High Interest in Ray Whitley

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

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

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

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?”

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

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

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