" was us, The R.G.'s. That was one of our original songs, inspired by our love for Otis Redding and the influence he had on us trying to be a "SOUL" band. Also, ask him if he remembers us wearing the Bavarian yodler outfits. That story is in Greg Haynes book, and an excerpt of that story is here:

“We played the 1967 Big Bam Winter show at The Coliseum in Montgomery and were joined by our old friends The Rubber Band. They originally were named the Magnificent 7, and after they got the recording contract with Columbia, they had to change names. You see, Columbia had released a movie in 1960 called “The Magnificent 7” and the execs at Columbia had the name “The Magnificent 7” copyrighted and didn’t want a movie with the same name as a band. So Wyker called us and asked if we wanted to sell our name. We, of course, told him no, and so he had this idea to name his band “The Herald Angels” and said that the first album released could be titled Hark ! The Herald Angels Sing.

After that, they changed the name of the band to “The Rubber Band”. Anyhow, they had a great song out called Let Love Come Between Us and it was on the WBAM charts the same time that our song Bug of Soul was. It was, I thought, one of the best soul songs of the 60’s and James and Bobby Purify later covered the song.

When The Rubber Band came back from New York after signing with Columbia they all had bought these really cool Paul Revere and the Raider boots, leather vests, etc. We knew they were going to try to out dress us at the Big BAM show, so we decided to come up with the most outrageous outfit that we could. We went down to Weil’s, a local clothing store in town that carried the “hippest” threads around. We found these lime green pants, black shirts with iridescent flowers, white suspenders and white clip on ties, and bright orange suede slip on Johnson-Murphy shoes. We cut the pants off and made them into shorts, and bought thin knee-high black silk socks to wear with them. We kept the outfits hidden until we were ready to go on stage.

The Rubber Band opened the show and we listened to one or two songs, and then went to our dressing room. We stayed in the dressing room until they had almost finished. When the Rubber Band finished, we were just coming out of the dressing room and when they saw us, they knew we’d outdone them. They got a big laugh out of that, and what’s funny is we actually had girls screaming when we came on stage.

To tell you the truth, we looked like a bunch of Bavarian yodelers.

It was a stunt to try and out-do the Rubber Band, who had all those cool clothes they got in NYC. The Rubber Band was also at that show, in fact opened it up. They had "Let Love Come Between Us" out.

The night was November 25, 1967.

I remember watching the McCoys from backstage and what struck me as odd was that their drummer stood up and played drums. I'd never seen that before. I believe his name was Randy Zehringer.

Rick, their monster guitarist, later changed his last name to Derringer. Rick played with the Winter Brothers, and later had out "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo".

Ed Sanford and I left back stage before Roy and the Candymen came on and got seats out front on the side of the stage where "Little Bobby" was set up. Ed kept saying, "Listen to Little Bobby". Rusty even remembers how great Roy and the Candymen sounded. They knew how to play the room!

Bobby Dupree

From:"JDWyker"

To:"robert register"

Subject:Re: O.K., ROCK PILGRIMAGE Tour Guides, Get Out Your Pencil & Paper! I'm Gonna Teach Ya Sumthin'.

Date:Sun, 5 Jun 2005 16:11:52 -0500

Dear Ka$h !

Yes The RUBBER BAND was on that Big BAM Show in MonkeyTown...Sonny and Cher were the headliners and fought like cats and dogs the whole time...

and on that show there was ROY ORBISON and THE CANDYMEN,The McCoys,? and The Mysterions, The Seeds,The Byrds and about everyone else that had a hit record at the time...If you had a hit you were on the WVOK Show which was before the Big BAM Show...

I already knew Robert Nix and most of The Candymen...in fact I left my first wedding ring at Robert Nix's apartment in Atlanta when I took it off because it was making a rattle when I played the guitar...that marriage did not last long...

Anyway at The WVOK Show Nix was tellin' me about The Byrds drummer....and he said don't miss his playin'...so he stood right by my side when The Byrds came on...The Byrds drummer was Michael Clark and basically he learned to play on Cardboard Boxes....and he might have been takin' acid or somethang....

Before the show all the dressing rooms were filled with the acts that were goin' to play....I was lookin' for The Byrds...no where to be found...The McCoys had the biggest candy stash I've ever seen....I guess they got the munchies a lot...I remember Roy Orbison's father and maybe his brother were backstage....I remember thinkin' that they all wore Coke bottle thick glasses....they were real nice people...

And then about half way through the show we got word that a mysterious motorhome had pulled up beside the buildin'...and maybe it was The Byrds...a few minutes later the backstage doors flew open and the indefinable smell of Patchouli Oil permeated the whole auditorium...And Roger McGuinn...took a quick look around back stage...it was almost like he was runnin' and lookin' at everybody there from head to foot....when he scanned me or looked me in the face he was about a foot away and I could tell he was wearin' bright GREEN contact lenses...and then he was back on his mysteries motorhome..

The promoters started to relax a little bit...and when the announcer announced The BYRDS the teenage girls started screamim' so loud that it completely drowned out the band..

McGuinn plugged his 12 string into some big ass amp and he stepped up to the mic and let loose with a solo version of one of their tunes...in the meantime Chris Hillman and David Crosby were tryin' to get plugged up...but they seemed to be more interested in lightin' their cigarettes...and they were havin' some kind of argument at the same time..But McGuinn plowed ahead solo and nobody missed the rest of the band..the screamin' was so deafing..

Me and Robert Nix were back stage watchin' Michael Clark The Byrds drummer...and Nix would punch me and say "now watch this part "...Clark sat down on the drums and closed his eyes and started movin' to the beat....he got his chewin' gum goin' ....and then he got the bass drum goin'....and a little later he added the snare drum...and when he had those two actions down he added a cymbal....his eyes were still tightly closed and he was chewin' that gum a mile a minute....And Robert Nix said to me "Now watch what he does next "...and sure enough when he finally had it all goin' at one time he decided to go for a roll....and when he did he missed about four drums and a cymbal and almost fell off his drum stool...When he collected himself he started the whole process over again....first he got his gum goin'...and then he added the bass,and later the snare...well you know the story..But me and Robert Nix laughed all night about Michael Clark's "learnin' experience on The Job"And McGuinn never looked back at all or left or right for that matter....he just stood there with his 12 string wide open and played the whole set almost by himself !

I'm still laughin' about seein' The BYRDS that night in Birmingham and I'm sure Nix is still laughin' about it too...

The Tour went from B'Ham to Montgomery or MonkeyTown and ended in Jacksonville ,Fla, at a Big APE Show.

Sonny and Cher were The Headliners...and I remember that Cher wore a ring on her index finger...it was in the shape of a ball about the size of a big marble and I think it open up....funny how you remember thangs like that...but I'll bet she kept her stash in there !wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwyker

John D. Wyker aka SAILCAT aka The RUBBER BAND MFV NET RADIO 24/7

"Music that you will not hear anywhere else !"

Please Checkout http://www.mightyfieldofvision.com

and PLEASE pass the link on to all your friends !

From Bobby Dupree, drummer for the Rockin' Gibraltars:

Roberto,
Great story on this pix. This is a Warner/Reprise promo picture, taken at Griffith Park in LA, announcing the release of the first Heart songs “Heartbeat” and “The Train”. (L-R Bobby Dupree, Ed Sanford, Johnny Townsend, Keith Brewer, Rusty Crumpton) We had played a Mexican club in East LA a couple of nights before this picture. There was a Mexican band, The Cartoons, who alternated sets with us, and the whole thing was MC’d and produced by Wolfman Jack. Well, at about 3 or 4 in the morning we were packing up the equipment, and Keith says, ”Hey man, I got these two Mexican chicks over here, and I going home with em.”
So the morning of the Warner Brothers photo shoot, Keith walks back into the Heart house on Ventura Blvd. Everybody fell out on the floor laughing at his new coiffure. What Keith didn’t know was that the two Mexican chicks were hairdressers. They had convinced Keith, probably with several bottles of tequila, to let them “STYLE” his hair, mustache, sideburns, and eyebrows. I remember Ed described the look as “The German Army Helmet”. But the most memorable thing was that they had died it “WHORE BLACK”. EVERYTHING HAIR, MUSTACHE, SIDEBURNS, AND EYEBROWS!!!!!!!!!!!!God, we got a laugh outa that. After that, we had to put KB on haircut restriction for two weeks before any promo shoots. HHHHHAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!! I love ya’ KB.

Bobby

From my old Dothan buddy, Jim Hodges:

Jim sent us these incredible links-

Here's a great article about Goldsboro's early days in the music biz- http://www.chichibu.ne.jp/~keiki/watching-bobby-grow.htm

Here are two John Rainey Adkins albums recorded at Playground in VP-http://www.answers.com/topic/beethoven-bittersweet
http://www.answers.com/topic/church-bach

Here's an Orbison album with a lot of Buie/Adkins tunes-http://www.answers.com/topic/there-is-only-one-roy-orbison-the-orbison-way

The album by Promise http://www.answers.com/topic/believe-beloved-in-the-image-of-christ
was published after John Rainey's death. Maybe his last recordings? I know he was writing religious songs at that time.
I was away from Dothan when he died, but David Pittman, an old friend,told me John Rainey died in bed holding his bible to his chest.

Take care, and best wishes for the New Year.

Jim H.

Roberto,
Here's a link to YouTube with Bobby Goldsboro doing"Little Things" on Hullaboo A Go Go in 1965. He wasintroduced by Sammy Davis Jr.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRJ8qoO8FkQ

Jim H.

Roberto,

A few years ago I bought a VHS from England of Roy Orbison and the Candymen - Live in Holland 1965.Unfortunately, the format is PAL and cannot be played on American VHS. The band included John Rainey, Billy Gilmore, and Robert Nix. The guitar player with John Rainey was Billy Sanford. I'm not sure who the organist or the piano player are.

Well, now that science is catching up with our dreams,someone has loaded the concert to YouTube.Here is a link:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=related&search_query=Roy%20Orbison%20Holland%20Dutch%20Tv

Jim H

Roberto,

Back in '61 or so during the Twist Craze, the Candyman(who proceeded our beloved Candymen) were a knock-offgroup of Joey Dee & The Starliters. The Starliters headlined the Peppermint Lounge in NYC and their big hit was "Peppermint Twist." Although they had been recording rock (and some pretty damned good rock) since '58, the Starliters are best know as a twist band.

The Starliters band included at one time or another Eddie Brigati, Gene Cornish, and Felix Caviliere who later joined with Dino Dinelli to become the "Young Rascals."

The Starliters also once had a sax player named Charles Neville and a guitar player named Jimmy James who later used the name Jimi Hendrix.

After the Beatles broke in America '64 and Twist music died, The Candyman changed their name to the Manchesters and became a Beatles knock-off. About that same time, The Webs became the Candymen after joining Roy Orbison.

Keep on Twistin'

Jim H.

From Randy Poe,author of SKYDOG:

Hey Robert,

Hope all is going well with you. The Duane bio is
finally finished and will be coming out shortly. Check
out the website at

http://www.skydogbook.com

All the best,
Randy

A SAMPLE REVIEW:

“The 17th Chapter of the Book of Duane [DUANE, ERIC & LAYLA] is as close as it gets. It’s the next best thing to being there. I know. I was.”
– Bobby Whitlock, Derek & the Dominos

In The Beginning by Jerry W. Henry [this is Jerry's regular column in The Planet Weekly Magazine http://theplanetweekly.com]

Skydog, The Duane Allman Story, (Backbeat Books) is hot! How hot? Skydog was released just 2 months ago and already it's in the 3RD printing. Skydog is first class all the way with the foreword by ZZ Top's Billy F. Gibbons. Glowing reviews by Chuck Leavell, Drive-By Trucker's Patterson Hood, Bobby Whitlock of Derek & The Dominos, Gritz Magazine's Michael Buffalo Smith, Ron Wynn at Nashville City Paper, David Ritz the 4 time Ralph J. Gleason music book award winner, Eric C. Shoaf with Vintage Guitar Magazine, Dirty Linen's T.J. McGrath, Hittin' The Note, and many more including myself.

On this page, in issue 267, I wrote "Reading this book makes you feel that Randy opened the door to the details that you wanted to know. It's the most complete work I have ever seen on The Allman Brothers." Within this book Tuscaloosa and it's early music scene is mentioned over and over.

The author is Randy Poe. He was born in Fayette, Alabama and raised in Muscle Shoals. This Grammy nominee moved to New York City in 1980, where he became executive director of the Songwriters' Hall of Fame. In 1985 he was named president of Lieber & Stoller Music Publishing. Poe has written 2 other books, dozens of articles for various music magazines, and the liner notes to over 100 albums. A recipient of the ASCAP-Deems Taylor Award for excellence in music journalism, Randy lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Mina, and son, Riley. I called at his home in LA.

Randy, you've written quite a book!
Thanks.

Aren't you a musician?
I pretend to be. (laughter) Let's put it this way, I own some guitars.

Did you play with any of the bands mentioned in your book?
No, No! I'm quite a bit younger than those guys were.

How did you get from Fayette, Alabama to Los Angeles, California?

My parents moved to Muscle Shoals. I went to the University of North Alabama. I took the commerical music program there. I didn't graduate. I dropped out because I had this theory that New York was the place to be if one wanted to make it as a writer. So I hopped on a bus there at James Joiner's bus station in Florence and moved to New York City. After a very short time there I got into the music business, which was my other love. I got a job with a music publishing company and worked there until I moved over to the Songwriter's Hall of Fame. I stayed there until I had the opportunity to run the publishing company for Lieber & Stoller. They are the songwriting team that wrote, "Hound Dog", "Jail House Rock", "Kansas City", "Love Potion Number Nine", "Stand By Me", and a lot more great songs. Then in 1989 Lieber & Stoller decided they wanted to move to the west coast. Where the weather is a lot nicer. That's where we've been ever since.

What inspired you to write this book on Duane?
It was a number of things. Growing up in Muscle Shoals is part of it. Another part of it is when Rolling Stone Magazine put out that story about the 100 best guitar players of all time. They listed Duane as number 2. Then next to his name, they put in parentheses "of the Allman Brothers Band". That surprised me. I thought, Why would you have to say who Duane Allman was? You know what I mean?

Exactly!
They didn't say Jimi Hendrix of the Jimi Hendrix Experience. The only reason I could come up with is maybe Duane is starting to fade from memory. He's been gone so long. There has never been a book written about him. There was only one major magazine article written about him and that was in Guitar Player Magazine in 1981. My motivation came from a combination of these things that made me realize that his popularity was not near as much as what was it was in my head. Also I had done a lot of interviews over the years with the studio musicians, recording studio owners, record producers, and such in Muscle Shoals. I had always asked whoever it was, Jimmy Johnson, Rich Hall, David Hood, whoever, if they had any stories about Duane? These interviews go all the way back to the 70's. I managed to hang on to those interviews, even after several major moves, some more than 25 years. I went back and started reading all these great stories from these guys that knew Duane and realized that I had a good start for a book. So basically I wrote the whole Muscle Shoals section of the book first. Then I went forward or backwards from that.

While reading I wondered why you didn't interview Dallas Smith?
Because he's not living! (laughter)

That's a great reason not to interview him. (laughter)
Yea, that got in the way. That's why I didn't interview Duane either.(laughter) That got in the way of my interviewing a lot of people. There were so many that I would have loved to interviewed. Like Phil Walden, he was so ill at that time. I was just getting ready to interview Wilson Pickett, when he died. It is sad because none of these people are dying at the age of 90. So many that were important to Duane's life died younger than any of us want to.

Did you meet Duane?
No, I never got to meet him. I had the opportunity to meet and interview Gregg. I corresponded with Duane's daughter. But to put it in perspective, I would have had to meet Duane when I was like 15.

Are you surprised with the success of this book?
My publisher has been pleasantly surprised. I wasn't that shocked. And it has nothing to do with the fact that it was me that wrote it. It turns out that that the fans of Duane Allman are rabid fans. I couldn't be more thrilled with the books success as far as sales go. But I am even more thrilled with the way you critics see it. You have all had really nice things to say. Just this past Sunday there was a beautiful review in the Tennessean. Which I thought was great because that's where Duane was born. It's been in the Orlando Sentinel in Florida near where they grew up. The reviews have been great. Even those super hard core fans that blog on the Allman Brothers' web site have been saying really good things. These guys also pointed out a mistake I made in the book. I was 1 day off of a concert date in the book and they caught it. (laughter) Other than that I guess everything else is alright.

If you had it to write again would you change anything?
Only that date and when it goes to paperback we will change it then.

You have written other books, haven't you?
Yes, I wrote a book that was very much needed because the book that was being used to teach music business in college was so hard to understand. It's a book about music publishing. It's easy to understand and it has been through 10 printings and I have revised it with the changes that time brings because it originally came out in 1990. It's been hugely successful. The original title was Music Publishing: A Songwriters Guide. It's now called The New Songwriter's Guide to Music Publishing.I also wrote Squeeze My Lemon: A Collection of Classic Blues Lyrics. The forward to it was written by B.B. King.

Our old Hollywood buddy, Lance Miccio, is gonna sponsor a film festival!

Roberto:

cool ,
I was given a Merry Prankster- Hells Angels poster for Big Brother and the Holding Company by Ken Babbs
attached is a Press release for my VENICE BEACH FREE WORLD FILM FESTIVAL
and Poster for event.
For a schedule of events -go to http://www.happytrailershd.com/ News page

Live Free or Die

Lance Miccio

Free in LA

The Venice Beach Free World Film Festival will be held at 7 Dudley Cinema in Venice Beach on January 30 -31st from 5 pm until 10 pm.

The founder of the Festival, Lance Miccio, and his film production company, Happy Trailers HD LLC
, will be sponsoring the event.

The festival was started in hopes of bringing the counter-culture and the mainstream together in an effort to connect the free ideals of the 60s with 2007.

Iconic Woodstock legends Country Joe McDonald and Fito de la Parra (Canned Heat) have films that will premiere at the event, along with young idealist Venice film makers who will show alongside them.

The event kicks off at 5 pm at 7 Dudley Cinema (7 Dudley Ave., Venice Beach CA 90291) with a drum circle followed by Living the Blues, a 13 minute documentary about the band Canned Heat, who originated in Venice, and their impact on Blues. Fito will be on hand to do a Q&A.

Following will be Venice filmmaker Christopher Gallo's short film about Venice art legend William Attaway, ATTAWAY (8 minutes). This will also be followed by a Q&A.

Gerry Fialka will interview Country Joe before a live audience
The showing of The Vietnam Experience ( 30 minutes), followed by a performance of some of his new material.
When asked about his goals of this year's first event , Miccio stated:

It is two-fold. First, I want to show today's generation what they have in common with the free radical youth of the 60s and that artistic media such as film can help steer the future in a more positive direction.
I also wanted an event that was Free! I wanted to have a film festival the Diggers would be proud of. Every aspect of the event is free. Free admission, free to enter your film, free of competition and free of corporate themes.

The festival will feature mostly shorts with the exception of two one-hour pieces, Venice's Frank Sufert's Desert Dreamers narrated by Peter Fonda, and The Jukebox; from Edison to iPod directed by Venice filmmaker Lance Miccio and Matt Turner's linear history of the Jukebox, narrated by Peter Coyote.

Francesco Quinn expresses freedom on Life on a Bike.
Venice filmmaker Andrew Koenig will present Run for your Life.
To learn more about the Venice Beach Free World Film Festival go to http://www.happytrailershd.com/ news page for schedule and details.
VENICE - WHERE ART MEETS CRIME
If you have any questions please feel free to call me
310 581 4130
Sincerely,
Lance
Lance Miccio
President, Happy Trailers HD LLC
202 Main Street Venice CA 90291
310 581 4130

2006-12-06T17:51:00.000-08:00

B.J. Thomas & His Backup Band
Photo taken in front of the Bitter End in New York City
Left to right: Rodney Justo, David Adkins, John Rainey Adkins,B.J. Thomas, Jimmy Dean, Charlie Silva, Jon Stroll

From Jimmy Dean:

Hey Robert----Regarding Jim Hodges' post to you---we were on Midnight Special backing up BJ in I think 1975. The show was taped at the University of Chicago campus. Charlie Daniels was also on the show as well as others who I can't remember. It was after the release of BJ's tune "Hey Won't You Play Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" which he had recently done in Nashville with Chips Moman. Beaverteeth was made up of Charlie Silva, John Rainey Adkins, David Adkins, and me. Rodney Justo had stopped working with BJ around that time, so I don't recall if he was on the show with us or not. We had a keyboardist who came on stage with us when BJ came on stage. It may have been Jon Stroll, but I think it was more likely Rod Erhousen at that time.

We also did DINAH! (Dinah Shore's show) about the same time. We taped that show at CBS's Television City in Los Angeles. On that show was Radar from MASH and Sammy Davis Jr., who I had met previously with Billy Joe Royal in Las Vegas. As you can imagine, if a DVD of either of those appearances is ever released, I would love to be able to get a copy and would appreciate any more info about it.

Thanks to Jim Hodges for letting me know about this----
Jimmy Dean

Hey Jimmy:

Last Thursday I was talking the Johnny Sisty, the owner of WTBC. He was talking about witnessing B.J. cut "Hey, Won't You Play...." in Chips Moman's studio in Nashville.

He said two of his strongest memories of that session was how all the musicians took off their shoes before entering the recording studio and how B.J. would sing a few lines, break away, go outside the recording booth and fight with his wife and then calmly return to cut more of the song.

Thanks for responding.

Best,
RR http://rockpilgrimage.blogspot.com

from Rodney "The Rocker" Justo:

Your viewer is correct.
It was MIDNIGHT SPECIAL.
I however, was not on the show.
It was David and John Rainey Adkins, Jimmy Dean, and Charlie Silva.
B.J. did in fact mention David Adkins. I think it was after the guitar solo on Hooked on a Feelin'

Rodney

From Jon Stroll:

Hey Roberto:

Nice to hear from you and thanks for forwarding my web site to James Hodges. I was just down in Florida with my songwriting and recording partner Bobby Weinstein. Bobby and I recorded with Chips Moman at American Recording with the legendary Memphis Boys:Reggie Young on guitar, Bobby Wood on piano, Bobby Emmons on keyboards, Gene Chrisman on drums, and Mike Leech on bass. We also wrote songs for Petula Clark, Brenda Lee, Ronnie Milsap, and Len Barry, among others, while we were down there.

Our album,"Cook Me Up Your Taste" by Weinstein and Stroll, is still a favorite among many people and there has been some recent interest in it from Japan. We're trying to have it re-released. Akihide Nakamura, a music critic and record reviewer in Japan, described our album as "an unknown masterpiece".

I have been in touch with Chips, and Bobby was just at Chip's horse ranch in Georgia. Chips just produced an album with Willie Nelson. I was in Nashville and saw Mike Leech, Bobby Wood, and Bobby Emmons.

I don't know if I had mentioned it to you, but Bobby and I wrote the hit song for the Boxtops, "Sweet Cream Ladies". It was a pretty revolutionary lyric at the time!

Talk to you soon,
Jon Stroll www.yourmusicconsultants.com

From cindy a. reilly:

My Xhusband, Jack Lane played bass with Beaverteeth in 1975 & 1976, they played the local clubs in Dothan (the Oasis), and Montgomery, Birmingham, Atlanta .. The Late & Great Charlie Silva was the Drummer!! Thanks for the memories...

2006-12-06T16:36:00.000-08:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Patton
SO WHAT'S SO ORDINARY ABOUT WALKING ON THE GROUND WHERE THE DELTA BLUES WERE BORN?

2006-12-03T17:29:00.000-08:00

Joe Rudd & THE DISTORTIONS at Tuscaloosa's Ft. Brandon Armory courtesy of http://wtbc1230.com

Will Rudd, Joe's brother, called to tell me Joe passed away last night about 10:30 P.M. at the V.A. Hospital.

Will said that Joe appeared to suffer very little and just went to sleep and didn't wake up. Joe required very little pain medication during his hospital stay and every visit or phone call from his old gang really brought back his mental powers. Joe shared memories and joked with visitors till the very end.

Will is finalizing plans for a memorial service which will probably occur next Saturday. I feel that all the details will be worked out by this time tomorrow. Joe is survived by his 99 year old mother and her condition will dictate that the service be short.

Will told me that one of the things that he will carry away from the ordeal of the past three weeks will be an undying love for the preservation of Southern music.

I replied that we have two options:

We can let all our memories dissolve into oblivion or we can preserve all that we have left.

Will is not the only one who is making a commitment to remember our musical heritage. Many of the people who came to The Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music http://heybabydays.com
book signing with Greg Haynes last night will take a little more time to preserve that old concert poster or to scan those old photos or email us about their memories of the music and the men and women who entertain us.

I know Joe's ears were burning last night about 7 o'clock because everyone in the old Tuscaloosa crowd at Chuck's Fish http://www.chucksfish.com/
were talking about Joe Rudd as we hustled autographs from Greg Haynes, Nora Haynes, Tiger Jack Garrett, Bill Connell and Bennie Deer.

Connell had a really cool portrait of Gregg Allman and him taken recently when Bill and his wife, Laura, stayed at Gregg and his wife's house on a bayou near Savannah. Gregg was wearing a Chuck's Fish cap so maybe Bill can get him over to T-town for a little jam session at the restaurant. Gregg also told Bill that he had contacted Polydor to have them send Bill the four gold records that he is owed.

Thanks to everyone who had a hand in making last night's event a success and I'm sure I'll
see some of you at Joe Rudd's memorial service next Saturday.

Best,
Robert Register http://rockpilgrimage.blogspot.com

P.S. I'll send out more details on the Old Musician's Reunion and Super Jam Thursday night at Rhythm & Brews but I received this email from Jerry Henry:

Robert,
I want you to help me get the word out about Thursday night. The Musicians Reunion and Super Jam at Rhythm and Brews http://www.rhythmnbrews.com/
beginning at 8:00. Us old guys still know how to party. Great seeing everybody at Chuck's last weekend. Bill Connell coming in while I was there was a God send.
Thanks,
Jerry

2005-10-20T17:54:00.000-07:00

HEY YA'LL:
Zane Kesey http://key-z.com ,Ken's son,& the Babbs brothers,Ken Babbs' sons, are commemorating in Las Vegas on Halloween the 40th anniversary of the first Acid Test which occurred at Ken Babbs' house in Santa Cruz on Sunday, November 27, 1965.

Here's Simon Babbs' pitch from http://skypilotclub.com

Welcome to my auction. I am Simon Babbs, son of Ken Babbs, the Intrepid Traveler. I was born on the Farm back in 1968, Ken Kesey's farm in Pleasant Hill. In a log cabin next to the pond. In 69 I went to Woodstock with my dad who ran the free stage. Items up for bidding are trips with the Merry Band of Pranksters with them on their bus from Kesey's Farm in Pleasant Hill, Oregon down to S.F. for some shows during the weekend of the 29th and the 30th of October and then on to Las Vegas Nevada for Halloween on the 31st for the 40 year commemorative Acid Test with the Merry Band of Pranksters at the Front Door, 4813 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, Nevada.

You are not just bidding on the right to tag along, you are bidding on becoming a member of the Merry Band of Pranksters for this show. You must be prepared to take the stage with the Pranksters and perform with them at the first Acid Test they have performed at in 40 years. The time the bus leaves has yet to be decided. The route has yet to be announced. Your bid for this historic event will make it all happen for us that much easier. There are at this point three extra spots available. Fee free to call my Brother Eli who will be driving the bus on his phone at 503-939-5373 if you have bid on this auction.

http://at40vegas.com

http://www.nrpsmusic.com/

photo of Ron Bevirt's sign, courtesy of http://www.ralph-abraham.org/1960s/

Ron Boise's sculpture being installed

From an article in the Santa Cruz Sentinel http://www.santa-cruz.com/archive/1999/September/19/local/stories/3local.htm :

Few downtown merchants knew Bevirt was one of Ken Kesey’s Merry Pranksters, a photographer on the psychedelic International Harvester bus that would, on occasion, be parked outside. Other Pranksters, like Neal Cassady, the notorious Dean Moriarty of Jack Kerouac’s ‘‘On the Road,’’ occasionally worked at the store, and Kenneth Babbs had a home in the area. Lee Quarnstrom, today a reporter for the San Jose Mercury News, had connected with the Pranksters in La Honda and then drifted here. He took a job at the Hip Pocket for $20 a week and all he could read.

Meanwhile, Ron Boise, 33, a former neighbor in La Honda who had done a little artistic modification on ‘‘Further,’’ the Prankster bus, was now showing his sculpture as part of the developing cultural scene in Aptos. The artist, known for massive metal sculptures, particularly of nudes, staged his first local show at the beat generation coffee bar and gallery called The Stickey Wicket.

Ken Babbs corrected our PSYCHEDELIC WORLD HISTORY version of him hosting the Earth's first ACID TEST found at http://rockpilgrimage.blogspot.com

Subject: Re: Po' Ole Buddy May Have Had A Brain Fart, Jimmy Dean Came Through & Capn Keeps Us Up Wid Katrina

[host of the very first Acid Test almost 40 years ago at his book
store in Santa Cruz,CA on November 27,1965]

at my house, not a bookstore, and the bookstore probably being
referred to was owned by peter dema and ron bevirt and was called the
hip pocket bookstore.

kb
http://skypilotclub.com

I forgot to say I never have owned a bookstore and can confidentally
predict I never will, but you never know, you never know so I will
curb my tongue.
kb

From deadlists http://www.deadlists.com/deadlists/yearresults.asp?KEY=1965

Band
Merry Pranksters
Venue
Unknown Venue
Location
Soquel, Santa Cruz, CA
Date
11/??/65 - Sunday

Comments
Soquel, near Santa Cruz (Warlocks?): 1st Acid Test? The Deadhead's Taping Compendium -- p.85: "The parties were outgrowing La Honda...first acid test was held in November 1965.
Recordings
Master recordings of "Acid Tests" by Pranksters: "were several Ampex 601 two-track stereo reel-to-reel tape decks..." -- [Ref.: The Deadhead's Taping Compendium -- p.6 Ken Babbs & p.85].
Contributors
Teddy GoodBear , The Deadhead's Taping Compendium p.85, Owsley Stanley III.
Caretaker
Teddy Goodbear

From http://www.nii.net/~obie1/deadcd/acid_test_files.htm

Ken Kesey decided to go public with his own parties. On November 27, 1965, he put up a small poster in a bookstore advertising an "Acid Test" in a private home. It was clear to an acidhead what Kesey hoped to do: throw a big party where everyone took LSD and made some collective cosmic breakthrough. Not by meditation and listening to Indian music, the way Timothy Leary was recommending on the East Coast, but by courting the unexpected. If you came to an Acid Test, you'd find Kesey's Merry Pranksters messing with microphones and gadgets, plus a light show, a slide show about American Indians, a rock band called the Warlocks, Kesey's own musical group (the Psychedelic Symphonette) and lots of weird people.

But how to describe what he was inviting people to? Kesey considered it participatory theater, like the Happenings that were the current rage in the art world. Everybody paid a dollar admission, including Kesey.

2005-07-17T11:05:00.000-07:00

HEY YA'LL:
You know I hate to call this crowd negligent but negligent we be.

These 2005 anniversaries are important because they instantly turn the spotlight on a space in time. We already missed calling attention to the 40th anniversary of Kesey's La Honda Pot Bust last April and not only that some of you who witnessed that event have misplaced your notes.{naughty, naughty}

We have a duty to preserve our heritage and prevent it from sinking into the oblivion of that big black parking lot of the Wal Mart/Time Warner MegaCenter located in East Hell, New Jersey.

October 7 marks the 50th anniversary of Ginsburg's reading of HOWL at 6 Gallery in Frisco, December 7 will make 50 years since Rosa got busted in a front seat of that bus in Montgomery and December 8 is sadly the 25th anniversary of the day John Lennon passed away.

Thanks to kind folks at http://www.diggers.org/top_entry.htm ,
I have compiled a list of the events which will have their 40th anniversary in the coming months.
In closing, please remember that many of you knuckleheads witnessed these events so please be sweet, take a few prescious moments out of your busy day and share your reminiscences with ole roberto.
best,
roberto http://rockpilgrimage.blogspot.com

Aug 07, 1965 (Saturday) Merry Pranksters Party With Hell's Angels.
Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters throws a huge party at their La Honda cabin and invite the San Francisco chapter of the Hell's Angels.

Event: First Rock Dance Concert. Saturday, October 16, 1965.

Short Note: Produced by the Family Dog at the Longshoreman's Hall.
Long Note: The first rock dance concert ever held took place under the sponsorship of the Family Dog at the octagonal meeting hall of the International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union near Fishermen's Wharf. It was billed as "A Tribute to Dr. Strange," and featured the Jefferson Airplane, the Charlatans, the Great Society, and ?the Marbles [who later metamorphized into the Loading Zone]. A light show was operated by Bill Ham.

Oct 24, 1965 (Sunday) Family Dog concert. More InfoThe second Family Dog rock dance concert was held at ?the Longshoremen's Hall. It was called "A Tribute to Sparkle Plenty."

Nov 06, 1965 (Saturday) Family Dog dance concert. More Info
The third Family Dog rock dance concert was held at the Longshoremen's Hall. It was called "A Tribute to Ming the Merciless." The Mothers [who later added "of Invention" to their name] played it.

Reference/Source: (Charles Perry, The Haight Ashbury: A History (New York: Random House/Rolling Stone Books, 1984), 28-30.)

Nov 27, 1965 (Saturday) First Acid Test.
The first Acid Test was staged by the Merry Pranksters at Ken Babbs' book store in Santa Cruz. It featured a light show and projections of some of the forty hours of film shot on the 1964 bus excursion [and referred to simply as "The Movie"]. (Augustus Owlsley Stanley III had been introduced to Ken Kesey in September 1965.)

Dec 04, 1965 (Saturday) Acid Test.
The second Acid Test was held at "Big Nig's" house in San Jose. It featured the Warlocks band (future Grateful Dead), a light show, and was attended by some 400 people.

Dec 11, 1965 (Saturday) Acid Test.
The third Acid Test was held at the Big Beat night club in Palo Alto. It featured the Warlocks band (future Grateful Dead), a light show, and Stewart Brand's "America Needs Indians" slide show.

Dec 11, 1965 (Saturday) Acid Test.
The third Acid Test was held at the Big Beat night club in Palo Alto. It featured the Warlocks band (future Grateful Dead), a light show, and Stewart Brand's "America Needs Indians" slide show.

Dec 17, 1965 (Friday) Acid Test.
The fourth Acid Test took place at Muir Beach Lodge near Mt. Tamalpais (after being advertized for Stinson Beach). This was the largest one to date in terms of attendence.

Jan 08, 1966 (Saturday) Acid Test.
The fifth Acid Test was held at the Fillmore Auditorium. (Another one -- the sixth? -- took place sometime this month in Portland, OR.)

Ca. 13-18 January 1966 Kesey Sentenced. More Info
Ken Kesey is sentenced for his conviction in the April 1965 arrest case for possession of marijuana, receiving a six-month jail sentence and three years of probation.

Jan 19, 1966 (Wednesday) Ken Kesey Busted.
Ken Kesey is arrested in San Francisco a second time for the possession of marijuana. He subsequently jumps bail and flees to Mexico, trying to mislead law enforcement authorities with a faked suicide note.

21-23 January 1966 Acid Test and Trips Festival.
The seventh (?) Acid Test was held at the Trips Festival (Friday through Sunday) which took place in the Longshoremen's Hall, San Francisco. The Festival was a joint effort of Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters, Stewart Brand (who showed his "America Needs Indians" slide show during it), and Bill Graham (who handled the business arrangements). Augustus Owsley Stanley III was a financial sponsor of the event: He purchased amplifiers and other electronic equipment for the Grateful Dead to use in playing there (and thereafter) and also donated LSD which he had manufactured for free ditribution at the event.

Reference/Source: (Charles Perry, The Haight Ashbury: A History (New York: Random House/Rolling Stone Books, 1984), 44-45. Lou Gottlieb, a former member of the folk group, The Limelighters, and future founder of the Sonoma County commune, Morningstar Ranch, in his regular folk music column for the San Francisco Chronicle (Tue. 18 January 1966), promoted the upcoming Trips Festival as being "of major significance in the history of religion.")

Jan 29, 1966 (Saturday) Acid Test.
The eighth (?) Acid Test was held at the Sound City Studios in San Francisco.

February 1966 Bill Graham changes careers.
Bill Graham resigns as business manager of the San Francisco Mime Troupe in order to devote himself full-time to the business of acid rock concert promotion, initially at the Fillmore Auditorium.

Feb 06, 1966 (Sunday) Acid Test.
The ninth (?) Acid Test was held in Los Angeles (and called the "Sunset [Blvd.] Acid Test"?). It featured the Grateful Dead.

Feb 12, 1966 (Saturday) Acid Test.
The tenth (?) Acid Test was held at the Youth Opportunities Center in Compton, CA., which is on the fringes of Los Angeles' Watts ghetto. Some 200 people attended.

Mar 01, 1966 (Tuesday) Kesey Sighting.
Herb Caen reported that Ken Kesey is in Mexico, but "he'll be back."

"Cuba, Alabama" wishes to thank the folks at diggers.org for this information
http://www.diggers.org/asp/chrono_all_events.asp

2005-06-10T18:25:00.000-07:00

From :
robert register
Sent :
Sunday, June 5, 2005 11:09 PM
To :
robertoreg@gmail.com, robertoreg@hotmail.com
Subject :
" I Eat A Peach For Peace....2 legged Georgia Kind!" DOOWANG : WATCH CMT AT 8 ON SUNDAY!!!!

OH, LLOYD!!!!

I CAN'T BELIEVE THEMZ PROFESSIONAL FOLK SCREWED UP!

I'm logging the sites & about an hour into the program they take SKYNYRD to Muscle Shoals & the graphic is labeled
"Muscle Shoals Sound
1000 Alabama Avenue
Sheffield, Alabama"

WHAT A BUNCH OF KNUCKLEHEADS!!!!
EVAHBODIE KNOWZZZZZZZZZ M.S.S. WUZ LOCATED AT 3614 JACKSON ROAD....
in fact check out this quote from the email I sent ya'll less than two hours ago....
"the documentary is tied together by addresses of important SOUTHERN ROCK historic sites like 3614 Jackson Highway in Sheffield."

Here's what I got and I'll correct it tonight at 8 P.M. CDT:

1] Fame Recording Studio
Avalon Avenue
Muscle Shoals

Chuck Leavell
Rick Hall
Jimmy Johnson [I got to meet him backstage when the Stones played Bama in '72]
David Hood [somebody needs to check on his son]
Phil Walden [not sure if he was a fraternity brother but he went to school at Mercer with my EYC advisor from Dothan, John Rue ,back in the day when he managed Otis Redding & The Pine Toppers]
Jaimoe

2} Green House in Jacksonville {hey weezzzz needs the address on this}

Dickey Betts
Butch Trucks
Gregg

3] Hippie Crash Pad
309 College St.
Macon

introduce Phil Walden

4]Atlantic Records
1841 Broadway
NYC

5] Idlewild South [little farm outside of Macon, didn't get any address but have heard about some disturbing stuff which occurred at this location]

6] Criteria Studios
1755 N.E. 149 St.
Miami

7] Filmore East
105 2nd Ave.
NYC

8]Corner of Hillcrest & Bartlet

Mike Hyland

9]Grant's Lounge
Poplar St.
Macon

Paul Hornsby [born New Brockton, Alabama]
Doug Gray
George McCorkle

10] Capricorn
535 Cotton Ave.
Macon

missed a guy here [I'll make it up at 8]
Charlie Daniels

11] Funochio's
Atlanta

Al Kooper
Gary Rossington

12]elementary school baseball field
5300 Park St.
Jacksonville

Van Zant Brothers

13] Robert E. Lee H.S.
1200 S. Mc Duff Ave.
Jacksonville

14] one hour into the documentary &
BOY, THIS IS WHERE THEY REALLY SCREWED UP!
1000 ALABAMA AVE. {should be 3614 Jackson Rd}
Sheffield

Billy Powell
Ed King

15] HELL HOUSE
somewhere outside of Jacksonville {need to get the address}

16] 3864 Oak Cliff Industrial Blvd.
Doraville, Ga.

17] 2600 Geneva Avenue
San Francisco, Ca.

Judy Van Zant

18] Lasalle Square
Providence, R.I.

some Carter guy

19] Lakeside Amusement Park
Lakeside Road
Macon

20] Amite County, MS

Check it out on CMT at 8 & check out wwwwwwwwwwwyker's post below

From:
"JDWyker"
To:
"robert register"
CC:
MIGHTYFIELDofVISION@yahoogroups.com
Subject:
Re: O.K., ROCK PILGRIMAGE Tour Guides, Get Out Your Pencil & Paper! I'm Gonna Teach Ya Sumthin'.
Date:
Sun, 5 Jun 2005 16:11:52 -0500

Dea Ka$h !
Yes The RUBBER BAND was on that Big BAM Show in MonkeyTown...Sonny and Cher were the headliners and fought like cats and dogs the whole time...and the on that show there was ROY ORBISON and THE CANDYMEN,The McCoys,? and The Mysterions, The Seeds,The Byrds and about everyone else that had a hit record at the time...

If you had a hit you were on the WVOK Show which was before the Big BAM Show...I already knew Robert Nix and most of The Candymen...in fact I left my first wedding ring at Robert Nix's apartment in Atlanta when I took it off because it was making a rattle when I played the guitar...that married did not last long...

Anyway at The WVOK Show Nix was tellin' me about The Byrds drummer....and he said don't miss his playin'...so he stood right by my side when The Byrds came on...

The Byrds drummer was Michael Clark and basically he learned to play on Cardboard
Boxes....and he might have been takin' acid or somethang....

Before the show all the dressing rooms were filled with the acts that were goin' to play....I was lookin' for The Byrds...no where to be found...The McCoys had the biggest candy stash I've ever seen....I guess they got the munchies a lot...

I remember Roy Orbison's father and maybe his brother were backstage....I remember thinkin' that they all wore Coke bottle thick glasses....they were real nice people...

And then about half way through the show we got word that a mysterious motorhome had pulled up beside the buildin'...and maybe it was The Byrds...a few minutes later the backstage doors flew open and the indefinable smell of Patchouli Oil permeated the whole auditorium...

And Roger McGuinn...took a quick look around back stage...it was almost like he was runnin' and lookin' at everybody there from head to foot....when he scanned me or looked me in the face he was about a foot away and I could tell he was wearin' bright GREEN contact lenses...and then he was back on his mysteries motorhome..

The promoters started to relax a little bit...and when announcer announced The BYRDS'S the teenage girls started screamim' so loud that it completely drowned out the band..

McGuinn plugged his 12 string into some big ass amp and he stepped up to the mic and let loose with a solo version of one of their tunes...in the meantime Chris Hillman and David Crosby were tryin' to get plugged up...but they seemed to be more interested in lightin' their cigarettes...and they were havin' some kind of argument at the same time..

But McGuinn plowed ahead solo and nobody missed the rest of the band..the screamin' was so deafing..

Me and Robert Nix were back stage watchin' Michael Clark The Byrds drummer...and Nix would punch me and say "now watch this part "...Clark sat down on the drums and closed his eyes and started movin' to the beat....he got his chewin' gum goin' ....and then he got the bass drum goin'....and a little later he added the snare drum...and when he had those two actions down he added a cymbal....his eyes were still tightly closed and he was chewin' that gum a mile a minute....

And Robert Nix said to me "Now watch what he does next "...and sure enough when he finally had it all goin' at one time he decided to go for a roll....and when he did he missed about four drums and a cymbal and almost fell off his drum stool...

When he collected himself he started the whole process over again....first he got his gum goin'...and then he added the bass,,and later the snare...well you know the story..

But me and Robert Nix laughed all night about Michael Clark's "learnin' experience on The Job"

And McGuinn never looked back at all or left or right for that matter....he just stood there with his 12 string wide open and played the whole set almost by himself !

I'm still laughin' about seein' The BYRDS that night in Birmingham and I'm sure Nix is still laughin' about it too...

The Tour went from B'Ham to Montgomery or MonkeyTown and ended in Jacksonville ,Fla, at a Big APE Show.

Sonny and Cher were The Headliners...and I remember that Cher wore a ring on her index finger...it was in the shape of a ball about the size of a big marble and I think it open up....funny how you remeber thangs like that...but I'll bet she kept her stash in there !

wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwyker
John D. Wyker aka SAILCAT aka The RUBBER BAND
MFV NET RADIO 24/7
"Music that you will not hear anywhere else !"
Please Checkout www.mightyfieldofvision.com and PLEASE pass the link on to all your friends !

To :
robertoreg@gmail.com, robertoreg@hotmail.com
Subject :
IT'S HAPPENING SO IF YOU DON'T WANNA BE ON THE LIST, LET ME KNOW, & yo' ass will be gone!

Inbox
From:
"Robert Dupree
To:
"robert register"
Subject:
Re: O.K., ROCK PILGRIMAGE Tour Guides, Get Out Your Pencil & Paper! I'm Gonna Teach Ya Sumthin'.
Date:
Sun, 5 Jun 2005 18:30:12 -0500

Robert,
Tell Rodney that was a great story about Roy and Sonny and Cher. Also tell him that the band playing "I Can't Help Myself" was us, The R.G.'s. That was one of our original songs, inspired by our love for Otis Redding and the influence he had on us trying to be a "SOUL" band. Also, ask him if he remembers us wearing the Bavarian yodler outfits. That story is in Greg Haynes book, and an excerpt of that story is here:

“We played the 1967 Big Bam Winter show at The Coliseum in Montgomery and were joined by our old friends The Rubber Band. They originally were named the Magnificent 7, and after they got the recording contract with Columbia, they had to change names. You see, Columbia had released a movie in 1960 called “The Magnificent 7” and the execs at Columbia had the name “The Magnificent 7” copyrighted and didn’t want a movie with the same name as a band. So Wyker called us and asked if we wanted to sell our name. We, of course, told him no, and so he had this idea to name his band “The Herald Angels” and said that the first album released could be titled Hark !”The Herald Angels Sing. “After that, they changed the name of the band to “The Rubber Band”. Anyhow, they had a great song out called Let Love Come Between Us and it was on the WBAM charts the same time that our song Bug of Soul was. It was, I thought, one of the best soul songs of the 60’s and James and Bobby Purify later covered the song. When The Rubber Band came back from New York after signing with Columbia they all had bought these really cool Paul Revere and the Raider boots, leather vests, etc. We knew they were going to try to out dress us at the Big BAM show, so we decided to come up with the most outrageous outfit that we could. We went down to Weil’s, a local clothing store in town that carried the “hippest” threads around. We found these lime green pants, black shirts with iridescent flowers, white suspenders and white clip on ties, and bright orange suede slip on Johnson-Murphy shoes. We cut the pants off and made them into shorts, and bought thin knee-high black silk socks to wear with them. We kept the outfits hidden until we were ready to go on stage. The Rubber Band opened the show and we listened to one or two songs, and then went to our dressing room. We stayed in the dressing room until they had almost finished. When the Rubber Band finished, we were just coming out of the dressing room and when they saw us, they knew we’d outdone them. They got a big laugh out of that, and what’s funny is we actually had girls screaming when we came on stage. To tell you the truth, we looked like a bunch of Bavarian yodelers.

It was a stunt to try and out-do the Rubber Band, who had all those cool clothes they got in NYC. The Rubber Band was also at that show, in fact opened it up. They had "Let Love Come Between Us" out. The night was November 25, 1967.
I remember watching the McCoys from backstage and what struck me as odd was that their drummer stood up and played drums. I'd never seen that before. I believe his name was Randy Zehringer. Rick, their monster guitarist, later changed his last name to Derringer. Rick played with the Winter Brothers, and later had out "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo".
Ed Sanford and I left back stage before Roy and the Candymen came on and got seats out front on the side of the stage where "Little Bobby" was set up. Ed kept saying, "Listen to Little Bobby". Rusty even remembers how great Roy and the Candymen sounded. They knew how to play the room!

2005-04-06T15:11:00.000-07:00

HEY YA'LL:
I am still fo' real 'bout Dothan's Rock 'N Roll mural, however, I don't see where the $10,000 is gonna come from. The one described in the article below is gonna cost at least $70,000. That's too high.
Here's my idea. We all volunteer a weekend. We find a wall in Dixie preferably near where Dixie Amusement Co. was located near the intersection with North St. Andrews Street. We get a projector and as soon as it gets dark one Friday night, we project the photo below on the wall and outline it. Come Saturday morning, everybody shows up with their stash of different colors of latex exterior paint and we go to work on the mural.
I don't think that will cost $70,000 and I don't think we'll have to attend any committee meetings with the "Downtown Group" or listen to their "experts".
Scout out locations and let me hear from ya.
best,
http://rockpilgrimage.blogspot.com

THE WEBS

Dothan's 14th mural underway

http://www.dothanalcvb.com/murals.htm#JMBrown

By Corrina Sisk-Casson / Eagle Staff Writer
August 24, 2004

Local artist Wes Hardin spreads paint on the nose of a train which is being depicted on Dothan's newest mural Monday morning. Hardin has painted many of Dothan's murals including "Fort Rucker," The Steamboat Era," and " Sherman Rose - Tuskeegee Airman."
Jay Hare
On the corner of Burdeshaw and Foster streets in downtown Dothan stands a long brick wall between the law offices of Jones and Associates and Choice Inn. Donning a floppy straw hat, paint splattered jeans and a long sleeve shirt rolled up to his elbows, Wes Harden is hard at work painting on that wall what will be known as the longest mural in the southeastern United States.

The Wiregrass Association of Murals commissioned Harden to do "The Train Mural" depicting the story of Dothan in the 1800's. According to local historian and chairman of the mural committee, Wendell Stepp, the trains arrived in 1889 and helped to create Dothan.

"Until the train arrived you couldn't ship the turpentine from here. It was too far to go over to the Chattahoochee River," Stepp said about the 22 mile trek. "So we weren't getting any industry here (in Dothan) until the trains arrived."

Before the trains came to Dothan, Columbia and Abbeville were the largest towns in the Wiregrass. At the time, Columbia was known as the "Gem of the Wiregrass" because it was so nice.

"They wouldn't let the trains go through Columbia because they said the smoke and the noise from it, they even went so far as to say the cows wouldn't let down milk with the train," Stepp said. "They were narrow-minded enough to think that the river traffic would continue forever. So Dothan got it."

Rebecca Pavy, from the Downtown Group, held up a wooden rendering of what the end project would look like. Harden pointed to the picture and said the mural would be read like a book, from left to right, with the earliest part of history showing turpentine gatherers and the harvesting of pine trees for lumber. Then the mural will show the planting of cotton on the cleared fields and eventually progress to the time when trains came to the area.

The mural will stretch 222 feet long and reach as tall as 32 feet in some places. The committee presents artists with a narrative of what they want the next mural to look like. Then the artist researches history through old pictures, talking to people on the street and visiting various locations to get inspiration. The Train Mural is Harden's fifth mural in Dothan. He's worked on murals in the city since 1998. Other murals in Dothan that Harden has done are the A.M.E. Church Mural, the Fort Rucker Mural, Fort Scott Mural, and the Steamboat Mural. Harden's handiwork can be seen in other places as well, including Bainbridge, Ga., Panama City, Fla., and Blakely, Ga. He's also consulting with a city in Virginia to do a mural there soon.

"Each are different, each has their own personality," Harden said of all of his paintings.

Harden has his own studio in Dothan and specializes in portraits. The people that Harden meets often end up in his murals. He said that his sons have been featured in one and Stepp will most likely be in the Train Mural.

"Often times I try to figure out a way to add people," Harden said of his work. "It might be a story about a church, but I want to see people."

The mural project began when some people from Dothan saw murals throughout a town in Canada. They met with others and thought it would be a great fix for a run-down building in the heart of downtown. Today a brightly colored mural about the peanut is featured on the side of the building.

"We made a ruling from the very first," Stepp said. "That no mural is put on a wall because the mural is pretty. We put it on the wall to tell a story. If it don't tell a story we don't want it."

The Train Mural will be the 14th mural in Dothan. The group hopes to eventually expand to 20 murals so that Dothan can technically be called a National Mural City. Today Dothan is only recognized as an Alabama Mural City.

One of the main reasons for the murals is to teach children about the history of Dothan. It's also a way to draw tourists to the area. Some have the misconception that the murals are paid for by taxes, but Stepp explained that this is simply untrue. Instead, the murals are funded through fund raisers and money donated by organizations and individuals.

The Downtown Group sets up tours of the murals throughout the year. Harden and Stepp as well as others are guides. The Downtown Group also offers posters of the murals to be framed if people want to display the art in their homes. Eventually all the murals will be made into posters and signed by the artists.

DOTHAN

Vandalized peanuts back in place in Dothan

http://www.dcmi.com/peanuts/index.html
The Elvis peanut has its black pompadour properly groomed again.

And the giant pink peanut is back in its place.

All is right again with the giant fiberglass peanuts that have been decorating Dothan.

The Downtown Group persuaded businesses to buy 40 giant fiberglass peanuts for $1,000 each and then spend money to have local artists decorate them. The project raised money to maintain murals in the city that is famous for the National Peanut Festival each fall.

On the night of March 23, vandals damaged two peanuts and stole the pink peanut that stood in front of the Dothan Civic Center. The pink peanut, which promoted breast cancer awareness, was found by railroad tracks in Midland City and returned to Dothan.

The Elvis peanut in front of the Days Inn had its sunglasses ripped off and it right arm, hand and hair damaged, but the damage was repaired last week.

"Elvis is back," hotel manager Michael Miller said.

2005-04-02T12:00:00.000-08:00

HEY YA'LL:
Circlewood's own Johnny Townsend sent a SUPAH Clapton story so my wish wuz granted.
best,
ka$h

Johnny Townsend

Here is Bobby Dupree and Keith Brewer's version of Jimi's Cream Farewell Party.It differs from Townsend's

On the 18th and 19th of October, 1968, Cream played at the Forum in LA in what was billed as the Wheels of Fire Tour, but also was known as their Farewell Tour. Keith and I were sitting at the house in Studio City and Russ Shaw showed up at the door. He asked where the other guys were, and we told him that Rusty and Ed had dates, and Townsend was shacked up in his room with his girlfriend Lisa. He said to get dressed quick; we were going to a party. We hurried up and jumped in his car and took off toward the canyons. We arrived at Jimi’s house, and after being cleared at the gate we went in. Jimi was throwing a party for Cream’s Farewell Concert, and we were lucky to have been invited. We went in and there were lots of folks, some eating the finger food, some with drinks. As I stood there I saw Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce. Jack was playing this M or L model Hammond organ, and Ginger was nervously knocking things off the tables. Keith remembers, “Ginger still had a couple of teeth in his head and he looked a little unstable, but I think that was his normal appearance.” Keith and I just mingled as much as we could, but didn’t really fit in that crowd. There was a room off the living room downstairs that had a pool table, so we wandered down there. Keith started playing pool with this skinny guy and I sat down on the fireplace hearth, my elbows on my knees. I was looking down and saw two legs walk up, wearing high top black Converse All-stars and tuxedo pants. I looked up and it was George Harrison. I just about went into shock! As he walked by, I got up and watched him go outside and climb up on a large rock waterfall that connected to the swimming pool. He sat up there and just gazed at the stars.
After a couple of hours Russ brought us back to the house. Keith remembers, “Right before we left the party, some guy came downstairs where me and this guy were playing pool and said, ‘Hey Jeff, let’s go. We’re all going somewhere to jam.’ It was only then that I realized I’d been shooting pool with Jeff Beck.”

Robert,
I had just turned 21 and had been in Los Angeles about 8 months with a
group
named Heart (not the one with the Canadian chicks in it) consisting of
4
members of the Rockin' Gibraltars from Montgomery and me. I got a call
one
night from this promotion man at Warner Brothers, who had taking a
liking to
us and he said for me to get ready he was coming by to pick me up. He
didn't
say where we were going, just to be ready. No one else was around at
the
time, so I got dressed and went out on a spontaneous adventure.
We were down the freeway when he decided to let me know where we were
headed. As it turns out, we were going to the Forum in Inglewood to see
the
final appearance of Cream. Being a "wet behind the ears" kid from
Alabama in
those days, I was completely hypnotized the whole evening, standing
just
off stage by the monitor console watching the concert. After the show,
we
went backstage where I was introduced to Clapton, Jack Bruce, Ginger
Baker
and a host of others.
Shortly thereafter, I found myself cruising up Benedict Canyon in the
Hollywood Hills headed for some other destination unknown to me.
The house we wound up at was then owned by some rock n roll groupie who
just
happened to be the VP of some steel company. He rented it out to rock
luminaries of the time when they were touring in the area. The current
resident was a left handed guitar phenom named Jimi. As we passed
through
the gate, my friend Russ pointed out a number of names written on the
large stone wall that lined the driveway. Apparently the owner of the
house
had many of his guests sign that wall. Among the signatures I could read
were
John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Jimi, Janis.... and on and on. When we
got to
the front door, we were met by Ginger Baker riding a Harley through the
living room, and it got better from there. There were instruments being
set
up in the vacuous living room while lots of folks were gathered around
the
pool on the patio. I found myself some liquid refreshment and victuals
and
wandered around the house on my personal grand tour. I hung out in the
billiard room shooting 8 ball with a skinny English guy who I could
barely understand. It wasn't until much later, I learned his name was
Jeff
Beck. We drifted back upstairs when we heard music playing and got
there
just in time to see Buddy Miles and Eric plugging in and warming up.
Jeff
wandered over and picked up a black strat and it all started to come
together in my mind just who this cat was. I had told him while we were
shooting pool that I did a little singing, so he encouraged me to
grab a
microphone. Over the course of the next hour, I was priviledged to sit
in
and sing with 3 of the all time great rock n roll guitar players, Eric
Clapton, Jeff Beck and of course this left handed black kid named Jimi
wandered out of his bedroom to show them a few licks they missed. I got
off
so good, no one could talk to me for a week. I got some great
compliments
from everybody. I sang Higher and Higher with Buddy Miles, and got to
sing
Stormy Monday, Crossroads and Rollin' and Tumblin all by my self with my
"back up band". Over the course of the evening, Eric and I sat and
talked,
mostly about music and being away from home. I remember him asking
about
Muscle Shoals and his intention of doing some recording there. As
things
wound down about daybreak, I couldn't find my friend that I came with
so I
called a cab and went back to the place where my band was staying and
slept
the sleep of the innocent all day and most of that night. I never saw
any of
those guys again but that night always comes fresh in my memory every
time
one of their names comes up. I realize it's not altogether an Eric
Clapton
story, but it's the one I have to tell. Getting to play with those guys
had
to be THE highlight of my young musical career.
Mo Later,
Johnny Townsend

http://www.limestonerecords.com/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/multimedia/sixties/index_item_20.shtml
Robert,
Just wanted to make one correction to my previous story about Clapton
et al
story..
I did see Jimi Hendrix again after that night. Apparently, the
combination
of my performance that night at the party plus my friend, the promotion
man
at Warner Bros., got us hooked up with some tour dates with Jimi a few
months after. We did a half dozen dates with Jimi, Mitch and Noel in
California. That experience had to rate right up there with the night
of
"The Party".
Mo Later,
Johnny Townsend

http://www.johntown.com/home.html

2005-02-24T16:25:00.000-08:00

Check out the Locust Fork Band's new website
http://www.locustforkband.com/

Click below to hear Tiger Jack's Saturday morning oldies show on TBC. It's 9:50 A.M. so he'll be on until noon. Go to the website, scroll down to Tiger Jack's picture and get the feed from al.com
http://www.wtbc1230.com/

2005-02-24T16:00:00.000-08:00

From: ned mudd
To: Wyker
Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2003 12:28 PM
Subject: Tippy tale No. 2

Here's another Tippy tale from circa 1974.

Bill Marshall and I were recording a duo project called "The Truck Stop Opry" and Tippy would wander in from time to time, just checking out what was up, seeing if we were making progress etc. I recall he had an old sedan and carried his Fender bass around by sticking the back end on the rear dashboard, the tuning keys on the front seat. No case. That means, the bass was sorta flying in the car as he drove thru Tuscaloosa.

One day he came by and said he'd gotten a call from Jimmy Cliff. This was after "The Harder They Come". I said "What did he want?" Tippy says something about Jimmy wanting him to go on a big tour. I think it was a world gig but we're stretching my memory banks here.

"You going?" we said.
Tippy says, "I asked Jimmy if that meant I'd have to leave Tuscaloosa."
At that point, Tippy had no interest in leaving home. I reckon he told Jimmy "no."

Another time, shortly after that, I was working the door at Jumpin' Johnny's, downtown Tuscaloosa. I think Locust Fork was playing.

Tippy saunters up with this old gut string guitar on his shoulder, no case. The back end is dangling out behind him. Like everybody carried their guitar that way.

We chatted and he said "You think I could sit in?"
Locust Fork was one hell of a loud-assed band.
I looked at Tippy and figured he could work it out with the band somehow. No cover charge.

The guy who owned Jumpin' Johnny's, Alex Kontos, came by my place the other day with a CD. There was Tippy, jamming with Locust Fork, "live" at Jumpin' Johnny's.

I took one guitar lesson from Tippy. He decided to show me a cool lick and call it a day. The lick was a little 3 chord thing that was a mix of Appalachian with Muscle Shoals R&B thrown in.

Tippy said "Eddie Hinton taught me that."

Mudd

2005-02-13T17:53:00.000-08:00

Subject:
Thank You All!
Date:
Mon, 14 Feb 2005 01:43:07 +0000

I really don't know if tonight I can muster the words to appropriately express to all of you how much your kind words and thoughtfulness have meant to my family and me this past week. In addition to the emailed condolenses and support, many other dear friends continued calling in from everywhere, and I am so sad that I do not have most of their addresses to communicate to them my appreciation for their loving words also.

One never really knows how much a person has contributed to this life until we have to finally say goodbye. His father died during the depression, and he had to work in his early teens to get my grandmother and himself through those very trying times. Nevertheless, he studied hard enough in school to be accepted to The University of Alabama at the age of 15. He excelled as a big band leader, violinist, and upright bass player before he answered the call to serve his country which included landing at Normandy and surviving his way all the way to Germany. Major Albert Braxton Connell was a soldier and patriot who sacrificed all but his life to assist the freeing of Europe, but he NEVER mentioned a word about any of his constant tribulations or multiple wounds during World War II. He was a civic leader, a humanitarian, a loving husband, father and grandfather, not to mention a joy and inspriration to everyone who met him. .

The U.S. Army sent one of the most impressive units that any of us had ever witnessed at a military service. The very moving moment for me was when I realized that taps was being played, not by the bugler from the Army, but one of the trumpet players who played with "Al Connell's Rhythm Lads" in the 1930's. After the Army's impressive precision folding of the flag, which two of the soldiers lifted from atop his coffin, the Officer in Charge presented it to our step mother/grandmother; but as my sons and I helped her to the vehicle she was to leave in, she handed the flag to my sons and said, "Your grandfather wanted you to have this." There couldn't have been a more moving or fitting end for all of us that glorious day that he finally was relieved of the dreadful Alzheimer's disease.

Again, thank you for your prayers...we love all of you,

Bill & Laura Connell, Terry Connell, Nathan Connell & Braxton Connell

2005-02-12T04:53:00.001-08:00

Johnny Shines
http://www.island.net/~blues/johnnys.htm
"Everybody has the blues. If you didn't have them yesterday and don't have them today, you're bound to have them tomorrow."Johnny Shines
JOHNNY SHINES was born John Ned Lee Shines Jr., on Sunday, April 25 (not 26), 1915, Frayser (then a suburb of Memphis), TN. Shines was "rediscovered" by British researcher Mike Rowe, author of CHICAGO BREAKDOWN (Eddison Press, 1973), in 1964 on a tip from Willie Dixon. This prompted Sam B. Charters to recorded him (in Dec'65, w/Walter Horton) for the award winning VANGUARD Records series : Chicago/The Blues/Today!

2005-02-12T04:53:00.000-08:00

JEROME HOPKINS- Tuscaloosa, Alabama
He earned a Masters in music education in 1952 at Howard University
He gained his first exposure as a jazz pianist, playing for blues singer George Craft at a D.C. club called the OffBeat.
In 1956, he met Billie Holiday. Subsequently, Holiday offered him a job an offer he accepted and an arrangement that lasted some three years.
From 1960-1965, Hopkins played with the house orchestra at the Howard Theater, working with such performers and old friends as Sarah Vaughn, Red Foxx, Slappy White, and the notorious Jewel Box Revue.

2005-02-11T21:22:00.000-08:00

ティッピー・アームストロング(Tippy Armstrong)
ギタリスト。モダン・メンフィス・ブルース。アルバート・キングのマッスルショールズ録音でリズム・ギターを担当。(AMG)

Lost And Found

Copyright 1995 Breathe Easy Music http://www.jjcoleman.com/LostAndFound.htm
Jim Coleman - Vocals, Guitar, Bass Eddie Hinton - Vocals, Guitar, Piano, HarmonicaTippy Armstrong - Electric Guitar, Vocals Roger Hawkins - Drums David Hood - BassBarry Beckett - Piano, Organ John Hughey - Pedal Steel Guitar King Curtis - Soprano Saxophone Chuck Swartz - Clarinet The London Symphony - Strings

Eddie's good friend and former roommate, Duane Allman, was asked to played guitar, but, I told Eddie I wanted Tippy Armstrong to play guitar instead. Tippy was a great player and a great friend of mine. He played on albums for Bobby Womack, Albert King, and Jimmy Cliff among others. Duane was planning to leave town anyway and had asked Eddie to join him in a new band he was putting together with his brother, Greg, to be called "The Allman Brothers Band." Eddie turned him down for his studio gig and to finish the album we had decided to call "The Coleman-Hinton Project." Eddie had also picked Tippy to replace him as the staff session guitarist at Muscle Shoals Sound when he and I left to go on the road to promote our record.

In addition to recording in Muscle Shoals, we also recorded at David Briggs' Quad Studio in Nashville and at Olympic Studio in London where we recorded the strings. We used the same string players from the London Symphony who had played on the Beatles' records. Other notable musicians on this record include the late, great King Curtis on Soprano Saxophone and John Hughey on pedal steel guitar. I was a big fan of Conway Twitty at the time and wanted to use Hughey who was Conway's steel player. John Hughey now plays for Vince Gill. King Curtis was very popular in the 60's and was actually the opening act for the Beatles during their 1965 US tour when I saw them in Atlanta. King Curtis and Tippy have both been gone now for many years along with Duane.

Tippy Armstrong - Died 1979 ( Rock ) Singer and guitarist - Was a member of The Rubber Band (They did,"Charlena" and "In And Out Of My Life") Worked with Wilson Pickett and Roy Orbison.

Armstrong, Francis Tippy
Rock, Blues, Country
Guitar
Bobby Womack
1947
6/9/1979
Tuscaloosa, AL
Muscle Shoals, AL

2005-02-10T15:58:00.000-08:00

Urban legends surrounding performances by famous artists at drunken BAMA frat parties are ubiquitous here in T-town. ROCK PILGRIMAGE in its never ending search for TRUTH has uncovered two legends surrounding the old Zebe house located at 600 Stadium Drive (now Wallace Wade Ave.).
Legend has it that not only Fats Domino but also Little Stevie Wonder played for ZBT[a.k.a. ZILLIONS BILLIONS TRILLIONS]

Any recovered memories of drunken frat parties will be appreciated.
best,
ka$h

Robert,
I would just like to say that the Lakers are still waiting for the beer
from the volleyball game against Fat City. The Lakers consisted of
people who lived in the Cottondale lake area consisting of Canyon Lakes,
Lake Wildwood, The Farm and Dogwood Lake. Fat City wanted to play by
Jungle Rules, however the Lakers were aspiring volleyball players and even
played in the Y's volleyball league. We were good and Fat City has never
accepted that. Laker members were Billy Townsend, Charlie Haun, Al Livey ( and his friends from the Valley who lived in the old log cabin at
Canyon Lake), Bruce Hopper, Brian Hendrix,and others whose names escape
me.
The Dogwood Lodge parties totally eclipsed anything done at Fat City.
The last big party on 1976-77? consumed 53 kegs of beer, unknown
quantities of canned beer and we bar-b-qued one cow (raised by Willie Jordan),
countless ribs and chickens. The guess on the number of attendees was
one or two thousand. Five to Ten bands played including Locust Fork and
my band at the time, Stache(which included Richard Kent, Bill Brown,
Kevin Peterson and Jeff Phillips any myself on bass).
Too many other stories for an email
Hopper

The cover of WILBUR WALTON JR.'S Japanese release of Twenty Four Hours of Loneliness

John Earl on the subject of COURTNEY HAYDEN:

From :
John Earl
Sent :
Thursday, February 10, 2005 2:53 PM
To :
"robert register"
Subject :
Re: A Rock 'N Roll Pilgrimage To Tuscaloosa

Somewhere in the mists of the early seventies, I believe, WTBC had a tryout for an "underground FM radio" DJ. I auditioned and probably, in addition to my complete ineptness with radio station turntables, hurt any chances of getting the gig by playing Sonny Boy Williamson's "Little Village" from a Chess album which denoted it as "not suitable for airplay." The profanity that Sonny Boy used was mild when compared to today's musical standards but it was a breakthrough moment in Tuscaloosa FM. A "white" station had a cussing blues musician on it for the first time. Fortunately for aficionados of album length "cutting edge" music Courtney Hayden became Tuscaloosa's first "underground radio" DJ! It was late night, early morning listening with a cool looking, shoulder- length haired dude with a great voice. I got many of my first cool albums at Papa Genes, located at the end of the shops adjacent to the Corner.

2005-02-09T15:57:00.000-08:00

"We are learning, as has every generation passing before us, that memories gain value when those who make them leave us."
COURTNEY HAYDEN

To:
"robert register"
Subject:
Re: A Rock 'N Roll Pilgrimage To Tuscaloosa
Date:
Wed, 09 Feb 2005 01:14:58 +0000

NO, Robert, you are not bothering me. I look forward to meeting you when you visit the historical music town of Tuscaloosa, or as Tippy Armstrong referred to it as in the 60's & 70's, "The Music Mecca of the World." As you know, there's a lot of music history & musicians that originated and evolved out of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Thanks for forwarding the news of my father's passing to all those that loved and respected him. He WAS "Al Connell's Rhythm Lads," a twenty-one piece road band in the 30's. His musical career was halted when he was sent to land in Normandy and fight his way through Europe, almost identical to my musical career coming to a sudden halt when I was drafted during the Vietnam Era while playing with the Allman Joys.

Respectfully,
Bill Connell

From:
"Dean Moore"
To:
robertoreg2003@yahoo.com
Date:
Tue, 08 Feb 2005 23:16:25 -0600

hi... my name is dean... i was ( am still am ) the mayor of a place
we
called Fat City up close to Deer Lick Creek, .we had tons of parties
there...a strong history of fun.. . but to quit rambling, there is a
band up
here in N. Ala. ....Micro Wave Dave and the Nukes... they have an album
named Moon Winxs, and the cover has a cool painting of the old Moon
Winxs
sign. thought you might like to know that little tid-bit. You might
be on
to something here......good luck !! feel free to email me at any time,
I
lived in T'town from around '69-80.... Dean

Dear Dean:
We have never met, however, I have extensive information concerning your mayoral administration of the municipality know as FAT CITY and game preserve:

1) The Founding Fathers of FAT CITY and game preserve were Uncle Bud Dunn, Jim Baker, Bill Caldwell, Dean Moore[alias "Mayor of FAT CITY, "Toad Man", "Todacious Man Fellow" and Joe Poole-sometimes. Caldwell, Grant Oka(my wife Sharon's first husband), Jim Owens and Baker all served in 'Nam together.

2) FAT CITY and game preserve consisted of three houses and a log cabin set away from the houses.

3) Peak occupancy consisted of two to three hundred people for a party. Ya'll even had a lesbian wedding.

4) Shit hit the fan at one party when David Brown ran over a biker's dog.

4) July 4, 1976 was probably the last major FAT CITY party and for all practical purposes was the end of FAT CITY. 40 cases of Red, White and Blue beer were stored in a Knoxville,AL chicken house for consumption at this party.

5) FAT CITY became Small City at Canyon Lakes.

6) Bill Caldwell of FAT CITY still owes 3 cases of beer to "The Lakers" on an "at home loss" in volleyball. The explanation for the FAT CITY loss went like this,"The reason we lost is cause they liked rules!"

Looking for stories about Jumping Johnny's, Zorba's, Ireland's, The Super Market,The Library, and Raymon's Food and Sandwich Shop at 1307 10th Street.

2005-02-07T19:02:00.000-08:00

A BEATLES' FANATIC'S PILGRIMAGE TO ENGLAND IN 1981
http://earcandy_mag.tripod.com/rrcase-beatlepilgrimage.htm

2005-02-07T18:47:00.000-08:00

From : robert register
Sent : Tuesday, February 8, 2005 2:42 AM
To : robertoreg@hotmail.com
Subject : A Rock 'N Roll Pilgrimage To Tuscaloosa

| | | Inbox

My dear beloved sister and brothers:
I decided that if NYC and London could have guided tours of sacred rock 'n roll sites, I could do the same for Tuscaloosa.

Please think about this for me and offer any suggestions.

Of course, ya got Ft. Brandon Armory, Foster, the Quads and Memorial Coliseum but you also have the fraternity houses.
From what I can tell there were never ever any real juke joints on the chitlin' circuit in Tuscaloosa because dancing where alcohol was served wasn't made legal until ' 75 but you did have the Citizen's Club, some other dives(the one on 26th Avenue south of 21st Street behind the Apostolic Refuge Church is one I'm interested in learning about. Heard Cort Pickett played there- it was last known as Club 61), house parties and I have been told groups played the Diamond Theatre.(I am very interested in any of those stories).
Of course, Northport had The Chef, The Red Ox, The Shiloh and the Stardust( I was very good friends with Ted Grace)

Well here's what I got:

Eddie Hinton lived with his mother, Deanie, at 1414 University Blvd., Apt. 1, 759-9057

In '66, a student named John W. Townsend lived on Pelham Loop Rd.

The Dobb's House was at 1400 Univ. Blvd.

Barnwell Hall which housed Downunder in the basement was located at 800 10th St.(now Bryant Drive)

Solomon's was located at 1001 Univ. Blvd.

1009 Univ. Blvd. housed the first location of Another Roadside Attraction.

Johnny's Restuarant was at 2400 Univ. Blvd., the Deep South Lounge was at 2402 Univ. Blvd. and Roy's Place was at 2404 Univ. Blvd.

1302 Univ. Blvd. housed Beggar's Banquet. 1207 Univ. Blvd. housed The Dickery.

Jackie's Lounge was once called Pat's Cafe at 2111 10th Street.(now Bryant Drive)

607 15th Street was Joe Namath's Restaurant.

The Chukker was at 2121 6th Street.

2309 7th Street was the Chuck Wagon Cafe. 2311 7th St. was The Silver Dollar Bar. 2313 7th St. was Hanly's Pawn Shop.

Lee's Tomb(John F. Mason,mgr) was at 2209 4th Street.

Frank's (later the Bahn Hof) was at the end of 11th Street beside the railroad tracks.

The Tide was located at 614 25th Avenue.

Haven't really gotten into Moon Winx, Dill's Motor Court, the Travelodge, and the Stafford.

Any suggestions or stories will be appreciated and feel free to forward this to anyone.

best,
Robert Register http://rockpilgrimage.blogspot.com

2005-02-07T07:26:00.000-08:00

HEY YA'LL:
Working on a SOUTHERN ROCK PILGRIMAGE TOUR OF NEW YORK CITY and LONDON.
I would appreciate any comments and please feel free to forward this to anyone.
best,
Robert Register http://robertoreg.blogspot.com

http://rockjunket.com/

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN has placed tribute plaques to famous rockers who performed there

BILL GRAHAM'S FILLMORE EAST at 105 2nd Avenue

STEVE PAUL'S THE SCENE 301 W. 46TH STREET AT THE CORNER OF 8TH AVENUE:
a maze of cellar walls and passageways....

"I believe that we followed THE DOORS.
Meaning that we appeared there the week after them.
We were paid $700 for ten days.I remember that it cost $10.00 a day to park our car and trailer
The Doors got $700 for a week and their record was #1 in the country at the time
Steve Paul liked us so much that he brought us back for $750 and I think that we once got $1,000 for a week.
I tried to get more money out of him one time since we were going to be in or near New York and we really wanted to play there and he told me that $1,000 was the most he would ever pay and that there were only two groups that he would pay that much for .
The Candymen and The Jeff Beck Group which incidentally had a young singer by the name of Rod Stewart."
RODNEY JUSTO

Need all information concerning the Beatles' mansion at #3 Seville Row, Abbey Road Studios, The Apple Boutique at 94 Baker Street and Magic Alex's Apple Electronics Workshop.

http://archives.waiting-forthe-sun.net/Pages/Venues/Scene.html

JIM MARSHALL, founder of MARSHALL AMPLIFIERS
http://www.blamepro.com/mar/jim.htm
By 1964 Jim had to expand again and the first proper Marshall factory opened in Hayes with 6000 sq. ft. and 16 people making 20 amplifiers a week.

Marshalls were only available to customers at first from his own shop in Hanwell then, as word spread, Jim offered them to other retailers in the South of England while his friend Johnny Jones of "Jones and Crossland" in Birmingham Distributed them in the north of England from late '63. This arrangement continued for about 18 months until 1965 when Jim signed an exclusive Worldwide distribution agreement with Rose-Morris that was to last for about 15 years. Consequently, Johnny lost the rights to distribute Marshall so Jim introduced the "Park" line of amplifiers for Johnny to distribute as a favour.

It was now 1965. Britain was revelling in the hysteria of the "Beat Boom", America was succumbing to the "British Invasion"....... and Pete Townshend needed a bigger amp. Jim put Ken to work on the prototype 100 watt head.

"Jimi said that he wanted to use Marshall gear and that he was also going to be one of the top people in the world at this type of music. I thought he was just another one trying to get something for nothing, but in the next breath he said that he wanted to pay for everything he got. I thought he was a great character, I got on very well with him and he was our greatest ambassador. I saw him play about three times, and I saw him at the first sort of major concert which was at Olympia with Jimi Hendrix, The Move and Pink Floyd. I was very impressed by him as a musician; it was something new to me. I also went out with Ken and saw bands like The Who and Cream".