The Hey Baby Days

Please Look Back: From the Hey Baby Days, the unofficial release of the In-Men Ltd.’s live demo made for Curtis Mayfield (1968)

2012-01-19T14:17:00.000-08:00

click on the image to enlarge

Get Ready to party ( for 20 minutes) Read the post and then click on title above and download the party with the In-Men Ltd.

In the late summer of 1969, the In-Men Ltd. of Burlington, North Carolina appeared in the Waycross City Auditorium for a show of which I was the promoter. In the image above the In-Men Ltd. are the tuxedo-clad musicians. It’s pretty easy to figure out who the other two sets of performers are by noting the Tam o' Shanters and the madras pants.

Rachel Settle a Waycross Georgia based artist did a wonderful depicting my memories of these performers as they appeared on that stage and her work has become the logo of the Hey Baby Days as used on the dust jacket and the web site. Unfortunately, the In-Men Ltd. show & dance (as we called them back then ) did not go real well from the box office perspective. You could have rolled a bowling ball down the center of the dance floor without even coming close to hitting anyone. My excuses for the bomb are detailed in an entire chapter in The Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music called “Down in the Alley with the In-Men Ltd.” After one set, the band and I decided to turn the lights out and go bowling. This is just too bizarre to make up.

However, that one set of music offered by the In-Men Ltd. that night in Waycross, Georgia in 1969 made an impression that has lasted a lifetime… one that rates right up there with the night I first saw the Swingin’ Medallions at the Jacksonville Beach auditorium. These bands were all about horns and show!

Certainly the financial impact of a failed show wasn’t good for anyone, me, my creditors, the band , etc It also disturbed me that a great band with a ton of horns came to town and just a handful of people saw them . But today, we are changing all that thanks to Dr. Sonny Long of the In-Men Ltd. who has permitted me to share with you what you may have missed back then.

During the research phase for the Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music, I met a gentleman from Burlington North Carolina that had in his possession a demo tape that the In-Men Ltd. had produced for Curtis Mayfield who was apparently considering them for his Curtom label. Why wouldn't he? The In-Men Ltd. sounded like the Impressions as well as the Temptations . In fact the Temptations once asked them not to do any of their songs when they were on the same show. It was a compliment well earned !

The demo that you will be listening to was made on the spot in one take in the Copeland Studios in Greensboro, North Carolina . When Alan Brantley first played it for me back before the book was published, I told him that it sounded just like what I had heard back in 1969 in a lonely Waycross City Auditorium. One of the song clips in the medley is the In-Men Ltd.s cover of the Artistics, ”I’m Going To Miss You”. It was a must for the book’s companion CDs . Not many bands do this song, they don’t have a Mickey Combs who could hit the required high notes. When listening, make sure your crystal is safely stored.

When you hear the clip of "The Letter" it should stun. It was #1 for The Box Tops so it's hard to think anyone besides the Box Tops or Joe Cocker could make any substantial improvements on what we all agree were masters. May I submit another master version of "The Letter," one of the zillion songs written by Wayne Carson.

Thanks to Alan Brantley for his preservation effort .

Thanks for Sonny Long for allowing me to present this medley of music from the Hey Baby Days on the Hey Baby Days blog

Thanks to Tim Eaton for his editing, restoration and production.

Most of all thanks to the In-Men Ltd. who made this remarkable recording.

Before you click and listen, please read the following:

This is a 20 minute recording, once you click, prepare to listen to all of it and get in the mood of the Hey Baby Days, visualize the tuxedo- clad musicians you see in the image above sharing the stage with the Tams and Swingin’ Medallions. After all, they all shared the stage at “The Party To End all Parties” If you happened to have been a member of Kappa Alpha at UGA in the mid 60s, you don't have to visualize, you know what I'm talking about.

Members of The In-Men Ltd. through the years can be found at http://www.heybabydays.com/In_Men_Ltd.pdf

The In-Men Ltd of Burlington , North Carolina premier show band during the Hey Baby Days of Beach Music

Pictured in the photo above: ( This line-up of the In-Men Ltd. recorded the medley and also appeared in Waycross in the summer of 1969)

Back Row l-r Mickey Combs, Sonny Long, Tommy Rogers, Howard Eaton, and Moose Smith
Middle Row: Tommy Burgess and Garth Hutson
Front: Freddy Owens

More photos of the In-Men Ltd. are available at several locations at the site

Now Ladies and Gentlemen “Please Look Back” at one the great show bands of the Hey Baby Days, The In-Men Ltd.

Click the post title and download the sound of the Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music starring The In-Men Ltd.

More Music From The Hey Baby Days of Beach Music featuring Dan Greer, Mayer Hawthorne, Kurt Harris, Motherlode, Pieces of Eight & Hourglass

2012-01-17T17:08:00.000-08:00

Here's a collection of names you rarely see grouped together in a Beach Music posting: Dan Greer, Mayer Hawthorne, Kurt Harris, Motherlode, The Pieces of Eight and Hourglass ( Allmans) but read on and click on the links to music that you may or may not be that familiar with:

A 1970 creation that sounds like mid 60s ala Hey Baby Days

A 2011 release that has the classic Beach Music sound but is lyrically suspect

A Northern Soul classic that should have been on every UGA juke box in the 60s

Canada’s contribution to the Beach Music world Beach Music sound

It's only 5 Men-Its to the Hourglass

In 2010, I went to Jim Russell’s a fascinating record store on Magazine Street in New Orleans hoping to find some additions to my collection. You don’t have to download everything…they still make turntables. I especially like the retro turntables that enable you to make digital files so you can download on to your IPOD so you can maintain the file so that when you lose your IPOD which I frequently do, you’ll have a backup. After having such an exotic piece of equipment for two years unused, my son, the musician, finally showed me how to use it.. he said I needed to download some software… what Audacity he has… but I did find the right free Audacity software so now I’m in business, maybe

After giving the store owner an idea of what I was looking for I was directed to a 45 RPM by Willie Tee that I did not have, “The Man That I Am ” on the Gatur label. It’s great soulful ballad by the Beach Music icon. I had never heard this Willie Tee song but found it to be a great soulful ballad. The shopkeeper suggested that I might like another record as well so I bought it without hearing a note, glad I did. So I bought I bought “Curiosity Killed the Cat” by Dan Greer. I noticed that on the label it had the production company listed as Waycross Music. Now Waycross, Georgia is my hometown but I don’t remember a cat by the name of Dan Greer, curious or otherwise, but I liked his song and his voice. This cut sounded like it might have been recorded during the height of the hey baby days maybe around 1967 but it was apparently recorded just outside the HB zone in 1970. It has the two essential qualifiers for my taste: uptempo and horns.
Check a snippet of it out from a clip I found on line. Click on arrow to activate sound and be sure to read the comments associated with the link. CAUTION: a very scratchy start: ( copy and paste the following link in your browser as I have not yet mastered the art of making it easy to click and listen)

http://shotrecords.shop-pro.jp/?pid=22305918

A new beach Music sounding record getting huge national exposure.

Not sure Mayer Hawthorne has ever heard the term ”Beach Music” and if so, he may think Beach Boys. Some pundits think he has created a new Motown classic but “not so” says my son, the professional musician. Wise, before his time at 32, he said that he has heard people refer to “The Walk” as new Motown. He says “they just don’t know the difference between the classic sound of Motown and the classic sound of Beach Music. I agree with him that the “The Walk” by Mayer Hawthorne has the classic sound of Beach Music however the great lyricists of both genres were a bit more discrete with their wording. The subtle difference between Motown and Beach Music is a little vague for the commoner. lol

We offer two versions of “The Walk” found on line. If the first one is a little too violent, switch to the next one which is one of the band's live television appearances.

If this link is a bit much for you, try the next one . ( copy and paste the links in your browser)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmfcYli6vV4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSs33-gG_Rs&feature=endscreen&NR=1

The Emperor of My Baby’s Heart recorded by Kurt Harris in 1964 and in recent years covered by Paul Craver of Beach Music fame was a Northern Soul classic that would have been on any juke box at UGA had we known about it… or maybe we were not paying attention. Check it out …

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnqUfGXKRPA&feature=related

Researching a bit, it appears that Kurt Harris may have had origins in the coastal Georgia counties Macintosh and Glynn counties. When we find out more, maybe he too will be added to the honor roll of great R&B ers from South Georgia that includes many …Jesse Boone, Ray Charles, Little Richard, etc. JB hails from north of the gnat line!

O Canada

Just at the very end of the Heeey Baby Days of Beach music in 1969, a song appeared in American Top 40 that again has the great sound of Beach Music. I am not sure I first heard the original version on the radio or at a Beach Music revival as performed by the original Bits& Pieces which were formerly the Original Second Pieces of Eight. It does not matter though, they were great in any form and are still out there today doing both, “Lonely Drifter” and “When I Die” as the original Second Pieces of Eight. Here’s the original ‘When I Die” by Canada’s Motherlode, some of whom were friends of my friend Peter Whatmore of London Ontario. I was not able to find the Pieces of Eight’s version of “When I Die” on Youtube but their cover is a great one ! Melodic as Bamie would say !

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

O Canada !

It's Only 5 Men-its to the Hourglass

Finally, a cut that appeared on a 1968 Hourglass album that has a great Beach Music sound ... You wouldn't suspect after listening to this cut that a couple of years after Hourglass made this recording for Liberty records, they would become synonymous with Southern Rock as the Allman Brothers. But before all of that happened , two sets of good old boys from Alabama and Florida ( the Five Men-its and the Allman Joys) got together as Hourglass and created a little soul music !

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

Like any of the selections above ? yes, no, maybe , I'll get back with you, or "if I had a dime, I'd play the jukebox."

Heeey Baby Days book signing at Barnes & Noble with Chuck Leavell…sort of

2011-12-20T11:40:00.000-08:00

Click on image to enlarge

We have sold out of the book but we're still having fun !

In spite of the fact that B&N sold more copies of the book than anyone , we have never had a book signing at one of their stores until today (December 19) and then only by happenstance.(We never had a book signing at an actual book store but sure enjoyed all the other signing events along the way from Albany, Georgia to Myrtle Beach to Manchester in the U.K.) Graciously, Chuck Leavell, a contributor to the book as well as to the world of music agreed to meet me and sign a couple of books at the BN store at the Shoppes at River Crossing in Macon not far from his pine tree farm. (The man has a lot of interests !)

B&N happens to be on the prominent corner as you ride into the high end Macon, Georgia shopping complex so it was convenient to meet at the Starbucks there for Chuck to sign two copies of the books. The store probably didn't have a clue that such a monumental event was taking place in Starbucks area of the store. We are calling this a "reverse book signing" where the author seeks the authographs of the subjects of a book. Thanks to Judy, a store customer, for snapping the photo of Chuck and me. My son, the percussionist, will be proud. I have two books I have been lugging around since the book was published in 2006. We have quite a few autographs in the two books already but to add Chuck's is special. After all, a story of his early band, the Misfitz is included in the book. I meant to ask Chuck if he could give me the titles of some of the tunes the band might have played back in the day. How many might have been on the Top 100 of the Hey Baby Days of Beach Music. Did he cover fellow Alabamians, Wilson Pickett or Percy Sledge ? Could there have been any bands back in the Hey Baby Days that didn't cover, "Mustang Sally"? There’s a great story about the making of “Mustang Sally in Peter Guralnick’s book

Sweet Soul Music: Rhythm and Blues and the Southern Dream of Freedom. ISBN 0-316-33273-9.

When Chuck’s not on tour, he’s growing pines trees, Georgia pines, i.e., the type that Alabamians Buddy Buie and John Rainey Atkins wrote their song about which was recorded by Wilbur Walton and the James Gang as well as the Candymen.

Chuck’s music career beginning with the Misfitz of Tuscaloosa has evolved through legendary musical aggregations including Sea-Level, the Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones and now he's collaborating on a new album with John Mayer. You can read about the Chuck’s first band, the Misfitz in the book. Early influences included another Georgian, Ray Charles

According to Wikepedia , Leavell said his three favorite contributions to songs in his career were "Jessica" with The Allman Brothers Band, "Old Love" on Eric Clapton's Unplugged, and "Already Over Me" from the Rolling Stones' Bridges to Babylon record

Is “Jessica” not one of the greatest instrumentals of all-time ? The following piano instructional piece on YouTube leaves you wanting more:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qK84Q1C-JI

One of the books signed by Chuck and 200 plus performers from the Hey Baby Days will be auctioned off for a charitable cause later this year. Details will follow soon. A couple of years back, one of the two books was sold for $1,000 at a silent auction in Atlanta at the SIOR Leadership breakfast for the benefit of the Atlanta Study Hall and others. We expect that with many added signatures including Chuck’s, the book will go much higher and to a cause based upon reccommendations we receive from musicians in the book. I pledge not to buy this one ! (I was high bidder at silent auction mentioned above)

In the next few days,we’ll share the names of the signatures we have to date and will keep you informed of others added up until the time the book is auctioned.

My thanks to Chuck for his contributions and for going out of his way to sign the books.

Check out some of the worlds of Chuck Leavell:

http://www.chuckleavell.com/
http://www.charlane.com/

Director of Environmental Affairs
The Mother Nature Network
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Suite 4075
Atlanta, Ga. 30303

http://www.mnn.com/

Notice: It's OK to print this e-mail. Paper is a biodegradable, renewable, sustainable product made from trees. Growing and harvesting trees provides jobs for millions of Americans, and working forests are good for the environment, providing clean air, clean water,wildlife habitat and carbon storage. Thanks to improved forest management, we have more trees in America today than we had 100 years ago.

It’s been so long since we have posted anything to the Hey Baby Days blog that we forgot the pass word. Hope we get this posted

The Soulful Seven of Saluda , South Carolina

From: "Cain, Brent"

To: "greg@heybabydays.com"
Sent: Fri, December 16, 2011 10:49:33 AM
Subject: Blog on HeyBabyDays - Soulful Seven
Greg,

I happened to be doing a search on a band I was a member of back in the late 60’s (The Soulful Seven from Saluda, SC). I came across a blog on your website from a gentleman named Jeff Simpson that was submitted back in 2009. He mentions one ofour gigs as the Soulful Seven being the opening band for Arthur Conley in Columbia, SC. I was only 13 at the time and played keyboards but I remember the gig well. We were invited by Arthur’s band to use their equipment. At the time, all I had was an ACE Tone combo organ. Authur’s keyboardist had a Hammond B3 with twin Leslie speaker cabinets.

I was in keyboard heaven! I had only dreamed of playing a B3/Leslie setup and there I was doing it in front of 1000s of people! Will never forget it!

I saw where Jeff was looking for some pictures. I did have one of Arthur and me but it is now lost or destroyed. Anyway, I can’t place Jeff and he claims he helped work the gig that night. Not sure if he was from Saluda or maybe a friend of one of the other band members. If you are in touch with him, let him know I’m curious to find out more. I’ve lost touch with the other band
members and would like to find out more about them as well. We did a reunion gig back in Saluda, I would guess in the early 90s and was able to see most.

If you’re interested, here's a list of t e original band members that created the initial Soulful Seven:

Jimmy Bedenbaugh –Drummer
Brent Cain – Keyboards
Billy Corley – Singer
Jim Floyd – Lead Guitarist
Wayne Horn – Singer
Gerald Cromer – Bass
Gene Padgett – Rhythm Guitar

As time we one, we added a horn section and shifted some responsibilities around but still kept the Soulful Seven name. We did try changing the name (can’t recall to what) but it never caught on like the Soulful Seven.

Feel free to put this
on your blog if you choose.

Take Care,
Brent

Brent:

We are always interested in hearing about "soul" bands of the 60s; especially those that had "soul" in their band names as well as in their music. The "soul" sort of disappeared from band names as The Heeey Baby Days made its exit at the end of the 60s.

Arthur Conley lived in the same apartment complex I lived in when I first moved to Atlanta in the early 70s, Nob Hill was also home to Billy Joe Royal at one time. I'll post this and maybe we'll get some feedback from Jeff et. al. Thanks for your email.

regards,

Greg Haynes

Suggestion for a great read:

“Dirtdobber’s Blues” by Cyril Vetter, another contributor to the book and a chief LSU Tiger supporter.

info@dirdobbersblues.com

Nora and I both read the book give it our strongest recommendation…

If you would like the Hey Baby Days blog to come out of hibernation, let us hear from you.

Cliffhanging at the Ember's Club during the Hey Baby Days

2010-11-23T11:58:00.000-08:00

Live from Jim Thornton's Dance Club "The Swinging Embers"

It was almost 50 years ago when the ad below ran ...nothing has changed much except for the price of admission ... The Embers are still swinging as well as "churning and burning"

Click on images to enlarge

We still continue to get great emails along with photos and band fliers etc. from The Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music. Today's items are very special and are courtesy of Tim Williams. Can you imagine seeing an advertisement for the Swinging Embers at Jim Thornton's Dance Club ? and if you want another treat, order Disk 3 of the HBDBM compilation and listen to the "one take" sound of the Cliffhangers, the house band at the Embers Club.

From: Tim Williams
To: greg@heybabydays.com
Cc: tim.williams4@yahoo.com
Sent: Mon, November 22, 2010 12:11:29 AM
Subject: The Cliffhangers
Hello Greg, I just found a copy of your book and I love it. I'm e-mailin' you so I can send a couple pictures you might like to see.Keith Clark is a good friend of mine and he was the drummer of "The Cliffhangers".They were the house band @ the Embers Club-Atlantic Beach.You have their record on Vol.3 of your CD's. Once again just love the book!! Thanks Tim Williams.

The Cliffhangers

from left to right-Johnny Yarboro-Keith on drums & Joey Pittman other Pittman brother not pictured

Tim,

Thanks

These are vintage clippings...I would like to put them on the HBDBM blog; Is that o.k. with you ? For some reason, I can not download the schedule card at the Ember's Club for 1971. Could you resend it ? That was quite an awesome lineup of entertainment.

The other images are fine. I do like the Cliffhangers's cut on Volume 3 of the compilation series. Did they have any other recordings ?

I think that the Jim Thornton ad featuring the Embers' must have been in 1962 but I'm not positive. That seems to be about the right time period they would have been the featured act at that club plus it was in the period of time that they released a single on on ACE records as the Swinging Embers featuring “Jackie Hamilton” Gore. I like Bobby Tomlinson's story in the book about their transition from Jim Thornton’s Dance Club to their own, Ember's Beach Club. There's a moral to that story.

Thanks again.

Regards,

Greg Haynes
________________________________________

Sure,You can use them(Pics).How do I view the Blog?As far as The Cliffhangers-only one record b-side "Showtime" an instrumental. It's a funny story about the making of the record-Keith told me UNC-Chapel Hill Studios was having a special price recording time(Half off).They didn't give them much time to record and they did it in one take! Then the studio tech asked what label they recorded for and they all laugh at him,so he said "what are we goin' to put on your 45 label?"Keith spoke up and said -K-CEE Records!(Keith Clark).Only 300 to 400 pressed According to Keith,he’s not sure of the exact number, but it brings a nice price if you have one -UK more so...Tim Williams

Check out the Cliffhanger's

The Ember's Club had an incredible array of R&B artists even after the Hey Baby Days made its exit.. those were the days

Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music raises $500.00 + for ALS at Dothan Songwriter's Roundtable

2010-09-13T08:55:00.000-07:00

The Book may be sold out but we can sometimes find one for a worthwhile cause

CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE

L to Right on stage: Bobby Emmons, Chips Moman, Buddy Buie, J.R. Cobb and Wayne Carson

The reason the book sold for so much for the worthy cause is that the title page of the book included the signatures of the great songwriters shown above. It may have even sold for more but $500.00 is the last number we saw on the bid sheet at the silent auction at “A Songwriter’s Round table” It was a nusical festival featuring the music of five exceptional Southern Songwriters and Producers. I was fortunate to have a backstage pass . Emcee Gil Anthony even brought me on stage following the writer’s round table discussion so I could extol the virtues of the Heeey Baby Days to the thousands assembled at Dothan Alabama’s Civic Center. It must have paid off for the book sold for more at this event than any of the other charity event at which it has been auctioned. Of course, Robert Register, said to me afterwards that if I had not have gotten on stage , it would have sold for more. It seems that some people took offense to my comment that the reason the book was made large was for use as a weapon against the Crimson Tide and War Eagles… It was a joke… I was kiddin’ besides I had not even thought about that possibility.

The signatures on the title page included that of hometown Dothan’s favorite son: Buddy Buie. Other signatures included Buie collaborator, J.R. Cobb, co-writer of one of Beach Music’s all time classics: “Be Young, Be Foolish , Be Happy.” And there was a lot of “Happiness” and “Foolishness” at this spectacular event. As to “Young” well… the crowd had very few whippersnappers. In this particular case, the crowd was “young in heart.” As musician and producer, Paul Hornsby put it: “ It’s rare when I play in a band when I’m not the oldest member.” Of course, Hornsby’s signature is on the title page of the auctioned book along with writers, Wayne Carson ( “ The Letter”, “You Were Always on My Mind” and 8500 others… at least that’s what I thought I heard… the man must have woke up writing and never went to bed). Other writers signing the front page included Bobby Emmons and Chips Moman who collaborated on “ Luckenbach Texas.”

Moman was a crowd favorite… and really got the crowd into one of his co-written songs, “Hey, Won’t You Play Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song ? ” made famous by B.J. Thomas. We are proud to say that Chips in now living back in Georgia.
For a partial list of songwriting credits for all the songwriters , read the biographies below.

Thanks to Jimmy Dean for inviting me to come to Dothan for this most incredible event. Jimmy was the bass player with Dothan’s James Gang featuring lead singer Wilbur Walton. Of course Wilbur sang “ Georgia Pines” and “You’ve Got The Right String Baby But The Wrong Yo-Yo” Wilbur received at least three standing ovations, reflecting his icon status.

Wilbur Walton (Center Stage in white slacks)

And if that was not enough… you had great performances by vocalists, Jimmy Watford (“ Panama City Nights” ) Mitch Goodson ( “That’s Alright Mama” and “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” ) and Rodney Justo yes Rodney Justo !!!!!

I must have been living in Miller’s Cave because I did not know the great Rodney Justo had returned to the stage. How great to see Rodney, the legendary lead singer for the Candymen singing again… and to add to that, there in the backing band was David Adkins , brother of the Candymen’s lead guitarist, John Rainey Adkins.
Rodney has a new gig: check it out at http://www.coocoocachooband.com/

Rodney sang "Traces" ( Classics IV 1968) and "So Into You" Atlanta Rhythm Section (1977)

Coincidentally, "So Into You" was written by Buddy Buie and original Candymen Robert Nix and Dean Daughtry ( who were also founding members of ARS)

In addition to Buie and Cobb, "Traces" was co-written by Emory Gordy Jr. who at one time played bass guitar for one of Atlanta's hottest acts of the mid 60s, Wayne Logiudice and The Kommotion

note: copy and paste the following link in your browser for a performance of "Spooky" and "Stormy" by Buddy Buie and J.R. Cobb at the Dothan Songwriter's Round Table Event

http://videos.apnicommunity.com/Video,Item,1050573284.html

The musicians on stage were veterans of the day most of whom also signed the auctioned book: They included members of The Strangers and The Bopcats. Collectively these musicians have played in over 30 bands.

“Oh, What A Night”… they didn’t play that song but certainly a fitting description of “ A Songwriter’s Roundtable” in Dothan, Alabama, September 10, 2010.

Click on images to enlarge

Emcee Gil Anthony requests that I Not Throw The Book At Him

Now, the serious part: I start extolling The virtues Of The Hey Baby Days

After being give the backstage pass, I pulled out my camera and took a few shots of the songwriters in their dressing room just prior to their round table conversation with the audience

Producer, Songwriter Buddy Buie gives last minute instructions before the curtain comes up

Paul Cochran (of Buie -Cochran) back in the good ole days listens to J.R. Cobb as he readies for the performance. In case you didn't know, J.R. Cobb has been inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame three times as a member of the Classics IV, the Atlanta Rhythm Section and as a songwriter. Cobb recalled giving up his $47.50 a week job at Florida Steel ( and dirty shirt) for a six nights a week gig with The Classics that paid him $80.00 plus he wore a clean shirt every night. How Spooky is that ?

J.R. Cobb, Jimmy Dean, Chips Moman and wife

A little pre-round table conversation between Wayne Carson (seated) composer of "The Letter", "You Were Always On My Mind" and many many more and Chips Moman, legendary producer, songwriter, and GEORGIAN !

Luckenbach Texas Co-Write Team (Bobby Emmons and Chips Moman)

PLUS, I added the signatures of Buddy Buie, J.R. Cobb, Paul Cochran and Bobby Emmons to my two books.

On stage sharing great memories of the Heeey Baby Days was the one of the most revered deejays of the era... Mr. Bill J. Moody

Saluting the night's honoree, Terry Collins, is Rodney Justo (outstretched arm), Jimmy Dean, Terry (in Wheelchair) and Buddy Buie.

This event back in the day was a production of Buddy Buie, promoter extraordinaire, admits that he didn't think the Kingsmen, were the real Kingsmen as in "Louie, Louie." Welcome to wonderful world of band promoting in the 60s. And as for the James Gang being the South's Number One Show Band, All I can say is that it's a good thing he didn't call them the South's Number One Soul Band , because he would have had a argument from more than a few other bands. ( see "Will The Number One Soul Band please Report To The National Guard Armory" in the book. However, Wilbur Walton still has a great soulful voice.

And Don't you love seeing the K-Otics name on the poster singing "Charlena," but the real question: "Was "the real" Charlena in the audience that day at the Houston County Fair Grounds ?"

note: I have been asked why I was not posting as much as I used to and I answered that I had not been getting enough relevant material... well; today I did !

WE have more photo and will post them later in this posting

Kingston Trio, Bruce Channel, Delbert McClinton, Buddy Buie, J.R. Cobb

2010-09-03T07:25:00.000-07:00

Kingston Trio Live at Sands Point, New York Saturday August 28

From The Hey Baby Days, theories regarding the disappearance of the flowers as in “Where Have All the Flowers gone” ….. Long time passing … and the fate of Charlie of the MTA.

Did he ever return?
No he never returned
And his fate is still unlearn'd
He may ride forever
'neath the streets of Boston
He's the man who never returned.

The cold case of both the disappearance of the flowers as well as Charlie’s fate may now be solved thanks to new forensic technology... It appears that Maid Marion, pictured below was indeed “the flower girl,” not the junior bridesmaid at the wedding of Katherine Marbut and Leo Ullman 50 years ago. That cover-up was inadvertently revealed when a photo of the wedding was displayed at a 50th wedding anniversary party honoring Kay and Leo at Sands Point, New York.

Maid Marion poses next to the wedding party photo ( She was the flower girl in the wedding of Kay and Leo)

Incredibly the Kingston Trio may have themselves been involved in the twisted plot. As Rick Daughtery of the trio sang “Where Have all The Flowers Gone” to a festive audience of 200, he appeared to be looking directly at Marion, “the flower girl.” She pretended not to have any ideas regarding the disappearance of the flowers. She did converse (plot) with Rick prior to the Kingston Trio’s performance.

Maid Marion and Rick Daughtery of The Kingston Trio

Furthermore, it was reported that a vagabond flower merchant named Charlie had been hanging out near one of the nearby Guggenheim estates peddling roses and other flowers until he was run out of town via the Long Island railroad which miraculously connected with the MTA. (It’s easy to be creative when you’re making up a bunch of stuff)

Meanwhile back in Sands Point, Maid Marion wonders” “Where Have All My Flowers Gone?”

Did Charlie snatch the flower girl’s flowers just prior to that fabled ride starting in New York and ending beneath the streets of Boston?

The wedding too place in August of 1960. The Kingston Trion recorded Charlie & The MTA around that time. That's just too much of a coincidence.

Is Charlie's fate still unlearn’d ? Maybe not,chances are, he got off the train and started a worldwide floral service.

The Kingston Trio is still a great crowd pleaser. Nora and I were very happy to be a part of Leo and Kay’s wedding anniversary, sitting on the front row, no less! How many people can say that they had the Kingston Trio play for their wedding anniversary in their front lawn? It was great to be able to talk with Ric Daughtery of the Trio. Both Rick and Bill Zorn had great things to say about Atlanta’s Banks & Shane who have a great Kingston Trio Tribute show. Banks & Shane are also proficient in Beach Music as well.

Nora and I with our own back up back The Kingston Trio ( photo taken by an amateur photographer as I am really much thinner and our back up band is doing their pre concert sound check... no empty seats that night)

Hi Greg,

It's great to see the blog back up again. I hope you've started Vol. 2 of THE HEEEY BABY DAYS OF BEACH MUSIC and will include the wonderful info and pictures from the blog. I'm also curious to know if you plan to release any more CD's from the "hey baby days". I have all 17 and there isn't a song that I don't like. In fact I just finished listening to all 17 while I went on my morning beach jog the last two weeks. As I mentioned previously a long time ago, I grew up in Dothan, AL almost on the FL line and Panama City Beach, FL was where I hung out. I just started a FB site at www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=139624026066581&ref=mf (Romances & Memories of The Hang Out, Panama City Beach, FL, 1950's & 60's) and I am plugging your book and CD's. Of course the book is out of print, but it does pop up occasionally for sale as "used". (Glad I was able to get a "new" copy.) I just want everyone to know that the book exists. Check out my site. There is a guy who has joined who has many pictures of the old Hang Out and it has been fun to see them along with reading the "memories" that people post about this "magical" place. Of course, we did the PC bop - not the shag at The Hang Out.

It would be nice to hear back from you. I enjoyed the additions to the blog.

Aloha,
Ann Adams

Hi Ann,,

Thanks for your note. We have been a little slack slight in posting. Thanks for all your help in promoting the Hey Baby Days. We may be out of books but we are not out of memories.

I agree with your assessment of the complete 17 volume Hey Baby Days collection. Ripete Records did a masterful job putting it together and relating it to the material in the book.

Regards,

Greg

P.S. Ann, Being from Dothan you should be aware of the following:

http://www.facebook.com/DothanCityfestSongwriters

I am hoping to attend this one of a kind event that features some of the great writers from the Hey Baby Days. Among the writers and entertainers that will share the stage include: Buddy Buie, J.R. Cobb, Chips Moman, Bobby Emmons, Wayne Carson Wilbur Walton Jr. and others.

I would list the hits songs these writers are responsible for but I don’t have ALL day.

But did ever hear any of these these songs back in the Hey Baby Days ?

"The Letter"

"Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy"

"Georgia Pines"

Hi Greg--Today, I talked with Joe Morris, original drummer for the Swingin' Medallions, about the guys in his group who might have been fraternity men in college. I played in a Fort Worth, TX band called The Gnats in '65-'66 and we were on stage with The Byrds, The Yardbirds and Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels in Dallas and Fort Worth shows before I had to take my commission in the Air Force. While in training in Panama City, FL I managed to hook up with a band called The Pagans in May-June of '66 and we were a local band which played at a Swingin' Medallions show. I actually talked to several of the Medallions backstage before the show started. Joe told some good stories and asked me if I had ever seen your book. He gave me the website but apparently there are no copies for sale. I do freelance sports and entertainment articles for national fraternity magazines and have a huge library of music publications. I saw that your book index on the website listed some Texas-based bands and have met some of the musicians such as Delbert McClinton. I have my own website www.jaylanghammer.com and hope there is a way to find a copy of your book sometime. Many thanks.

Jay Langhammer
Fort Worth, TX

-----Original Message-----
From: rarereads
To: Jay Langhammer
Sent: Wed, Sep 1, 2010 2:59 pm
Subject: Re: Your Book
Jay,

We presented a book last year to Delbert's buddy Bruce Channel. It was a lot of fun being up there near Nashville and seeing Bruce perform for the first time. All we have are store damaged copies , if you'd like to have one of those. Unfortunantly, we ran out of time and money before we could chronicle R&B/Beach Music in Texas. B.J. Thomas told a mutual friend that he wished we had included Texas. We did get a call one morning back a couple of years ago from someone who said that Delbert told 'em that he should get the book. The book is a "well kept secret" of which we are sort of proud.
By the way as it relates to members of the Swingin’ Medallions that were fraternity men, I am not sure about all the 80 plus members of the band over almost 50 years but one of the original members of the band, Brent Fortson, was a fellow brother in the bond of mine ( GAA Phi Delta Theta) at the University of Georgia. Go Dawgs!

Regards,

Greg

From: Jay Langhammer
To: rarereads@bellsouth.net
Sent: Wed, September 1, 2010 6:46:03 PM
Subject: Re: Your Book
Hi Greg--Thanks for your reply. Interesting you mentioned Bruce. He played at my fraternity's formal in the spring of either 1962 or 1963. I saw a concert with Delbert, Bruce and Ray Sharpe (Linda Lou) six or seven years ago and finally met Delbert at the funeral viewing for Stephen Bruton last year. I was in a TCU band for about a year with Stephen's older brother, Sumter.

Greg, I would be interested in a copy of the book with the least amount of damage, if that's possible. If you'll send me a mailing address and who to make the check to (and for how much, including postage), I'll send a check or can give you a credit card.
Probably 15 years ago, I found a softcover book on rock bands of the Southwest and found my group, The Gnats, listed along with band member names and info on our one record. Just went looking for the book but couldn't put my hands on it. I bought it at a used book store for $5 of $10. I've never seen another copy. It was not nearly as nice as your book, just text no pictures. Today, I went to three bookstores, hoping to spot a copy of your book but no such luck.
Thanks again, Greg, and I look forward to hearing back from you.

Jay

Note: If you enjoy the blog, let's us hear from you either by commenting to one of the postings or by emailing us. The more we hear from you, the more motivated we get to post.

The Jesters band’s new CD is a Sure Thing, featuring the sounds of the Heeey Baby Days.

2010-08-20T09:08:00.000-07:00

Click on image to enlarge

CD case with image of the poster advertising the appearance of Marvin Gaye and Jesters at the Beach Club in Myrtle Beach back in the day

Our pal, Don Rolader, sent us a copy of The Jester’s new CD, aptly titled “It’s A Sure Thing.” After listening several times to this great CD, all I figured was needed was a party room and a keg of beer. Not convinced? Click on the link below, buy one and see for yourself:

http://athensmusic.net/product_info.php?products_id=1933/

With at least eight members of the band that evolved from the hey baby days, the Jesters may be one of the most experienced bands in North America. I am just proud that their photo and story leads off the Georgia chapter in “The Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music.”

We should be thankful that we still have bands like the Jesters, the Swingin’ Medallions, the Pieces of Eight, the Sensational Epics, Tyn Tymes and others that keep the tradition alive with their strong horn sections. All of these bands employ four or more horns and all of them started during the hey baby days. They are also nearing the half century mark as well but it’s more about the music than the longevity.
If you are really looking for a sure thing, a great representation of the Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music, the Jesters lineup of cuts is the real thing

. I Got A Sure Thing
2. I'm Losing You
3. I'll Be Doggone
4. Ain't That Peculiar ( featuring a sax solo by Harold Williams)
5. Stubborn Kind of Fellow
6. When Something is Wrong With My Baby
7. Unchain My Heart
8. I Never Found a Girl
9. Georgia On My Mind ( featuring a sax solo by Donny Whitehead)
10. Higher and Higher
11. Open the Door to Your Heart - Cowboys to Girls
12. With This Ring
13. Does Your Mama Know About Me ?
14. Shotgun (featuring a horn solo by Bill McDonald)

Not many bands out there have a truly great sax man. The Jesters have at least three.

The “Open The Door To Your Heart/Cowboys to Girls” medley is one that may be destined for the Top Forty Beach Music survey. Speaking of Beach Music and in particular the upcoming Carolina Music Awards that is held annually in North Myrtle Beach , isn’t it about time that the Jesters were honored with a life time achievement award ? They have done so much to preserve the music and the style that makes genre important.

Whether on display by choice or necessity, we’re happy

Since the publication of The Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music, we continue to hear that it’s on display in homes and offices throughout the South… and probably other regions of the country as well.

It never was our intention for the book to be so large that it wouldn’t fit in a traditional bookcase… that was just dumb luck. We get comments quite often like: , “Hey I saw the book in my Doctor’s office ,” or “ When you walk in _____ ____’s home, the first you see is the display of the book.” That certainly makes us proud. In the big picture, this is what the owner of the book whose book is on display is saying: “this was an era that I lived in and loved … this was the music that I partied to in those days and the bands in the books were bands I knew , some of them personally.”

So if you have a book that is hidden in the closet and it’s of so-so interest to you , you might think about selling it as it has entered in the collectability category ( selling for more than the original retail price.) Check out the current pricing of “The Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music” on the after market by going to www.abebooks.com

From The Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music Mail Box: In-Men Ltd. Peace Core Pieces of Eight, Escorts, The Fabulous Generals, Cortez Greer

2010-04-15T13:52:00.000-07:00

We have not posted in quite awhile and I thought I would use this posting as a catch up and present some of the emails we have received… Feel free to jump in and add your comments.

Eugene Baker on the In_Men Ltd. & Peace Core

________________________________________
From: "Eugene Baker"
Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2010 18:36:18 -0500
To:
Subject: HEY BABY DAYS - Contact Via Website

Hi Greg,

I'm Eugene Baker (keyboards). I was really surprised when I stumbled across this site. (www.heybabydays.com) It really brings back memories.

I was the keyboardist that took Moose Smith's place after he got married and moved away. The In_Men were using the name "Peace Core" at that time. Freddy was singing, playing some bass, sax and fronting the group. Tommy was sill on drums with his brother singing. (What was his first name?) along with Howard, Freddy and Garth. Jerry Clapp was on guitar. I played Piano Bass and the Hammond. We practiced in an old church turned community center near Elon. I remember the night we hit a deer coming back from a gig and stopped at a country store about to see if there was a phone. It was about 3 Am

Before the Peace Core I worked with the Monzas till they retired. Also played Keyboard for them. What led me to the site was the fact that I was checking up on my old friend Eddie Middleton and was shocked the he also worked with Peace Core (In_Men) . We both ended up in Gospel music during the eightes & ninties each not knowing the other was in the same industry. I was in southern Gospel with Jake Hess & JD Sumner and he in Contempory.

I'll be checking out the books and music.
Yall have a great site.

Eugene Baker
Panama City Fl.

Eugene

What great info I have not posted to the blog in a month of Sundays but this info is too good not to share. it was Wilson Rogers singing lead and was Harold Williams playing sax then. He and Eddie were there toward the last ( of the In-Men/Peace Core) as they had been when King David and the Slaves thought they were a Third World Band. lol Here's another shocker for you... Most of the Original In-Men Ltd. came back together a few years back and recorded some fantastic cuts... I hope I am being objective; the band was a personal favorite of mine.

Regards

Greg Haynes
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Greg,

Thanks for the fast reply.

I mulled over Wilson Rogers's name all evening. I remember one gig we played at the Atlantic Beach Pavilion backing B.J Thomas. I think Harold was on sax & flute and Bobby Thomas was on bass,, Garth on Horn. I think Howard had gone with Rhondels and Harold might have come with us. (It seems we were always trading players with the Rhondels) You probably know the details better than I. Of course Tommy on drums; Jerry on guitar; (man! he is still probably the best slide player I ever worked with) . B.J.'s brother was there... drunk out of his mind. leaning on the side of the stage, beating it with his hand and cussing that the music was wrong! (Heck it probably was!) But what an obnoxious guy. Anyway, we rocked!!... Doing some Allman Brothers "Black Hearted Woman" & others. There isn't anything better than Allman Brothers with Horns.

Nice to hear from you. I'll spend some more time looking at the site later. I wanna get the book & CD's

Eugene Baker

Eugene

Great stuff but just beyond the hey baby days when the highs were still provided by PBR etc. Like I say in the book, we went from "Baby, I need your lovin'" to "War, what is it good for ?" in but a blink of the eye. Interestingly, when many of the bands of the transition era get together for reunions, they tend to use their play list from 1966 rather than 1972. As for the Allmans and horns etc. They had some pretty soulful stuff as Hour Glass. When traveling with the Gregg Allman band, Harold Williams recalled how Gregg would sing ( not as in a performance but offstage) some of the R 'n B classics with such authenticity.

That's not surprising.

Regards

Greg
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
________________________________________

Escorts from Richmond, Virginia.

The Escorts were founded in 1961 by Nick Cooleran. The band
lasted through 1969. We hope to add photos, member history and discography, soon..
Nick also recorded in the 1970's with Ron Moody , Bill Deal and the Rhondels, Ida Sands and many more groups. Visit his site at http://www.alphaaudioarchives.com

Hi Greg,

I sent you some Soulmasters and Fabulous Generals photos a while back which you were kind enough to post on your site.

I've just run across an old (and tattered) autographed picture of the original line-up that I thought you'd be interested in. ( See above)
The black and white photo of The Fabulous Generals is circa 1967. They were fronted by a great female vocalist, Debra Carol Crowder and did a killer version of the Jefferson Airplane's "Somebody To Love." I was 10 when I saw them win a battle of the Bands at Ballou Park Shopping Center here in Danville, VA. There were so many groups that they had them alternating on 3 flatbed trucks in the parking lot, one after another. The Generals took the top prize, $100! The band signed 8x10s after the performance and sold their 45s for $1.00. They had two releases on independent labels. I have one of them somewhere.

The color shots (sent earlier) are from a later performance (also 1967) at the 360 Drive-In in Danville, after Debra left the band. They were then billing themselves as The Generals. The Generals and The Soulmasters (of Danville, VA) played as warm-up band for The Tams of Atlanta, GA, who were then riding high on the strength of their regional hit, "I've Been Hurt." They had earlier scored a national Top 10 hit with "I've Been Hurt." The Tams had their own band, featuring two drummers. Group member Charles Pope later told me they were brothers. The place was packed and the groups played on a small stage in front of the movie screen.
Those were the days.
Thanks.

Jack Garrett
Danville, VA

Hello Greg –

I can’t believe you’ve assembled so much material on Beach Music, but I’m damn glad you did!

I played tenor sax in Chester Mayfield and the Casuals in 1967-68, then played in Calvin Lindsay and the Hysterics in 1969-1970. I now run a website for a non-profit (http://uniconexed.org) after 25+ years in marketing and sales, following my wife around in her job from Allentown, Pennsylvania to Andover, Massachusetts to Morristown, New Jersey and now back to Andover, Massachusetts again for the past 14 years.

I wrote this up a couple of years ago, and added a few updates today, just trying to remember it all; it’s an on-going project –

In the late sixties, I worked my way through UNC Chapel Hill and continued playing full time for about four years after that playing Carolina Beach Music 3-4 nights a week on average. I played in 7- and 8-piece bands that usually had a 2 to 4 piece horn section and a black male singer “out front”; the horn guys sang backup a lot. We played stuff by Tower of Power, Sly Stone (Everybody is a Star in 5-4 time), Otis Redding (“Sitting on the Dock of the Bay”; “They call Me Mr. Pitiful”), James Brown (Try Me), and songs by people like Willie Tee (“Walkin’ up a one way street and “Thank You John”), The Radiant’s (“Voice your Choice”), Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the Spinners, Curtis Mayfield, Major Lance, Wilson Pickett and Ben E King. Play an hour or two of Beach Music and you could play just about anything else you wanted.

You couldn’t go into a club without hearing Billy Stewart, Smokey Robinson or Willie Tee.

I played every frat house from Virginia to Georgia (I am exaggerating only a little here). Also, many cotillions and country clubs and not a few military bases, not to mention the night clubs. We always played OD clubs in the summer – Ocean Drive near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. In Greensboro, we used to have a standard Sunday afternoon gig at The Castaways (“The home church of rock and roll”). For a couple of years, we had a standard Wednesday night gig at The Cellar in Charlotte. We played The Embers Club in Raleigh all the freakin’ time. The club owner’s sons were also the leaders of a band called, naturally enough – The Embers. I remember playing the Kentucky Derby party scene once.

We played on the same circuit as Bob Collins and the Fabulous Five (no relation), The Embers, Calabash Corporation, The Catalinas and four or five other groups I can’t remember now. Shadowing us on the circuit was the bawdy group Doug Clark and the Hot Nuts from Carrboro, North Carolina (“My ding-a-ling”). The name groups booked through Hit Attractions in Charlotte (Tommy Hand, I think his name was and a partner); Doug Clark got his own bookings, which were numerous.

We opened for Wilson Pickett, the Tams, the Drifters, the Shirelles, even Chuck Berry once, and backed up Barbara Lewis (“She-bop she-bop – seems like a might long time”) and regional sensation from Knoxville, Clifford Curry (“I’m going to hate myself in the morning, but right now, it’s alright” and “She shot a hole in my soul”). Chester Mayfield and the Casuals backed up Patty LaBelle once – in front of an all-black audience in Elizabeth City. She was with The Blue Bells at the time. Not a good gig.

There were three regionally successful groups I played with. I was with Chester Mayfield and the Casuals (I found this morbid link on my site – http://bigtuner.com/Chester-Mayfield-high-point-enterprise.htm). Chester was a cousin of Curtis Mayfield – sort of like the Neville clan in New Orleans. Another band that did well was called Calvin Lindsay and the Hysterics. We were booked virtually every weekend, booking as many as 5 gigs a weekend occasionally and 12 nights in a row around Christmas. I got in on the tail end of Cannonball; I’ve never carried so much equipment in my life. The drummer had his own roadie.

In the late sixties–early seventies, with two blacks in the band and my hair looking like a dandelion, we were frequently stopped by cops or harassed at restaurants. The Hysterics travelled with a well hidden 45 “just in case”.

The big thing was a dance called The Shag. This was a more or less polite dance requiring you to hold onto usually one hand of your partner and move lightly back and forth with lots of footsteps; if you were a guy, it helped if you wore Lacoste polo shirts in a sherbet color and I think Pappagallo shoes were the thing for women. The Shag was mostly adopted by the rich white local kids and their parents. But, it allowed the white kids to hear and feel the R&B that was all over the black communities.

Yes, I played the black clubs too in a band called Plenty D. Good; Plenty Dingle from Thomasville, North Carolina was the singer’s real name. Sounded e x a c t l y like Percy Sledge. I played both the black clubs paying liquor taxes and those back in the woods that served “un-bonded” home cooked stuff, but we played R&B, not Beach Music, although there were many crossover songs. Plenty started in gospel and I believe returned to gospel after the band broke up.

Regarding band members, when I joined The Casuals, some of the players I remember include Randy Flynt, owner and bass player, Mike Stephenson a soft-spoken, level headed accomplished guitar player, Curtis Fields, a well-trained jazz saxophone player that left for New York and another saxophone player, Johnny Lashley, who pissed on an elevator full of debutantes in Raleigh, thus launching my career. I’m sure that Johnny, if he is still alive, would not care in the least that I relate this. He really helped me in a number of ways, giving me a decent mouthpiece and encouraging me to “Just blow” – the best advice I ever received for playing extemporaneously. In a weird way, he was my mentor. According to Doug Reid, a guitar player that also played in both The Casuals and The Hysterics, “Randy Flynt, owner of the group, does operate a small music store, Big John's Music.....(336) 841-7309 in High Point, NC. He would be your best source for any pics of the Casuals.” (and Hysterics). Randy booked and played in a band called “Cut Glass” for a number of years after The Casuals.

Some of the Hysterics players in 1969-1970 included owner and drummer Lee Bowman, Jerry Hutchins, bass, Doug Reid, guitar (n1068d@aol.com) and Jerome Smith (AKA Juke), organ; Jerome also played in the Casuals for a time. According to Doug Reid, after a stint in Clearwater, Florida, “Jerome made his way to Atlanta and formed a group, "The Backstabbers ". His group was the backup band for "The Tams" for a number of years. Jerome returned to Thomasville about twenty years ago, and lives in the same neighborhood. He was the keyboard player at his church last time I checked.”

Wouldn’t you know it? I Googled it and these two say it all about The Shag –

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0usNTJmwK-M

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

Both the Casuals and the Hysterics played a lot. We might play Thursday night in Atlanta, Friday in Charlottesville, Saturday at a frat in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area, maybe Sunday at the Castaways in Greensboro. I used to hitchhike from Chapel Hill to High Point for practice, about 70 miles, then catch a bus back to Chapel Hill. We’d know in advance what songs we wanted to learn; usually it was some song or two coming up the Billboard R&B charts. You were expected to know your part and the form of the song on arrival. Whatever songs we learned at practice were the first to be played the next time we had a gig. Then, later in the night, we’d play them again. By the time the songs had made it up the charts and were on the radio, they were in our repertoire and pretty well polished, contributing to our success.

The gas crisis of 1974 changed the whole picture. After one moonlit night where we were literally the only vehicle on the highway and carrying 20 gallons of gasoline in the trailer so we could make it back from Charlottesville to High Point, the band I was in at the time reformed as “Payday” to play weekend gigs within a couple hours drive of High Point; these gigs were mostly at the apartment complexes catering to singles that grew like weeds in every city in North Carolina around that time. It was the same folks listening and much of the same music, but it wasn’t the same.

Anyway, I see that your book is out of print; I ordered it from athensdmusic.com, though.

Best regards and thanks for the memories….

Dan “Danny” Collins

Hi,

If you are still compiling places, I have one I did not see on the internet posting:

The exact location is fuzzy, since it was c. 1965-66, but I believe it was somewhere around Winston-Salem, NC, or the area between Winston and G'boro.

The name of the club was The Cerise Lounge.

Vickie Koontz Smith
UNC-G '66

P.S. Love the walk down memory lane.

Cortez Greer

hey my name is dawn...my dad played with cortez greer....i have a 45 record of them with 2 songs on it...one called IVE BEEN WATING & the other is THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY. I have their picture on a little magazine put out in augusta ga...i dont have any memories of that time cuz i wasent born till 1970....my dad played music all the time...most times i had a live band in my livingroom when i was a child...he played till he died...he was 38 when he passed...i was 17.... His name was charles pope but most people called him chuck......just thought u might want to know that & if u can give me any info it would be great...you can email any time and thank you for your time

DAWN POPE ALEXANDER

More missin’ Pieces

Greg,

I emailed you once before and now add this to the previous info on the Pieces of Eight.

I hope I can fill in a little info on the downfall and regrouping of the POE. I joined the POE in the summer of 68 replacing Jim Bumgardner on Bass. That was an interesting job because I spent the previous summer backing up the POE in PC in a band called the Disciples of Blues where I orignally played guitar. When we switched from blues to soul music, I moved to sax and flute and occasionally played bass so our lead singer, Don Hilburn, could get down. When Earl C called me to come to Opp to meet with Steve he didn't say what he wanted. I packed my King super 20 Tenor sax and an extra pair of socks and headed to Opp. After a little muddling around, Steve told me Jim B. was leaving in 2 weeks and they needed a bass player. I of course took the job. I remember when Michael Abdullah came in. He played sax. After a couple of months, since there was another frontline spot open (I can't remember who left), I was moved to sax and flute. WHEN Frank Rountree left THINGS REALLY STARTED FALLING APART. We were constantly changing personnel and Earl C. just hired warm bodies so we could keep the gigs. Earl called me one day and asked me to come to his house. By this time I was ready to quit myself. When I came in Earl said We've got a problem. I countered YOU sure do.
We (earl & I) wound up in the bus driving to Athens Georgia . Earl managed another band in Athens called the Elans. They had hit some bumpy roads also due to, among other things, the draft. We pulled up to a trailer where some of them were living and Earl kept me (not because of my talent but because I had worked with both the music (bass) and the show (sax and flute)). He combined me and the remaining 7 of the Elans to reform the POE. I only lasted a few more months before I came to my senses during a few days I spent in Muscle Shoals babysitting a broken down bus. I left early in 1969, March I think. The Elans included Ron Hicks, Bobby Dollar (guitar), Charlie Hughes (Trumpet), Johnny Seabolt (Sax), David Bernard (Keyboards), Roger Wright (Bass) and ??? (drums).

I am still looking for pictures of the Disciples of Blues. If I ever find them I will send copies.

Dennis Hodges (Sax, flute and occasional trumpet)1968-1969

Recalling Misty Waters, the P.C. Bop, etc.

2009-12-05T10:30:00.000-08:00

Donna Overall continues to provide great remembrances of her good times in Atlanta during the 60s. Donna has truly been a great find for sharing so much about the club and band scene. As more and more folks discover the ease of using the Internet to reminisce bygone days, a treasure trove of memories will grow… who knows… maybe a Hey Baby Days addendum will emerge. We have already identified many bands that should have been included in the first edition. We really would like to post more original band photos that are not subject to copyrights. These photos really give the feel of the era that words can only partially portray. Anyone out there have photos from Misty Waters, Knotty Pines, the Moultrie Bowl, the Beach Club, the Embers Club, etc. etc.

More from Donna

I was thinking today about Misty Waters and how many dances I used to go to there. Chubby Checker even appeared there one time as I recall. Mack Davis and the Zots were regulars, as was Wayne Logiudice and the Kommotion. I remember seeing Ronnie Millsap there also. They had dances every weekend, and when I wasn't at the black clubs seeing folks like Jackie Wilson (what a performer!), then I was either at Misty Waters or Knotty Pines. I didn't care who the band was. I was there to DANCE. I used to keep myself in free passes to Knotty Pines by winning the dance contest often enough that I never had to pay to get in.

Misty Waters had a swimming pool and a lake with a sand beach in addition to the skating rink. The skating rink had a wonderful wooden floor, which was perfect for dancing. People danced either the P.C. Bop (Panama City Bop) or the Carolina Shag. I was a bop person myself, as was Wayne. I have memories of Spring Breaks in Panama City with Wayne and other guys I knew all being there. We were some dancing fools! We were young, foolish, and happy...and I don't know how some of us survived some of the crazy-assed things we used to do.

I'm putting together some stuff to send to Wayne. I hope he follows through on sending me his cassette of Christian music. I can't even imagine Wayne doing Christian music. He was born to boogie!

Best, Donna

Thanks Donna for your continued input about the going on’s in Atlanta of the mid to late 60s certainly a great time for music, dancing and partying. Hopefully others will read and weigh in on their experiences during this period of time that I refer to as the Hey Baby Days.

A note about the bop and the shag: Only the real experts know the differences in the shag and the P.C. bop and having seen both, I’d be pressed to look at a couple and tell you whether they were boppin’ or shaggin’. However, the best demonstration of the P.C. bop is one I saw by lawyer and fellow brother in the bond Spencer Lee of Albany, Georgia who know doubt honed his skills on the P.C. strip back in the glory days. Maybe someone will weigh in about the U.T., which was yet another derivation of the shag and/or the P.C. bop

Hello David! Tony here.

It is good to here that at least one of the Morticians is still alive! (Sorry) Larry Sivley has a CD for you. I'm out. Sent my last one to a guy in named Rune in Finland! He is Eddie Hinton fan. Amazing!

Anyway, please refresh our memories on the members and instruments, and how was Phillip Johnson involved with Morts? And where are you? And did you guys ever carry a Hammond B3 up the stairs at Plaidland?? Bitch, huh? Tell us more!!

Tony

All,

Pretty sure I still have one or two copies of our (Blues) CD’s we had made during our re-union thing if anyone is interested in obtaining a copy.

I can give them to Tony for delivery.

Thanks for sharing, as it is an honor to know people are still interested in the history and times of us little “Local Mop Heads” from Gadsden Al.

Regards,

Larry Sivley

The Bleus

More From Donna about Wayne Logiudice, Hampton Grease band Plus Gadsden’s Morticians never played on the same stage with The Pallbearers

2009-11-30T14:46:00.000-08:00

Gadsden’s Mortitians never played on the same stage with The Pallbearers

but according to a member of the band, David Stringfellow, “We murdered a few songs.” Morbid as it might sound, we could resist posing the question when we were informed that there was yet another great R&B oriented band from an area that seemed to have a lot of soul.

Greg

I saw your website and thought I would let you know about another Gadsden, Al band, the Morticians. We were not that good but we were entertaining and if I am not mistaken we were the first integrated band in Alabama. At least the only one I knew of and it did create some interesting moments. We formed in Dec. of 67 and went thru late 69 or 70. We were tight with the Bleus and played with them several times. I guess our highlight would have been when we opened for the Buckingham's in Florence the winter of 69. Dana from the Bleus had produced a few shows with them and hired us to be one of the openers.

p.s I have lost my 45's of the Bleus recordings. Any way you could find out if I could get a CD of there recordings? Thanks. Enjoy you site.

David Stringfellow

David,

Did your band ever "open" for Dan Penn and the Pallbearers or the Augusta Georgia Pallbearers? Sorry I couldn't resist. There is a CD that includes most all the Bleus recordings that is very good including those produced by Eddie Hinton. Do you have any band photos? We will be happy to include in our bands and if you want to a band directory we can do that. Tony Lumpkin sent me the CD I reference above.

Greg

David

Sorry never opened for the Pallbearers but we did murder a few songs. I have some old posters that I will forward. I would really like to see if I can get one of Tony's CD's. Could you forward my email to him? By the way I did attach our old photo business card, did you receive it?

Thanks,

David Stringfellow

Regards

Greg

More from Donna about Wayne Logiudice, the Hampton Gease Band etc.

Hey Greg,

Could you please correct "Georgia Terrace" to "Georgian Terrace" in one
of my emails that you posted on your blog? I didn't proofread my email
very well I guess. I was so excited to find Wayne.

Wayne and I talked for over two hours last night. I don't remember what
all we talked about but he did mention that one reason Ray Whitley was
so messed up was that he had been involved in a DUI vehicular homicide
in which he struck and killed a 12-year-old girl, for which he did 4
years in prison, and that he was never the same once he got out. We
mostly talked about various people we knew back then that were in the
crowd we ran around with.

I also learned that Wayne's father was Giorgio Sebastian Logiudice, who
was a concert pianist who graduated from Julliard. Wayne didn't see him
from the time he was 3 years old until he was 21, when he visited him in
Texas.

Wayne has promised to send me a CD of pictures of himself and his family
and their 4 cats. Also he's got a CD someone made for him of Ow!
Boogaloo, but he doesn't have the flip side. I sure wish I could afford
that $200 mint condition 45 on eBay!

Wayne was definitely a show stopper. He sure knew how to work a stage,
even when he first started performing and was playing venues like Misty
Waters. He was too young to get into Knotty Pines when we were hanging
out, or he would have been there too I'm sure.

I need to ask him how much I can share of what we talked about, but it
was mostly about how we met and different folks we hung out with over
the years. We exchanged addresses and phone numbers and have vowed to
stay in touch.

So the story continues...

Donna

Update 11/28/2009

I went and saw Glenn Phillips of the old Hampton Grease Band last night
at the Red Light Cafe. He's sort of legendary in the world of guitar
virtuosos. He remembered me from the 60's and 70's because we hung out
in the same venues, like the old Grecian Village in Brookhaven, where
his drummer, Jerry Fields (guy in turban), used to also play drums in a
bouzouki band! I also frequented the clubs they played like the
Catacombs, the 12th Gate, the Bottom of the Barrel, etc.

Glenn knew Wayne well and was just thrilled that I had talked to him.
I'm going to give him Wayne's contact info. Here is a picture of me with
Glenn, who had just finished a set and was dripping with sweat. I'm 67
now and certainly not the hot babe I was back in the 60's, LOL. Wayne
will turn 65 on January 28, 2010. Well, as Wayne used to say back when
he was just a kid, "Pee hockey damn!" I had to take a nap beforehand in
order to go, and it will probably take me three days to recover from it!
Don't know how I used to stay up so late and still function, but I'm
sure the addition of nearly 50 years of age and 40+ pounds of fat has
something to do with it.

Wayne Logiudice and Kommotion , Wayne Cochran & the CC Riders, Ronnie Milsap & The G’s and other stars of the Heeey Baby Days play the Apollo Theatre

2009-11-27T04:17:00.000-08:00

We have been researching various articles and news clips that were published by Jet Magazine during the Hey Baby Days of Beach Music. We have been particularly interested in Wayne Logiudice and the all-star band from Atlanta, Kommotion. We know ALL the great R&B stars played R&B’s most famous stage but when blue-eyed soul brothers performed there, it brought attention.

From Jet Magazine February 3,1966 New York Beat page 63

“A blond, 20 year old singer from Atlanta, Wayne Logiudice was described as winning away some of singer James Brown’s followers during a recent appearance at the Apollo Theatre. He was discovered by C.B. Atkins at Atlanta’s Royal Peacock Club.”

http://books.google.com/books?id=frkDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA3&source=gbs_toc&cad=1#v=onepage&q=&f=false

note: we understand that there exists a photo of Wayne on stage at the Apollo but have yet to locate it in the Jet Magazine archives. The caption for the photo is “Who Is Wayne Logiudice?” (This may have been in form of an ad produced by C.B. Atkins or New York booking agent, Joe Glazer) Help us if you can by viewing the archives that are free to view through Google. There is another photo somewhere of Kommotion backstage at the Apollo that includes band members Rick Bear and Emory Gordy Jr. We would love to have the links available here:

_____________________________________________________________________

The Jet Magazine archives are loaded with information about the great R&B stars of the Heeey Baby Days, At the end of the entertainment section is New York Beat, which generally list the various R&B, acts playing in New York that week. The Jet Magazine is one of the foremost magazines covering the R & B scene and in the 60s; the royalty of Beach Music graced its pages.

From Jet Magazine March 3, 1966 New York Beat page 64

“At the Apollo Theatre for the week is WWKL deejay Rocky G, producer of the show which includes the Marvelettes, Wayne Cochran and the fabulous C.C. Riders, Dee Dee Sharp, the Superiors, the Exciters, Jackie Lee, Deon Jackson, Darrow Fletcher, Ronnie Milsap and the G’s.”

http://books.google.com/books?id=c7kDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA3&source=gbs_toc&cad=1#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Note: Georgia blue-eyed soul brothers Wayne Cochran & C.C. Riders and Ronnie Milsap & The G’s (What does the G stand for?)

From Jet Magazine May 12, 1966 New York Beat page

“The Apollo Theatre is kicking off a new show with deejay Rocky G. in charge featuring the Marvelettes and Billy Stewart, The Spinners, Percy Sledge, Wayne Logiudice, James Carr, The Van Dykes, The Devons, Lou Lawton, Robert Parker also Rueben Phillips and his band will be on hand.

http://books.google.com/books?id=5LkDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA3&source=gbs_toc&cad=1#v=onepage&q=&f=false

As we locate more interesting tid bits from Jet Magazine, we will post here:

Also, I have discovered that comments made to the blog do not come directly to me and the only way I know that a comment has been made to a particular posting is to review each posting. I am sure that there is a way to change this but my blogging skills still have a lot to be desired therefore for those out there that are just now getting a reply to a comment made some time ago, my apology.

Recent interesting emails from others:

Regarding Wayne Logiudice:

Hey Greg...

I've signed up to follow your blog after stumbling across it while googling my ol' buddy Wayne Logiudice, who I have known since he was 14 or 15 years old. I was the "older woman" in his life. I spoke with Wayne today after emailing his sister-in-law who's email address I found on your blog.

Wayne and I go back to 1960 when I met him in Piedmont Park.
I posted a couple of comments on your blog. I was very involved in
the whole music scene in Atlanta in the late 50's and throughout the 60's. I wrote song lyrics, and actually had several of my songs recorded.

I was involved both in the R&B scene and the folk music scene in
sort of an overlapping period of such incredible music that it's still
the all time favorite period of my life. Such stories I could tell you!

Between the R&B scene in the black clubs like the Royal Peacock and the Wallhaji Ballroom, and the whole folk scene on the Strip in
the mid to late 60's I've met more musicians than most people I know. I want a copy of your book so bad I can almost taste it! Is it still possible to get one?
Thank you,

Donna Overall

Donna

I can come up with a book for you. I am very interested in your input regarding the Atlanta scene since it was not covered as complete as it should have been in the book. I wish we had known as much about Wayne as I do now . We were lucky to have some last minute input that indicated that Wayne was indeed among the elite of the blue-eyed soul brothers...it is really sad that he never got a break out record that could have made him a household name... but the book does not necessarily focus on household names but rather stars of the stage... those who could get the crowd into the show which Wayne and the Kommotion obviously did well so please share what you can about the band. I need your address to mail book. (it will be slightly used; the only new books in the original shrink wrap if any can be found in random Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million stores)

Regards

Greg Haynes

P.S. Please promise me that you will not eat the book; It is a good book and won an award for books in popular culture in 2007 but as part of a diet, I do not recommend !

Hi Greg!

Wayne's going to call me about 10 pm EST tonight and we're going to catch up on about 40 years. I've seen Wayne perform any number of times, but I also got involved in the whole Atlanta folk music scene about the same time, which sort of took over my life. I do remember seeing Ike and Tina Turner playing Knotty Pines when she was about 19 or 20 years old. I used to go to all the shows at the old Georgia Terrace Hotel in the Biltmore Ballroom. Saw Jimmie Reed, John Lee Hooker, Chuck Berry, Doug Clark and the Hot Nuts, etc. What a time for music! Saw Sam Cook, Ruth Brown, LaVerne Baker, Ray Charles, the Midnighters, The Five Royals, Little Richard, Hack Ballard and the Midnighters, etc. at the Royal Peacock and the Wallahaji Ballroom. Sometimes my date and I would be the only white people in the whole place.

I have never in my life seen anybody perform like Wayne. He was just totally amazing. The first time I ever saw him do the splits in his tight pants, I thought I would die! Most of my interaction with Wayne was actually before he made it fairly big on the music scene.

I'm going to pick his brains when we reminisce tonight. I actually found a couple of mp3 clips of Ow! Boogaloo and whatever the flip side was. There's a copy of the Phillips recording in mint condition selling for $200 on eBay right now, but I can't put out that kind of money.

Wayne did indicate that he, Rick Bear, and some of the others were talking about getting together in Athens and doing some recording at some point. I'm going to see Glenn Philips tomorrow night. He was the guitarist for the Hampton Grease Band. I haven't seen him since the 60's. Got a nice note from him telling me how to contact Jerry Fields, who was the Grease Band's original drummer and a buddy of mine in the 70's.

I will send you a PDF file of my memories of the late 50's through the 60's if I can find it. I need to put Wayne in it first. I had forgotten about him. I fell down the steps and cracked my head open recently and since then I've been having flashbacks to the 60's! That's when I started searching for Wayne. I didn't know how to spell his name, but when I found the reference on your site, I knew it was him. I'm attaching the mp3 excerpts from Wayne's record that I found today. I'm gonna find out from him if he's got any copies of his own record. I hope so because I'd love to have it.

My neighbor Lisa Coston wrote to you also. She's in her 40's and a real fan of that whole era and just about flipped when she found out that I knew some of these people and that I once played kissyface with Mac Davis in the back seat of a 57 Chevy. We will not speak of what a wild chile I was back then. But hey, I survived the 60's and 70's!

Maybe you can do an updated version of the book at some point.

What do I owe you for the book?

Donna Overall

Donna

You have already paid for it with your emails which I plan to post. I really want to do a story about Wayne who I consider the lost blue-eyed soul brother. He and the Kommotion deserve a legacy. Hey Baby Days is strictly a 60s project.

Regards

Greg

Greg,

Lisa said she hasn't written to you yet, but plans to. She loves music history and wants to start her own music blog. She's a writer and keeps wanting to interview me for an article on the 60's. She said she would kill to have been around during that period of time. Meanwhile, I'm trying to get everything in sequence. Some of it all runs together because like most of us back then, ( note: I know what you mean). My mother would have died if she knew where I was spending my time.

Donna

Regarding the Candymen:

Hi Greg,

Shawn Nagy of SuperOldies.com here in Duluth, MN, a friend of the surviving Candymen members. I had unearthed some video footage and sent it to them a few years back and now have been contacted to do liner notes for a legit Candymen CD release due out in February from the Darby Pop label.

If for some unknown reason you should EVER want to part with your Candymen photo, please write me...it would be an absolutely cherished possession in my collection as well. A true rarity!

Keep rockin' - thanks for your time,

Shawn
www.superoldies.com

Shawn

About 50 percent of my memorabilia from those glory days got away including the IOU ( A free show ) from Wilbur Walton. Thankfully I was able to hold on to signed albums by the Tams and Swingin' Medallions. The promo photo signed by ALL

The Candymen is as cherished as the above. I am very happy to get your email about the CD release as it makes me happy to see a great band like the Candymen get its due. If you read my book you know what I think about them. Stay in touch and when I kick the bucket, contact my estate and you can probably get it for a song, one by the Candymen no doubt.

Thanks to Robert Nix I have gone through my life thinking I was a "Good Egg" whether that is the case or not.

Happy thanksgiving to you

Regards

Greg

P.S. Very sorry to hear about Robert Nix’s illness; we’ll pray for him.

Bruce Channel-signed Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music book sells big at fundraiser

2009-11-23T03:25:00.000-08:00

Bruce signs photo in "The Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music"

"When he saw you walking down the street ..."

Bruce Channel and Greg backstage in Springfield Tennessee

The Rock Roll & Read concert to raise funds for the reading program at the Springfield (Tenn) Middle School this past Saturday night was a great success as some rock 'n roll greats came together for a benefit concert. To say the performances by Bruce Channel, Bonnie Bramlett, Pat Upton, Buzz Cason, Leroy Presnell, Dickey Lee, Billy Swan, The Beachettes and all backed by Steve Jarrell and the SONS OF THE BEACH were GREAT would be an understatement of incalculable proportions. Thanks to Steve Jarrell for inviting me and especially for letting me hang backstage with these legends.This time around I was indeed smart enough to have extra cards for the camera and was not only able to get photos made with the entertainers but to get a photo of Bruce Channel signing "the Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music." I also used my camera to video Bruce singing the signature song of the Hey Baby Days. I hope to post a small clip of this soon.

Get well Clifford Curry: Clifford has been sick and in the hospital. He was scheduled to perform Saturday but of course could not. Clifford is everyone's friend and he was missed by all !

Greg with the Queen of blue-eyed soul, Bonnie Bramlett. She was joined on stage by her daughter, Bekka, ... another sensation in the making

Bonnie and Bekka

Bonnie signed "The Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music"

Billy Swan ( "I Can Help", "Lover, please" ) and Greg

Buzz Cason led off the show in his spectators; Buzz has a great book out "Living the Rock 'n Roll Dream" with a forward by Georgian Brenda Lee.

"This book makes me want to quit my day job gig and run off and join a rock 'n roll band."

Jimmy Buffett

"He (Buzz Cason) is living proof that nice guys do just fine, and they have the most fun."

Kris Kristofferson

Buzz wowed the audience with "Everlasting Love" a song that he wrote that has been covered by many including Robert Knight, Carl Carlton, Gloria Estephan, U2 and others

Buzz Cason and Greg

Stve Jarrell and Pat Upton

Kelli Workman, one of the Beachettes, sings a little Beach Music

Dickie Lee

"Patches"
"I Saw Linda Yesterday"

One of the show's highlights was Dickie Lee's duo with Bonnie Bramlett on
"Never Ending Love For You"

I could go on and on about the show Saurday and I think I will:

Pat Upton received a standing ovation for the song he wrote:

"More Today Than Yesterday"

Talk about sounding like the record... Pat was that...& Thanks to Pat for taking so many of the photos of me with others.

Thanks to Steve Jarrell for his kind words on stage about the book. Steve and the Sons of the Beach performed their hit, "Sand in my shoes" and received a huge round of applause. We're gonna try and talk Steve into letting us post that video from Saturday night.

Heard and seen backstage::

Accoladaes for Kris Kristofferson:

" All Kris's work in Nashville have turned into standards",said someone.

One of the performers came up to Bruce Channel with a cell phone and pleaded with him to please sing a verse of "Hey, Baby" to the performer's wife who was on the phone. He did it with apparent pleasure and with a smile on his face.

Big Birthday cake for Buzz Cason, his 39th ?

It Was Opening Night At The Beach Club

2009-11-20T07:51:00.000-08:00

In a box of material that was given to us after the Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music exhibit was closed at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2007 was a CD that included photos of the opening night of the exhibit. About 70 different musicians representing 40 bands from the Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music were on hand to remember the good old days. Most of these musicians had not seen one another in 30 years or more. It was a special night and we wanted to share these found photos. Enjoy!

Director of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, Lisa Love, reads proclamation from the City of Macon honoring the musicians of this very important genre and era

"No, I really can't sing, nor play an instrument, but what does talent have to do with it."

Nora and I with two great Caravelles: Tommie James and Cliff Meyers

Nora and I welcome musicians and others to the Beach club in Macon at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame
bottom: l-r Ben Bernard (Oxford Nights), Gene Lee ( Sensational Epics) top Johnny Cox (Swingin' Medallions), Don Baker ( Monzas) Ron Moody ( Centaurs ) and members of the Sleepless Nights (see photo below C. Leslie Vaughn and His Sleepless Nights )
Seated with white pants( Wilbur Walton,Jr.) Standing with cup (Paul Hornsby of the Five Men-its, Hourglass ) and in Crimson Tide colored polo, Jimmy Dean ( James Gang)
Wayne Scarbourgh ( King David & The Slaves) Greg And the late Russell Martin (KDS)
Kim Venable ( K-Otics) Joe Morris ( Swingin' Medallions) and Greg
A great line up of musicians from The Heeey Baby Days set to receive their complimentary copy of book
Stacy Sirmans ( New Bushmen) Tabby Crabb ( Strange Bedfellows) Denny Green ( Rubberband) John Bradley ( Dynamic Consouls) Tommie James( Second Nature, Caravelles, Duprees, et.)
South Georgia Connection: Larry Brown ( Tip Tops) the New Bushmen: John Bennett, Charles Whitley Sparky Smith , Stacy Sirmans, and the Strange Bedfellow's Tabby Crabb
Biggest turnout by one band were the Sleepless Nights of Knoxville, Tennessee Seven members of the band present including Senator Rusty Crow seated l-r standing Doug Cruey, Larry Cole,Jack ____; C. Leslie Vaughn (lead singer); ______ _____ and _____ ____.
Seated: Wayne Scarbourgh, standing _____ _____ _____ )______ Russell Martin (King David & The Slaves) Jack Bernard( The Oxford Nights) George Croft (Pallbearers) Richard Peterson (Mod VI)
Tommie James, Cliff Meyers ( Caravelles), Johnny Seabolt ( Pieces of Eight) Nora Marion, Dick Hilliard and Bill Pratt (Soul Set)

Drop Shot (Rufus Cromer of Liberation) Greg and Rodney Justo of the Candymen at Georgia Music Hall of Fame

The World's most loaded Beach Music Jukebox was available for those that visited to Museum

Beginning with Ben Bernard in navy blazer (Oxford Nights... I'm Such A Lonely One) and going in a counter clockwise direction) Fred Pugh ( Swingin' Medallions) Johnny Cox ( Swingin' Medallions) Kind Edward Martin (BD's) John McElrath (Swingin'Medallions) Hack Bartley (Swingin' Medallions) Greg, Dino Cecchi (King Edward & The BD's) and in the back where they seem most comfortable are drummers: Kim Venable ( K-Otics & Classics IV ) and Joe Morris, (Swingin' Medallions)

Rusty Cromer of the Rockin' Gibraltars appears incognito (Others Previously identified)

Writer publisher Andrea Powell joins Hack Bartley on stage. Read Andrea's recent article about the Medallions in the Greenville SC magazine

http://www.gvillemag.com/print/2745

Meanwhile at the keyboards, King Edward Martin and John McElrath discuss how the Medallions' M.Y.L. T.T. becomes a big hit in the U.K. for King Edward & The BD's

At the top: Fred Pugh looks on while K-Otic drummer , Kim Venable and Medallion Drummer Joe Morris discuss the important the opening drum roll to Double Shot of My Baby's Love.

Ron Moody of The Centaurs and Marion Carter of Ripete Records make their appearance on stage at the Beach Club

A New Beach Music CD of Epic Proportions 39-21-40 Shape ?

2009-11-16T14:22:00.000-08:00

No ! but you might go appity ape over the recently released Sensation Epics Anthology... a great tribute to the band that is moving toward a half century of entertaining party crazed Southerners and who help form "The Never Gonna Give It Up Club." Can you image a horn blowing band that still boasts at least five members who played with the band during the Hey Baby Days (1962-1969)? There are very few of the old guard still remaining, i.e. members of a 60s R&B band still playing together under the same name. Other bands that we know (other than occasional reunions of the old bands) include in addition to the Sensational Epics are The Pieces of Eight, the Jesters, Tyn Tymes and the Attractions. If I have erred please correct but these bands should be in somebody's hall of fame, that is, in addition to the The Heeey Baby Days Hall of Fame !

http://www.sensationalepics.com/

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

It was honor to write the notes for the Sensational Epics anthology CD; but more importantly, buy it ! it's great and full of party styled Beach Music with the great horn sound !

This Saturday night, I finally get to meet and present a book to Bruce Channel, the man whose song inspired a very long party !

The Twilight Zone in the Hey Baby Days of Beach Music Starring the Twilights of Salisbury and Charlotte, NC, Wayne Cochran & the CC Riders

2009-11-13T09:37:00.000-08:00

Click on the images to enlarge

Top Photo from "The Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music" are the Twilights from Charlotte, North Carolina. Saxophonist Buck Burwell didn't remember any recordings made by the band when he played saxophone

Bottom photo are the Twilights from Salisbury, North Carolina which is not too far up I 85 from Charlotte. Lead singer Gary Lowder wrote and recorded "You're The One" that appears on Disk 3 of the Hey Baby Days of Beach Music compilation series.

Both bands were managed by Ralph Farmer and apparently these were two different bands managed by the same agency but perhaps at different points in time. Can you tell by their uniforms which band might have been the earliest bands ? If this is confusing, try unraveling the various bands called the Villagers, Nomads and Caravelles in just the Carolinas.

Caution! You are about to enter the Twilight Zone of “The Hey Baby Days of Beach Music.”

I certainly might not have the presence of Rod Serling but here goes my best attempt.

It was the day after the rains finally ended in Hotlanta Georgia when an email came fluttering down the cyber highway. It was a short and to the point letter of interest. The information caught me a bit flatfooted .

To Whom It May Concern:

Ref: The Twilights

Recorded: You're The One

Lyrics and Music by: Gary Lowder

Lead vocals : Gary Lowder

The group was managed by Ralph Farmer, but all of the members you have listed in connection with this recording is incorrect. For the correct and accurate information about this recording and song contact Gary Lowder.

Sincerely,

Gary Lowder
garylowdermusic.com

Gary’s email took me by surprise. “You’re The One” a song that had been licensed by Ripete Records which appears on Disk 3 of the Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music series had recently caught the fancy of Rollye James, who has taken up the Beach Music cause in a significant way. In fact when Rollye had me on her show, she asked about the song and I quickly responded that it was one that Earl Dawkins supplied the vocals for when he was a member of the Twilights. Apparently I was wrong and thanks to the fluttering email, I can correct this matter with revelations contained in Gary’s email.

The Twilights of Charlotte, NC as posted at www.heybabydays.com

Enlarge the image by clicking on it

Gary

As author and publisher of the book, it is my fault if there is any incorrect information contained in the book or at the web site. We are always anxious to correct any mistakes. As it relates to the book, all we have in the book about the Twilights is a photo that was furnished by Bud McNeely of the Twilights when he was a member. The additional information that is included in the band's directory came from the liner notes that were written by others. Those liner notes are contained in Disk 3 . We certainly would like to correct anything that is not correct. "You're The One" is a good one and caught the ear of Rollye James who has been playing it regularly on her show.

Can you give me more background on the song, when it was recorded , who played on the recording and a little more about the Twilights. A friend of mine played briefly in the band and he is in the photo. Buck Burwell. I thought he was kiddin' me when he told me he played in a band but sure enough, he played in the version of the band that included Bud McNeely Don Neal and others. . I met him through business. Like to know more about Ralph Farmer's Agency and some of the bands he booked. If you will respond with your phone number, I'll call you later.

Regards

Greg Haynes

Note: Gary did respond with a phone number and we had a nice 20 minute conversation that could have easily been an hour or more as I could tell that Gary had been a dues paying member of the “Never Gonna Give It Up Club for as long as I have.

I never could quite figure out when the Twilights of Buck Burwell fame came into the picture, but judging from the “uniforms” of the actual band that made “You’re The One” Buck’s group came first. (That’s an educated guess aka swag) I had thought, hey, maybe this is another one of those “Villagers” or “Nomad” things where there is a band named that in every town. The Buck Burwell Twilights were from Charlotte and that’s almost 50 miles from the Twilights of Salisbury . In all fairness, Buck Burwell indicated early on the Al Allison was the man behind the Twilights but since I have ridden shotgun in a King Air with Buck as the pilot, I guess a little license doesn’t hurt. BUT this also brings me to a cross roads of confusion one that could only exist in the Twilight Zone.

As I was contemplating this revelation about “You’re The One” by the Twilights, Nora Marion came in the room. I shared with her the confusion about two bands called the Twilights that seemed to have different personnel but were managed by the same Ralph Farmer agency. “Nora, don’t you remember that I went on international radio a few weeks ago and told Rollye James that Earl Dawkins sang lead on that song. Now I get this revealing email that I was wrong. I feel like I am right in the middle of the Twilight Zone… don’t you remember what Rod Serling use to say when he opened the show back in the early days of the Hey Baby Days.

"You're traveling through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind; a journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. That's the signpost up ahead — your next stop, the Twilight Zone."

“Greg, you’re confused about one thing… It’s not the Twilight Zone… It’s the Heeey Baby Days.”

I think she might be right because there was a good amount of confusion back in the Hey Baby Days and maybe it’s not the Twilight Zone that I entered with Gary’s email but a part and parcel of those great days of music that will forever be known as the Hey Baby Days of Beach Music.

Notes on the Twilights: (Courtesy of Gary Lowder)

The Twilights:
Olin Jones:,trumpet/vocals :
Duane Smith ,Bass/vocals :
Gary Lowder : Lead Vocals/trumpet
Rick Christy : Drums
Gerald Smith : Sax /vocals
Jimmy Lackey : Keyboards
Larry Pinkston: Guitar
Randy (Flip) Bost : Trombone /vocals

"You're The One " , Lyrics and music by Gary Lowder : Was recorded at Arthur Smith Studios, Charlotte, NC

The same group would later change it's name to "Hot Smokin Brass" and become Jackie Wilson's Back Up band for two years.

Ralph Farmer :from Kannapolis, NC managed the :Aqualads and The Twilights. He was quite an interesting man, having the interest to promote up and coming young talent.

At one time he and I flew to Memphis to Stax records to promote "You're The One", Willie Mitchell liked the song and sent us to speak with Chips Morman who was at that time producing BJ Thomas

The Twilights had street corner harmony, I always considered us the BEE GEEs of the south. We had amazing vocals and prided ourselves with the chorography of the Temptations.

Gary Lowder

I appreciate Gary’s bringing all of this to my attention, but I still remain confused about the Twilights of Charlotte North Carolina wearing their “Hey Baby Days” uniforms and Salisbury’s Twilights who as you can observe are not wearing Hey Baby Days uniforms and given the length of their hair, they might be one of those flexible bands that had “In a Gadda Da Vida” and “Hey, Baby” on the same set list.

One final note:

Gary told me a great story about the time the Twilights were booked into the Marco Polo hotel for a week in North Miami Beach in the early 70s. Upon arrival they learned that they were to be the opening act for Wayne Cochran and the C.C. Riders (without question, the most popular R&B band in South Florida during that time period.) According to Gary, the band was in shock and after the first night, the Twilights wanted out of their contract. Wayne Cochran and the CC Riders were so intimidating with that incredible horn section that they didn’t feel like that should be on the same stage. After telling the club manager, he laughed, “You guys are the warm up band, you’re fine, don’t worry about anything.” They didn’t and learned enough that week and after returning to North Carolina, they added horns and changed their name to “ Hot Smokin’ Brass” and spent two years on the road as Jackie Wilson’s backing back.

Now does that story ring a few bells? However, I am not sure how much more the Twilights would have been intimidated if Jaco Pastorius had been the bass player for Wayne’s CC Riders. He was, a year or so later.

Want to know more about The Twilights and Hot Smokin' Brass?

Gary Lowder is currently living at Myrtle Beach and is still involved in the Beach Music scene. His music and current info can be found at http://www.garylowdermusic.com/

Reliving visits to the Georgia Music Hall of Fame from the Pacers, the Five Men-its, Rubber Band, Bill Deal & the Rhondels , King Edward & the BDs

2009-10-23T09:34:00.001-07:00

Center stage at the Beach Club at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame from October 2006 through May of 2007 were some of the leading performers of the Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music . Look at the next image for descriptions of some of the items that were on display

Please click on images to enlarge

Descriptions of items above that were on display

Joseph Johnson, curator, meets Greg and Erin Haynes and Reid Haynes for tour of the exhibit

Bill Deal, a main attraction at the museum and a legend of Beach Music

Beach Music Royalty: King Edward and the BD's

Please click on images to enlarge

Visitors to the Heeeey Baby Day's exhibit during 2006 and 2007 at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame

Keeping pace with Tuscaloosa's Pacers and on time with the Five Men-its whose lead singer was Eddie Hinton

Did you know that lead vocals for the monster hit, “ Smoke From A Distant Fire” by Sanford Townsend and the original version of “Let Love Come Between Us’ by the Rubber Band are the same…John Townsend, lead singer for the Magnificent Seven and the Rubber Band then the Sanford Townsend band. “Let Love Come Between Us” was written by John Wyker and the late Joe Sobotka of the Rubber Band. Wyker also wrote Motorcycle Mama while a member of Sailcat. Perhaps Wyker’s greatest achievement to date is his crusade to gain additional and deserved recognition for the late Eddie Hinton, member of the Five Men-Its and other Bama bands .

To: wyker@mightyfieldofvision.com
Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 10:18 PM
Subject: John D Wyker- The Hinton Texts

Just picked the recent re-issue of Eddie's "Very Extremely Dangerous" and was automatically taken by your lengthy but profound essay on Eddie. Easily the most enlightening data I've yet to read on Eddie and let's be honest- as someone who knew Eddie for thirty years give or take you had the qualifications and insight. For years I've often dreamed of writing the definitive Hinton book/biography but really I'd be just a fraud and mouthpiece at best. I never had the privelege of knowing Eddie or knowing what he was about....sure I loved and still love his craft/art but I don't think I have the genuine right stuff to be his biographer. Your essay really puts the rest of us to shame.....you so perfectly humanised Eddie in those paragraphs I makes me appreciate his music even more than I thought possible. There's that gift of the Southern storyteller again!! Yup, Eddie left this world not receiving the reverence and acclaim he so deserved but each year his legend increases and his music touches more. That' can only be good but in my perfect world I always wished Eddie could have existed in his own space....sorta like Bob Dylan. Adhering entirely to his own muse and having the freedom to create his music on his own terms and in his own time. Completely free of music industry weasels telling him how it should be thus allwing all the wonderful rought cut gems of Southern music to emerge unfettered. Eddie Hinton- a giant among men. My bud....be proud of what you wrote as i'm proud of it. And proud of you!! Love from Down UnderMichael Mac

Top left are the Webbs who backed Roy Orbison on his first Eurpopean tour ; members included Bobby Goldsboro, John Rainey and others. "Sure, Roy, the boys can read."

Please kick on Images to enlarge

The Riot of Waycross, Georgia causes one at the City Auditorium (top left)

Doug Clark & The H.N. s ( Get'em from the P-nut man) & Ron Moody & The Centaurs

The Candymen rode high at the exhibit; lead singer Rodney Justo was on hand to represent the storied band

More Prophet taking at the Hey Baby Days exhibition

“You Got Love” by the Five Jays ( with vocals by Joe Ray Dowell) makes the bumper crop on the Rollye James Show.
( I had a premonition that she would like this little Beach tune that flew well beneath the radar.) Joe Ray Dowell was a member of Gastonia, North Carolina’s Spontanes.

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 21, 2009 (Rollye James Show)7:36 You Got Love - Five Jays8:06 Under The Boardwalk - Drifters (request)8:36 Are You Ready For This - Jay & The Techniques9:06 Wildfire - Michael Murphy (request- obviously)9:36 I Know The Inside Story - Cubby & The Turnpikes

Revisiting The Heeey Baby Days at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame

2009-10-21T14:24:00.000-07:00

It wasn't the "real" Beach Club , you know, the one on U.S. 17 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina but most of the musicians whose photos lined the walls of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame's "Beach Club" ( exhibit October 2006 - May 2007) played at Cecil Corbett's mecca of Beach Music back in the Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music ! Come on in and meet some of my friends.

The band is on break but reminders of days gone by remain . ( shown far left back is an outfit worn by legendary, Joe Pope ! click on the image to enlarge

Enlarge the photos by clicking on them

The Farfisa organ before you is the actual one used at the recording session at Arthur Smith's in Charlotte,North Carolina where the famous party song "Double Shot" ( of My Baby's Love) was recorded.

It might say "Prophets" on the sweatshirt but we all knew them as the "Georgia Prophets." They sure "got the fever." Stories about the Georgia Prophets abound in The Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music.

Enlarge the photos by clicking on them

"Down in the Alley with the In-Men Ltd." is a chapter devoted entirely to the great show band from Burlington, North Carolina

Tip Tops from Hawkinsville, Georgia : They got their name for a downtown Atlanta Shoe Store... Another party band that spent many a Saturday night on fraternity row. Their memoirs are found in the chapter on Georgia bands.

Jesters Band.... Athens, Georgia what else is there to say... Horns... R&B ... they backed many greats!

The K-Otics were chaotic for sure... Do you sense they maybe "Charlena" knew them better than they let on ? lol

Mouse, The Boys & Brass were "Dancin' to the music" in Chapter 6 of The Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music.

Dirk & Tony, the famous Beach Music singing duo of the Classic City still occasionally get together for a reunion.

Enlarge the photos by clicking on them

Bill Deal & The Rhondels (center) had three top forty "Beach Tunes" in 1969 !

Click on photos to enlarge

To be continued ...

ROCK, ROLL & READ with Bonnie Bramlett, Bruce Channel, Clifford Curry, Steve Jarrell, Buz Cason, Larry Henley, Pat Upton, Dickey Lee, Billy Swan and

2009-10-21T09:25:00.000-07:00

and the ORIGINAL BEACHETTES with a special presentation to Bruce Channel from the Heeey Baby Days

ROCK, ROLL & READ
AN EVENING OF CLASSIC ROCK AND ROLL
TO BENEFIT THE ROBERTSON COUNTY READS PROGRAM

Starring the Original Artists

BONNIE BRAMLET BUZZ
“the Queen of Blue-eyed soul”

BUZ CASON
“Look For A Star”

BRUCE CHANNEL
“Hey Baby!”

CLIFFORD CURRY
“She "She Shot a Hole In My Soul”

LARRY HENLEY (orig. lead singer THE NEWBEATS)
“Bread and Butter”

DICKEY LEE
“Patches”

PAT UPTON (orig. lead singer SPIRAL STARECASE)
“More Today Than Yesterday”

BILLY SWAN
“I Can Help”

STEVE JARRELL & the Sons of Beach

THE ORIGINAL BEACHETTES KELLI BRUCE
VICKY CARRICO
KELLI BRUCE
ETTA BRITT

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 7PM

SPRINGFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL
SPRINGFIELD, TENNESSEE

Admission: $20

Ticket Info: 615.384.3800

Posters provided by WOODMEN OF THE WORLD

Signature tour headed for Tennessee

Steve Jarrell sent the above info to the right person regarding the benefit concert at Springhill Middle School. We have a copy of the book en route that will hopefully be signed by the guest artists and bring big bucks TO BENEFIT THE ROBERTSON COUNTY READS PROGRAM

OF course, our main mission will be to get the signatures of “Mr. Hey, Baby” himself, Bruce Channel and the Queen of blue-eyed soul, Bonnie Bramlett. We already have Clifford Curry and Steve Jarrell’s autographs and hope to get additional ones as well.

& Thank You to all those who have emailed and commented about the Interview on the Rollye James show; It was a lot of fun and if you didn’t get to listen , you can by following the instructions below… Rollye played many cuts from the soundtrack of the Hey Baby Days during the interview.

First Click on the link below:

http://www.mystreamingserver.com/index.html ( copy and paste into your browser)

then scroll to and click on:Greg Haynes (Hey Baby Days of Beach Music) 10/9/9

it opens with “Teasing You” by Willie Tee

Note: There are two excellent John Hook interviews which are worth the listen (09/04 & 10/16)

Recapping Hey Baby Days on the Rollye James Show and Dancin', Shaggin' in Fort Payne

2009-10-13T08:40:00.000-07:00

Big night this past Friday with Rollye James and Big Day in Fort Payne Dancin’Shaggin’ on the Boulevard

We spent three great hours with Rollye James Friday night talking about the Heeey Baby Days while she played a 20 or more cuts from the soundtrack of the Hey Baby Days. Rollye knows her music and we hope to have a return visit in the future. Rollye is an advocate of “the Music” Just view the listing of the four tunes that is posted at music at her site. But that is just the tip; she plays at least a dozen more great songs during her three hour show. She is definitely a friend of Beach Music! This Friday night, she has the ‘Fessa John Hook back on… Between the two of us… a Webster’s quality definition of Beach Music will soon emerge.

Also, on Friday… my partner and I finally closed the sale of a former bakery in the City of Fort Payne, Alabama. It had been on the market for some time. We were so happy to finally get it sold, we asked the super group, Alabama, to come to the closing and perform… “Dancin’ Shaggin’ on the Boulevard.” Well, they were not able to come but we still felt the event called for some Alabama Beach Music… it’s the perfect song to play after closing a sale in Fort Payne, Alabama or while cruising in a convertible down Ocean Boulevard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YkZz1MG8hg

The Heeey Baby Days on The Rollye James Show This Friday Night 10:00 PM EST until 1:00 AM

2009-10-06T13:18:00.000-07:00

This Friday I accepted an invitation to be a guest on the Rollye James show to talk about "The Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music." It's a subject that I could talk about in perpetuity . A special thanks to J.D. Cash for making this possible.

Rollye asked me to be on for the entire show... THREE HOURS beginning at 10:00 PM ... that's a great tribute to the bands and music of the era that was so special. I am sure that most of the discussion will center around the great bands and the music in the book. If she asks about Charlena, we'll tell her what we can.

Rollye has all 17 Disks from the Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music compilation series so I expect she will playing cuts from the series. Hope you will tune in. If you know a few others out there that enjoyed "walking up a one-way street" with Willie Tee, send them the link.

Here's how to access the Rollye James Show this Friday Night 10:00 EST

Paste the link below in your browser and click on LISTEN

http://www.rollye.net/index.html

The Persians are Coming & The Heeey Baby Days on the Rollye James Show

2009-10-06T08:38:00.000-07:00

More details on the upcoming Persians' Reunion

Hey, everyone! It's a big beach and soul music event in Columbia this Sunday! The original "PERSIANS" (Willie & The Persians, Willie & The Tones), and many of the band's later members, are having a reunion on Sunday, October 11, @ 3:00 pm at Doc's Gumbo Grill, 1115 Assembly Street, across from the S.C State House. Admission is Free!

The Persians were a staple at college clubs and bars and fraternity parties in the 1960 and 1970s and stayed together until the late 1990's. They played at the old Wits End club and were the house band at the Knights of the Road (KOR club - old Owls Club) in 5 Pts. This will be the first ever reunion of the band that started as "Willie & The Tones" in 1964 and became the "Persians" in 1965. The band recorded "Peanut Man", which is on the Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music cd collection.

Featured will be founder and original lead singer, Willie WIlliams, and original vocalist and band leader for thirty years, Fred Ferguson. Other originals or members of the band in the1960's who plan to attend include drummers Willis Blume (Shagtime), Frank Macaulay (Strut), and Tom Graham (Sensational Epics); keyboardist Tommie James (Second Nature); guitarist Charles Stafford (Footnotes, Billy Stewart band); and original bassist and reunion organizer, Bill Miles. Other longtime members also attending will be vocalists Elvin Tobin, Nadine Taylor and Bill Durant; guitarist Jim Felton; and drummer James Casey.

Space is limited at Doc's, so call for a table or come early: 803-256-4440. The grill and bar will be open. Come join the party!!

Charlie Stafford
Atlantic Entertainment/Original Persians

Considered to be creme de la creme of bumper music, the Rollye James show has recently played several cuts from the compilation series of the Hey Baby Days of Beach Music:

http://www.rollye.net/MUSIC-2.html

Expect to hear more as Rollye reviews the CD set which we recently sent to her .

We also expect to be a guest on her show possibly this Friday. Check back for time.

Persians Reuniting; Fabulous Five, Impacts, Bruce Springsteen, Swingin’ Medallions, Frank Rountree: The Missin’ Pieces of Eight, APB: Gary Gray and Th

2009-10-03T05:42:00.000-07:00

The Persians Columbia South Carolina

Front: Charles Stafford

L-R: Elvin Tobin, Tom Graham, Tommie James, Bill Miles, Fred Ferguson

Reunion
WHEN: 3:00 PM ON OCTOBER 11, 2009 (SUNDAY)
FREE
DOC'S GUMBO GRILL
ON ASSEMBLY STREET - ACROSS FROM THE CAPITOL.(SC)

The Persians & The Platters

Front: A guest of band and Charles Stafford, guitarist

Back; L-R Barbara James, Sonny Turner, Bill Miles, Herb Reed, and guest

Behind the Camera: Tommie James

For Booking , the contact information above may not work, lol

The above ad floated into the blog... thanks for the input

Persians Reuniting; Fabulous Five, Impacts, Bruce Springsteen, Swingin’ Medallions, Frank Rountree: The Missin’ Pieces of Eight, APB: Gary Gray and The Rochelles from Kannapolis, NC, Distortions cleared up, and Vic and the Versatiles

Hey Baby Days of Beach Music blog catch-up

We did not retire…just went on a blog sabbatical… We have tried to respond to those who have emailed the blog and if we failed to reply, email us again and we’ll try harder. Below are some of the emails we have received that covers many bands… I hope some of the below correspondence will spur some memories and cause you to drop us a line… it’s all about the Hey Baby Days… the 60s when the music was sweet and soulful !

THE PERSIANS ARE REUNITING

THE FIRST REUNION OF THE PERSIANS BAND WILL BE HELD IN COLUMBIA, SC .

WHERE: DOC'S GUMBO GRILL ASSEMBLY STREET - ACROSS FROM THE CAPITOL.

WHEN: 3:00 PM ON OCTOBER 11, 2009 (SUNDAY)

COST: FREE ADMISSION

THE KITCHEN AND THE BAR WILL BE OPEN FOR ORDERS.

We have been rehearsing and you can expect to hear some outstanding R & B music.

Help us get the word out.

The Fabulous Five Are making an Impact

Hey Greg, Hope you’re doing fine. My name is Billy Ray Smith and I’m one of the former members of Bob Collins and The Fabulous Five. Thanks so much for the great memories you have provided with your book, The Hey Baby Days of Beach Music. Just wanted to let you know, John Cook, another former member of BC and The Fab 5 and myself are performing together again in another group from the past, The Impacts. Bob has now retired but we keep hoping he might attend one of our shows and do a song or two with us. The Impacts actually include three former members of The Fabulous Five which has given us attention from Fab Five fans wanting to hear their old tunes which along with songs from the original Impacts are included in our song list. Be sure to come see us if we’re ever in your area. We would like to meet you. If you ever need info on The Impacts or The Fabulous Five, Feel free to call me at (336)616-7131 or email theimpacts51@yahoo.com Thanks again, Billy Ray Smith of The Impacts

Bruce Springsteen and the Swingin’Medallions finally on stage together singing the party song !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVzk-aVUjw0

There another version of this video that will be posted later.

WHERE’s Gary Gray, the Rochelles from Kannapolis, NC

Greg,

I got a copy of your book when it was first released, and I absolutely love it. It will surely be the definitive reference for our little big world of beach music for posterity. I think that I am something of an anomaly among my peers. I am 38 years old, but have been enamored with beach music since I was 5 or 6. I spent entire summers at Cherry Grove and NMB for years and have memories of the end of that era.

But that is not the reason that I write to you.

I am sure that you wrote about every band that you could get info on in the book. There is one that you may have not come across that I am curious about. From about 1965 to 1967, a Kannapolis , NC musician named Gary Gray evolved a band into a group called the Rochelles. The Rochelles consisted of my dad, Gary Walker (rhythm), Chip Weddington (sax and lead), Joe Weddington (drums), Gary Gray (lead), Ronnie Hill (lead vocals) and a couple other guys who sat in and played bass, horns and keyboard. Unfortunately, no one has any momentos from those days. Photos, concert flyers and demo tapes were stolen during a gig in 1969. All of these guys were high school buddies, except Gary Gray, who was in his mid-twenties then and a very accomplished player. They finished second to Harry Deal and the Galaxies in a battle of the bands competition in Statesville, NC in 1966 and beat them in one in Kannapolis (the Catalinas were also playing there) in 1967. They played many gigs at the Park Center in Charlotte , backing up the Tams, Otis Redding and Jackie Wilson.

Like most things, my dad and his friends finished high school and Vietnam loomed in the horizon. The band dissolved, but Gary Gray kept playing for years in the Charlotte area.

The Rochelles never cut a record, but there is a 8 mm home movie of most of the members of the band playing a party in 1967.

My dad’s 60th birthday is coming up in September and I have been contacting some of the members of the band to at least get them together for a reunion of sorts as a surprise. On a wing and a prayer, I was wondering if you might have come across the name in your research in NC, or if you might know if anyone has a collection of old posters from the Park Center?

Thanks again, and thanks for the great book!

Sean Walker

Sean C. Walker

Attorney at Law

Woodson, Sayers, Lawther,

Short, Parrott & Walker, LLP

225 N. Main Street

Greg

don't have to tell you the memories that this has brought back to my 60's in Bham
Medallions, Tams, James Gang.
Great stuff. Thanks for the wonderful effort and research.
Pierre Salze

Cleaning Up The Distortions

Hi Greg,

Love your book. However, I need to correct you on one thing. It concerns The Distortions from Alabama. You got some wrong band member names listed. Some of the names you have listed for the Distortions were actually in The Torquays. You have them listed correctly in the Torquays listing.

The core members were (These were the members from 1965-1966):

Started as The Counts

Robert Alexander (bass)
Ned Bibb (vocals and guitar)
Bobby Marlin (drums) (died of cancer in 1991)

They added Roy "Zack" Zachery (keyboards)

In 1967, the added Roy Alexander (saxophone) (deceased)

Henry Lovoy took over on drums in the late 60s. He had been the lead singer of the Rockin' Rebellions.

The band split up in 1969, but Zach Zachery and Roy Alexander continued on, adding Cliff Payne and Ed Finn. Other later members included Joe Rudd and Ralph King. They played well into the 70s as The Distortions.

Hope this helps.

Mike Burnett

Hi –

I stumble across this site now and then and enjoy seeing continuing interest in great music.

If you see Ervin Hicks and/or Carlie Barbour, please give them my regards.

Frank Rountree

Columbia, SC

Former member (tenor saxophone & vocals):

Caravelles

Pieces of Eight

Frank,

Both Carlie and Erven along with Brent Fortson will be playing at the Williams Lake reunion in August . I thought that Carlie said Cliinton, NC... but there is a web site. It sounds like a good time. Also, I see your name in the Caravelles roster but not the Pieces of Eight. If you'll give me time line as to when you played with the band, I'll correct that oversight.

Regards,

Greg

Hi Greg,

Williams Lake, eh? Wow, does that bring back memories! I only played there once, but folks still remind me that I was the fool playing saxophone while hanging upside down from the rafters..... J

As for the timeline with the Pieces of Eight, my memory isn’t definitive – but - I replaced Brent Fortson. Steve Caldwell, Erven Hicks, Carlie Barbour, Jim Bumgardner, were still there, so it had to be the spring/summer of 1968, because Steve left shortly before I did. I left the band in the fall of that year to give up music for good, leaving a King Super 20B Silver Bell on the bus and walking away - so I would not wake up one day as a 40 year old musician…… looking for a job every day. It took a very long time for me to come to terms with my decision, but as a 45 year old executive walking down 5th Avenue in New York late one night, I walked by a corner musician, playing saxophone for the passers-by, in hopes of a few bucks being tossed into the open case at his feet. I stopped to listen, because he was the best I’ve ever heard. I asked him his story and found that he had played with Issac Hayes at the peak of that band. When I asked why he was on the streets, he just looked at me and said “The drugs, man…. the drugs.” I knew then I had made the right decision…….. but I still miss it terribly. When my youngest daughter was married two years ago, The O’kaysions provided the music. I did finally give in and played for an hour….. and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I’m questioning some of the other Pieces of Eight entries on your web site: Michael Abdalla came into the band in late 1968 when Steve Caldwell left and my memory tells me he played saxophone (alto, if I remember correctly) – I don’t remember that he played trumpet at all. There was another keyboard player before Wally Wood. Wally was a truckie who sat in on keyboards until the other fellow left the band. You’re also missing a couple of trumpet players (Jack from Knoxville was one), but full names elude me. Erven Hicks was with the band as long as Carlie Barbour and Jim Bumgardner – they all came from the Tassels.

Thanks for the memories!

Frank Rountree

Frank

Thanks for your input. I appreciate being questioned because as I have heard from others, "if you remember the 60s, you were not there." You must have just missed playing my first show with the POE which was New Years Eve 1968 in Waycross Georgia. That was the first of seven shows I had with the POE the last being a joint appearance and the only joint appearance with the Swingin' Medallions in September of 1969. It was billed as a "Battle of Bands" but was not as you know from the book. Michael Abdallah was at UGA at the same time I was and I thought he told me he played trumpet but I certainly could have misunderstood. Again it was the 60s. Ironically I had lunch with him shortly before the book was released and learned he had played in the Swinging Professionals with longtime Embers member, Johnny Hopkins. I would love to published as memories you want to share on the blog.

Regards

Greg

Greg

We spent the summer of that year playing mostly at the Red Rooster in Panama City, but were on the road a bit with a recording session or two at Papa Don Schroeder’s Bell Records studio in Pensacola….. there’s nothing like a good ol’ record company fleecing…… J After I left the Pieces of Eight, an invitation came to join the Swingin’ Medallions for their Sands Hotel tour, but I had almost made up my mind to stop playing and my own wedding would have not have been the same at the Sands Hotel in Hawaii (read that as: my wife-to-be would not have been at my wedding)…… I guess I made the right decision, because she’s still here after 39 years.

Not only did I know Michael from the Pieces of Eight, but he and I were both in the apparel industry for most of our working careers and attended many of the same southeastern apparel shows until I moved to the New York area of operation in the ‘80s.

Frank

Frank,

This is really good stuff and my apology you, “A Missing Piece”. Keeping up with the personnel changes in the bands in the late 60s would have been a full time job. In spite of that, the band directories at www.heybabydays.com are pretty good. I don't guess it would surprise you to know that even members of the bands can't remember all the people they played with in the same band. For bands that have gone through so many iterations, it's almost futile. I am just happy the names like the Swingin' Medallions, Pieces of Eight, Jesters, Catalinas, Footnotes, Embers, Tyn Tymes, and others are still playing.

I always thought the hallmark on both the Swingin' Medallions and Pieces of Eight were the horns... still are as a matter of fact. I liked both bands and dedicated a lot of ink to both in the book. It does irritate me somewhat to hear people refer to them as one in the same. If anything, I hope the book straightened out that myth.

So who all was on the Papa Don recording session? Some good stuff I thought came out of that, particularly "I'd Pay The Price." Was that not Steve Caldwell singing lead? I did not get to know Steve until I came out of band promoter retirement in 1981 and put together the first reunion performance of the Original Swingin’ Medallions. That was something I will never forget. Steve Caldwell was a class act ! as were all those guys, Brent was a fraternity brother of mine at Georgia but much much older, lol. Ironically about the time I was really into promoting bands, he was in law school. As I wrote in the book, I never could figure out why he would opt out of a band making parties for all those beer guzzling fraternity men to spend all those hours trying to understand “Madison vs. Marbury.” I have remained a friend of John McElrath from day one… He was a strong inspiration for the book.

Back to determining who was on first, who was on second and the rest of the players in the dugout.

I think that Erven told me when I saw him in North Myrtle Beach in June that there was a misunderstanding between Ken and Earl and that resulted in Ken's departure, which must have prompted Mark Wrenn's departure as well. In a phone conversation I had with Mark Wrenn, he indicated that he and Ken left and joined Kallabash Corp. This is a place I could easily digress because KC was another favorite of mine. I had a few!

So you replaced Brent and Michael Abdallah replaced Steve Caldwell. Who had replaced Mark Wrenn at saxophone ? I thought it might have been Johnny Seabolt but if Johnny wasn’t there when you arrived, Johnny must have replaced you. Was either Colton Coile or Steve Sutton who both played saxophone in 1968 there when you arrived? That still doesn’t help with the missing trumpet player unless it could have been Charlie Hughes or Ronnie Hicks.

As it relates to the first eight Pieces of Eight, I can only identify three saxophone players and one trumpet player (Caldwell, Fortson, Wrenn on saxophone and Helser on trumpet) Guitar, Carlie Barbour on guitar; Jim Bumgartner on bass and Erven Hicks on drums. (this was from a series of A&M promo photos sent to me by Mark Wrenn. If there was another player at trumpet (Jack), that would have made nine players.

But we are definitely missing a trumpet player because I have two people replacing Ken Helser when he left: Michael Abdallah on trumpet (which was incorrect) and Ronnie Hicks as lead vocalist… Since Michael did not play trumpet… it had to be someone else… most likely Jack. Wished I had met up with sooner and been able to get that right. Ronnie Hicks was the lead vocalist in December of 1968 but I am not sure when he came to the band or if he played an instrument. If he played trumpet, that would make sense but I am not sure because I was not able to locate Ronnie prior to publication. Jimmy Asip became lead vocalist in 1969 . There were no original POE in the band by the end of 1968. Still, it was still a great band and I enjoyed spending the time I spent with them.

Do you have any photos ? If so I’d love to put them on the blog.

Also it sounds like we both made similar decisions… After UGA, I was in the apparel business being a buyer for A.L. Zachry Company until opting for real estate in 1979.
Sounds like you made a very good decision , one that has resulted in a long marriage. Congratulations.

The Medallion Hawaiian trip in 1969 was eventful. Gerald Polk, Hack Bartley, Grainger Hines, Carroll Bledsoe and Charlie Webber were the five horns which the Medallions had for that trip. Even today the band uses the five man horn front which is particularly unique but with nine members.

Remember the 60s Medallions did not use a bass player as John McElrath handled bass from the keyboards.

I am going to clean all this up a bit and put it on the blog and will correct the band directory for the Pieces of Eight but home we can come up with the missing trumpet player.

Regards,

Greg

Greg,

You’re correct that it’s difficult to remember things so long ago. Michael Abdallah may have switched to trumpet after I left….. dunno….. but he definitely didn’t join the group until late ’68. I left shortly after Steve Caldwell – partly because I thought the group wasn’t the same – too many new faces (including mine) and the sound was beginning to decline along with the level of talent….. plus, the marijuana smoking was starting (names withheld to protect the guilty) and I wanted no part of it. Shortly after I left, the band sorta fell apart in late ’68 – not so much because the loss of myself was so great – they had just run out of up-front showmen with talent and music preferences were changing rapidly. Brent Fortson was an extremely talented saxophonist (never played with him) as was Mark Wrenn. Mark played a few times after I joined, but left soon after in early ’68.

Yes, the horn sections made both bands somewhat unique, but the idea was hardly original as they were patterned after James Brown, Otis Redding, Wayne Cochran’s “C.C Riders”, Impressions, Temptations and on and on. It was the horns that really made Motown and R&B in general in my opinion – but then, that’s coming from a horn fellow….. J

The recording session with Papa Don in Pensacola was a joke so far as I was concerned…. and an eye-opener for me. Earl Caldwell (Steve’s father and owner of the Red Rooster) had cut a deal with Don Shroeder and Bell Records to enter a management contract. Don Shroeder got Earl to sign a contract where Don got 10% of everything we earned for suggesting we would get a lot of studio time, multiple opportunities for recording material he supposedly had in line. When we arrived at the Pensacola studio, all of the sound track was already done by studio musicians and the only member of the POE on “I’d Pay The Price” was Steve Caldwell as lead vocalist. The rest of us sat and watched through the glass wall. Don pushed the song to the local charts, but dropped it quickly when it didn’t explode. That sort of stuff was at the heart of why the band broke up. If you remember, Earl had previously had his fingers in the Swingin’ Medallions and there was a fight over who owned the name – which led to Steve and Brent forming the POE with the Tassels. That suited Earl’s purposes just fine, because he wanted total control (and most of the money). Heck, he kept us booked at the Red Rooster nearly all summer so he could sell beer in Panama City and the only times we left were when we had an engagement that paid Earl more than he could make with us in PC. That whole summer, I saw nobody earn more than a weekly paycheck – no matter how much we were paid as a group – the whole band was Earl’s corporation and we were nothing more than salaried employees.

The best musician in the POE? Carlie Barbour – hands down. That guy could flat play a guitar, but more importantly, he knew music and could make a Gretsch sound better than anyone I’d ever heard. I can say that because with a mother that taught piano, a father who was a singer, a sister who played classical piano, my own 10 years of classical piano study and having played professionally in many bands since the age of 12 – to me, Carlie was a quiet fellow, but sneaky good – not particularly a showman, just damned talented. I remember he was accepted at Julliard School of Music, but I don’t know if he ever took advantage of it.

IIRC, when Mark left, that’s when Jack came into the band – on trumpet. If my memory is correct, we had Steve and myself on tenor and we used 2 trumpets, but I can’t remember the other trumpet player. Neither Colton Coile or Steve Sutton were there during my time and I don’t think I ever met either of them.

A.L. Zachry, eh? That’s too much – I began my legitimate career with the Arthur Winer Co. and sold mens trousers to Zachry’s, Muses, Rich’s and a few others around Atlanta and the Southeast before joining the Joseph & Feiss Co (Cricketeer) and eventually wound up in NYC as a partner in the manufacturing business as well as the old PVH retail stores (Juster Bros, Harris & Frank, Hamberger’s, Kennedy’s) before we sold the company to Hugo Boss in 1989. Small world.

As for photos, no – I have none…… and long ago threw out the old 45s as well. So, the only things I have from those days are the memories…. Thanks for bringing some back.

Kind regards,

Frank Rountree

Spontanes live at the Charlotte Coliseum (with Dave Clark Five) July 25, 1965,

2009-07-07T08:07:00.000-07:00

The above images of the Spontanes of Gastonia, North Carolina opening for the Dave Clark Five at the Charlotte Coliseum on July 25, 1965 are courtesy of Pete McKnight.

A recent email conversation with the granddaughter of Joe Ray McDowell follows:

Hey Greg,

I am the relative (granddaughter of Joe Ray McDowell) that contacted you a few years ago . Where is it possible to purchase a copy of this book ? I know my grandmother wants a copy as well as my mother?

Shannon

Hi Shannon

I would like to know more about Joe Ray. Could you put me in touch with your Grandmother? I assume she was Joe Ray's wife.

I wanted to know primarily if Joe Ray was the lead vocalist for the Five Jays who recorded a song in Atlanta for Bill Haney's Chant label. I assume that you are aware that the Spontanes and Joe Ray and the Spontanes have cuts on the Hey Baby Days of Beach Music series. The listing is shown at www.heybabydays.com Give me a couple of days and I will locate some books for you, your mother and grandmother. It's wonderful to see three generations that appreciate the same wonderful music. Thanks to Pete McKnight for connecting me back to you. I do remember your email back at least a couple of years ago asking about the availability of recordings of Joe Ray. I recall referring you to Ripete Records who licensed and produced the cuts that appear on the HBDBM
series. I am going to post your email and Pete's to the blog and maybe some additional sources will emerge.

On another note, I remember seeing the band perform in the late 60s at UGA and thought they were great, but then again, that seemed to be the norm for bands from NC.

Regards

Greg Haynes

Greg

I did get in touch with Ronnie Gittens prior to his death. My uncle (Joe Ray’s only son, Cary Dowell) took me to meet him and he gave me 3 copies of an old 45 that he had where Joe Ray was singing lead vocals.

I can ask my grandmother if she would like to talk to you, and we’ll see what we can do. I know she has been asking about the book in the past.
It would be wonderful for you to get us copies of the book, just let me know how much to send you for them and I will send you a check.

When I was making a scrap book for my mother a couple of years ago, I found some pictures of where he played as a Spontane and as a Five Jay. I believe his brother Jay was also in the band as well (The Five Jays, I mean).

Thanks for taking the time to respond to me. I have sent the pictures that Pete sent me to my mother and also my grandmother.

Shannon

Shannon,

Do you have the Five Jay recording ? If not, I'll try to get you a copy of the CD on which it appears. And thanks for all the information. Your Grandfather had a great voice and was quite an entertainer.

Regards,

Greg Haynes

I do not have the recording of the Five Jays, but I know my mother and Jay’s nephew (Duane Dowell) would be very interested.

Joe Ray and J.C. Dowell Jr. both were in the Five Jays. Mildred Dowell (both Joe’s and JC’s step-mother, but who raised both of them) recently passed away last week, and my mother’s cousin Duane Dowell was up here and they were talking about the Five Jays and trying to find some pictures.

Again, thank you for all your help.

Shannon

Memories of the Spontanes ? Joe Ray Dowell , Ronnie Gittens, James Bates and other members of this great North Carolina band ? drop us a note !

The Hey Baby Days of Beach Music autograph tour continues

2009-06-15T08:30:00.000-07:00

Proof that the drummer for the Original Pieces of Eight once had hair... Harvey " Irven" Hicks signs the books at the Coachman & Four reunion... photo courtesy of Grainger Hines

At the Coachman & Four Reunion, we added over twenty new autographs to the two books we have been carrying around since the book was released in 2006. One of the two books will be auctioned off for the benefit of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness- Georgia Chapter ) The other book was already auctioned in 2007 for the benefit of the Atlanta Study Hall. It received $1,000 at the SIOR Leadership Breakfast in Atlanta but at that time, the book only had about 70 signatures. Both books now have well over 200 autographs of musicians, performers and others pictured in the book and or were involved in the music scene of the Hey Baby Days. We want to get more signatures and will work toward that over the next couple of months before releasing the book for the auction. NAMI is a 501 C charity and as a result, certain tax deductions are allowable. We will furnish more information at the time the book is made available for the auction.

If you are in the book (photo or mentioned by name) contact us. If you have not signed the book, we’ll try to work a time and place over the next couple of months to get your “John Henry, or Jane Henry”

We will soon post the signatures that we have received to date.
Here are a few other Johns and Janes that we got this past weekend:

Vicky Skinner who was one of the Chantelles who traveled with the Aqua Lads Revue signed the book and gave us a copy of a CD with her new cut

Randy and Cindy Floyd sign the book. Billy Scott and Jimmy Campbell have signed it as well in another part of the book

Willie Tee Walker , lead singer for Burlington's Willie Tee & The Magnificents signed the book.

We added three additional Monzas to the list of autographers; Don Baker and Mike Griffin have signed as well on another page

Carlie Barbour, certainly a Man of Distinction signed as an original Pieces of Eight

Ada Eason, widow of Freddy Owens signed his 1967 In-Men Ltd. photo

The Man Loves Beach Music

Durwood Martin... an original Ember

Chris Biehler, President Forevermore Records produced the CD shown above; we failed to acknowledged that in the book; he graciously forgave us and gave us two new CD productions to boot !

We'll add a few more signatures that we obtained from the event soon.

Willie T & The Magnificents, Attractions, In_Men Ltd. Monzas, Footnotes, Men of Distinction All-Stars, Clifford Curry Billy Scott & Prophets

2009-06-14T11:25:00.000-07:00

Originals, and others lived up to Coachman & Four reunion expectations. It was Burlington North Carolina night at the Ocean Drive Beach Resort and Golf Club in North Myrtle, South Carolina as the bands who frequently played the old Coachman & Four Club in Bennettsville, South Carolina gathered for a reunion. Of course, there were bands and performers from throughout the Beach Music world but the Burlington crowd carried the day . In-Men Ltd. keyboard player Moose Smith sat at the boards for most of the Burlington bands who blurred the crowd with ex ordinary interchangeability. It you think that any of these performers have missed a beat since the Hey Baby Days, think again,

I could go and go about each of the groups that performed but rather than bore with a dictionary of superlatives, peruse the photos that we begin adding now and will continue adding until the dinner bell rings. Special thanks to Julian Fowler for his hospitality. Julian did a masterful job of putting this event together. Most covered songs:"Ain't No Big Thing", "Be Young Be Foolish Be Happy" "39-21-40 shape""Thank You John" (some things never change...nor should they)

Carlie Barbour (Pieces of Eight, Men of Distinction, others ) Big John Thompson (Monzas, Band of Oz,others)Ervin Hicks (Tassles, Pieces of Eight, Swingin' Medallions, others) Jackie Gore ( Embers, Legends of the Beach) Durwood Martin (Embers, Legends of The Beach, others )

Vicky Skinner ( Chantells / Aqua Lads Revue ) review has a current top Beach song

Ervin Hicks ( Tassles, Pieces of Eight, Swingin' Medallions ) Linda "Quig" Quinlin James (Monzas), and Greg

Quig and Mags reprise "For Your Precious Love"

Original Willie T. & Magnificents thanking John and others

Ada (widow of Freddy Owens- In-Men Ltd. ) Greg, Ward May (Monza) Bing Greeson (Monzas), and Clifford Curry (in back)

More event photos are coming here !

North Myrtle Beach proclaims itself the home of the shag... no arguments here

Judy's, a popular place to buy your shaggin' shoes

and there are many places to try them out !

In-Men Ltd. includes Trumpeters Howard Eaton and Garth Hutson who are members of the Attractions (also shown in photo on guitar is Attraction's guitarist, Keevin Smith substituting for Sonny Long who was unable to attend);on saxophone is Tommy Burgess and as always on keyboards, Moose Smith.

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The Footnotes featured an awesome horn section.

Billy Scott of Prophets reflects on years of old... while vocalist, Cindy Floyd, watches on

Vintge Posters will soon be available; note South Georgia's King David & The Slaves appearance with Jerry Butler

The Attractions featured an awesome horn section ( Seems like there were two bands playing at the same time but in different rooms that had awesome horn sections... many people wore out their shaggin' shoes traveling between the two)

The already nine piece Attractions band swells to twelve with three guests(Carlie Barbour, guitar; Johnny Cobb, vocalist, and Moose Smith, keyboards)

All I can report is this was a most incredible event; one for the ages !

Coachman & Four Reunion Line-Up

2009-06-11T08:47:00.000-07:00

Attractions appear at Coachman & Four Reunion Friday Night... "Zing, Went The Strings of My Heart"

Georgia Prophets AKA Billy Scott & The Prophets appear Saturday Midday

Catalinas appeared Thursday night

In-Men Ltd. appear Friday and Saturday night

Monzas with Quig and Sharon are back supported by The In-Men and Monzas from the past

Willie T & The Magnificents , the Magnificents appear Saturday Night

paste the following link in your browers to get the full line up on the Coachman and Four Reunion

http://www.beachmusiconline.com/04/coachman-four-reunion/

Here' the Lineup at the Ocean Drive Beach Resort and Golf Resort in North Myrtle Beach South Carolina

Wednesday Night: Avengers/Band of Oz

Last Night: Thursday

Catalinas : The Barkers, Earl Dawkins, Gary Brown

Friday Night June 12

The Attractions

Clifford "She Shot a Hole in My Soul" Curry

Big John Thompson

The In-Men Ltd.

The Monzas

The Footnotes

Saturday

mid day: The "Georgia" Prophets aka Billy Scott & The Prophets, "I Got The Fever"

Saturday Night:

Willie Tee & The Magnificients

Clifford Curry

The Originals

Big John Thompson

The Monzas

The In-Men Ltd.

The "Original Men of Distinction" Dunn, NC

The Men of Distinction, founded by the late great Harry Driver are composed of musicians that had previously been members of legendary Beach Bands, Gene Barbour & The Cavaliers, The Thymes, and others... they were well known in UGA 60s party circles

THis event is taking place in North Myrtle Beach South Carolina... so do not head to Athens Georgia thinking it is 1968 and it's a typical Saturday night on frat row.

Major 60s bands to relive days of Coachman & Four

2009-06-10T08:05:00.000-07:00

Footnotes appearing at Coachman & Four Reunion... backed many of the greats

Appearing at Coachman & Four Reunion: Clifford Curry

Hi Greg,

I received my book today in perfect condition. Thank you so very much for that piece of history. My wife went wild looking at all the bands, especially The Imperials Combo! Needless to say you have created a valuable document to view the bands of that era. The mid 1960 was the best time of my life. Thank you again for your great work.

Mickey Brafford

The Imperials Rock 'N Roll Combo"

ps. I had to sign it for my wife right away. She has taken it over!

Thanks Mickey,

I appreciate your contributions. Interestingly, there were a couple on non-Anthony Imperial bands, yours and the Imperial Show Band out of Jackson, Mississippi headed by Tim Whitsett. You can read about the Mississippi based band in chapter 16. Those were the best of times and music, Regards,

Greg

P.S. By the way, the "Imperial" is the same as the "Shag" in the Carolinas but has an entirely different meaning in the UK.

Hi Greg,

Oh yes, I'm aware of the Imperial names used by other bands. There are a couple of groups battling it out in court as we speak. As you may know the name "THE IMPERIALS" was used by a Christian gospel group quite successfully. However the original Imperials name was used by Little Anthony and the Imperials, and the name THE IMPERIALS was trademarked by Clarence Collins of that group. Clarence did give the Christian group permission to use the name in around 1964-65. As the older Christian singer started to phase out of music he gave his son permission to use the name, but things got kinda nasty in 2007. You can read the story here --> http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/februaryweb-only/109-43.0.html?start=1 As for our group "The Imperials Rock 'N Roll Combo" came about in 1962. This name was a spin off of my original band "Mickey And The Tech Raiders" Here is the story: First off the band was started, and created by yours truly. At the time I was attending The Danville Technical Institute in Danville, VA. studying Electronics Engineering Technology. One evening several students were crammed in Van Hunsucker's dorm room, which was located in the old castle building at DTI. We were singing and playing songs of that era (early 60's). After we finished singing and playing a guy came over to me and asked if he could bring his sax to school next weekend, and join in the fun. Of course I said sure. That Guy was Billy Gwaltney, and we hit it off right away. In the guys crammed into Van's dorm room were guitar players drummers and other musicians. The very next week Billy brought his sax to school and we played several pretty cool songs. Along with Billy was George (Tommy) Dunn, (guitar) Chris Colenda (VPI student) drummer. At that point in time VPI, Danville extension and DTI students used the same classrooms, and dorms. Of course the main campus of VPI was and still is in Blacksburg, VA. Anyway, the four of us Billy, Chris, Tommy, and yours truly decided to practice a few songs. Actually we sounded pretty good, and Billy and I wrote a song called "Raider Rock". Because we were students Billy and I decided to attend a "mixer" or two to meet some members of the opposite sex. While attending a Nursing School mixer I met two young ladies named Helen, and Tex. Helen was the head girl who arranged parties and dances for the Danville, VA School of Nursing. She asked me if I knew of any bands who would play cheap, as Thanksgiving break was drawing near, and she was trying to organize a dance and party. Of course I said, well girl you found the right guy, I know a band who will play VERY cheap. Who are they she quizzed.... Uhhhhh I stammered... "Mickey" I blurted out. Mickey Mouse she screamed, and we all laughed hysterically. By then several girls had gathered around, Nooooooo I corrected.... Mickey, and and.... YES she asked Go ON. Suddenly it popped in my head "Mickey and the Tech Raiders" Cooool she said, and who are these guys Tex asked. Is he the same Mickey as you??? Of course I lied. We had a few practice sessions, but had played no gigs....zero! Anyway Billy and I made a deal with Helen to play for the Thanksgiving dance and party. She agreed to pay us with homemade food and drinks. Oh yeah....food and drinks Billy chided, that'll pay the rent. Well...we gotta start somewhere...don't we? I must say the dance went very well, and everyone loved "Raider Rock". That very year Billy and I went to the DTI Christmas party with our dates, and someone had hired the "Lancers" from Lynchburg, VA. The dance was held at Glen Oak Country Club in Danville. We could feel the ground shaking as we walked toward the building. Billy and I looked at each other in utter disbelief as we entered the building. We were hypnotized by the fantastic music. I asked someone who they were, and the answer was Phil Vassar and the Lancers. They had new Fender gear, a super PA system, and we sounded like rank amateurs compared to them. I had never heard a bass guitar that shook the floor, and the singers were beyond fantastic. I vowed right then the Tech Raiders needed some new gear, and tons more practice! Fast forward a few years, and the band was enjoying a lot of success. We had hired a new drummer, Johnny Johnson who took over the booking duties, and handled many of the decisions. Johnny's Mom and Dad were fairly well off, and had a lot of influence in Danville. His Dad was Fire Chief in Danville, and he had a lot of pull with many people. Anyway, for some reason Johnny had decided the band name Mickey and the Tech Raiders was no longer appealing to many venues, such as college frat parties, and a Saturday afternoon TV show in Eastern NC. One sunny afternoon before practice in Johnny's parents basement, he announced we were going to change the bands name. We had a local hit record which was "Raider Rock" and it was getting regular play on WYPR in Danville, and many of the NC stations had picked it up, but Johnny said we're changing the band name anyway. Johnny put the band name change idea out, and no one objected except me. I said lets drop the "Mickey" and call ourselves "The Tech Raiders". Johnny said no, we need something connected to soul music, and would be accepted by more people. He then suggested we call ourselves The Imperials Rock 'N Roll Combo. Immediately one of the band guys asked what about "Little Anthony"? Johnny responded with "my Dad's lawyer has checked this name and said it wasn't connected to Little Anthony, so it's ok to use." Everyone except me agreed to use the new name, so that's how we became "The Imperials Rock 'N Roll Combo".

Boy Greg there is a LOT more to this story, but you get the idea I'm sure. By the way, my record Raider Rock is long gone, I don't even have one copy. One of my DTI classmates asked me last week if he could get a copy, and of course there are none.

Sincerely,
Mickey Brafford

Hey Greg! Terrific news to hear that the book has Sold Out!!! I hope you print some more.

I have a couple of small corrections for your band directory entry on the James Gang. Fred Guarino and I both rejoined Wilbur on the road again from summer 1969 to the James Gang's demise in 1970. The band (it's final version) consisted of Wilbur on vocals, Fred on drums, me (Jimmy Dean) on bass, and Marvin Taylor playing guitar.

Thanks. Much more success with future printings of the book!

Jimmy Dean

Greg

Hi Greg,
Thanks for the book. I am already half way through and it is really
entertaining and very well done. I am doing the CD playing that is directed on
the page as I go and I love it. Also, the CD's are great. I haven't heard some
of that music in years and there are some that I have actually never heard.
Great Stuff!
I want to make sure you got my check. It was # 8410 and dated 5-1-09. It did
not come through on my statement today so let me know if there is a problem. I
send it out the day after I made the order and your book arrived in one day!
Anyway, let me know about the check and many thanks for a fabulous book that
brings back so many memories.
Sincerely,
David Stanfill

David,

Thank you for you email and most importantly, I am pleased that you are
enjoying the book. Everyone seems to have a frame of reference for that period
of great music, bands and fun. Mine is an abridged version at 13 pounds but I
had a ton of fun and the memories that stay alive through the blog. As for the
check, I did recently deposit the check so it should clear soon. I am a lot
better at mailing the books than I am at depositing the checks I get for them.
Not sure what that says but enjoy the book; and especially the "party to end all
parties."

Regards,

Greg

Greg

Enjoyed your site very much! My name is Mike Moser, born and raised in Greensboro. I played bass for the Fabulous Five, The Manhattans, and various other groups in N.C.. Hung out at the Pavillion, Sonny's Pavillion Cherry Grove, and The Pad in S.C. in my teen years. In Greensboro, The Castaways, Tom-Tom Supper Club [hot place during the early Shag days], and the old Henry's Danceland [really where it all started in N.C.. Those were, as you know, very exciting days for music, the Shag, and live entertainment in general. Presently living in Tampa Florida and still playing regularly with the Satellites Band. Your site brought back some very good memories, keep up the good work, and my hat is off to you for your dedication and hard work. mm

Greg

UNBELIEVABLE!!! Just got my copy yesterday and stayed up half the night reading and listening. The book blew away my expectations. The amount of time and effort that must have gone into it will never be recovered in $’s. It surely was a labor of love. I wish I had a picture of this 62 year old guy last night sitting in his favorite chair with ear phones on reading the book, grinning from ear to ear with an occasional tear. Greg, I can’t tell you how much pleasure your book has given me in just one day. Although I have not lived there since I left for college, I grew up in Va. Beach and knew Bill Deal, Ammon. George Bell and Gene Johnson. We used to book all the bands for the fraternity parties thru Noah Biggs in Norfolk. Gene was not “ General “ then.. Just a Showman. I last saw Bill in August of the year he passed away. They played a benefit at the Cavalier in Va. Beach. We shared a few laughs but little did I know it would be our last ones. More than anyone I have ever known, Bill changed the least over the years. Success and fame did not change him a lick. A gentleman for all times. As they say” Thanks for the memories.”

Mike Malloy
Senior Vice President
ERA Strother Real Estate
www.erastrother.com
(910) 864-2325
mike.malloy@era.com

Hi Greg,

I had a great time browsing your site.

I worked with The Soulful Seven from Saluda, SC and with Julius Cobb and The Soul Messengers when I was a teenager living in Columbia, SC.
There may be some pix of TSS with Arthur Conley after a show. On a recent visit to my Mom in SC, she said she had JC's 45 "Excuse Me". I didn't play on that session. I believe it was Mark Williams (or Williamson). I joined the band right after the recording. I was amused to see those two bands on your site.

I went to a HS prom in 1971 only to hear The Columbians. Info on your site shows them playing '66-'69. I believe that Harry S. Dent Jr. Was playing organ/LH Bass for them at the time. I'll contact him to see if my memory is working.

I may be able to fill in some blanks regarding the Columbia, SC music scene from '69-'73. I repaired amps at Columbia Music Center and knew many of the working musicians in the area as well as the travelling groups.

Jeff Simpson
(now in Boston)

Jeff

I welcome any and all input. -I have always considered the Hey Baby Days to be a project, an evolving process where more will be added and corrections will be made. Thank you for your interest. Any photos that you have that can be used would be appreciated.

Regards

Greg

Phillip,

You are right…Coach is very deserving. There are some things in life that only happen once and I am so glad I made the trip to Dalton to see him honored in such a way.

Although I did not play in a band I do understand one thing….Beach Music is truly a religion for those who love it. And I am here to tell you “I Love Beach Music”. And if God had given me a voice…I’d be on stage in a heartbeat.

Mark your calendar for Memorial Day Sunday 2010….Unless something unforeseen happens we’ll be at Chateau Elan again next year.

I do remember some of the bands you mentioned. As a matter of fact the author of the book has a blog www.heybabydays.blogspot.com and is looking for more names of old bands from the 60’ and 70’s. I’ll forward your e-mail to Greg as well.

Rick Wagner
________________________________________
Rick,

It was good seeing you at Maloof’'s induction into the Hall of Fame. It was certainly a long time coming to a very deserving man.

As I had told you, I played in a band (bass guitar) back in high school. There were other St. Pius people involved who held the roles of lead singer (Greg Solomon) and back up singer (Jessie Prothro). When playing football became too demanding I had to give up playing in the band which I loved dearly but football meant more at the time. The band was known as The Newbreed Band and we went head to head back then with bands such as The Soul Jers, The Bushmen, The Soul Survivors, and The Uninhibited Limited. Some of these bands were mentioned in the Hey Hey Baby Days of Beachmusic book but for whatever reason, our band wasn’t. We were as prominent back then as any band playing soul and beach music.

I have missed playing in a band terribly. Two of my former band member’s play now in a band out of Greenville, SC called The Encore Band. These are professional people that play together on the weekends as time permits much like what you indicated the Pieces of Eight do.

I would like to get back into playing and seeing your email has spurred me to pursue this urge. It’s going to take me awhile to get back up to speed playing the bass but it’s not something that is totally out of reach.
My thought would possibly involve some possibility with Asip’s band on a limited basis if the occasion should arise. It’s the same music I played originally in many cases and which I have followed and continue to follow today.

I wonder if you would be kind enough to pass my email to Jimmy Asip. I know it’s a long shot but I must give it a try. You’d have to play in a band that plays this type of music to truly understand my passion and desire. If it were even for one o two songs that would be more than I could ever ask for. It’s certainly not about the money. I don’t need that. It’s all about getting on that stage and playing.

Hope to see you at another one of their concerts if I can find their schedule foe the remainder of the year or in the Fall at one of the Alumni gatherings at a football game.

Regards,

Phillip Welch
Class of ‘71
Captain of the 1970 Football Team

Hiya, Greg -

Can't believe it's taken me this long to come across the website for the book. Beach music was a big part of my life growing up in the Richmond area and traveling the Southeast (although somehow I never made it to Myrtle Beach).

Will keep my eye on the site and blog in hopes you'll garner enough interest for that second printing, unless you think there's any chance the Plan 9 stores would still have one. (My sister-in-law lives in Brandermill.)

Since the move to digital audio I've been dubbing a bunch of old radio airchecks when time permits. I'm attaching two small clips for your entertainment...the first is a custom jingle done for Steve Leonard's Sunday Night Beach Music Show on WEZS back in the early 80's, the other is Jackie Gore and The Embers' classic "I Love Budweiser" radio spot.

I have about forty hours of Steve's show from the period '83-'90 (different stations and venues) around here somewhere. When I get around to making that retrospective that's been on the back of my mind, I'll send you a copy.

Thanks for all your work on the Heeeey Baby Days project.

Regards,
Rob Barker
West Linn, Oregon

Rob,

Thanks for your email; last time I talked with Jim Bland he had four books left in his stores. If he can't help you then try Barnes and Nobles on line. We are taking the last of our books to the Coachman and Four reunion in NMB later this week. If you can't get the book from either of the above two, let me know and I will save one that I plan to take to this week's big reunion in SC.

Regards,

Greg

Greg

Barnes & Noble did the trick...free shipping, to boot!
I was listening to Ted Bell this morning and he was doing phoners with Clifford Curry, Linda Quinlan and several other performers about the Coachman & Four gig...sounds like it's going to be a great time - enjoy.

Hello Greg,

My name is Joe Wilson and I'm at Archie Jordan's house in GA. I really love your
book and I think you have a big hit. If you ever do an update I have even more
stories about our group (The Classics IV) and "The Allman Joys playing together
at the Neptune A-Go-Go in Daytona Beach. Anyway I want to buy your book. Where
can I buy it when I get home in Indiana? You can reach me after Sunday at my
email address below.

joeandleah@verizon.net

Thanks for the memories,
Joe Wilson

Georgia Prophets, the Monzas, the In-Men Ltd, Willie Tee & the Magnificents, the Catalinas, and the original Men of Distinction."LIVE" on stage at the

2009-06-09T03:45:00.000-07:00

Men of Distinction were popular at UGA as well as The Coachman & Four; some had appeared earlier as members of Gene Barbour & The Cavaliers

Coach and Four Reunion. It starts on June 10th; it is much more than a blast from the past. It's shaping up to be "The Party To End All Parties" if you know what I am talking about. All you need to do is read about it below in Fessa Hook's story. I know where I am headed Friday morning and I have rounded up some copies of the book which will be available for purchase. However, I am taking a couple of books I hope to get signed by some of the musicians most of whom are pictured in the book. I hope to have a number of photos for the blog beginning next Monday. I have sort of been on vacation from the blog. The real world of industrial real estate has attracted most of my attention... but this weekend I am headed to hear the sounds of authenic Carolina Beach Music featuring a lineup that will probably never be matched again.

Coachman and Four Club and Restaurant 45-Year Reunion

Fessa John Hook

The Coachman and Four Club and Resturant in Bennettsville was a beacon for Beach Music enthusiasts in the Golden Era from 1964 to 1974. It was more than the Temptations, the Four Tops, Smoky Robinson and the Miracles, Jr. Walker, the Tams, Jimmy Ruffin, Mary Wells and a host of other Beach Music all-stars. It was also the cradle and proving ground for dozens of bands who grew from regional obscurity to headliner status.
‘Beach Music’ at the time named a new genre of music in the Southeast. As the phrase became part of regional entertainment, high school and college kids were caught up in the magic of a culture that now spans generations.
An Atlanta road trip in the mid-60s triggered the inspiration which led the Wade R. Crow family to establish a new club for Marlboro county youth. Little did they know it would become an icon of the era as one of the exclusive venues for Rhythm & Blues performers that set the bar for future entertainment. The Coachman became one of the hottest live entertainment showcases in the Carolinas.
Both lanes of U.S. 15-401 were soon jammed with fans streaming from the north and south on weekends and holidays. As one of the pivotal centers of a Southern mini-tour for national and regional bands, the Coachman was a magnet to a generation that hungered for the unique experiences they found there and few other places.
From its origins as a drive-in movie, the original property added a skating rink, a restaurant and a dairy bar. Its metamorphoses into a club came from two inspirations during that mid 60s trip to Atlanta, when Wade Crow’s family saw the enormous excitement in a Go-Go Discotheque and had breakfast at the famous Atlanta Coach and Four Restaurant.
Modest renovation allowed for a stage where bands could be seen throughout the club and not bump their heads on the rink’s low ceiling. Bathrooms were added and a new dancehall was born, along with hundreds of stories still told today about the memories that have grown into the stuff of legend.
One measure of its popularity is the stories which remember that although it was only 10,800 square feet, it often took an hour to move from one end of the club to another. And moving they were, to the music of the Georgia Prophets, the Monzas, the In-Men Ltd, Willie Tee & the Magnificents, the Catalinas, and the original Men of Distinction.
Few other clubs achieved the status of the Coachman and Four. Although regional names like the Cellar in Charlotte, the Castaways and Jokers Three in Greensboro, the Embers Club in Raleigh, and the Beach Club at Myrtle Beach were big draws in their area, the Coachman and IV was central to both Carolinas drawing fans and musical talent from more than two hours away. During its heyday the club’s location between Charlotte, Raleigh, and Myrtle Beach, profited from groups booked in their respective dancehalls as well as entertainers at the fraternities and sororities of regional colleges and universities.
From the parking lot of the Coachman, one could see that Beach Music not only touched innumerable Carolinians, it shaped their musical lives forever. We will celebrate the Coachman’s pioneers, management, bands, bouncers, bartenders, romances, love affairs and the countless nostalgic memories which carry its legend.
The five-day June reunion (June 10 -1 4) comes 13 months after the demolition of the Coachman and IV Mecca of 60s Beach Music and forty-five years after it mushroomed to become a milestone of the Carolina Beach Music legacy. The story will continue on ... hope to see you there.

“Fessa” John Hook is director of the Endless Summer Network and author of “Shaggin’ In the Carolinas,” and “Beach Music Guide 1945-2006,” and historical consultant to the Coachman & Four Reunion committee.

I am on my way out the door to the Windy City but I am going to take my external drive and will post some photos used in the book of some of this week's line-up in Myrtle Beach. If you are looking for something special, grab you Bass Weejuns and head to the Mecca of the Beach Music world.

Casting Call for The Play, "The Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music", SC Beach Music Day book signing, and a lot more about the In-Men Ltd.

2009-05-04T09:20:00.000-07:00

above: In-Men Ltd. circa 1968

Casting Call for the play,

“The Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music”
Stage adaptation written by Nora Lott Haynes

Please send head shot and resume to:

Pyramid Worldwide Productions
155 Westridge Drive
Suite 108
McDonough, Georgia 30253

Or call for more information:

678-432-0780

Note: Scenes from Act One are posted at www.heybabydays.com

Hey Baby Days Italiano

Details coming soon on Francesco Calazzo radio show in
Casagiove, Italy featuring the music from Disk One & Two of “The Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music.”

We took a sabbatical from the blog and web site to catch up on some other matters. Hope to start posting again with more regularity.

Book Signing In Columbia, South Carolina May 16

We will be going back to Columbia, South Carolina for the third time for a book signing. We have not had a book signing in some time because we have sold out of new books in their original shrink wrap. The State Museum of South Carolina still has copies and we have been invited to South Carolina’s Beach Music Day on Saturday May 16 and will sign the books that they have left.

Where other “new” books can be found: (Sightings)

In addition to the State Museum, some Barnes & Nobles and Books-A-Million stores may have copies but check with the store before going. For instance, there is one copy available in Opelika, Alabama at the Books-A-Million store on Tiger Town, but none at the BAM at East Chase in Montgomery. There was one at the Barnes & Noble store across from Cumberland Mall in Atlanta but don’t know if any of these books at still available in those stores.

If you know any stores that have copies (in their original shrink wrap) let us know and we will post for those who are still inquiring and want a new copy. We only have used copies available which are available through ABE Books. (www.abebooks.com)

Comments on Book and the In-Men-Ltd.

Received your book as a Christmas present from my younger brother...have been going through it in bits and pieces and really enjoying it...brought back great memories...wanted to share a couple of things with you including a correction or two.

1. I was working for Curtom (Curtis Mayfield/Eddie Thomas) Records in 1968-1970 while I was a student at UNC Chapel Hill. Was a huge In-Men Ltd fan during the time Mickey Combs was singing lead. I was doing radio promotion for Curtom in NC and VA, and went to Chicago to the offices on South Stoney Island Avenue about once a month. Donny Hathaway was doing
some writing for Curtis at the time, and Jerry Butler and Major Lance were frequent office visitors.

Curtis loved Girl Watcher...thought the O'kaysions were black...and particularly like Jay of Jay and the Americans (I assume because he sung falsetto and covered some of Curtis' songs).

I recommended Curtis sign the In-Men...got them on a show together at the Cellar in Charlotte so Curtis could hear them...and the In-Men tore it up that night.

Then, I went with the In-Men into the Copeland Sound Studios...I think in G'boro but may have been Burlington...and they cut their entire set as if performing live. That's where the I'm Gonna Miss You cut came from. They also did their Rascals medley...Does Your Mama Know About Me...Don't Look Back...the Dione Warwick song "Don't Make Me Over," their intro medley
that included "I Thank You"...and assorted others...including "People." I'm guessing when I periodically see references to that...it also came from that session.

I've got a scratched and battered version of the acetate from that
session...but would love to get the digitalized version. Help me with that...glad to pay...can't find that CD anywhere.

You are correct, however, when you note that the recording was as a demo for Curtis.

Incidentally...Curtis provided them with the sheet music to I'm The One Who Loves You...the full orchestration...because that's the one he wanted them to cover. Not sure why it never happened...too bad.

2. When Sonny Long references playing with the Magnificent Men...he is incorrect in the location. It was actually at Marshall University in West Virginia...I went on that trip with them. The In-Men were in their white suits with pink ruffled shirts. Obviously that was before they became Peace Corps.

By the way...the In-Men did Stormy Weather during their set...but that was the only Mag Men song they covered.

Both bands performed well...and although I'm prejudiced...I think if it had been a battle the In-Men would have come out on top. But that close to the Mag Men's home base of Pennsylvania...they were the "big deal" that night.

3. I was a DJ in Rockingham...WAYN...during my high school days. Advertised Coachman & Four club often, as you can imagine. Used to get the groups coming through town for interviews and for promos...Drifters...O'Jays...Maurice Williams...etc. O'Jays did one for me that said "When we're not listening to Bill's Platter Chatter Show, Baby...we're asleep."

Used to interview Curtis a bit (before I went to work for him)...as well as Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff when the Intruders broke onto the scene.4. FYI...later (much later) in my career...I became president of the Cleveland Browns football team...1996-1998...when there was actually no team...my role was to build the new stadium...sell the franchise for the NFL...and get the team successfully back in town.

Former Brown running back Jim Brown became a great friend, and we produced a music video with original music (written by Michael Stanley and Bob Pellander of the Michael Stanley Band in Cleveland). We shot some in Cleveland...some in LA. Used Bobby Womack as lead singer...as well as Gerald Levert (Eddie of O'Jay's son). Also the Dramatics (What you See is What you Get), Ali Williams (later version of Temptations singer), Syretta
Wright (Stevie Wonder's ex-wife), Freda Payne, Lou Rawls, Clarence Clemons (E-Street Band) on sax, plus Drew Carey and a lot of ex Browns. Get me an address and I'll send it to you...without question the best sports team music...won a national Telly award...it's called "Here We Go Again" and has some vintage Browns footage in addition to the production video.

Will think of more and let you know.

Help me get clean version of the In-Men items and any other In-Men stuff you have ... reunion CD???...other.

Thanks.

Great work on the book. Not only informative...but layout TERRIFIC. Very
impressed.

Best regards,

Bill Futterer
Managing Member
Futterer Partners LLC/PSE-3

Bill

What great info ! I have been having a case of "writer's block" for the Hey Baby Days' blog but you have cured that with your email so expect for it to appear tomorrow. The recording that you reference has been made into an incredible medley by Tim Easton which I am sure we can get you a copy.

I had hoped it would have been release. It's top notch. By the way I am sending a copy of this to Sonny Long. Are you aware that they will be appearing at a reunion of the Coachman and Four. I hope to attend. Please continue with any other memories as this is the essence of the blog.

Regards
Greg Haynes

Greg

Not aware of the Coachman reunion, but please let me know when and where. Coincidentally, I just spoke to Wilson Howard about a business matter last week.

Also...go to my company website and click on the link for PSE Broadway. Be sure to let Sonny know about that as well. I think he'll remember me. Tell him I was the skinny kid with glasses who went to Carolina.

Incidentally, he may remember I set up a few old reel-to-reel recorders and taped the In-Men at the Keg in Salisbury...perhaps in summer of 1968...but may have been sooner than that.

I think I recall Sonny playing both guitar and drums, actually, but not sure about that.

As for Broadway, although most of my activities have been in the sports arena...with the Browns, other NFL items, and a great deal of NASCAR-related work...I'm producing my first Broadway musical...have hired Richard Frankel Productions as General Manager and co-Executive Producer...they did Smokey Joe's Cafe and teamed with Mel Brooks on The Producers and Young Frankenstein...

I've secured the underlying rights to the South African apartheid story from Zindzi Mandela...Nelson Mandela's daughter...and we've hired a writer/director and are currently working to retain our composer/lyricist.

I think Sonny...with his enjoyment of music...would get a kick out of that.

Feel free to forward my email address and this correspondence to him. I get to Charlotte periodically...my offices are in Raleigh and Phoenix...so maybe he and I could hook up at some point for lunch.

Meanwhile, I look forward to talking further and joining you at the
Coachman reunion. I've got a lot of friends who would attend...including some business partners of mine from Alabama who attended Pembroke 40 years ago.

Thanks for the email.

Bill Futterer
Managing Member
Futterer Partners LLC/PSE-3

4030 Wake Forest Road
Suite 300
Raleigh, NC 27609

Bill,

I don't have all the details of the reunion but hopefully someone will see this posting and fill in the blanks. Thanks for all the detail you provided. As you know, we dedicated a lot of ink in "The Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music" to the In-Men Ltd. and I think you know why. Unless you saw them perform back in the 60s, you might think that they were just another band. We know better. For them not to have really gotten out in the national main stream is best termed in Lucy's words, "The fickle finger of fate."

Regards,

Greg

P.S. I usually have a photo with a posting. If I can find the photo of the In-Men Ltd. in the white suits, I put it on.

Bill,

CDs are coming your way courtesy of Sonny Long. Here's the link to the information about the Coachman & Four reunion. Sounds like a great time with many bands from the golden age.

http://www.beachmusiconline.com/04/coachman-four-reunion/

High Interest in Ray Whitley

2009-04-06T15:44:00.000-07:00

Above image: From the "The Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music"
photo courtesy of Gene Lee click on image to enlarge

Many have emailed about Ray Whitley following yesterday's post. One of the greatest composers of the Hey Baby Days, Ray Whitley was responsible for some of the era's greatest songs (some of which were hits in other genres)i.e. provided there is a genre other than Beach Music.

"Dancing Mood" - originally recorded by the Tams, it's a classic in Reggae

"Be Young, Be Foolish Be Happy" (with J.R. Cobb) - a southern anthem

"Hey Girl, Don't Bother Me" - No 1 in England

"What Kind of Fool ( Do You Think I Am )"

"I've Been Hurt" one of the biggest songs of the party ; original Tams' but covered by many

"You Lied To Your Daddy"

"Laugh It Off"
AND MANY MORE...
"Too Much Fooling Around"

Want to comment about the music of Ray Whitley ? "Add a comment" by clicking on the Add A Comment link below, and review the ones posted above.

Pogo The Medallions Madras Madness and the plight of Ray Whitley

2009-04-05T07:12:00.000-07:00

above: Nora Marion receives a copy of "Madras and Madness" from Medallion Shawn McElrath to be given to Dad

Swingin' Medallions play in the Swamp for thousands at the Swampfest...while the City of Waycross's patron saint, Pogo, the possum philosopher looks on from the Water Tower. Pogo is credited with such quotes as:

"We Have Met The Enemy and he is us"

"Where ever you go, is where you are"

"We are surrounded by insurmountable opportunity."

I had planned to take my ninety year old father somewhere he had never been and that was to a concert featuring the Swingin’ Medallions in downtown Waycross. However, Saturday morning my father had a bout with dizziness we took him in to be checked out and after running a battery of testes, he seemed to be alright but we decided against the concert. Nora Marion and I went for a couple of hours and came away impressed with how well the band catered to a crowd of several thousand that represented every age group and race. The Medallions had music for everyone and I think they played every song on their latest CD, “,Madras and Madness.” Something that I had never seen the band do was to engage the very young that were attendance at the concert. The band invited on stage with them all the toddlers in attendance. Twenty or so took them up on the invitation and were soon rocking on stage with the band to “Brick House.” I am sure it was an experience the kids will never forget.

The band gave us a CD that we could give to Dad, presented above to Nora Marion by band member, Shawn McElrath. I’ll be interested in getting Dad’s review after he listens but I think he’ll enjoy many of the great cuts on the CD. We were grateful for the great service we got at Satilla Regional in Waycross for my father. A little disappointed that he didn’t get to see the band he had heard about for forty years but judging from the crowd’s reaction to the band, they’ll be back.

We end this posting on a bit of a downer but thought that we should share because maybe we can collectively do something about what you read below:

Hello to all, my name is Tom

I came across your blog through a google search for a man that I met recently. I'm involved with a ministry that brings food for the flesh and food for the soul through the word and music. At a homeless shelter in Gainesville, Ga I met this man playing guitar and singing to the other residents there. Through conversation I learned two things about him (other than being homeless). First he is very nearly totally deaf, and that his name is Ray Whitley; besides being an artist in his own right is author of many hits for such greats a the Tams, Billy Joe Royal, Tommy Roe, The Swing Medallions etc. Just thought you guys would want to know . I wish I knew how to post on your blog.

Peace
Tom

Note: I have responded to Tom and will be in touch with him over the few days. Hopefully, we will come up with some ideas that will help Ray. Ray Whitley gave us some of the greatest songs of our youth. Maybe we can give something back to Ray.

Come Go With Me To Long Island and the Dell-Vikings

2009-03-31T13:47:00.000-07:00

Greg & Nora with the Dell-Vikings

helpful hint: aways have a pocket comb available if you're to going to have your picture made with a famous band

Smooth... that's about the best way I can describe the Dell-Vikings. Nora and I saw them live in person this past Saturday night and even got our photos made with one of the most famous vocal groups of the Doo Wop era. Nora's first cousin, Kay Ullman of Sands Point, NY was honored for her tremendous contributions to the school district and we attended the gala which featured a performance by the masters of Doo Wop... HOWEVER, they did end their show with a Beach Music classic, "Higher & Higher" Jackie Wilson style. My guess is the Dell Vikings could have covered many more artists very well like the Drifters, Clovers, etc but why cover others when you have your own great hits including "Whispering Bells", "Come Go with Me", "The Jitterbug" and others. Like many groups from the bygone days, you wonder how many of the current Dell Vikings were original but most of the guys on the stage looked pretty authentic to me.. .

On Friday night, we saw "Jersey Boys" on Broadway. It's great and a must see for those who love the music of the 60s. I have now figured out why Buddy Buie didn't make any money when he had a show with the Four Seasons back in the 60s. He said they charged a lot and even with a big crowd, he said he did not do well. If the story in the play is true, the had to charge a lot so they could get out of hock for all the band leader's gambling debts. That sounds like something that could have easily happened back in the Hey Baby Days. The play inspired me to take another step in trying to get the play written by Nora Marion based on the book produced. We may have found a possibility. Stay tuned but read a few of the opening scenes from the play by clicking on the link below:

http://www.heybabydays.com/HBD_Play_Vol_1.pdf

Medallion Sax man Johnny Cox was a helleva player

2009-03-25T14:09:00.000-07:00

1968 Swingin' Medallion lineup: Front Row, Johnny Cox, saxophone; Jimbo Doares, guitar; and Joe Morris, drums; Back Row: Hack Bartley, saxophone; Grainger Hines, saxophone; John McElrath, keyboards; Charlie Webber, trumpet; and Carroll Bledsoe, trumpet

Medallions Johnny Cox and Hack Bartley at Medallion reunion in 1987

Medallions Perrin Gleaton, Johnny Cox and Freddy Pugh share memories in 2007

He was one helleva sax player! In a band known for horns, he stood out and now he joins Medallion band mates Steve Caldwell and Charlie Webber in the greatest horn section of them all! Johnny Cox died this past weekend in South Carolina. He had been suffering from lung cancer but his memory will be with us always. I’ll never forget the first time I saw him perform. It was in the Jacksonville Beach Coliseum, a venue long gone but forever etched in the memories of those who loved to see the bands of the Hey Baby Days in action. “Shotgun, git ‘em for they run “ “What Does It Take (To win your love)” “Hot Cha” Johnny was another Jr. Walker but don’t take what I say as gospel. Ask those who saw him perform. Yes! In a band where the “S” in Swingin’ stood for Saxophone, John Cox was nonpareil.

One of the stories that should have been in the book:

One of the mainstays of any Swingin’ Medallion shows is their presentation of Jr. Walker’s “Shotgun.” You know how it goes. The riveting song begins with a Medallion sax player playing the role of Jr. Walker. He blows the horn so hard that about halfway through, he doubles over on the floor, apparently passed out. Bandleader John McElrath asks “Is There a Doctor in The House?” Concern runs rampant as band members gather around trying to see if Jr. is going to make it. In the era of non-political correctness, there was always a Nurse Goodbody available to resuscitate the sprawling Junior. It seemed to always work because Jr. is so revived that he starts blowing the saxophone lying on his back and continues as he is pulled up off the floor by two band mates and held upside down still blowing the sax. It’s a Medallion trademark. It started way back with Brent Fortson and Freddy Pugh and continues today with Shawn McElrath. But Johnny Cox may be the only one of the Medallion sax players to ever be dropped during “Shotgun.” He was not just dropped to the stage but off the entire stage. It occurred at the Riverside Woman’s Club in Jacksonville, Florida. Johnny was smiling when he told me the story but I bet he wasn’t at the time as he missed several jobs as a result of the fall.

He apparently made a great recovery as he came back and continued to blow that horn from every angle with a great amount of passion and acumen.

Another ticket has been issued for “The Party to End All Parties” May Johnny Cox rest in peace.
Memorial Sevices:

Johnny Cox, original member of the Swingin' Medallions, who passed away
Saturday afternoon at 4:15pm at MUSC in Charleston. His body will be
cremated and there will be two memorial (celebration) services; one at Ocean
Drive Beach, and one in Johnny's hometown of Woodruff.

The two services to be held to celebrate Johnny's life are as follows:

Sunday, March 29, at 3:00pm, memorial services will be held at Lanford
Funeral Home Chapel on Main Street in Johnny's hometown of Woodruff, SC.

Sunday, April 05, at 11:30am, at The Pavilion at Ocean Drive Beach, A
memorial service will be conducted by Rev. Harold Beaver and Richard Carr.
After this service, everyone is invited next door to The O.D. Beach Club for
a celebration of Johnny's Life.

Would you believe there are “More Tempests in the Teapot?”

2009-03-21T07:07:00.000-07:00

Would you believe there are “More Tempests in the Teapot?”

Why not? There were eleven dozen bands from South Carolina in the 60s called the Villagers, bands of Nomads on virtually every corner and forget trying to identify the various bands of Checkmates.

And their was another band called the Tempests and the were from Sumter, South Carolina and they played “soul music” according to Warren Moise. Moise, a musician, producer songwriter is associated with some of Beach Music's most well known songs such as "Ocean Boulevard", "Super Summer", "On the Beach", "Carolina Girls" and others. He has promised us a narrative about the band. Additionally we discovered that Warren is now a practicing attorney in Charleston. He is in excellent company of other musicians of the Hey Baby Days who gave up the stage for the courtroom ( which is another type of stage) Here are a few of the musicians from back in the day that have a shingle hanging:

Warren Moise ( Tempests )

http://www.grimcab.com/attorneys.php?id=4

Brent Fortson (Swingin’ Medallions)

http://www.lawyers.com/South-Carolina/Greenville/Law-Office-of-H.-Brent-Fortson,-LLC-2006301-f.html

Carl Ellsworth (Counts)

http://localdirectory.wistv.com/Ellsworth+Carl+A+Atty.9.9160778p.home.html

Sylvan Wells (Nightcrawlers)

Tommy Ratchford (Soul-7/Laymen)

Jim Roark Laymen (aka Suzy Storm & The Laymen) is a Judge

Know others ? we’ll add.

The other Tempests bands from the South “that we know about” are also bands of great renown. The Tempests from Charlotte, North Carolina dangled on the edge of national breakout in the late 60s with their entry, “Would You Believe”. Two Tempests’ cuts can be found on the Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music series. “Love Have Mercy” is on Disk Two that comes with the book and “ A Place Where We Can Go” can be found on Disk Eight.

The Tempests from Augusta had performers who went on to play with other well know Beach Music bands. A tie in with Ronnie Milsap is possible but not confirmed.

No! Joe Walsh was not the lead singer for the James Gang; it was Wilbur Walton Jr. Check the directory of Wilbur Walton & The James Gang above. Now it’s very possible that there was another band called the James Gang with a lead singer by the name of Joe Walsh but I can guarantee you that it was not the same band that recorded the classic, “Georgia Pines.” (Please remember that that at the Hey Baby Days blog, we believe in levity)

As you can see, we need help with our band directories. In some cases these directories serve as a certain 60s band’s bands only legacy. If a band performed “My Girl”, “Midnight Hour”, or any of the greatest hits from The Hey Baby Days, we want to know about them, want them listed among the bands on the Bands page at the site. To the extent that we can get all of the names and instruments etc, we want that as well. (Look at the directory form for the type of information that we are seeking) By reviewing the directories included in this posting, you will notice varying degrees of completeness.

We will be updating and adding directories to the Bands page soon… we have been working on it for some time but we still have a ways to go. For instance, we’ll be adding Wilbur Walton’s latest effort, “Mr. Rosebud” to his listing of releases. We’ll be adding another band of Tempests and hopefully filling in blanks for the two Tempest bands listed above.

If you reading this and know someone who might help in filling in some blanks, please forward this posting along. We also revise, and correct existing directories.

Thanks to all who are supporting the Hey Baby Days

2009-03-18T14:49:00.000-07:00

Click on the images to enlarge

We are very gratified to hear almost daily from readers who are enjoying "The Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music." We started the blog because of the many and wonderful emails we were getting about the book. We were posting them on the "Comments From Readers" at the web site, www.heybabydays.com. Then our brilliant site webmaster said, "you should start a blog." And so we did ! The support continues to grow and if it continues, and the information flow continues, a Volume Two may become a reality. As to Volume One, a second printing is very possible. We'll keep you advised and when we get to a certain point in reservations, we'll send a note to China to start the presses.

The rare time that I was a Good Egg

2009-03-16T09:34:00.000-07:00

A proud possession signed by the Candymen in August of 1968; Robert Nix referred to me as a "A Good Egg." ( Some may disagree)

Greg,

Hope your doing good! I'd like too put you more in the loop of what Alison Heafner and our band are doing! It's pretty exciting and I think you would really dig it! I'll start sending you stuff this week. In a nutshell, we have been kicking some major butt with her music in France and Europe. They seem to have a musical brain and heart over there and that's a good thing! Robert Register has been kind of keeping up on what's going on with the French radio, so ask him what it's all about! Thanks for all you are doing for our Southern Art Bro'! Love what you do!!

Robert Nix

Roy Orbison's the Candymen
the Atlanta Rhythm Section, and the
Alison Heafner/Robert Nix Band..

Visit Alison Heafner's My space site as follows:

myspace.com/alisonheafner

Robert,

Great to hear from you. We would be proud to add to our postings more about Alison Heafner and the Robert Nix band. One of the objectives of the blog is to keep alive the great names of "our generation" e.g. the Candymen, Wilbur Walton and the James Gang, Webs, Classics IV, Tams , Swingin' Medallions, Sensational Epics, (Does this sound like a commercial for Bill Lowery Talent ?) We are especially happy to promote their efforts as members of that elite club, "The Never Gonna Give it Up Club." Seems like a lot of members of the club are still going strong: Randall Bramblett, the Catalinas , John Townsend, Embers, Wilbur Walton & The Strange Gang, Swingin' Medallions, Robert Nix, the Tams, General Johnson and Chairman of the Board, Chuck Leavell, Jerry Butler, Clifford Curry and on and on... And many of them are recording !

I have been very impressed that the Europeans are still into our music of the 60s and 70s. It's the best music ever. Roberto does an incredible job of getting his message out there. I just hope I am half as effective. More referrals come to www.heybabydays.com from Robert's blog that any other (non-search engine ) source.

Regards,

Greg

"A Good Egg"

Hi Greg,
I've been catching up on your blog messages. Have been busy reading your book and am about 2/3 the way through. I'm finding it very interesting. My two Swingin' Medallion CD's that I ordered are on their way to me. Do you know where I can get the ones that are "unavailable" on Amazon.com and through their web site? Off hand I can't remember all the names, but one is called (I believe) The Sun, The Sand, The Sea. I was very happy to receive a "thank you" email from Ms. Barbara Lewis today thanking my husband and me for flying all the way from Hawaii to Los Angeles to see her in concert. We met a professional photographer, Abran Rubiner, at the concert and asked him to email us if he got some good shots of her performing. He did, and I am attaching the three photos. (I think the lei we gave her really added to the pictures.) Ms. Lewis told me she has been on the road a lot and will be leaving for a performance in Portland, Oregan in a few days. I am so happy for her because I could tell that she absolutely loves to perform "live", and her voice is incredible. The night I met her I told her I wished she would record an album/CD of classic love songs. Aloha,
Ann

Ann,

Thanks for your e-mail. Glad you are so far along in the book. I would be interested in getting your comments after you have finished the last text chapter ( The Party To End All Parties)You always give me ideas for postings. Most of my blog postings come from emails I get such as today’s header about Alison Heafner and the Robert Nix band. I know you saw Robert (Nix) perform back in the 60s being from Dothan, He was a member of the musicians’ band, the Candymen. (a “musicians band is a band that other musicians would pay to see perform)I don't know if Barbara (Lewis) has a President of her fan club. If not , I nominate you ! Y'all sound like a good match. I was trying to think if there was another female that has as much impact on Beach Music as Barbara Lewis (back in the day) as her; and about the only others I could come up with are Janice Barnett, Linda Qunlin, and Sharon Hinshaw ( none of whom had anything in the Top Forty but were certainly worthy) Susan Trexler is another one with a wonderful voice and if you have never heard any of her music , you should ! I am not sure she was performing back in the Hey Baby Days and I would never ask ! There are some others such as the female vocalist for December's Children, Susy of Susy and the Layman, the Sandpipers (Pensacola),and others that will come to mind just after I send this back to you. There's also some great new talent out there to compliment those mentioned above such as Alison Heafner, Melissa Doolittle ( thanks for turning her on to me), Rhonda McDaniel, Terri Gore , and others The "Sun, Sand & Sea " album by the Medallions is one that I partnered with John McElrath on back in 1981. It featured several songs that John wrote back them including "Going To The Beach Club”, “Charlie McGruders” and covers by the 1981 Medallions of the Original “66 bands album cuts plus “Hey, Baby” of course. I might be able to help you out on “The Sun, Sand & The Sea.” The title cut was released as a single as well and was written by John. It like many of John’s compostions deserved a better fate.

Regards,Greg

Adding "I Don't Want To Lose You Baby" to the play list

2009-03-13T12:14:00.000-07:00

Images Above

"I Don't Want To Lose You Baby" written by John McElrath was released on Smash following "Double Shot" Both it and the flip side "Night Owl" have a certain party feel reminiscent of the 60s. "Night Owl" was a popular frat party song at LSU . The brothers in a fraternity way down yonder petitioned the Medallions ( who had discovered the party life of The Bayou) to record the song... which they did. It was written by B. Loveless and C. Vetter. C. Vetter aka Cyril Vetter ( drummer for Baton Rogue's Greek Fountains ) and Don Smith (drummer for Dick Holler's Holidays) scored bigger with "Double Shot."

Gene, ( Glee the DJ on Thursdays show)

I thought that your show last night was excellent. From the romping "black drawers" to the smooth, ice man, Jerry Butler; I enjoyed every tune. I got to hear most of it with just a little break to get some chow. It was good to "hear" Greg's voice as well. I think the article put up on the HBD site should surely arouse some interest in the show. It just seemed like a natural match up of audience interest.

I'll keep listening. Its easy to minimize the player and just go about whatever computer task you have, while enjoying the music. My machine is rigged with an Altec speaker system with a small sub woofer, so I get a pretty decent sound. Again, I enjoyed it; keep up the good picks.

Best,
John ( Bradley) Dynamic Consouls
Gene:

Ditto to John’s comments; I thought you have a good selection of music, blending classics with current Beach Music as well as infusing some non Beach Music. Part of the enjoyment to listening to a show like that is to get the small historical tidbits. Wasn’t Cliff Nobles that sang the vocals on the backside of “The Horse ?” Did Jackie Wilson end his shows with “Amen ?” Your audience can listen to the music and “Google” to find out.

Keep up the good work.

Regards,

Greg

Greg

My thanks to you kind sir! It was a pleasure having you participate in last night's show and I hope your schedule will allow you to listen again. You and John Bradley have both been a blessing to me. I sincerely appreciate the help in spreading the word and I hope I have as much success with my show as you have had with your book. The HBDBM was such gift to everyone who lived the life and loved the music of the 60's in the South! Thank you again for your devotion and writing of this book!

Gene Lee

Gene,

Thanks for your kind words about the book. I just got off the phone with John McElrath . I sent him the info on the blog so he’ll read about the show and will probably listen in next week as well. I’ll also remind him so if you got any copies of “I Don’t Want To Lose You Baby” or “Night Owl” you may want to cue them up for next Thursday’s show. lol. I kid John about the first one which has some very 60s lyrics but the song has great tempo.

Regards,

Greg

Thanks,

Greg. I'll check my collection. unfortunately...or maybe fortunately...it has grown to such proportions that I don't really know what I've got...lol. if at all possible.. I'll have them on. It would be great to have John join us! Thanks again.

Gene

Greg,

Which versions of these songs do I want? I find the "I Don't Want To Lose You Baby" by Chad & Jeremy ...and..."Night Owl" by Gerry Rafferty. Are these the songs you are referring to? Thanks for your help!

Gene

Gene,

According to John only about 7 or 8 were sold so it’s doubtful you have one and I am not giving up mine . lol

Greg

Greg

Do you have a means of sending me an mp3 file of the song?

G

Gene

I can probably do that and do you have last night's play list. I'd like to post it because I want HBDBM bloggers to see what they missed last night.

Regards,

Greg

Gene had a great song playlist last night as follows:

Playlist for Mar. 12,2009

Music Therapy on Our Generation Radio

1. Meet Me With Yo’ Black Drawers On (Gloria Hardiman)

2. Lay Around And Love On You ( Ray Charles)

3. Private Number(Judy Clay & William Bell)

4. One Foot Draggin’(Band of Oz)

5. I Love You 1,000 Times ( The Platters)

6. Only The Strong Survive ( Jerry Butler)

7. Let’s Get Loose (Clovers

8. Pour Your Little Heart Out (Drifters)

9. Rabbit Got The Gun (Holiday Band)

10. The Horse (Cliff Nobles)

11. Rainy Day Bells (Harlem Globetrotters)

12. Sea Cruise (Men of Distinction)

13. A Thousand Miles Away(……..)

14.Can I Change My Mind (Epics)

15. Goin Back To Louisana ( Delbert McClinton)

16.Doin The Shag (OC Smith)

17. Don’t Let The Green Grass Fool Ya (Kays)

18. He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother (Al Green)

19. I Want A Love I Can See (Angel Rissoff)

20. Give Me Some Sugar Baby (Miranda Louise)
21. Amen (Epics

22. Shake That Thang (Fantastic Shakers)

23. Savannah In The Rain (Griff)

24. The Doo Wop Song (Kays)

25.Too Late To Turn Back Now ( Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose)

26. Quiet Place ( Garnett Mims & The Enchanters)

27. I Go Crazy (Buddy Guy)

28. Never Ending Love For You (Delaney Bramlett)

29. Trickle, Trickle (Breeze Band)

30. Traces ( Dennis Yost & The Classics IV)

31.Lady Soul(Temptations)

32. This Magic Moment (Rick James)

33. Take Another Piece of My Heart (Deacon John & Jump Blues)

34. Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy (Tams)

34. Over The Rainbow (Band Of Oz)

35. Security (Otis Redding)

36.Together (Intruders)

36. When A Man Loves A Woman ( Percy Sledge)

37. Have I Told You Lately That I Love You (Rod Stewart)

If you like the kind of music listed above put next 7:00 PM next Thursday night on your calendar because DJ Glee will be spinning another
two hours of great grooves.

New Radio Program: A Sensational Epic

2009-03-11T10:47:00.000-07:00

Sensational Epics 1966 promo photo above
First recorded the classic "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy"
On HBDMB Disk One

Sensational Epics' Trumpeter Gene Lee is DJ GLee on Internet Radio Program

check it out this Thursday Night 7:00 PM EST (tune in instructions below)

Hey Greg,

The blog on the HBD site really seems to have been a success. New information and news is flowing in at a steady rate. I have made it a habit to swing by often to check for new entries. Apparently the blog was a great step in the evolution of the site.

In the last month or so I became aware of an Internet radio program, "Music Therapy." This airs from 7 to 9 PM each Thursday. The host is billed as DJ GLee, who in real life is Gene Lee. Gene, as you know, is the long time trumpet player for the Sensational Epics. From the photographic evidence on the HBD site the two of you were spotted together at the SC State Museum event; as Gene attempted to show you some "stage moves!"

As you might imagine, he is playing some fine music on his show and providing some interesting background on the tunes and artists. A bonus feature is a chat room on the site where you can interact with Gene and other listeners in real time. While he doesn't strictly confine his play list to "Beach Music," I think you would find all the selections agreeable. Of course, he is well qualified to present and comment on songs from the HBD, due to his long term, active involvement with that genre.

I wanted to let you know about it because you may enjoy giving it a listen. Also, I reasoned it may be something you would want to share on the HBD blog. If so, I am sure that you and Gene could provide an interesting blog entry; maybe with a couple historic Epics' photos and a blurb about the show.

I mentioned that I was going to let you know about his program and he asked me to give you a "hello" from him. You probably already have his email, but for convenience it’s glee69@bellsouth.net
He could give you a better idea of what he's up to with the show.

Greg, I hope you will enjoy this program. As always, I am continuing to be delighted with the success of your endeavor. At one time it felt like the HBD phenomenon was winding down, but it seems it was just changing gears. In my estimation it continues to be a great, worthwhile venture that has brought smiles to many people.

Best,

John (Bradley) Dynamic Consouls

John,

Thanks for your comments about HBD. As long as we keep getting the number of visits we get to the site and blog, we intend to keep it going… might even publish a supplement as we have gained quite a bit of additional information and photos. Thanks for your continued support.

Regarding the Event at the State Museum of SC, you have it backwards. I was actually showing Gene some stage moves. I am well known for my stage moves… just ask the Jesters or the Swingin’ Medallions. I will admit that the Epics were easier for me to train than others. LOL

I was aware that Gene Lee has an awesome record collection because he showed me a sample of it when I visited him in Columbia prior to the publication of the book. He made significant contributions to the book and I am pleased to hear he is undertaking such a project because I know he is very qualified to give “Our Generation” a two hour trip down memory lane. I just hope “Our Generation” has the technical savvy to follow the instructions you have given me that are listed below. My guess is that the program is worth asking a child or perhaps a grandchild to help you to “tune in.”

THIS THURSDAY NIGHT 7:00 P.M.- 9:00 P.M.

Tune In Instructions

Go to site www.ourgenerationradio.com

Click "listen live" button

These options are given - "Low Band, High Band and My Own"

Select, "My Own"

You will be given several options. Windows users, pick "WMP High Band"

Also in order to use the chat room you may have to log on using the FireFox browser.

After listening to show, drop us an email and tell us what you think.

Royal Peacock presents The Impressions, Jackie Ross & Wayne Logiudice

2009-03-07T10:34:00.000-08:00

Photo above taken by Linda Kaye Logiudice

Live From Atlanta's Bikini A-Go-Go during the Hey Baby Days: Wayne Logiudice & The Kommotions

left to right: Al Sheppard (sax, over Lynn's right shoulder), Lynn Kaye (Logiudice, prior to their marriage), Harry Hagan (trombone), bass player not recognized, (he was either a sub or someone sitting in), Emory Gordy Jr (over Wayne's shoulder), Wayne, and over Wayne's head, Betsy Green (dancer, one time girl friend of Rick Bear). I know the other dancer, but don't remember her name right now.

photos coutesy of Wayne & son. Linda Kaye Logiudice is deceased. Photo identications courtesy of Rick Bear

A backstage photo of the Wayne and the band was made at the Apollo Theatre in NYC in late 1965 early 1966 and appeared in Jet Magazine. We are looking for that one to add and any others that we find.

The following additional comments were added by Rick Bear:

A short aside: Wayne really liked Emory's (Gordy) guitar playing and Emory was a great music director. So Emory played guitar and directed the band and Barry Bailey played bass on all of Wayne's shows. Our show had many improvised stops and breaks, it was loose like most black R&B groups of that period, so a director was required. The band always did an instrumental set prior to the shows. Barry played guitar and Emory played bass on the instrumental sets. So as you see in the pic here, Emory is playing guitar.

Paul Goddard played with St John and the Cardinals at that time. If I remember correctly, he played guitar in that band. Often when Emory or Barry could not make a gig (when Barry B first started playing with us, he was still in Decatur High School.), I always called Paul first. He was living in Rome, GA then. I believe that he grew up in Rome. On occasion, when Dennis St John could not make a gig, I filled in for him. We kind of helped each other out. After the Kommotions broke up, Emory played with The Cardinals a lot. I know that they did a couple of Canadian tours as Roy Orbison's band. They played as the house band at Kitten's Korner on Peachtree during '66 and '67. Dennis and Emory moved to LA. in the late '60s around the same time. Dennis played drums for Neil Diamond for many years later on as did Emory Gordy. Two Roy Orbison bands, The Candymen and St John and The Cardinals combined and eventually became The Atlanta Rhythm Section.

Ciao, Rick

The above photo of Wayne "Logiudice" Gregory appears on a 1994 album of religious music produced and recorded by Wayne. We have the cassette and plan to listen to it as soon as we find the stored cassette player. We'll report back. It's understandable why Wayne changed his name. Back in the day, only a few people could spell it right the first time around.

I never doubted that Wayne Logiudice's name appeared on the marquee of the "Apollo of The South", the Royal Peacock . I was elated to get a scan today of that image along with Wayne live at Atlanta's Bikini A-Go-Go from back in the day. and a more recent photo of the hard to find blue-eyed soul brother.

Still a lot Kommotion and interest in Wayne Logiudice and the Kommotions

Based upon the number of total downloads of images posted at the blog, page 1 of the Wayne Logiudice and the Kommotions band’ directory is the overall number 1 downloaded item. Surprisingly page 2 of the directory which includes Wayne’s name is further down the list with less than half as many downloads. This tells us that if we post any more band directories, all the pages of the directory need to be on 1 PDF because most would think that all the information would be on a single page.
However in the last couple of days, images related to the Georgia prophets have been downloaded by many.

Here’s the top ten downloaded items:

Wayne Logiudice and the Kommotions
(page 1 of the band’s directory)

Billy Stewart and Charles Stafford
(at the Beach Club)

Billy, Barbara (Scott) & Billy Walker

Divots ( front page of magazine article)

Jokers Seven

Inside Back cover (of book)

Crowds Dig (the Swingin’ Medalllions)
1964 Newspaper article

Wayne Logiudice and the Kommotions
(page 2 of the band’s directory)

Live at The Old Hickory
(1965 photos Swingin’Medallions)

Original Georgia Prophets

More about Wayne

Artists Wayne Worked With:

Emory Gordy Jr.
Barry Bailey
John Ivey
Rick Bear
G.C. Coleman
Harold Kelling
Ray Whitley
Arthur Conley & Corvettes
Lee Moses
Julius High "Lots of Popa"
The Impressions Band
The Winstons

Added to list courtesy of Rick Bear:

Harry Hagan (Exceptional trombonist, Brenda Lee's bandleader and husband),
Ray Jarrell (one of Atlanta's best ever, reeds),
Al Sheppard (reeds),
John Fristo (guitar, in The River People),
Paul Goddard (guitar, bass, he filled in for Barry or Emory whenever we needed a sub), Charlie Dechant (presently reeds for Hall and Oates).

A couple of local Atlanta artists that deserve mention were:

Grover Mitchell (Baby, That's a Good Idea)
The Mighty Hannibal (recent Atlanta tribute, Creative Loafing) and
The Reverend Mule (comedian).

Appeared at these theatres:

Royal Peacock (Atlanta)
The Apollo (NYC)
The Pickens (Brooklyn)
The Regal (Chicago)
The Howard (Washington, D.C.)
The Purple Onion ( San Francisco)
Paramount Theater, Newark, NJ w/ Jackie Wilson and Marjie Hendricks (lead backup for Ray Charles)

Jammed with:

Jimi Hendrix
Slide Hampton Orchestra
Duane Allman & Allman Bros. Band
Joe Tex Band
Little Richard (at the Peacock),
Don Gardner and Dee Dee Ford (Smalls Paradise, Harlem

On The Same Show With:

Beach Boys
Jan & Dean
Paul Revere & The Raiders
Jeff Beck & The Yardbirds
Byrds
Peter & Gordon
Bo Diddley
Billy Joe RoyalTommy RoeMac Davis
Joe & Tommy South
Freddie Cannon
Travis Womack
Lovin' Spoonful
Ernie K Doe
Johnny Nash
Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions
Bobby Goldsboro
Otis Redding
Etta James
Rufus Thomas
Fantastic Four
Tommy Hunt
the Marvelettes
The Spinners
The Manhattans
Robert Parker
Jackie Wilson
Percy Sledge
Gene Chandler
Albert King
Wilson Pickett
Gladys Knight & The Pips
Pop Staples & The Staples Singers
Aretha Franklin
Jamo Thomas
Sam & Dave
Sam the Sham & The Pharohs
Jimmy Ruffin
David Ruffin
Billy Stewart

Added courtesy of Rick Bear
Young Rascals (NYC),
Gary US Bonds (Atlanta & Louisville, KY),
Hugh Jarrett (Jordanaires, many times),
Johnny Taylor (Apollo),
Don Covay & The Good Timers (Bikini A Go Go),
King Coleman (original Mashed Potatos),
Peg Leg Moffet (Emcee),
Gorgeous George (Emcee and singer),
John Lee Hooker (Bikini A Go Go),
Reuben Phillips Orchestra (houseband at Apollo),
Jimmy Castor Bunch (Harlem),
Charlie Persip (world famous jazz drummer),
Five Stairsteps (Apollo),
Willie Tee (Thank You John)
Tommy Roe at Roemans at the Bikini A Go Go

Record Companies

Amy Mali Bell
Phillips

T.V. Appearances

Up Beat Cleveland
also stations in:

New York
Atlanta
Philadelphia
Baltimore

Georgia Prophets' Barbara (Scott) Goudy passes away in Augusta

2009-03-04T06:11:00.000-08:00

Hi Greg –

I played with Barbara (Billy and Barbara Scott) in the original GA Prophets. Sadly she passed away last Sunday. During those early years with the group life was beautiful and she was an inspiration to us all and much fun to travel with and perform together. I'm also attaching a picture of a new grave marker for Roy Smith. He was buried in an old Augusta cemetery but with no marker. Some mutual friends, some in your book, recently got together and had one made and put in place. Alan Cooke headed up that effort.

Wishing you only the best,

Jimmy Campbell

I really like your book on Beach Music. It's a thrill for me to own it and be part of it.

Jimmy,

I really appreciate your sending me a note.

It’s timely as the news of Barbara’s death is the current posting at the Hey Baby Days blog. We started the blog because we felt it could be a forum to continue sharing memories of those great musical days and those bands like the Georgia Prophets who gave some many of us a lifetime of memories. The less enjoyable part is the occasional passing along of sadder news such as Barbara’s death. Many will certainly appreciate the thoughts you shared. It’s also sad to think a talent like Roy Smith would be buried in an unmarked grave. The “mutual” friends of Roy’s who got together to place the headstone depicted above have our admiration.

Regards,

Greg

Barbara J. Goudy "Big Mama" Pendleton

AUGUSTA, Ga. - Entered into rest Tuesday, March 3, 2009, Ms. Barbara J. "Big Mama" Goudy Pendleton, of Hillsinger Road. A memorial mass will be celebrated Saturday, March 7, 2009 at 10 a.m. at The Church of the Most Holy Trinity with Father Michael Lubinsky as celebrant. The family will receive friends this evening at the funeral home from 7-8 p.m. with a vigil for the deceased beginning at 7 p.m. with Father Michael Lubinsky officiating. Barbara Jean was educated in Augusta, Ga. at Lucy C. Laney High School. She was a long time faithful member of The Church of the Most Holy Trinity. She loved first God, her loving family and friends. Survivors are a loving and devoted daughter, Sonia (Vernon) D'Antignac, Sr., Hephzibah; two brothers, John O. (Paula) Goudy and Jerome N. Goudy, Augusta; a devoted sister, Portrice (Freddie) Rucker; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and friends. Friends may call 811 Spruce Street or W. H. Mays Mortuary, 1221 James Brown Boulevard, Augusta, Ga. 30901. (706) 722- 6401. Sign the guestbook at AugustaChronicle.com

Photos from the top:

The Original Georgia Prophets

Billy and Barbara on stage 1969

"Baby, baby baby ... please let me have your number."

Barbara Scott Goudy passed away yesterday in Augusta, Georgia . Her memory will remain perpetually in the minds and hearts of all lovers of Beach Music. Her voice appears on most all the hits of the Georgia Prophets, the legendary band that started in Augusta and frequented the clubs and frats of the Southeast in the 60s. While they may be called Prophets to some, they will always be known as the Georgia Prophets on this side of the river. Jerry McElveen wrote a wonderful story about the band, its beginning and rise to great popularity among fans of the R&B brand of music that Southerners refer to as Beach Music; we were indeed honored to publish his story in “The Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music.” Billy Scott made significant contributions to the book including the photo of he and Barbara above titled “Private Number” which must have been taken while he and Barbara were covering “William Bell & Judy Clay’s” Beach Music classic. Without question their rendition had to be great because it seemed that most everything the band did back in the day drew praise. While “I Got The Fever” is the song most associated with the band, their body of work is significant and continues today through Billy. Please refer to the band’s directory at www.heybabydays.com for a listing of the songs and the distinguished personnel that comprises the legacy of the band.

None was more distinguished than Barbara. She and Billy and the band set great examples for others as to how black and white Americans could work together for the love of music.

Doubling Double Shot and other key words of the Hey Baby Days

2009-03-03T09:07:00.000-08:00

above images:

Top: "Double Shot" originally released on the band's own For Sale label; the only place you could buy a copy with this label was at their shows; it's collectible, more so if you have a sleeve like the one above signed by members of the band that recorded the 1966 hit

Bottom: 1967 album which included the alternative version of "Double Shot" with the "worst morning after" instead of "hangover" The one above is priceless with signature of seven of the eight original members who recorded the song. Jimmy Perkins is the lone holdout but agreed to sign the album if I can meet his price. (kidding ... Where are you Jimmy ?)

Ann from Hawaii continues to ask some very interesting questions about the book and the Hey Baby Days...here's her latest:

Greg

Why were there two versions of Double Shot ("worst hangover I ever
had" and "worst morning after I ever had")? I cannot fine the "worst
morning" version anywhere to download - Amazon.com or Rhapsody. It is
on YouTube but I can't transfer the RealPlayer download to a CD. Do
you have the "worst morning" version. It's not the one on the CD in
Anthology re-issued in 1995 by Ripete. Was the "worst morning"
Version on the original 45? Just wondering why the mystery of the two
versions. I kept forgetting to ask you before now.
Aloha,
Ann

Ann,

Great question ! The only place the "'worst morning after' I've ever
had" appears is on the "Double Shot" album of 1967 which is in my
opinion is a very underrated album. It includes “ M.T.Y.L.T.T,” a song written by John McElrath which appears to be be the precursor of "More Today Than Yesterday" by the Spiral Starecase. The words “worst morn after” were dubbed in the album cut of “Double Shot” because "believe it or not" because the record company thought that the ""hangover" might inhibit album sales. incredible , stupid and probably a bad marketing move but what do I know, I was only 17 at the time.

Regards,

Greg

P.S, I am sending copies of this to the Swingin' Medallions who can
correct me if I am wrong.

Hi Greg,

Thanks for clearing that up. I went to their web site and found that I could buy the SM Anthology through them on eBay. I thought it was the same as the CD I got on Amazon.com through Ripete Records but was
surprised to find out there were some different songs on each one. But
on the one directly from the SM's, they have both versions of Double
Shot. So I ordered it too. While I was at it, I also ordered their
Generations CD. Did you figure out when the picture in your book was
made - top left of page 182 (Medallions and their fans)?

I am now going jogging to listen to the Swingin' Medallions on my iPod.
I ordered their new CD, Madras and Madness recently.

Aloha,

Ann

Ann,

The Swingin' Medallions I am sure appreciate your buying their CDs.

Regards,

Greg

Key Words of the Hey Baby Days

Since we began the blog back in November, we have become very interested in knowing our audience, where they're coming from and what got them to the blog. Overwhelmingly, most come to the blog because they have bought the book and have regularly kept up with the updates at the book's website: www.heybabydays.com
These are kindred souls who like me love to spend a little time living in the past.

However, every day we get dozens of blog visitors who get to the blog because they have used certain "key words" that they have inputted into a search engine such as Google or Yahoo which gives them a list of links that contain the key words and visit the blog by selecting the link. We have been fascinated at some of the orgins of visitors and their keywords. We would not consider it particularly interesting for someone from Atlanta to use the key word "Tams" to get to the blog but we have had some that we sort of expect and some that are a bit different. Here follows a composite of recent visitors by point or origin and the key words that got them to the blog:

(1.) first line Origin
(2.) second line Key Words

Pocohontas Iowa
old band from alabama named the rocking gibraltas

Durham, NC
Willie T.

Union City, New Jersey
Dennis Yost Last Concert

Denver, Colorado
Athens Rogues

Kobe Japan
DR.FEELGOOD & INTERNS

Crestview Florida
Perrin Gleaton

Augusta Georgia
Perrin Gleaton

Raleigh, North Carolina
In-Men, Ltd. Band

Silver Spring, maryland
Buddy Skipper Beach Music

Ljubuski, Federation Of Bosnia And Herzegovina,
Bosnia And Herzegovina
Swinging Medallions

Reidsville, North Carolina
gene and the team beats

Iron Station, North Carolina
Spontanes

Ashland, Virginia
Swinging Medallions Band

Norcross, Georgia Brent Fortson

Gadsden, Alabama
Dr. Feelgoods Gasden Alabama

Richmond, Virginia
39-21-Hey Baby

Alma, Arkansas
Swinging Medallions Double Shot

Rochester, New York
Barry Bailey Guitar Gear

Mulberry, Arkansas
Georgia Prophets

Defuniak Springs, Florida
Tyn Tymes

France
covers albums Billy Walker

Mount Holly, North Carolina
Master Sound Studios Atlanta, Georgia

Raleigh, North Carolina
magnificents band from burlington my space

Talladega, Alabama
the tyn times reunion gadsden

Enterprise, Alabama
wilbur walton jr biography

Thomastown, Kilkenny, Ireland
examples of business cards for bands

Talladega, Alabama
the mighty tams

Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan
CLIFFORD CURRY

Phoenix, Arizona
in the club calling hey baby

High Ridge, Missouri,
st. louis band bob kuban brass

Huntsville, Alabama
silly little girl tams

Rupert, West Virginia
athens rouges band

Naples, Florida, United States
thejestersband

Anaheim, California
blogspot "mark seven"

Erlanger, Kentucky
daytona in the 60s

Kennesaw, Georgia
apolloes atlanta

Fuzhou, Fujian, China
Dennie Yost & Classics

Des Plaines, Illinois
keyboard chords to "spooky" by the atlanta rhythm section

Oakland, California,
the winstons and color him father and blogspot

Decatur, Illinois
Harry Hagan trombone

Jefferson, North Carolina,
spontanes old band members

Wilmington, North Carolina
the bleus

Lawrencevelle, Georgia
Georgia State University buys Studio One

Greensboro, North Carolina,
the in-men ltd

Salemburg, North Carolina
hey i know you monzas

Thibodaux, Louisiana
lsu baby

Selby, York, United Kingdom
hey girl don,t bother me on you tube

Marietta, Georgia
marvin taylor

note: we will try and post addition keywords and the place of origin from time to time so check back at this posting" "Doubling Double Shot"

It was K-OTIC in Bama in the 60s

2009-03-01T15:20:00.000-08:00

Photos above:

The K-otics from Tallasee, Alabama was a popular band at the beach and at the frat houses. Read more about the band in the book and check out their band directory at www.heybabydays.com Did the K-Otics know more about "Charlena" than they're telling?

Aloha Ann finally meets Barabara Lewis

Records recorded by the K-Otics

Plus another remembrance of Misty Waters by a Soul-Jer

Hi Greg,

I started reading your book this week and am about to finish
Chapter 12. Boy, that Charlena really "got around". Is she still
around? I looked her up in the Index, but you didn't put her in
there. lol. Did that band, the K-Otics write the song, "Charlena"
about her?

Did you get my last email with the Barbara Lewis picture
attachment? When I first sent it, I typed your name wrong so I'm
hoping you got it when I sent it the second time, forwarding my original
email. Just wondering. Let me know.

I'm enjoying reading about the various bands. Your little
inclusions about Charlena make it "spicy". Or should I say "steamy"?.

Aloha,

Ann

Ann,

Read chapter 13 and then reply. But to answer your question about
Charlena still being around …

Regards,

Greg

Greg,

OMG. Little did I know that the next chapter would be so "juicy". I
stopped everything I was doing to finish Chapter 12 and read
Chapter 13. Do you think Charlena was at the Old Hickory when I was
there for the Jam Session with the Swingin' Medallions in 1964 or 1965 -
most likely 1965 but I can't remember for sure? Have you seen her since
the time in Chapter 13?

Aloha,
Ann

Ann

There are a few other references to her in the book but beginning
with Chapter 14, the remainder of the book is more or less an anthology.
The Party To End All Parties' chapter includes Charlena but perhaps her
finest hours are yet to come. Nora Marion , my dear wife, has written a
play based on the book. Charlena is the main star of the play.
A couple of excerpts can be found at the web site: www.heybabydays.com
Charlena may have actually been in P.C. at the time you were there.
I tried to find out from several musicians but for some reason, they are
very tight lipped. If we get the play off the ground, Charlena will
certainly become more visible.

"Oh, Charlena" was originally recorded by the Sevilles . It became a
very popular song in the gulf area particularly P.C. during that time
period. Most every band playing the strip covered the song and several
including the K-OTICS, Rubber Band, and the Rockin' Gibraltars and just
a few years ago, Cliff Ellis recorded a version as well. You'll probably
remember Cliff Ellis whose band The Villagers was a popular band in
that area in the 60s. The had a regional hit with the Tams' "Laugh It Off."
That's the vesrsion of that song I heard most as WAPE in JAX played it
constantly. It's Cliff's version of "Charlena" that appears on Disk One of
"The Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music." It's very doubtful that there's an
actual connection between the book's Charlena and the one presented by the
Sevilles. Coach Ellis said he didn't know any Charlena. I learned early in
life never to doubt a coach. Charlena was not that uncommonof a name in the
South back 50 years ago although I heard "Charlene used more often.
But you have to conclude that if Charlena were the real name of the
personality in the book, it would not have remained a mystery.

Regards,

Greg

Greg,

Very interesting. I did read the excerpts from your wife's play a
while back and wondered how you were coming in getting it produced.
I remember that Charlena was a very popular song in the 60's. So I
assume what you're saying is that the Charlena character really has
a different name in real life and you and the band members (and your
wife) are the ones who really know who she is. I was wondering if she
is aware that you have written the book and included your "escapades"
with her. I guess every high school had their "loose" women, mine
included (Dothan High). The year after I graduated, Dothan became
a little "Peyton Place" when it got out that my fresh out of college
English teacher was having an affair with one of the football players.
Gossip has it that it all began on spring break in P. C.

Aloha,

Ann,

Ann

Off to the movie so I'll try to be brief. I would never ask a lady her
age but I was wondering if you were in school with John Rainey Atkins or
any of the other musicians from Dothan. My sister in law went to elementary
school there, Miriam Jones. Regarding Charlena, I just hope she's happy.
I think she is. Before the end of the weekend, there will be a certain amount
of chaos on the blog.

Regards

Greg

Greg

My husband and I just returned from the movie (Slumdog Millionaire).
I didn't go to high school with any of the musicians, but my husband,
Larry, who graduated from DHS a year ahead of me in 1964 graduated
with Jimmy Dean of the James Gang. The James Gang with Wilbur Walton,
Jr.(who graduated several years before Larry and me) used to play at
our high school sorority dances. As a matter of fact, the Webs also
played at our dances; but Bobby Goldsboro was already on his way to
becoming famous by that time and wasn't with them any more. And of
course this was a few years before the Webs backed Roy Orbison when he
came to Dothan after firing his band and needed a backup band. And as
your book says, they practiced and practiced and practiced (but Buddy
Buie told Roy they went over the music a time or two). And of course they
became the famous Candymen. I can't remember if I told you or not, but
my parents owned the local diner/drive in restaurant; and Bobby used to
sit in the back booth playing his guitar all the time (according to my
mother). (I wasn't in high school when Bobby was.) I always wondered if
he composed any of his famous songs while sitting in that booth. I
graduated with Buddy Buie's brother, Jerry. That's about all the bits
and pieces I knew about the local Dothan bands. I do have one more
little bit of music trivia though. Do you remember the song, "I
Wouldn't Trade You For The World ?"It was written by a classmate, Danny
Kennedy, who graduated with my husband. He wrote it to his girlfriend, Patti,
and was devastated when she broke up with him. My husband can remember him
coming to our duplex apartment after we were married and singing it for him.
I guess he must have sold it. I always wondered what happened because the song
became famous for the Bachelors. I don't remember how high it went on
Billboard.

Oh, I don't mind telling you my age. I'm 62. I was 19 and my husband
had just turned 20 when we got married right after his sophomore year
in college. I got my PHT degree (putting hubby through). We lived in
Dothan, and he commuted to Troy State University while I worked. He
worked at the Rec. Center on the weekends and during the summers, he
was a lifeguard. I was pregnant with our daughter when he graduated
from Troy. I was a stay at home mom and after our daughter got married,
I became a wedding planner. I retired four years ago when my husband
got a job offer in Hawaii. We used to laugh because our friends who
went to college and had careers and then started their families, had
kids in grammar school when our daughter was graduating from college.
We were pretty young when we became empty nesters. My husband recently
told some friends that living in Hawaii is being on a long date. I've 0D
told friends it's almost like we're teenagers, dating again. It is
incredibly beautiful and very romantic here.

Did you get my email with the Barbara Lewis picture?

Aloha,

Ann

Ann,

We also went to see Slumdog Millionaie. I am just hoping the movie version of 'The Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music" will have the same type of emotional impact. Thanks for the detail about the Webs and James Gang. Not sure if Robert Register has anything about Bobby Goldsboro practicing guitar in the booth at the restaurant you reference. If you have never been to Robert's blog, you should because he covers bands from Alabama and in particular Dothan with a great deal of passion. ( If you do, then I'll correspond with you in a month or so because his blog has been going on for some time and is long and interesting.

The story in the book about how the Webs got ready to back Orbison was courtesy of Buddy Buie. I just hope it reads as well as Buddy related it me because I thought it was funny and a great perspective on those times.

"I wouldn't trade you for the world" was a major hit. I asked Nora if she had ever heard it and she said, "No." Then I found it on Youtube and started playing it and she, "oh , I know that" and the started singing the words.

I don't think I have a Barbara Lewis photo from you because if I did, it would have already been posted.

Regards,

Greg

Greg,
Here's the email that I don't think you got for some reason with the
attached picture of my husband and me with Barbara Lewis. I sent it to
you at your other email address.

Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music would make a great film. My husband was
telling me he read that the film subsidiary that made Slumdog
Millionaire was a low budget film maker. I noticed when they were
giving the credits at the beginning, it was a division of Warner
Brothers. I don't know how all that works, but maybe eventually your
book could be made into a film like that. Do you have any "Hollywood"
connections? The only one I have, I haven't even met yet - Tom Moffatt.
(A friend of ours is good friends with him. Tom put me in contact
with Barbara Lewis' manager to make arrangements to meet her.)

Yes, I subscribe to Robert Register's blog. His brother and my brother
were good friends. I sent an email to lots of friends about our trip to
LA to see Barbara Lewis in concert and included him (to his blog). And
he posted it.

I'm still curious about Charlena. Did you guys stay in touch? You
mentioned that you think she's happy. I figure she must be close to my
age and a grandmother by now - just like me. Boy, if she's a
grandmother, I hope her grandchildren don't find those "skeletons in
her closet" and also that her children didn't.

Aloha,
Ann

A note from a high school classmate

Greg,

I thought you would enjoy this.

One of our sons was in town this weekend with his girlfriend so we had family over to dinner. Your book is in our den and I told everyone the history behind it. Needless to say it was a big hit and generated a lot of trips down memory lane. You can be proud that you and Nora have not only preserved memories and history but reminded people of fun times in their lives.

Steve

Steve,

You certainly made my day; nothing gives me any more pleasure than hearing that the book brings a few smiles and a few laughs. I am indeed was very lucky to have a wife who didn't just support my passion but lent her perspective and humor to the book. To have the musicians give so much of their time, memories and memorabilia was more that I had hoped for; it was a journey which continues through the blog.

Best Regards

Greg

More About Misty Waters From a Soul-Jer

Greg,

I remember Misty Waters well and when I saw that old building last
night I thought NO NO until I read on. I went to dances there when I
was in high school and was thrilled to get to play there a few years later
with the SOUL-JERS. It was a skating rink and I believe they had a big pool
too.I was trying to recall other venues WQXI held dances at and these are
ones I remember. FUN TOWN was one as Rick recalled and another on the south
side was Jefferson Park community center. This was where we auditioned for WQXI.
They would let you play during the band's break to see if they could use you
for their circuit WQXI held dances at pretty much all the high schools around Atlanta The gyms were huge with big stages but the acoustics were terrible.
Most of the times we played Pat Hughes or Tony( the Tiger) Taylor would
introduce the band. Pat Hughes opened his own teen club about the time he became
our manager. It was called THE STINGRAY CLUB( he drove a red stingray )
I remember being over at his apt. going thru old albums trying to find
something we would want to record (none of us were writers). He was trying to
get us a recording contract . It doesn't seem like very long after that he
passed away. He had diabetes.Going back before this period we played a lot at
the COMIC BOOK CLUB on Peachtree @ Peachtree Battle shopping center. That's
where we were when the ATL mag came out. Wayne Logiudice would come in sometimes
and sing a couple of songs with us .I remember Emory Gordy and Barry Baily were known to be the best guitarists in town I was in awe of them. OH! I just recalled the Sunday dances at LAKE SPIVEY outside Jonesboro and seeing a band called
ST. JOHN and the CARDINALS with a bass player named PAUL GODDARD around 1965.
Also I have an article about Paul Drew wnen he left WQXI I will scan and get to you when I can.

Tony Wilcher

Tony,

Your note will cause a few to want to get in their cars this morning amd dial in Quixie in Dixie and 1966. Thanks for adding the places. We had Fun Town, Jefferson Park and the Comic Book Club listed. By the time I got to Atlanta, the Comic Book Club was no more . I think that location became Jimmy Orr's End Zone. I remember seeing the Medallions play there in 72 or 3. We did not list Lake Spivey or the Stingray Club. We'll get them on the next time around. I am still hoping someone will see the postings and come up with venue photos from back in the 60s.

Regards,

Greg

Mac Davis & The Zots at Misty Waters

2009-02-27T08:47:00.000-08:00

Is the above photo that of the famous Misty Waters, the venue that gave Mac Davis and the Zots their start ?

No, the photo above is of the venue where an 11-year old named Gram Connor walked backstage to the dressing room to talk with the singer who was performing that night. It was 1957 and the singer, Elvis Presley was just beginning to make his mark. Some time later Gram Connor became Gram Parsons .

However, we would love to have a photo of Misty Waters which was located on Candler Road in Atlanta, Georgia. If you read this and know someone who might have one, forward it on.

Greg

Pat Hughes made all of the arrangements for recording "The Little Black Egg". He also made the arrangements for the Yardbird gigs and recording at American studios. He acted as our manager and producer, even though we had no formal arrangement (I don't think) with him. He chose the song, The Little Black Egg. It was way out of sync with the types of stuff that we were playing, but he thought that it would be a good idea. He booked us on shows with many popular acts during that time period. Beach Boys, Paul Revere, Bo Diddley, The Byrds, Jan and Dean, Willie Tee, Jackie Wilson and more.
You know, I have seen no mention of bands at Misty Waters on the blog or in the book. It was one of the most prominent venues for R&R in Atlanta in the 50's and early 60's. We played there often appearing with Lovin' Spoonful (their first tour), John Lee Hooker, Joe South and many more. I remember seeing Mac Davis and the Zots, Bobby "Harmonica" Jones, Felton Jarvis(of RCA A&R fame, an Atlanta boy), Tommy Roe, Ray Stephens etc. there. I am surprised that more people have not mentioned it.
An aside, our band was "The Kommotions", plural with an "s".
Another place that we played often was Fun Town on Stewart Ave.
Thanks, Rick

Rick,

Thanks for your continued input. We list Misty Waters in the book on page 483 as one of the Atlanta venues that featured bands of the era that played “the Music.” Our first reference to the place came from Roxy, a band that played there on occasion.

Your email adds to the richness that we have sought from the very beginning. Prior to the book’s publication and the happenstance discovery of your email address, we did not have a go to person that could give us the detailed information that you just did above. We were aware of remotes from Misty Waters by WQXI but much of the other information that is now on the Internet was not there until well after the book was published. However I did read Zell Miller’s outstanding book, “They Heard Georgia Singing “ but missed the reference to the place in reference to Mac Davis. Most of the newer information about Misty Waters is references in blogs from people who considered it one of their favorite places for music. Most of the references are about Mac Davis, certainly one of the greats from Georgia. However, it’s the lesser known that we have been most interested in like the Swinging Apolloes who played there as well as opened for the Rolling Stones in Statesboro in 1965. We did not overlook that in the book but have never been able to find much about them until recently in conjunction with of all things, “Misty Waters” I found a site on the Internet which includes some very interesting tidbits. Also another site has a blurb about Misty Waters. The site is also a great name for a band: The Soul Purpose Band.

One of the more interesting items that we came across even before the book was published was an eBay item which included a WQXI radio ad for a concert at Misty Waters. That is an ad I would like to hear. Maybe it was an ad for the Kommotions. Would that be a hoot?

Actual Broadcast Recording (Aircheck)
Station: WQXI - Atlanta, Georgia
DJ: Tony "The Tiger" Taylor
Date: April 1,1965

24. Concert Promotion: Be at Misty Waters for the show tomorrow night--Friday night!

Other Internet Blurb;
WQXI Played country music in very early '60s. It was a great rock station in the '60s, complete with background reverb. Did live remotes from Misty Waters Roller Rink with appearances by local stars like Ray Stevens, Mac Davis, and Brenda Lee. Quixie was home to Tony "The Tiger" Taylor, Patrick Aloyisius Hughes, Tom & Paul, The Tiger Twins, Mike Shannon, Paul Drew (submarine races at Piedmont Park) and many more.

Here is an interesting factoid from a high school web site:
We did lose a cornerstone of that community where some now famous personalities, Mac Davis for one, got their start - that being Misty Waters. One member of our class does have possession of the ol' Misty Waters Juke Box though.

Finally, I was not aware that it was a skating rink or that it was on Candler Road, I knew it was in that area but did not know the specific location. We call it a country club when we list in as one of the 20 Atlanta party location of the 60s. That’s a stretch. Now, if Wayne L. would only send that photo of him teaching a young lady to dance at the Bikini-A-Go-Go club in Atlanta, we’d be set.

Regards,

Greg

Your Directions to the Bands of The Hey Baby Days

2009-02-25T12:42:00.000-08:00

CLICK ON IMAGES BELOW TO ENLARGE

The Kommotions Directory has been removed to make some revisions; will repost soon !

Click on the images above to enlarge. The top image is that of the inside back cover of "The Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music." The numbered CDs are audio CDs and they contain 46 different cuts by bands featured in the book. Go to www.heybabydays BAND PAGE to see the titles and the listing of bands. The CD in the middle is a band directory CD which list names of bands by state with a file for each listing the members of the band, their instruments , favorite venues of the bands and a listing of their releases. If you bought the book and have been trying to play the band directory CD thinking you would hear some great music , you'll be disappointed. However, it you load it on your computer, you should be able to open the various PDF files of bands included in the state by state folders. By clicking on the name of the band you should be able to see a file similar to the one above. This is currently the same file as you see at the site. That will changing soon as we update and add band directories.

We have been updating the band directories and will be adding revisions, additions as well as new band directories. If your band is in the system and there are any mistakes, let us know so we can make the changes. As mentioned, we'll be adding new directories such as Wayne Logiudice and Kommotion which is listed under Georgia but there is presently not a directory. We will be adding the Wayne Logiudice directory that you see above but probably with some changes after members of the band have seen the directory that is shown above.

Divots, Jokers Seven & Night Shadows

2009-02-24T11:22:00.000-08:00

Wow! The cup indeed runneth over as Atlanta musician John Ivey opened some doors and in came some great information about the referenced bands, coming all from musicians who played with the Divots, The Jokers Seven and The Night Shadows.

I was very lucky to find Rick Bear on the Internet. He led me to Wayne Logiudice and to John Ivey. All three played together in Wayne Logidice and Kommotion. We still have not finished our conversations with Wayne, so stay tuned. As for John Ivey, if you want information on bands and musicians in Atlanta (probably for all decades) he’s the go to person. If he doesn’t have the answers, he can probably direct you to the person who does.

Thanks to John, we received some input from Aleck Janoulis about the legendary Atlanta band, the Night Shadows. Additionally, we learned that we missed another "band of Jokers" having previously apologized for missing The Jokers Wild of Richmond, Virginia. John showed his copy of the book to Jim Woodford and as a result, we got an email from Jim with the photo of The Jokers Seven of Greenville, North Carolina. Then another email came from Mike Webber who was referred by Jim. Mike is a former Divot of Roanoke Virginia who went on to play bass for the Judds and other big time names. We did not however miss the Divots in the book. They were a long running band that amassed quite an outstanding reputation through the years.
The photo above of the Divots above is used in a great story written by John Pugh which appears in "The Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music" courtesy of The Roanoker Magazine.

Mike’s email sums up the feeling of many musicians from back in that era. Also, Jim Woodford has furnished us a contact for the Royal Kings of Roanoke, another glaring omission from the book.

The Divots

Dear Greg

My name is Mike Webber and I was the bass player in the Divots from, oh gosh let me think. I would say somewhere from 1964 to around 1966, maybe even in 1963 or so. However, I do have a photo of the band. The organist was my brother Bobby Webber, who, unfortunately died 2 years ago in Va. Beach from lung and brain cancer. I am the oldest of our siblings and at the age of 63 in March. There were a few different band members as time went by, but for the most part a few regulars. Jimmy Lowe, was one of the sax players. Wayne Johnson was a great vocalist. Orlando Smith was a wonderful organist, but that was somewhat before my time there. Perry Calligan was the guitarist from the get go I would say, followed later by his brother Larry. My brother Bobby was the organist after Orlando. Sonny Womack was a bass player and singer at different times as was Don East, who I believe was the original bassist. It was a wonderful time and I've probably not had as much fun in my entire life as I did in those days. Gee, we were all so young, talented, interested in what we were doing and willing to give up anything in order to pursue that endeavor, and we did! The singer in the photo I'm sending you is Bugs Hughes.. I always love that guy, and haven't seen him in maybe 40 years or more. Good grief. Anyway, that band was very good and went to back up some major artists, such as...Dionne Warwick, The Four Tops, Rufus Thomas, The Shirelles, Tom Jones, The Tams, and more than this old mind cannot recall. If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to write me back, as I really love talking about those days. The beginning of rhythm and blues, soul, and all that good stuff.

Thanks,

Mike Webber

Mike,

Thanks for your email. The Divots was a highly regarded band by those who count most, other musicians. During my research for the book beginning in 2000, I kept hearing from members of various bands that the Divots were an absolute must for the book. I write about the difficulty in finding a source in the book. After calling every Richard or Dick Hodges in Roanoke and mostly leaving voice mails, , I finally got a return call from a message I finally was able to hook up with Dick Hodges, the long time manager of the Divots and he provided me with a lot of information, most of which had already been published in the Roanoker Magazine. (I am afraid that Dick may be deceased as I tried to mail him a book and it came back)

I was able to secure permission to reprint the story written by John Pugh in the book. John's story about the band is excellent. I supplemented it with additional information I was able to obtain from Dick and Greg Slusher. I did not fare as well with the Royal Kings although I tried several sources. I think I have one now thanks to contacts obtained through John Ivey. I was not able to obtain photos that I could use as I only had a copy of the article. If you have other photos we could post, that would be great.
It is very sad that the Divots never recorded as they no doubt had the talent. Thanks for sharing the above with me and please respond with anything else you would like to share about those incredible times and that incredible band, the Divots.

Regards,

Greg Haynes

The Jokers Seven

Greg,

I saw your book over at John's house and was fully amazed; many of my old friends are in it. It's a wonderful book.

Attached is pic of The Jokers Seven of Greenville, NC -- 60s band. Most of us went to East Carolina University. We played R&B, worked mainly in NC, college parties and beach parties. Backed up major acts like The Dixie Cups, The Drifters, etc. I'm the one on bottom left-hand side of (guitar player) of the pic attached

"Hit Attractions" also booked The Divots out of Roanoke, VA. Hit Attractions made a promo pic of The Divots in the exact same style as the J7 pic attached. You can get a copy of The Divots' pic from my close friend/musician Mike Webber, originally from Roanoke, VA; bass player for the Divots. He moved to Nashville and became a star with the Judds and other hit groups, as you point out in your book. Mike's email is bossa2@aol.com

Ed Watkins is a wealth of info about the Jokers Seven. He was our band leader; in the middle of the three people on the right-hand side of the attached. Although Baron Hignite (front and center in the attached pic) referred to the J7 as his band . I saw in your book another Greenville NC group, with a musician named "Hignite"; don't know if they're related.

Contact Ed ewatkins@wj-inc.com get the details about the J7; then you can me what he says and I'll be glad to fill in any additional information I know.

Peter Harholdt, my good friend/musician from Roanoke, VA and in the 60s bands can help you out regarding the Royal Kings. I spoke with him by phone few days ago; told him about your book. He can provide the info you're seeking about the Kings. His email is harholdt@mindspring.com

I'm Cc'ing this e-mail to Mike, Ed, and Peter, and to John Ivey too.

best regards,

Jim Woodford, Ph.D.
(423) 821-1146

The Night Shadows

Aleck:

John Ivey gave me your information and I thought I had tried to contact you but maybe not. I am interested in knowing more about the Night Shadows (with Little Phil etc) especially the early days when the band was playing more R&B, i.e. “Money etc.” The band is very well known from those days and sorry we did not get more info before we published The Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music but we are constantly adding and may append the first volume.

Regards,

Greg Haynes

Greg

The Night Shadows started out primarily as an R&B group in the late 1950s, 7 years before Little Phil joined the group. We were originally called The Kavaliers in 1957 and eventually changed the name to the Night Shadows in 1959. Since the band started in my basement garage and I started writing original tunes, we are considered the first "garage band" by most collectors. We preempted other garage bands by 6 years (pre - Beatles), so a record company in Spain released an album and CD titled "The Patriarchs of Garage Rock" in 2007. (Attachment) (see above)
You can read more about the band and view some old pics by clicking on:
http://myspace.com/thenightshadows
Also, click on the CDs for additionally info.

Aleck

Aleck,

Thank you and I hope that others reading this will click on the link above and learn more about an Atlanta band that achieved a great amount of popularity in the day. Maybe they’ll also buy the CDs.

Regards,

Greg

More Bits & Pieces from the writer for the Athens Rogues

2009-02-22T15:31:00.000-08:00

Above: Bits & Pieces (circa 1970) did a great cover of Motherlode's "When I Die". Bits & Pieces had previously been the Pieces of Eight. Many of the players above are now performing as ...The Pieces of Eight. Confusing ? The mystery in unravelled in "The Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music." While they were the Bits & Pieces, they had a great run, and were never in the boondocks, except when they backed Billy Joe Royal which was frequent. It has been said that the "high notes" that you hear on the recording of "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy" by the Tams are those of Billy Joe.

Copy the link below and paste in your window above and hear the song written by Gerry Fleming keyboardist for the Athens Rogues. The song was recorded by the Athens Rogues in Nashville and includes one of Elvis’ back up singers . We’ll let you know when we find out . Hugh Jarrett ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aitBPRwRrf4&feature=related

Greg

So, thanks for responding to my Email. I'm amazed at the interest in the Athens Rogues. I'm only sad that Pete (Drake) isn't around to see the long-overdue attention. He believed in the group and the music from the first time he heard the opening bars of the horn-lick all the way to the time when we all decided that our effort for the "mainstream" was at an end. I remember as though it was yesterday when John, Jimmy, Dennis and I sat down with him in his office at Window Music, on Music Row in Nashville on that miserably cold night. Pete leaned back in his chair, propped his feet up on his desk and punched the button on his reel-to-reel to start the tape we had brought from Project 70 Sound in Athens (the rehearsal and demo place we had been provided by Jerry Connel and John Harrold). "So you boys are Georgia Bulldogs," was his comment as the reels began to spin.

About that time, the horn line began, along with the back-up vocals. He made it through only the opening fill-line and stopped the machine. We collectively thought, "Uh-oh," expecting the same response we'd gotten from everybody else on the row that day. Instead, he said, "This material belong to you?" Then he started the machine again and not another word was said until about ten or fifteen long seconds after the song ended. Then he said, "You boys want to make a record?"

If Pete was alive today to see the love that many people have shown
for the work we mutually put in, he would say, "What'd I tell you?"
He was a great, great guy. He and his wife, Tina, opened their doors
to us as though we were family. Which brings me to a couple of
points.

First, I should mention that one of Elvis's back-up singers at the
time appears with our back-ups on the record. For the life of me, I
cannot recall his name. I'll do what I can to check on that. The guy
was at the sessions we did at Starday Studios in Nashville. He was
close to Pete and intrigued by our band. At a moment for decision,
Pete was balking at the prospect of having to ping-pong a track to add a third voice to the harmonies (which we had done on the demos from P-70) and had said he hated to lose the quality inherent in the process of bouncing the tracks (this was all four-track work in those days). I was in the booth as the decision was being made and the guy turned to me and said, "I can sing a part." To which Pete laughed and said, "I can't afford you!" So the guy smiled and said, "So, don't pay me. I like these guys." So, he's on the tracks, and I'll do what I can to find out which of Elvis's singers he was.

Regarding the availability of our 45 vinyls, there actually MAY be
hope. You know, when the records were being pressed, Neil Merritt,
STOP's promotions man, sent all of us a bundle of the the first ones
out the door at the same time he submitted the radio copies to
selected DJs. Honestly, I had about two hundred or more just myself!
We more-or-less gave them away like candy, but there is a possibility that around a hundred of them still exist and I'll search hard to find if this is indeed true. So...keep faith.

As far as other Athens Rogues recordings, there were quite a few on 1" or 2" tape that were never mastered, including one that came out of the Nashville sessions called "Extra Soul Perception", which was an instrumental and, frankly, a step forward in our developing sound. Additionally, there are (or were) a stack of tapes we did at P-70 as well as a session we did at (of all places) the studio at the journalism school at UGA and at least one live performance that the journalism students did of us of a date at Memorial Hall on the UGA
campus in '68. So, with the right detective work...who knows? One
thing about academic facilities like UGA: They tend to archive better
than most of us.

Another point I find of interest to a lot of people out there. The
organ I used on the cuts was not a Hammond. At the time of the
records, I was using a Panther organ (remember those? The ones with the black and white keys reversed.) But the trick was that I played it through a Leslie 122, using a controller called a "Combo Compact Preamp Footswitch". It was actually a very cool sound for the time. I got the trick from Pete, who I had heard jamming through a Leslie with his steel guitar (you may remember that Pete Drake was one of the legends of the steel, with hits like "Forever" that he played through the very first "talk-box"...WAY before Frampton). Pete sounded like Jimmy Smith's organ when he played the steel through the Leslie. I did it with the Panther. Now, in the latest photos, I'm playing my Farfisa. I took that cue from my old friend Donny Galucci (Louie Louie), but I liked the Panther better.

As far as those photos go...you've got me. I think one of them is at
a frat on fraternity row. I seem to recall something that looked like
a dart board. The other...I haven't a clue, although I dearly love
the picture of Glenn! That's him at his best! I haven't seen those
guys in YEARS, and I hope that all this is a catalyst to reunite us in
some way. Those guys are really very special people. Thanks, Greg, for keeping their work and their faces alive in the history books!

As for me, I went from the Rogues to "Nickles and Dimes", with Ed
Seay, Jim McKillip and friends and then on to "Bits and Pieces", with
Pat Andrews, Ace Bouie, Charlie Hughes and the rest of the guys. That was a short one though. On to "Rare Vintage" and then to one of the "syndicated" versions of the "Classics IV". Most of these were pretty short trips as a matter-of-fact. Those were the days when a lot of the groups I was with were really in transition...like the
"Classics"...going from original members to hired guns and back again. It was interesting, but pretty confusing. I settled down into a
steady diet of studio work and became one of the regulars at Bill
Lowery's "School House" with a host of the Atlanta artists like Billy
Joe Royal, Tommy Rowe, Joe South, Beaver Teeth, Coyote McCloud and whoever else came through the doors. Then I hit the road with
"Thunder" for a few years and got to play with a ton of touring stars.

I ended up in Hawaii...(sad isn't it?) and am now back on the
mainland putting together my own projects that I hope to share with you as time goes by. Anyway, that's my update...which really has very little to do with how this missive started, so I appreciate your ear.

If you want my snail-mail address, let me know and I'll Email it to
you. Thanks for what you've done for our roots. I really look
forward to reading the book!

Your friend,

Gerry Fleming

PS

Incidentally, I tried to answer on your blog and couldn't get the darn
thing to work...hence this Email. However, you're welcome to share
this letter on your space if you like. And I'm not certain about the
YouTube spot. I'll check with my BMI guys. Ciao.

Gerry,

Thank you for being so detailed. It is our hope that the blog will attract not only attract those who enjoyed the sounds that bands like the Athens Rogues brought forward but also those musicians that made the music during those incredibly creative days. Your mention of "Extra Soul Perception" reminded of another lost tape, an instrumental by King David & The Slaves called "African Queen" that members of that band have a fondness for but it was also lost in the shuffle. Maybe BOTH will surface and we'll include them on a new CD titled "The Lost Soul of Memorial Hall." I was the social chairman of Reed Hall for the school year 1968-1969 and King David & the Slaves played an event for us at Memorial Hall in December of 1968. Harold Williams from Athens who had previously been an original Jester was with them. Harold , now a CPA plays saxophone these days with the Jesters. I appreciate your sharing the type of equipment you used as other keyboardist reading will quickly identify. Regarding your travels after the Athens Rogues, that too sounds familiar. Certainly there was transition in the 60s but compared to the 70s, the bands of the 60s were big happy families. The book more or less focuses on the edge of the eras.

A great band of the 70s was Bits & Pieces, which was was formed of the guys you mentioned who I had known when they were the Pieces of Eight. One of the tunes the Bits & Pieces /Pieces of Eight did was "When I Die" a cover of Motherlodes' top twenty song of 1969. That was Canada's greatest contribution to Beach Music. In your brief stay with the Bits & Pieces, had they started doing that song? I think that you'd enjoy seeing those guys perform even today as they are pretty much intact and will be performing in May at Chateau Elan in Braselton.

Regarding the backup singer for Elvis who played on "She Could Love Me" that would be great to find out. Hopefully there will be someone who remembers. That's pretty cool. During your tenure with the Classics IV, was that when Billy Gilmore and Dean Daughtry came from the Candymen? Was Mike Hughey the drummer?
Many great musicians can through that band. We tried to develop as many band directories as we could for the book and we included the Classics IV since we write about them in the book. Details are difficult to confirm so if you can fill in any blanks , that would be great.

Regards,

Greg

Greg

I didn't remember it being one of The Jordanaires that did the background vocal with us, but I did remember it being one of the vocalists in the studio. We had a three part harmony background on She Could Love Me and we only had two guys, Jim Cleveland and me, because Gerald Fleming was doing the lead vocal. Pete Drake was going to dub over the third part when some guy milling around in the studio, who had never heard the song before, said "I can do it-let me hear it ". He heard it one time and nailed it on the record. I'll defer to Gerald's memory as being one of the Jordanaires, but that would make sense because they were already in the RCA studio when we arrived there, as was Presley's drummer, D. J. Fontana.They were doing some studio backup for an artist who was recording before we got started.

I did get an e mail from Gerald (Gerry now) last night and have responded. Good to hear from him.

Thanks,

Glenn

Glenn:

That sounds very plausible that it could have been one of the Jordanaires... since they were already at the studio. It's doubtful that just anybody (a non-professional ) would have been able to step to provide the vocals in such a short time. I was thinking it could have been Hugh Jarrett but Hugh was in the Jordanaires from 1954-1958 so it wasn't him. Here are the Jordanaires during that time period: Gordon Stoker, Ray Walker, Neal Matthews, and Hoyt Hawkins. Incredibly Stoker and Walker are still with the Jordanaires while Matthews is deceased and Hawkins left in 1982. I guess we could email them and see if either one remembers...otherwise it could be one of the other two or by another vocalist who happened to be there. It's worth trying to find out in any event.

Regards,

Greg

Athens Rogues' "She Could Love Me" big on the Northern Soul Scene

2009-02-21T12:52:00.000-08:00

Hi, Greg

I'm Gerry Fleming. I was the singer/songwriter for the Athens Rogues. Is there anything I can do for you? I'm more than just a little stunned that there's even a vague memory of the old group. Drop me a
line.

Gerry

Gerry,

Yes, send me a lot of the original 45 RPM “She Could Love Me” on the Stop Label. The only available one I can find on the Internet sells for $425.00. Of course, I’m kidding ( about sending any copies) but I am not kidding about it’s price (check Musicstack.com). I can understand why it’s a big song with the Northern Soul crowd. You are probably aware that Ripete licensed it and it can be found on Disk Number 9 of The Heeey Baby Days of Beach Music series. I think Ripete sells the entire Number 9 Disk with 19 great other songs for less than $425.00 but I will double check. Lol It’s all about authenticity with the Northern Soul scene and unless it’s on a 7” (in diameter) disk, they are not interested in playing it at one of their events. You have to love their passion. I am sure that when a few of them see this posting and discover that the Athens Rogues are white, they’ll be very surprised. Of course, since the book came out, they probably are already aware.

What about the other recordings made in Nashville, are any of them available ?

I guess you realize that “She Could Love Me” is on Youtube. I would like to link the Youtube posting to this blog but my guess is that the Internet Youtube posting is being done without permission. Am I right ? It’s a great tune and very much should get more recognition. Also attached is a photo that Glenn Brown provided for the book that we didn’t use. Maybe you can reply and give the history of the photo. By the way, I noticed that the Athens Rogues’ photo that we have in the book has you in the book crease. Sorry about that. We’ll shift for a second printing. Reply back with any thing you want to add about the songs you wrote or the band etc. The site and blog is all about preserving an important period of time, music and musician.

Regards,

Greg

Hey Baby Days blog spreading globally but Columbia, South Carolina is the centroid

2009-02-18T12:30:00.000-08:00

The above map is a snapshot of where visitors to the blog have come from over the last twenty four hours. The increasing number of visitors is encouraging so we plan to keep on reliving the Hey Baby Days. This past Sunday was the biggest day to date with 120 unique visitors to the blog. The increasing activity indicates that there are more than a few out there who love Southern Soul Music and Beach Music of the 60s and the bands that made it the greatest party era.

While the Southeast is the area most interested in the subject, a full 10% of the visitors have been international visitors. Columbia, South Carolina is by far the location of the most visitors to the site followed by cities and towns throughout the Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia, Alabama and Florida. The United Kingdom has generated the second largest number of visitors from a country other than the U.S.

From time to time, we’ll keep you updated on the progress of the blog. We would love to have you officially join the blog by clicking on “Follow This Blog” on the main screen.

shoo-bop, shoo-bop, my baby, ooh It seems like a mighty long time

2009-02-17T14:15:00.000-08:00

since we had a posting. Ann Adams, our friend in Hawaii inspired today's posting. She is an avid Barbara Lewis fan as you'll see below. In addition, we keep connecting the dots between Bill Haney's Atlanta Soul Brotherhood and The Heeey Baby Days.

"Working On Love" by the Mark Seven (Hawkinsville, Georgia ) as shown above is the same as "Working On A New Love" by Milton Marlin which is cut number 16 on "Bill Haney's Atlanta Soul Brotherhood." We're not sure which was was first recorded. Composer Herb Ryals is still blowing it out (Saxophone) in Albany, Georgia.

shoo-bop, shoo-bop, my baby)
(shoo-bop, shoo-bop)

Hello, stranger

(ooh) It seems so good to see you back again
How long has it been?
(ooh, seems like a mighty long time)
(shoo-bop, shoo-bop, my baby, ooh)
It seems like a mighty long time …

Hi Greg,

I still haven't figured out how to start an original thread on the blog
so I am emailing you. I will start listening to the 17 CD's all over
again beginning when I go on my jog this morning so I can determine
which songs I haven't ever heard before so I can let you know. I
remember that there are a lot and I don't understand why they weren't
"hits". There is not a song that I do not at least "like", and I "love"
most. I suppose they were regional hits. I of course knew about Wilbur
Walton's "Georgia Pines" because he and his band , The James Gang,
played at our high school dances. (I still haven't started reading the
book. Maybe I can this week.)

Warning: Chapter 7 is a little steamy

My husband and I just returned from our Valentine's (our 45th.
Valentine's together) weekend in Los Angeles to see Barbara Lewis in
concert. My quest to see her turned into a journey in "The Twilight
Zone". Over the last 5 years I have done extensive research on her
(which, by the way, led me to your "Heeey Baby Days" web site.) I found
an Internet contact, Marc Taylor (out of New York), editor and
publisher of "A Touch of Classic Soul", a wonderful publication on
"soul" artists. He interviewed Barbara Lewis and wrote a wonderful
article on her in one of his issues. He knew I have been trying to see
her in concert for years. I recently received an email from him
informing me that she was performing in the Art Laboe's Valentine's
Super Love Jam on the West coast. So I went online and did a search and
found a "Valentine's Super Love Jam" concert in San Jose Feb. 6,
ordered the tickets through Ticketmaster, bought the airline tickets,
and reserved a hotel room and car. We have a friend with "Hollywood"
connections and asked him to try to get us backstage passes so we could
meet her. Our friend is very good friends with Tom Moffatt, an icon in
rock and roll music, who lives here in Hawaii. He's a famous DJ and a
promoter and is responsible for bringing Elvis to Hawaii. You may have
heard about his recent book, "Showman of the Pacific". Our friend
called Tom, and Tom called Art Laboe and found out that Art was not
booked for San Jose Feb. 6 but was booked for Los Angeles Feb. 14. Tom
then called Barbara Lewis' manager and he told him that Barbara was not
booked for San Jose Feb. 6 but was booked for Los Angeles Feb. 14. Our
friend called my husband to tell him the news and my husband called me.
I just knew I had ordered tickets to the right concert so I went back
online and did a search. I found two Valentine's concerts with the same
name - "Art Laboe's Valentine's Super Love Jam" and "The Valentine's
Super Love Jam". I felt like an idiot because I had bought the wrong
tickets. We were able to pay a change fee with the airline and get our
tickets changed to Los Angeles and I was able to cancel our hotel and
car reservations without a fee, but we were stuck with the tickets. As
it turned out, Barbara Lewis' manager got us comp tickets. We flew out
Friday for the concert this past Sat. I took her beautiful orchid lei
and was able to meet her manager before the concert and have him take
it to her. She wore it during her performance and told the audience of
7,000-10,000 that there was a couple (Ann & Larry Adams), who had flown
all the way from Hawaii to see her and take her a lei. She asked the
spot light to find us, which it did. (She performed second.) Her
manager had agreed to take us backstage to meet her (per Tom Moffat)
after she went on. So we walked down and were escorted to meet her. She
was very gracious and very appreciative that we came so far to see her
perform. We had our picture made with her and she autographed the album
cover of our "Baby, I'm Yours", which my husband bought me shortly
after we began going steady. She also autographed one of her publicity
photos I had found on eBay. She told us she was nineteen when the
picture was taken. She signed the photo "Ann & Larry, thanks for loving
me for so long. Best Wishes, Barb Lewis". We stayed backstage maybe 10
minutes because we didn't want to "wear out our welcome". Before we
left I told her I wished she would record an album of classic love
songs. She said, "Well, I'm not dead yet". I told her if Etta James
could do it, she could. Barbara Lewis has the most incredible voice -
one in a million. She still sounds fantastic, and my husband and I
think she sounds even better "live".

Our friend is going to make arrangements for us to meet Tom Moffatt. He
has invited him to dinner with all of us this coming Sunday night but > I'm not sure if Tom can make it. I hope he does because I plan to ask
him if he knew what was going on in the South during the "Hey Baby Days
of Beach Music" when he was the "showman of the Pacific" bringing Elvis
and other big acts to Hawaii. I plan to ask him if he knows about your
book. If not - I plan to give him my "extra" copy. Remember, I ordered
a used copy from Amazon.com when I found out that they were all sold
out. It was OK that I got a new one when I ordered the other 15 CD's
because the band listing CD was missing from the used copy and there
was a personal note from the person who gave the book as a gift. I
wanted my own copy without a personal message. I will give Tom my
"used" copy if he doesn't have one. I'm sure he'll find it interesting
because he knows all the famous bands, and some of the bands in your
book went on to become famous. But I can't afford to purchase the 15
CD's for him, which I am sure he would love - especially the "live"
recording of James Brown and the one of Ike and Tina Turner. If you
would be interested in having Tom have the 15 CD's, hopefully, you can
take care of it. I think it could help promote your book. Of course I
don't know how many copies are still available for purchase from the
site that sells the CD's or if there are others who still have copies
to sell - like the bands mentioned in the book. You might not even be
interested, but I wanted to let you know if you are. I just have this
feeling that you’re going to do a follow up book or a revised edition
with additional bands. Am I right?

I look forward to hearing back from you soon. Maybe you can tell me how
to post an original thread on the blog instead of adding a comment
after a post.

Fond Aloha,
Ann Adams

Ann,

Great stuff as usual. Give me Tom’s address and I’ll see what I can do regarding the Heeey Baby CDs. Hopefully, he’ll plug the CDs and Ripete will get a few orders from way across the sea. I am still interested in your giving me your top ten from the Hey Baby Days 17 CD collection. That is your top ten of cuts you never heard before. Were you familiar with Wilbur Walton’s “Twenty Four Hours of Loneliness.” Everyone down South knows “Georgia Pines” but in the U.K., the former title was the big one.

Sounds like you had a grand time… glad you got to meet Barbara… did you get any photos? As it relates to an additional book, that is a possibility and the blog is one of the chief tools I am using to obtain additional band information. We are now updating the directories which we hope to replace online very soon.

The Magnificent Willie T at UGA

2009-02-12T06:03:00.000-08:00

HELLO!

I stumbled on your site and I love the music, but can I join? Are you
a music club ? I loved the music. I dreamt about laying on the stand
at the beach.

Adriane

P.S. I especially love Willie T_Magnificents

Adriane,

All you got to do is click on the link "Follow This Blog" on the right side on the main blog page and add your email address. You can also add an image if you desire. Regarding whether the blog is a music club, that's an interesting thought. Since there are no dues and we don't have formal meetings, I think we are more of a collective body interested in preserving and archiving information about 60s bands that had a dominant R&B format. Willie T & The Magnificents from Burlington, N.C. is a great example of that type of band. We have a story in the book about the band and their travels back in what we refer to as the Hey Baby Days of Beach Music. The band was a party favorite and I continue to hear various stories about them from back in the day, some of the stories are probably true. I got to see them a couple of times at the Lambda Chi house at UGA and I can certainly echo what many have said about their great show. Recently, I learned that on occasion the band stayed at the frat house following a party. A business associate of mine remembers seeing Willie T asleep on a couch in the frat house following a party. That's what I call Bulldog hospitality. Surprisingly, most folks were not aware that Willie T & the Magnificents had no relation to the Willie Tee of "Thank You John", "Walking up a One Way Street" and "Teasing You" fame. I don't think they cared because they liked the band. The Burlington band helped create a great awareness for the New Orleans based Willie Tee...

Finally, the band is still performing with some of the original members. There is a band web site.

Regards,

Greg