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

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

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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