Alabamalama

Dinky Harris limited edition reissue 45

2011-12-22T07:28:00.001-06:00

Thanks to the Birmingham Record Collectors and Dinky Harris himself, you can now get the official reissue of the 1959 rockabilly rarity by Dinky Harris and the Spades "She Left Me Crying" - a song once described as capturing "lightning in a bottle". The other side, "Think It Over Baby" a song written by Dinky is from a previously unreleased acetate. Dinky Harris and The Spades included Jerry Woodard, Bobby Mizzell, Johnny Carter and Frankie Benefield.

"She Left Me Crying" was penned by Jerry Woodard who Dinky first met at a race track. Jerry was a driver and needed some tools to get work done on his car called "TV6" the same station where Jerry played with Country Boy Eddie's band. Dinky had the tools he needed and they became friends.

Dinky was born Derron Doyle Harris in Cordova, Alabama in 1938. "She Left Me Crying" was Dinky's first record, others followed under other names – Dinky Harris and the Nuggets, “Linda”, Dinky Harris and the Draft Dodgers, “Who’s Gonna Rock My Baby”, Dinky Doo, “Think It Over, Baby”, and Dinky Harris, “I Need You”.

In 1962 he went to France as a member the Air National Guard and after returning to the US he entered the ministry in 1965. He continues his work as a pastor in Illinois where he has been living since 1977.

Dinky still appreciates his fans and personally directed this reissue project. Copies of a promotional picture of Dinky are also available and he will autograph the 45 rpm record, the white sleeve as well as the photograph. 500 copies of the record were pressed and 200 were sold at the Birmingham Record Collectors show in August 2011. This limited pressing is going quickly so don't delay getting your copy.

You can purchase both the record and the photo from Dinky's friend and Birmingham Record Collectors member Johnny Powell on Ebay. All money goes to Dinky and all materials are shipped by Dinky himself.

Sound clips are included in the listing which you can find at this link: Rare rockabilly - Dinky Harris on Fad - new repro 45

Note: Cross-posted from Alabama Music History blog.

Alabama Musicians, Musical Heritage from the Heart of Dixie by C.S. Fuqua

2011-12-22T07:23:00.000-06:00

Released in September 2011, Alabama Musicians, Musical Heritage from the Heart of Dixie by C.S. Fuqua is a welcome resource for anyone interested in Alabama's role in music history. The book begins with an essay on the history of Alabama's musical contributions, including people who have been instrumental in the preservation of the state's musical heritage, beginning in the early 20th Century with folklorist Ruby Pickens Tartt. Fuqua gives us over 70 biographies that focus on Alabama-born musicians and music industry notables. His profiles include early figures like the champion of shape-note gospel, Jesse Randall "Pa" Baxter and old-time music stars The Stripling Brothers; mid-century ground-breakers Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton and the Delmore Brothers as well as jazz luminaries Sun Ra and Cleveland Eaton. Also included are some historically conscious contemporary figures like The Civil Wars and "American Idol" contestant Taylor Hicks.

Particularly interesting are the combined biographies, like the one for Clarence "Pinetop" Smith and Charles Edward "Cow Cow" Davenport who each played prominent roles in the emergence and popularization of the boogie woogie style. Alabama Musicians is illustrated throughout with photographs, some of which are from the musicians' own collections. The book doesn't attempt to cover every aspect of Alabama's music history which would, of course, take many volumes. At a concise and well-written 176 pages it does provide an excellent snapshot of the rich diversity and accomplishments of Alabama musicians, promoters and producers. Alabama Musicians, Musical Heritage from the Heart of Dixie is both a good read and a valuable reference. It's available thorough Amazon.com.

Note: Cross-posted from Alabama Music History blog.

Larry and the Loafers Return! November 11th 2011 in Birmingham

2011-11-06T10:35:00.006-06:00

Those who are fortunate enough to have met him know that Larry Parker is always glad to autograph a copy of one of his records. Above his signature he writes "Rock & Roll Forever" and you'd better believe he means every word!

He'll be debuting newly reformed Larry and the Loafers at Workplay in Birmingham on Friday November 11th. Treat yourself to tickets for Hangout with Larry and the Loafers on line at http://www.workplay.com/

In 1960 Larry Parker's band, Larry and the Loafers took an unusual approach to grabbing their place in rock and roll history. They scored a hit on Birmingham radio before they ever recorded a record. It was called Panama City Blues and it premiered on WIXI AM-1480 radio in Irondale where Larry was working as a DJ.

Soon other radio stations began calling to find out where they could get a copy of the record all the kids were calling in to request. Faced with this fortunate predicament Larry immediately negotiated a Reed Records release with Homer Milam but it was still over a month before copies of Panama City Blues were available. In an October 2011 interview, Larry talks about how this first version of Panama City Blues came about.

Larry had a hit song and now he needed some trousers for his group of young rock and roll stars. The Birmingham Liberty factory was making some pegged pants called Skeets that were just the thing for outfitting Larry and the Loafers. Larry needed some skeets and Liberty needed a commercial that would inspire their teenage customers. So Larry and the Loafers recorded "Skeets are Neat" that became a hit on its own. Check it out on YouTube and don't miss Larry in his custom-made Skeets with gold and sliver threads!

Over his career Larry has has recorded on Heart Records, Ed Boutwell Studios in Birmingham, with musicians Ronnie Eades, Barry Beckett, Glen Lane, and the ‘Roulettes’, Bill Lowery and Master Sounds Studio in Atlanta where he wrote and recorded “Let’s Go to the Beach” (co-written by Emery Gordy who later produced for the group Alabama and played with the Atlanta band ‘St. John and the Cardinals’, and Fame Recording Studio in Memphis with producer Sonny Limbo where he joined the ‘Hombres’, Booker T. Jones, and the ‘Memphis Strings’ and recorded “Sunshine” and “Paper Man”. His songs have been reissued on a number of collector compilations including The Best Of Greasy Rock 'N' Roll, Teenage Time and The Big Itch.

Check out Larry and the Loafers official website: http://www.larryandtheloafers.com/
Larry Parker's complete bio is here http://www.alabamamusicoffice.com/artists-a-z/p/866-parker-larry-larry-and-the-loafers
Check out the more of the interview with Larry at Alabama Music Office's YouTube channel. http://www.youtube.com/user/alabamamusicoffice

Special thanks to Larry Parker and Birmingham Record Collectors.

"An Evening of American Music" on Friday October 14th 2011

2011-10-05T12:47:00.003-05:00

The Green Bar in Tuscaloosa will be hosting "An Evening of American Music" on Friday October 14th as part of the University of Alabama American Studies Department's 50th Anniversary celebration. Tuscaloosa's own Midnight Mayor, Craig "Sweet Dog" Pickering put together the show for the AMS Undergraduate Club. It will feature AMS All-Stars – Alumni & Friends as well as gospel great Reverend John Wilkins (son of the legendary blues and gospel musician Robert Wilkins); Louisiana's Jay Chevalier who is a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, Louisiana Music Hall of Fame and was named “Official State Troubadour” by an act of the Louisiana Legislature in 2006.

Michael Hurtt and his Haunted Hearts are a favorite of everyone from Lazy Lester to the late, great Hunter S. Thompson, the Haunted Hearts convened in 2003 with the sole purpose of single-handedly resurrecting New Orleans' once rich, now nearly invisible hillbilly music heritage. The Haunted Hearts will follow Reverend Wilkins and will back up Jay Chevalier.

Thanks to the American Studies Department this event is free of charge! Green Bar is located at 2209 4th St, Tuscaloosa, AL

Here's the schedule:

8:00pm – AMS All-Stars – Alumni & Friends

8:30pm – Reverend John Wilkins

9:30pm– The Haunted Hearts

10:15pm – Jay Chevalier

More Information on the artists:
Reverend John Wilkins
Michael Hurtt and His Haunted Hearts
Jay Chevalier

Birmingham Record Collectors Record Show

2011-07-21T15:22:00.009-05:00

It's nearly that time again. This is one of the best record shows going and it happens in every August in Birmingham. LPs, 45s galore and some 78s as well as CD collections on ACE and other labels. Also a great opportunity to guzzle some of Birmingham's own extremely delicious Buffalo Rock ginger ale.

Date/Time: Saturday, August 20, 2011 (9AM-5PM) and Sunday, August 21, 2011 (10AM-4PM)
Location: The Cedars Club, 301 Green Springs Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35205
Admission: $3.00

G.G. Records - Birmingham Alabama

2011-07-19T18:40:00.005-05:00

The G.G. record label out of Birmingham is an obscure one that recorded R&B, country and rock & roll songs by local artists. Several G.G.s have turned up in on-line auctions fetching decent prices that are undoubtedly due, at least in part, to their rarity. Definitely because G.G. recorded some good music that has endured long past the lifespan of the label.

Of the four G.G. groups I've been able to locate, all have made it onto collector-type compilations. Bill Lancaster's "Too Young To Get Married" is on Boppin Hillbilly Volume 20; Bill Perry and Harold Price Orchestra With The Bel-Aires "Hoppin Boppin & Rockin" on Black Which-A-Way Rhythm; Thunderbirds with Art Harris "Love is a Problem" on Dazzling Group Sounds Vol. 7 and Roosevelt Levins with Art Harris "Oriental Nights Boogie" on the More Rare Rock White Label LP.

Listen here: Oriental Nights Boogie.

Oriental Nights Boogie is a rockin' instrumental that features boogie piano with some mambo and a little snake charmer thrown in. I have turned up little information on Roosevelt Levins, but a record of birth and death dates of December 27, 1935 - November 29, 2001 seems to fit. Like The Thunderbirds, he recorded with Art Harris and his orchestra.

Paul Ozburn of the Birmingham Record Collectors remembers The Thunderbirds' "Rock Boom Boom", getting airplay on Birmingham radio in the 1950's. It's charming for many reasons but the horn parts really grab me. The song is included on the CD Harmony Classics, Volume 4: 28 Killer Doo-Wop Rockers and is the flip side of "Love is a Problem" (see below). Special thanks to Paul for the picture and sound clip!

Listen here: Rock Boom Boom

If anyone has more information about G.G. or Roosevelt Levins, please contact me!

Announcing the launch of Vinyl Showdown

2011-01-13T08:58:00.005-06:00

Many Tuscaloosans and passers-through remember the Vinyl Solution record store as a great place to hang out with friends and listen to records for nearly 25 years. In that spirit George and I have teamed up as DJ's Zeus the Rock and Roll God and Tom Kat Kitten and we'll be spinning some of our fav vinyl gems at Egan's Bar for your listening and dancing pleasure.

Check our new blog Vinyl Showdown to find out more about what we're laying down and for gig dates in Central Alabama!

Charlie Stripling Tribute in Belk, AL - November 13 2010

2010-11-05T13:47:00.002-05:00

On Saturday, November 13 the Alabama Folklife Association will sponsor a tribute to master fiddler Charlie Stripling.

Hosted by the citizens of Belk, the program will be held at the Belk Community Center, located at 7941 Highway 96, which is around 6 miles from where Charlie grew up. Charlie Stripling is remembered in the West Alabama area for his appearances at dances and fiddling championships. Some of his performances have also been preserved on commercial recordings from the 1920s and 1930s that include his brother Ira on guitar.

Schedule for Saturday, November 13

At 12:00 the doors will open for an open jam session for anyone who wants to bring an instrument.

The tribute program will begin at 2:00 and includes a filming of “Winging My Way Back Home,” directed by Jeri Vaughn of Seattle, Washington; short talks by Vaughn, fiddle scholar Joyce Cauthen and Stripling family members will follow and then Stripling tunes will be performed by Red Mountain from Birmingham; W.B. Reid and Bonnie Zahnow from Seattle; and Jim Brock and Friends from Carrollton, Ala.

At 6:00 a fundraiser supper for the Belk Community Center will be served. Plates are $9 each and include a choice of fried catfish or chicken fingers. Trimmings will include homemade cole slaw, french fries, hush puppies and homemade cake. Be sure to bring your appetite for that!

For more information visit: The Alabama Folklife Association

Hardrock Gunter Interview on Fool's Paradise September 11, 2010

2010-09-10T14:16:00.001-05:00

DJ Rex Doane will be airing his interview with that bouncin' man from Alabam', Hardrock Gunter on his Fool's Paradise radio show on WFMU.

The show is Saturday, September 11 from 1-3 PM Eastern time. Listen on-line at WFMU.org or tune in 91.1 fm in New York or at 90.1 fm in the Hudson Valley.

If you miss the live show, check the Fool's Paradise archives at the show's homepage and here is the direct link to the September 11th show.

Vinyl Riot on the Strip - August 19

2010-08-12T13:02:00.000-05:00

George and I will be spinning some of our fave garage, rockabilly, and hillbilly bop records Thursday night at Egan's starting around 10:30 PM.

Plus check out the premier performance of Tuscaloosa's raunch and roll band, The Original Shake Charmers featuring Ronnie Lee Gipson on guitar, Big Jim Parker on saxophone, Michael Ray on drums and Jeff Waites on bass.

McKinley James' Tuskegee Boogie

2010-07-16T12:15:00.010-05:00

McKinley "Guitar Harp" James was born in Macon, GA in 1935. In 1937 he and his mother moved to Macon County, AL to be closer to relatives and work. As a boy McKinley saved the money he made picking cotton so he could buy his first guitar, which he paid $15 for to a man down the street who sold the family vegetables. His mother tired to teach him the basics, and a neighbor, Bo Bo Brown taught him to pick and use a bottleneck. McKinley began singing gospel in The Golden Four Quartet and joined The Wings of Victory two years later, where he sang and played guitar. From there he became a one-man band and played at local shows that ranged from jails to fish fries to weddings and funerals. "I was here, there and everywhere, just like Old MacDonald's farm," McKinley recalled with a laugh.

Then, in 1955, several well-known bluesmen including Muddy Waters, Elmore James and Jimmy Reed played in Tuskegee. McKinley was inspired to make a go at a blues career. Work was hard to find but he was able to get gigs singing 15 minute spots on local radio programs. In 1965, he joined a federal adult-education program and ended up playing "Tuskegee Boogie" at his class graduation party. He'd written the song in 1962 about Tuskegee's first black sheriff, Lucious Amerson and his personal war on public drunkenness.

When the teachers saw how much the audience like the song, they decided to arrange a recording session in Columbus, GA which McKinley raised the $250 to pay for. He recorded "Tuskegee Boogie" and "Ain't Gonna Pick No Cotton" which were released as a 45 on the Tomahawk label. McKinley strapped all 500 copies to his bicycle and rode around selling them for 50 cents each in Tuskegee, Notasulga and Opelika. In 1973 he recorded another 45 of "Misunderstanding" and "A Closer Talk" which was distributed locally, but neither record was picked up by a larger label. McKinley recorded again in Memphis, Houston and Nashville but the records were never pressed and the companies folded.

Despite that, McKinley became a prominent musician in the region and played many times at the Chattahoochee Folk Festival in Columbus, GA. He played for Alabama Governor George Wallace and Georgia Governor George Busbee in 1977, and for Alabama Attorney General, Charles Graddick in 1979. In 1981, he suffered a gunshot in his left lung at the hands of his girlfriend. He was temporarily paralyzed from the waist down. In 1986, he was making a living collecting aluminum cans but hoping to be able to return to playing his "old time rock n' roll country blues".

Over the years, "Tuskegee Boogie" has remained popular with blues fans and is currently available on CD compilations such as Bama Bound: Alabama Blues Connection and Take A Greyhound Bus And Ride.

While the original release of "Tuskegee Boogie" is near impossible to find, it was later reissued with the original B side, "Ain't Gonna Pick No Cotton", on a Macon records 45. For a limited time, the reissue is available on-line over at our friend's, 50 Miles of Elbow Room. It will set you back $8 plus shipping. I assure you it's worth every penny. Check it out here

Listen to an excerpt from "Tuskegee Boogie" here
Listen to an excerpt from "Ain't Gonna Pick No Cotton" here

Biographical information on McKinley James was based on an article by Carol Robinson of the Birmingham News, published in Times-News of Hendersonville NC, December 28, 1986. The archived article is here

Lightboxes Rock and Roll Art Show July 8th

2010-07-05T10:28:00.001-05:00

Elliott McPherson's Lightbox artworks will be on display Thursday, July 8th at the Mellow Mushroom upstairs bar in Tuscaloosa. There is a $5 admission that goes to a fund for gulf coast families impacted by the oil spill. There will be drink specials and guest DJ's will be spinning their favorite vinyl LPs and 45s from 9:00-11:30 PM.

Elliott has applied the term “Lightbox” to his work because, as he explains, “You can manipulate each box in a unique way depending on the direction and intensity of the light that shines on these boxes." The lightboxes incorporate old objects that Elliott finds, things a lot of people would see as trash, into constructions that shift and change depending on the direction and intensity of the light hitting them. He says about the objects he uses, "Folks don’t realize that when they use something, they put a part of themselves into that thing. Sometime I look at old objects and I start wondering about its back story. In a way, the wear on these objects reflect something about the user’s personality."

Elliott is also front man for the Alabama rock and roll band, The Dexateens, and he and his wife run a kitchen and bath cabinetry business together. For more information on Elliott's Lightboxes, visit his website here.

Gordo Mule Day/Chickenfest 2010

2010-05-27T11:36:00.009-05:00

Well folks, it's nearly that time of the year again. Make a plan to head over to Gordo, AL for the Mule Day/Chickenfest festivities on Friday, June 4 and Saturday, June 5th. This year's event includes the addition of a midway and the presentation of the 2010 Year of Alabama Small Towns & Downtowns historical marker (on Saturday).

As Mule Day parade enthusiasts well know, the Mayberry sheriff's car is a standard feature of the antique car portion of the parade which also includes tractors, motorcycles, horses and of course plenty of carts and buggies drawn by mules.

Charlene Darling (the cute-as-anything daughter of the mountain man who comes over to Mayberry to get her a husband) will also be there to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Andy Griffith show.

The Gordo artists will be on hand for Muleday/Chickenfest on June 4 & 5. Studio 121 featuring Glenn House and Kathy Fetters Art Gallery will be open for viewing. Barbara Lee Black's Studio 134 Art Galley will be open. Studio 117 will have demo printing and paper making. The Crossroads Arts Alliance will feature Tent Sculptures. For more information call Glenn House at 205-393-0149.

And there is plenty of good food to be had including gator on a stick and the amazing and delicious fried blooming onions.

The complete schedule of events follows. You can also download the schedule as a PDF here.

Dale Beavers @ Egan's in Tuscaloosa April 29

2010-04-19T15:31:00.022-05:00

Dale Beavers, Duende and Christian Beshore will be puttin' on a show at Egan's in Tuscaloosa on Thursday, April 29, 2010.

Dale Beavers
The child of a Honky Tonk bar owner and a Baptist piano player, Arkansas born Dale "The Polecat" Beavers was raised knowing the differences between sin & redemption and has been dealing with the conflicts of it ever since. His musical travels have found him playing & recording with blues, soul and rock-n-roll legends such as Junior Kimbrough, Dale Hawkins and Nathaniel Mayer. He now calls Michigan home and recently was named best blues artist in Real Detroit Weekly
-http://smashintransistors.blogspot.com

For more info on Dale go to:Myspace Facebook

Duende
"You're in for a wild Western psychedelic sonic ride thru the streets of Detroit when DUENDE! takes the stage. This Motor City five have been taking their show on the road and introducing others to their brand of dark Americana rock"
- Detroit's CITYFEST performers guide 2008

For more info on Duende go to:Myspace Facebook Twitter

Christian Beshore
Pennsylvania's Christian Beshore is a genre-bending One-Man-Band. Though the music is stripped down, with simple instrumentation, many don’t believe all that sound is coming from one person. You might call it Hound Dog Taylor meets Jack White. Or, Tom Waits’ and P.J. Harvey’s love child. With just his voice, a three string guitar, kick drum and hi-hat, his music stands firmly on its own.
-http://smashintransistors.blogspot.com

For more info on Christian Beshore go to:Christian's Website Myspace Facebook

They'll also be at the Mother in Law Lounge in New Orleans on April 30th, and at Murphy's in Memphis on May 1st.

Holly Golightly & The Brokeoffs Spring Tour

2010-03-23T13:26:00.007-05:00

Medicine County
Mar 30th, 2010
Transdreamer Records

Holly Golightly and her multi-instrumentalist backing band, Lawyer Dave, will launch their spring 2010 tour at The Nick in Birmingham on Tuesday, April 6th (see website for more info here:The Nick).

The duo will be promoting their third full length release, Medicine County, out March 30th on Transdreamer Records. The album was recorded during an unusual period of downtime that resulted in a new batch of 100 proof songs. Holly's inspirations include pre-electric blues and county, brisket, ribs and dusty front porch sunsets. Check out tracks from the new album and more at MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/hollygolightlyandthebrokeoffs

If you can't make it to the show in Birmingham, check the schedule and see if they'll be hosting a foot-stompin' good time near you.

6 Apr 2010 20:00 - The Nick Birmingham, Alabama
7 Apr 2010 20:00 - Sticky Fingerz Chicken Shack Little Rock, Arkansas
8 Apr 2010 20:00 - The Prophet Bar Dallas, Texas
9 Apr 2010 20:00 - Emo’s Alternative Lounge (Indoor) Austin, Texas
10 Apr 2010 20:00 - Mango’s Houston, Texas
12 Apr 2010 20:00 - Plush Tuscon, Texas
13 Apr 2010 20:00 - The Casbah San Diego, California
14 Apr 2010 20:00 - Spaceland Los Angeles, California
16 Apr 2010 20:00 - The Blank Club San Jose, California
17 Apr 2010 20:00 - Cafe Du Nord San Francisco, California
19 Apr 2010 20:00 - Doug Fir Lounge Portland, Oregon
20 Apr 2010 20:00 - Capitol Theatre Backstage Olympia, Washington
21 Apr 2010 20:00 - Media Club Vancouver, British Columbia
22 Apr 2010 20:00 - The Funhouse Seattle, Washington
23 Apr 2010 20:00 - Red Room Kennewick, Washington
24 Apr 2010 17:30 - BLVD *EARLY SHOW* Spokane, Washington
25 Apr 2010 20:00 - Neurolux Boise, Idaho
27 Apr 2010 20:00 - Hi Dive Denver, Colorado
28 Apr 2010 20:00 - The Waiting Room Omaha, Nebraska
29 Apr 2010 20:00 - The Record Bar Kansas City, Missouri
30 Apr 2010 20:00 - The Firebird St. Louis, Missouri
1 May 2010 20:00 - Hi-Tone Cafe Memphis, Tennessee

Hardrock Gunter - That Bouncin' Man from Alabam

2010-03-03T16:14:00.045-06:00

In early 1950, Hardrock Gunter was on his way to record his first record for the Birmingham based Bama label at piano player, Huel Murphy’s house. He was working out in his mind a way to introduce and showcase the musicians in his band, something like the great tune “Momma Don’t Allow”, popular at the time with both blues and country bands. By the time he got there he’d written “Birmingham Bounce” which the band recorded in Huel’s living room. After that fellow Bama artist, John Daniels, took the recording around to people he knew in Nashville, and reported back that they had a hit song, but not a hit recording. So Hardrock Gunter and his Pebbles (Huel Murphy, Billy Tucker, Ted Crabtree, Bobby Summers, Jim O'Day) recorded the song again at the WBRC radio station’s studio and it was released as Bama 104.
Click here to listen to Birmingham Bounce.

Sure enough Birmingham Bounce took off immediately and became a regional hit. Paul Cohen, A&R director for Decca Records, took an interest and tried to buy the master to reissue on Decca, which had national distribution. But the Bama release was selling well and Bama’s owner, Manny Pearson, refused the offer. So Decca released a Red Foley cover version that became a #1 country hit in 1950. In the wake of Foley’s hit, record dealers returned Hardrock’s Bama release in droves. A total of 21 cover versions of Birmingham Bounce then went on to be recorded by other artists including Tommy Dorsey, Lionel Hampton, Amos Milburn, Pee Wee King and Tex Williams.

Sidney Louie “Hardrock” Gunter, Jr. was born on February 27, 1925 in Birmingham Alabama, the eldest of Ola Mae and Sidney L Gunter Sr.’s three children. A high-spirited youngster, he was more interested in music than school subjects, and often ended up standing in the hall as punishment for his frequent cases of the giggles. His earliest musical influence was the hobo balladeer, poet and story-teller, the Texas Drifter who would broadcast a local radio show during his stints in Birmingham. Gunter recalls how he would adopt the drifter anthem “Big Rock Candy Mountain” for his radio sponsor, 7-Up: “In the Big Rock Candy Mountains there's a land that's fair and bright; Where the handouts grow on bushes and you sleep out every night; Where the boxcars are all empty and the sun shines every day; On the birds and the bees and the cigarette trees; Where the 7-Up springs where the bluebird sings; In the Big Rock Candy Mountains”.

Sidney’s third guitar, a Kalamazoo made by Gibson, arrived one Christmas and he got his first lesson from Buck Weaver, a close friend of the Texas Drifter, who also worked as a gasfitter with Sidney's dad. Sidney quickly set about mastering both the guitar and every nuance of his hero Hank Penny, also a native of Birmingham. Hank Penny’s Western Swing band was a novelty in Birmingham and Sidney was enthralled by everything about Hank, especially his slick Western costume and his flair for comedy. Hank had adapted the Vaudeville comedy routines of Weber and Fields and created the character of “That Plain Ol' Country Boy”. Years later, they would become friends and Hank would remember Sidney as the boy with the guitar in a toe sack who would come to see his band – and ask if he could get up and play with them.

By the time he was 13 Sidney had formed his first band, The Hoot Owl Ramblers. Sidney would play lead guitar, sing Hank Penny songs and tell stories with the band backing him up on rhythm guitar, homemade bass, harmonica and fiddle. They performed at local talent shows and became very popular. Inspired by Hank Penny’s “Plain Ol’ Country Boy” character Sidney performed as “Goofy Sid”, both solo and with the Hoot Owl Ramblers. In 1939, Goofy Sid had won an Irondale talent show for thirteen weeks running. Around that time Happy “Tex” Wilson phoned the show’s promoter, Mrs. Sy Wages, looking for talent for an act he was putting together and she recommended young Gunter for the job. Happy Wilson was a native of Haleyville, Alabama and had just returned to his home base in Birmingham from Hollywood where he’d been appearing in Ray Corrigan’s Three Musketeers movies. Sidney enthusiastically accepted Wilson’s offer and at the age of 14, would make his first professional appearance with Happy Wilson’s Golden River Boys in Atlanta.

Early on Saturday morning Happy arrived with another musician named Jack Baggett to pick Sidney up for their first show. While Sidney was loading his equipment into the trunk of the car, the heavy steel trunk lid came loose and hit him on the head. He re-secured the lid, then turned to Happy and said, “Give me that banjo.” Happy and Jack started laughing and then Happy exclaimed, “My goodness his head’s hard as a rock”. Sidney was kidded and called “Hardrock” all the way to Atlanta. The nickname would become his trademark from that day on.

In those days, Birmingham had 5 or 6 radio stations that would broadcast local country acts between 5:30 and 7:30 AM every day. Local bands including Happy Wilson and Hank Penny as well as touring acts would play 15-minute live sets. And there was plenty of work for Happy’s band which was booked 6 nights a week. Monday through Friday they would play at school houses in small coal towns throughout Alabama and then back to Birmingham to play a weekly dance at the Narrows Inn, just south of the city, on Saturday nights.

After World War II started, Happy and other band members were drafted into the Army, and Hardrock joined in 1943. Before the war was over Hardrock would lose his Kalamazoo guitar at the Battle of the Bulge and 80 pounds in a German P.O.W. camp. He was discharged in 1945, as a first lieutenant. After that he remained in the reserve and later became one of the youngest Army majors at the age of 27. The Golden River Boys got back together in 1945 and made a few records for the local Vulcan label. In 1948 Hardrock became their booking agent and manager but quit the band to pursue solo work.

During his long and multifaceted career Hardrock had a TV show in 1949 (he was the first country DJ on TV) on Birmingham’s first TV station WABT; was a DJ on WJLD (Birmingham) and WWVA (Wheeling); he released scores of songs on a variety of labels that include Sun, Decca, King, Starday as well as on his own Gee Gee label and has been anthologized on Charly and Rollercoaster Records collections. During the 1950’s he recorded rockabilly standouts “Jukebox Help Me Find My Baby”, “Whoo I Mean Whee”, “Rock-A-Bop Baby” and “Boppin’ To The Grandfather’s Clock”.

In their book, What was the first Rock N’ Roll Record? Jim Dawson and Steve Propes identify Birmingham Bounce as one of the earliest rock and roll songs; important because it used “rockin’” in the line “everybody starts rockin’ and shufflin’ feet, when a drummer lays down that solid beat”. Hank Penny was working as a radio DJ in Hollywood at the time and said he “played Birmingham Bounce so much you could hear the other side”.

But Hardrock wasn’t done making history just yet. His follow-up Bama release “Gonna Dance All Night” was the first song to use the blues vernacular term for sex, “rock and roll”, to describe music. (The song’s original title “Gonna Rock and Roll, Gonna Dance All Night” was vetoed by Manny Pearson for religious reasons.) Sam Phillips of Sun Records saw the band perform and asked Hardrock to record Gonna Dance All Night in Memphis. But Hardrock was so busy at his radio station job that he recorded a version for Phillips in Birmingham released as Sun 201 in 1953.

Click here to listen to Gonna Dance All Night (Bama).
Click here to listen to Gonna Dance All Night (Sun).

Years later country music scholar, Bob Pinson would ask Hardrock for a copy of Gonna Dance All Night on Bama for his collection. When Hardrock dug out the record and took a look at it he got the chills. He realized that due to Bama’s haphazard numbering system Birmingham Bounce was number 104 (sometimes mistaken for Bama 9) and the catalog number of the next Bama release, Gonna Dance All Night, was 201. Sun released its catalog in sequential order numerically and by a highly unlikely coincidence, Gonna Dance All Night was also Sun 201. It was 8 releases ahead of Elvis Presley’s first Sun release “That’s All Right/Blue Moon of Kentucky”. And while Sam Phillips had intentionally set out to revolutionize popular music by merging country and rhythm and blues into rock and roll, Hardrock Gunter never thought about it at all, he just did it.

This article is based on interviews with Hardrock Gunter and the biographical article by Al Terry.

Many special thanks to Hardrock and to Randy Gunter of the Gunter Agency for their help with this article. You can watch the video of Randy Gunter's interview with Hardrock here:

To learn more about Hardrock Gunter, visit his website at HardrockGunter.Com

Feb. 5th "SWEETS" NYC Book Launch

2010-01-10T08:20:00.011-06:00

Nick Toshes will join Andre Williams for the New York City book launch of Andre's fiction debut, "Sweets and Other Stories". The historic tag-team title-match will happen on Friday, February 5th at The Poetry Project at Saint Marks Church, 131 East 10th Street, NYC.

TWIN SPIN AFTERSHOCK FEB 5! Late nite Smashed Blocked pop-in after reading event! Join SB kingpin Josh Styles as he hosts this velvet rope stop-in pop-in! (Andre rumored to spin seven of his sevens! Smashed Blocked at The Beauty Bar 231 East 14 Street, NYC smashedblocked.com)

For more info visit http://www.kicksbooks.blogspot.com/

Is Santa Claus Coming Tonight?

2009-12-16T16:30:00.018-06:00

Now for your holiday listening pleasure - "Is Santa Claus Coming Tonight?" by Rhonda Kay, released in 1962. It's a musical question that Rhonda poses with some convincing vocal styling, coming off something like a teenaged Connie Francis. But I think the call and response between Rhonda, "mommy" and "daddy" really seals the deal. Click to hear "Is Santa Claus Coming Tonight?"

I found this holiday gem at an antique store in Attalla (special thanks to Adam Lore for spotting it there) and have turned up exactly nothing about Rhonda Kay, the record or the Omar label it was recorded on. If anyone out there has any related information I'd be grateful to hear about it!

Sweets and other stories by Andre Williams

2009-11-05T11:51:00.023-06:00

Now 73 years old, Bessemer born Andre Williams is launching his fiction writing career this month with the publication of Sweets. Since the 1950's Andre has distinguished himself as a singer, songwriter and producer (see September post on this blog for more details).

"Sweets is a narrative which takes you for a wild ride from Chicago to Houston, New Orleans, and New York City, as a teenage girl finds herself in a family way, without a family. Forced to fend for herself, she is taken under the wing of a local pimp who entices her into prostitution. The adventures that follow are a free-for-all foray through the fantastic world of pimps and their women, funeral directors, gangs and drug running, with sidebar anecdotes that are guaranteed to appall, alarm and astonish. Extreme entries remain unedited, and none of William's raw drawl storytelling style has been tampered in this standout fiction debut."

During a bout of depression, Andre entered a forty-two day program at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center to try to put himself back together. When he got there he called upon longtime friend Miriam Linna at Kicks Magazine. She suggested that he try his hand at fiction writing if only to while away the long days ahead at the center. In the book's preface, Andre describes how once in rehab he felt his mind begin to heal and thoughts began coming to him from all over the place, day and night. He began writing everything down and with Miriam's editorial help he was able to transform his rehabilitation process into the novelette, short story and song-poems comprising Sweets.

As author Nick Toshes writes in his introduction to Sweets, "Andre Williams has proven himself to be a survivor. The stories he has here written deserve to survive as well. They most certainly deserve to be read, as the rewards they offer are many and fine. Heed what I say. Otherwise you got nobody but your own self to blame." For some other folks' thoughts on Sweets, check the reviews by Mick Collins and James Sullivan.

The story collection is a posh pocket paperback originals release by the Kicks Books imprint www.kicksbooks.com which hatched from Kicks Magazine, now celebrating its 30th anniversary. The book design is an homage to vintage PBO paperback originals; its "tall" 7 inch format makes it the perfect size to take it in your coat pocket or handbag wherever you go.

Kicks Books will celebrate Andre Williams' arrival as an author on November 14, 8 PM, at a reading and book signing at Phyllis' Musical Inn, 1800 West Division Street, Chicago, IL. There will also be Q&A session with Andre and DJ party featuring Andre Williams' music selected and spun by DJ John Phillips.

And for those in the Memphis area, Andre Williams will be performing at High-Tone Cafe on Saturday, November 7th.

Man, That Was A Crazy Date

2009-10-19T12:09:00.046-05:00

The Crazy Teens. Left to Right: Dave Reynolds (standing with guitar); Ronnie Foster (kneeling with guitar); Billy Ward (at drums); James Farris (standing); and James Jones (clapping).

In 1959, a group of Tuscaloosa, Alabama teenagers recorded a song called "Crazy Date". Though it was never more than a regional hit, a lot of people agree that the song deserves its place in rock and roll history. Inspired by Chuck Berry’s "No Money Down", Dave Reynolds had written the song at the age of 13, and then his sister, Jeanne came up with the lyrics while they were living in Miami, Florida.

Besides Chuck Berry, Dave was especially influenced by Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters and Count Basie at the time, and he was musically inclined from an early age. Dave started out playing bass fiddle, and then the ukulele before turning to the guitar; at the time of "Crazy Date" he played a Gibson ES 125 guitar with a single pickup.

After the family moved to Tuscaloosa, Dave started looking around for other musicians to play with and found guitarist, James Farris; guitarist, Ronnie Foster; and drummer, Billy Ward. Dave’s father, William Neville Reynolds, supported his son’s musical efforts not only by encouraging him to start a band and driving him to rehearsals and gigs but by paying for the recording and pressing of "Crazy Date".

1956 Advertisement for Scott Recording Laboratory.

Dave’s dad went to the phonebook and found the Scott Recording Laboratory, located at the Tuscaloosa airport (which Dave remembers as resembling a living room) where he booked the session. James Jones, who was not a regular member, joined them to play bass for the recording of "Crazy Date"(click to hear Crazy Date). When the A Side was taken care of they realized they needed a song for the other side. So Dave wrote the B Side instrumental “Rebel Boogie”(click to hear Rebel Boogie) on the spot at the recording session. Finally, they needed a name. Since they were recording "Crazy Date", and they were all teenagers, the guys decided that the band should be named "Crazy Teens", and the recording was sent to MGM for pressing.

Lables from a record formerly owned by Jean Lake.

Dave recalls that 500 45 rpm single records were made. The band members kept 200 and 300 were sold. They promoted "Crazy Date" at the WTBC radio station (which was on 15th Street across from Horne’s BBQ - now Mike and Ed’s BBQ). The 45 was sold at a 5 & 10 store in the Leland Shopping Center in east Tuscaloosa. It was instantly a local hit that sold 50 copies on the first day it was out, and Dave went on to be voted most popular boy in 9th grade. He still worked a job at a filling station, but was able to earn most of his money by playing music at talent shows, dances and skating rinks.

Dave Reynolds, circa "Crazy Date".

Over the years Dave has played in other rock and roll and jazz bands including Alabama Cavaliers, the Furys, the Starlighters (who he recorded an LP with), and the Spooks as well as gospel groups and the country band, Endless Highway. He was a member of Salt and Pepper, one of the first integrated bands in Alabama, who played shows at the University of Alabama, the Citizen’s Club, the 61 Club in Tuscaloosa and throughout the Southeast.

"Crazy Date" has since been reissued on the "Sin Alley 1" LP compilation (1986) on the Crypt record label and on a Norton Records 45 single. As a result, the song got introduced to a new adoring audience and spawned cover versions by bands including Ray Condo and his Hardrock Gonners, The Hellhounds, The Senders, Speedball Baby, Ted & The Tall Tops, Thee Hamstrz and the Tri-Tones.

Dave now plays the bass and is a mentor for young musicians at Shelton State Community College, and he still sees fellow "Crazy Teens" James Farris and Ronnie Foster from time to time. He no longer plays the guitar, or consequently, "Crazy Date" but he does keep an ear out for cover versions by other groups. And, 50 years later, they’re still coming. Though, nothin’ beats that original craaazy song recorded by five teenagers at the Tuscaloosa airport!

A very special thank you to Dave Reynolds and his daughter, Susan Reynolds, who interviewed her father and provided copies of vintage photos. Special thanks to Billy Miller and Miriam Linna of Kicks magazine and Norton Records, Tim Warren for his article on Dave Reynolds in Kicks #6, George Hadjidakis and Lori Watts.

Getting High on the Lord

2009-09-21T09:14:00.030-05:00

Andre "Mr. Rhythm" Williams was born in Bessemer, Alabama in 1936, and spent his youth in Chicago and Alabama. Andre launched his musical career in Detroit in the 1950's, recording for the now legendary Fortune Records. He is best known for his especially greasy R&B Fortune recordings like "Jail Bait", "The Greasy Chicken" and "Bacon Fat" which made it to #9 on the R&B charts in 1957. As a writer and producer, Andre Williams worked with Stevie Wonder, The Contours, Ike Turner as well as 1970's funk bands Parliament and Funkadelic.

The Meditation Singers were a Detroit based gospel group formed by Earnestine Rundless in the late 1940's. They recorded on a variety of labels through the 1970's and continued performing into the 1980's. The group's line up changed over the years, and at various times included Della Reece, Laura Lee and Rev. James Cleveland.

Later in their career, the Meditation Singers recorded two albums on the Jewel label, the first of which "A Change is Gonna Come" was released in 1971. Andre Williams produced the LP and wrote all of the songs, except for the title track, which is a Sam Cooke song.

"Getting High on the Lord", (listen here) is a funky gospel number from that LP that's a departure from the Meditation Singers' earlier, more traditional shout gospel sound. And, producing a gospel record is a departure for Andre Williams for obvious reasons. The result is strange and interesting, though the collaboration came to an end after the "A Change is Gonna Come" Jewel LP.
Since the 1990's Andre has toured and recorded albums with The Dirtbombs, Diplomats of Solid Sound and Morning 40 Federation who hail from the Ninth Ward of New Orleans. Recently he's been touring and helping to promote the documentary film, "Agile Mobile Hostile: A Year with Andre Williams". Check his MySpace page for up to date information.

Legendary Sauerkraut of Birmingham

2009-06-14T10:15:00.026-05:00

From the mid-1960's to the late 1970's Neal Hemphill, a plumber by trade, operated a recording studio called the Sound of Birmingham that began in the basement of his plumbing shop in the Midfield suburb of Birmingham, Alabama. He recorded local and touring acts and released records on his Sound of Birmingham, Hemphill, and Crown LTD labels. He was known to give anyone who came to his studio a listen and recorded all types of music from country to gospel to soul to rock and roll. Hemphill suffered a heart attack in the mid-1970s after which he sold the studio (including the 16 track board from Jimi Hendrix's Ladyland Studio) to Don Mosley who still operates Sound of Birmingham at 3635 5th Avenue South. When Neal Hemphill recovered his health he opened Hemphill Studios where he continued producing into the 1980s.

Released on Stax in 1972, Frederick Knight's "I've Been Lonely for So Long" scored the Sound of Birmingham's first gold record. Among Knight's other accomplishments was producing and writing the 1979 disco smash "Ring My Bell", the first and only hit for singer, Anita Ward.

Recently I stumbled upon one of Frederick Knight's more mysterious efforts: the "Sauerkraut/Have a Little Mercy (on Me)" single on 123, an imprint of Capital Records. It's a promotional copy that may have been a demo as the release is not included in Knight's discography. Neal Hemphill produced the songs and is credited with co-writing the uptempo "Sauerkraut" and with writing the soul ballad, "Have a Little Mercy on Me". "Sauerkraut" sings the praises of that condiment, getting back to Birmingham to get some and even goes into the process by which cabbage becomes the song's namesake. You can hear a sound clip of it here.

If you have further interest in the music produced by Neal Hemphill's Sound of Birmingham studio, check out the two volume CD compilation "The Birmingham Sound: the Soul of Neal Hemphill". Also, see the myspace page for more background information about the studio.

George Wallace Jr's First Single

2009-02-10T16:48:00.020-06:00

George C. Wallace III (also known as George Wallace Jr.) is the only son of Alabama Governors George Corley and Lurleen Wallace. George Wallace Jr. had his own his political career, during which he served as Alabama's State Treasurer and on the Alabama Public Service Commission. As a young man he also had something of a musical career as frontman for his own garage band. George Wallace Jr.'s bandmate John Botts writes about them playing at father George C. Wallace's political rallies and that "while Lurleen was being treated for her cancer, she would often call the boys while they were rehearsing, place the phone by her hospital bed, and enjoy their music until she fell asleep."

George Wallace Jr's first record was released circa the mid-60s. The A side is an ode to his politician parents:

Side B an ode to a "Little Blue Pill".

Though I haven't found a discography, I know that there are also several releases by George Wallace Jr. on MGM. According to a Huntsville Times article from 2008, George Wallace Jr. is now enjoying his life away from politics. Besides working on writing a book he says he is also playing music so, maybe his musical career is not over yet.

Many thanks to George Hadjidakis for the label scans.

Goin' Back to Columbus

2008-12-23T12:48:00.040-06:00

I am beginning to suspect that there may be hundreds of places in the Deep South where people get together for regular, usually weekly, country music jams. Though they're not honky tonks that's the preferred style of music, mixed in with some rock and roll and gospel.

Some are run by families and some by local musicians and/or their fans. While there is a core group of regular players and audience members, newcomers are welcomed to sit in with the band at most of the places I've been to. I've had a lot of fun at every one I've visited, but the Columbus Opry in Columbus, Mississippi is my favorite. Owner Benny Davis sets the tone with his great warmth, sense of humor and talent for letting it rip on electric and steel guitar.

Benny tells a story about when he was a child and his Sunday School teacher asked the kids to pick a favorite song to perform in church. The teacher didn't say what kind of song, so he picked Hank Williams' "My Bucket's Got A Hole In It" which he'd been listening to on the radio whenever he got the chance. When it came time for the children to sing their songs, Benny was asked to go first. He sang "Yea! My Bucket's Got A Hole In It, Yea! My Bucket's Got A Hole In It, I can't buy no beer..." to what was was surely a vast sea of raised eyebrows. After that he says his mother grabbed him by the hair and gave him the whoopin' of his life. To this day he still won't sing that song but he's created a place where people can go with their friends and families and sing anything, secular or sacred, that they like. Drinking, smoking and cussing aren't allowed at the Opry and kids are free to knock themselves out singing and dancing or playing hide and seek outside.

A Chief of Police Sings "Mind Your Own Business"

Another thing going for the Columbus Opry is Hilton Hammond, known professionally as Miss Hilton Hammond due to some confusion generated by her first release on K-Ark. People were asking why the guy who cut the record sounded like a woman, so she made her gender unmistakable on later records. She recently treated everyone to a couple of her old songs - "Charlie" which she wrote based on an overheard conversation about a planned knife attack, anthologized on the Collector Records CD "Girls Girls Rockin'", and her version of "King Size Papa" also recorded by the blues singer, Julia Lee. Click to hear Charlie

Miss Hilton Hammond

She's there every Saturday with her husband Hap who plays guitar and son John who plays drums and sings. The Hammonds are also working to help Benny keep the Opry going. Donations are gratefully accepted and the lottery of donated items is a fun way to raise funds. (I've won some excellent sweet potatoes and pecans myself.) All the money collected goes towards paying for the property and utilities. So far, they have put in central air conditioning, enlarged the stage and put in a concession area where you can buy hot dogs, popcorn and soft drinks. An electric sign awaits a tall concrete pole required by the city.

The Columbus Opry runs from 7:00 to around 10:00 every Saturday night. Regular Musicians (singers are marked with *) are: Violin: Jim Fain*; Finger guitarist: Gene Reed*; Rhythm guitar: Ron Bailey*;Lead guitar, fiddle, banjo, harmonica: Benny Davis*; Rhythm guitar: Hap Hammond; Bass: Linda Garrard*; Guitarist: James Cumberland*; Guitarist: Leon Winters; Drummer: John Hammond,Jr.* Singers not on-stage include: Carolyn Reed, Denzel Aldridge, Ruby Bell, Dale Cumberland, Hilton Hammond, Ruth from Aberdeen has joined lately (sings gospel), Doyle Spears picks and sings when he is there.

(left to right): Benny Davis, Linda Garrard, James Cumberland

How to get there: From the East take Highway 82 to the first exit in Columbus (Hw 12/50). From the west, Hw 12/50 is the last Columbus Exit off of Highway 82. Go East on highway 50 for approx. 1 mile. You'll come to a 3-way Stop (2 gas stations at the intersection ) and turn left onto Gardner Blvd. Go approximately 1/4 of a mile. There will be two 40 mile/hr signs, after the second 40 mile/hr sign the Columbus Opry is on the first alley on the right which is a dirt/gravel road. The alley is in between Jerry's Upholstery and a Pawn Shop. The Opry is a small white building on the right.

There are a couple of places to stop for dinner on 50 before you get to the 3-way intersection. Martie's Steakhouse is on the right and Doug and Hazel's Drive In is on the left. I can vouch for Doug and Hazel's, the food is good (particularly the Chicken Fingers) and it's decorated with tons of Elvis posters and memorabilia. I heard that Elvis actually ate there once, but the waitress denied that. Hilton says that even though Martie's looks like a barn, it's nice inside and the food is good.

Doug and Hazel's Drive In

Mack Banks at the Sparta Opry

2008-10-14T13:19:00.020-05:00

On the first Friday of each month, Mack Banks plays at the Sparta Opry in Sparta, Mississippi. For those unacquainted Mack Banks is best known for a record he cut in the 1950's of "Be-Boppin' Daddy" and "You're So Dumb" which landed him a place in the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. The reproduction of that record made in the 1970's can still be had for 15 or 20 bucks. The original 45 is highly sought after by collectors in part because of it's rarity (a mere 450 copies were pressed) and will set you back over a grand in good shape.

On the first Friday of October Lars and I hopped in the Toyota and made the two and a half hour drive to Sparta, taking several of Mack's 45's to ask him to sign (not including the original Be-Boppin' Daddy which is way out of my price range). We got to Sparta and located the Opry (from the south it's a left at the Sparta One-Stop and you can't miss it on the right). We started out the evening with an uncommonly good fried chicken dinner. Adult dinners at the Opry cost $8 for 6 pieces of meat, all the sides you want and a drink. Once Mack arrived we were ushered backstage to meet him before he went on at 6:00. He was charming and gracious and let loose with some autographs to boot. We were also introduced to Mack's drummer and keyboard player, Ronny and Donny Davis, who he has been playing with for over 30 years.

One of the Sparta Opry's owners told me that it all started at a chitterlings party in someone's carport in the 1980's. Everyone had so much fun eating and playing music that it became a regular event. The Opry is now housed in a new building that accommodates an audience of around 200 and has shows from 6:00 - 9:00 every Friday night. Every third Saturday of the month is a gospel show. The Mississippi Folklife and Folk Artist Directory has more information about the Opry and a good bio of Mack Banks. Also see Mack Bank's MySpace page that includes sound clips.

Here is an excerpt of Mack doing "Marie Laveau" at Sparta:

William Raymond Peitsch, 1962-2007

2008-09-21T08:37:00.021-05:00

It's been a year since Bill Peitsch split from this mortal coil. He was the most astounding person I'd ever met - smart, fun, irreverent as hell and intensely generous to his friends. He loved turning them on to music, books, people and to escapades that no one else would have thought up.

I met Bill in 1983, my freshman year at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. With a toothy grin he immediately pointed out to me that he was offered a scholarship to study engineering at the university without ever having graduated high school. Never much for doing things people expected him to, he didn't bother to finish his senior year of college either. His cabinets were filled exclusively with Rice-A-Roni that his mother had sent him. "The San Francisco Treat" he would say, holding the box up to next to his face as if it needed a mocking endorsement before he opened it and dumped it into a skillet. And he drove an orange Ford Pinto, the car that would blow up if hit from behind.

Bill showed me a lot of new things about the town where I'd lived my whole life. Climbing up to the roof of the tallest building on a rusty fire escape to take a look around, going into a church at midnight to play the pipe organ, hanging out with Rooster, the belligerent double amputee who'd lost his arms while drunk at the lumber mill. All the work of Bill. He had the same attitude when he was in his native Detroit or in New York City. He owned the place and would be happy to show you around.

He was especially fond of one of his Tuscaloosa neighbors, Charles Swain, a paranoid schizophrenic who'd been given a community placement at a house in the student ghetto. Charles had a yellow Cadillac that he wasn't allowed to drive, three refrigerators, a couple of guitars and a drum set. Bill knew the words to all the the songs Charles had written and Bill was the only person ever allowed to play (or even touch) his drums. Another of his neighbors, a woman with young kids, was at her front window one evening, fighting with a man who was smashing his fists on her door and screaming threats. She told him to leave, which he didn't. "Do you want me to call the cops?" Bill yelled across the street. She nodded yes and he did. "Watch, it'll take them an hour to get here", he said disgustedly. It did take about an hour but the man decided to leave shortly after Bill's intervention. Bill then sat on his stoop watching her house until the police got there.

Bill spent the later half of his life living in New York City, playing drums and singing in rock and roll bands including the Church Keys and Purple Wizard, and generally making himself a legend in his own time. You can find some stories from that part of his life on Jim Marshall's The Hound Blog. Bill's dear friend from childhood on, Dan Rose, has posted an extensive memorial page on his Wayne County Ramblin' site. Dan's memorial has photographs from throughout Bill's life, including some of his wife Andrea and their children Wendy Jean and Billy Ray Jr.

The photo above was taken by Heidi Machen in 1983.

Antique Vehicle Advertising

2008-09-07T13:58:00.031-05:00

Within a short distance of each other, near and on 15th Street East in Tuscaloosa, there is a concentration of several antique vehicles being used as advertising. The antique (reproduction?) Krispy Kreme truck sits on the grassy area in front of the doughnut store on McFarland Blvd., just before you get to 15th street, going south.

The truck is parked in front of the large Krispy Kreme sign that flashes "Hot" and "Now" whenever the freshly made yeast donuts are making their way down the conveyor belt towards the waterfall of sugar glaze. It is the least creative in terms of ad copy with only: "Eat Krispy Kreme Doughnuts" painted on the side. But Krispy Kremes are so good that's really all you need, especially when the "Hot" "Now" signs are flashing.

A little over a block from Krispy Kreme on 15th Street is the Jail Busters antique ambulance. The ambulance is the most unusual vehicle of the three and the spoof of the "Ghost Busters" movie adds a humorous tone that their bail bonds customers could probably use plenty of. In addition to the catchy slogan "WE-BUST-U-OUT", the ambulance asks, "Who do ya' call... when ya' take a fall? Our number's on the wall." Indeed their phone number is painted on the wall of the small brick building in back of the parking lot.

A block from Jail Busters, across the street from Forest Lake, is another emergency vehicle - the Signature Loans fire truck."Signature Loans Fire Dept." is painted in gold letters on the cab doors and the somewhat ominous "Warning: Ride At Your Own Risk" is painted on the back of the truck. A printed banner is attached to the sides and asks people driving on 15th Street the $100, $400 or $800 question: "Gas Prices Got You Hot?" And provides the answer: "Cool Off With A Signature Loan."

Note: With the exception of being an occasional Krispy Kreme customer, I have no present or planned affiliation with any of these businesses.

The Columbus Opry

2008-08-22T07:48:00.026-05:00

Located around six miles past the Alabama State Line in Mississippi, the Columbus Opry is owned by country musician Benny Davis (in the red shirt on the right).

Every Saturday night beginning at 7:00 he is joined by over a dozen fellow musicians and singers who perform for an audience of music lovers of all ages. The opry is family friendly and house rules forbid drinking, smoking and cussing. Benny welcomes musicians and singers who turn up for the show to join in.

Regular Musicians (singers are marked with *) are: Violin: Jim Fain*; Finger guitarist: Gene Reed*; Rhythm guitar: Ron Bailey*;Lead guitar, fiddle, banjo, harmonica: Benny Davis*; Rhythm guitar: Hap Hammond; Bass: Linda Garrard*; Guitarist: James Cumberland*; Guitarist: Leon Winters; Drummer: John Hammond,Jr.* Singers not on-stage include: Carolyn Reed, Denzel Aldridge, Ruby Bell, Dale Cumberland, Hilton Hammond, Ruth from Aberdeen has joined lately (sings gospel), Doyle Spears picks and sings when he is there.

Benny recently purchased the opry building and is working on making improvements to the building and grounds. Central air conditioning has already been installed and an electric sign awaits a tall concrete pole required by the city. The Columbus Opry is a labor of love rather than a money making venture. Funds are short and donations are welcomed. All money collected goes towards paying for the property and utilities.

How to get there: From the East take Highway 82 to the first exit in Columbus (Hw 12/50). From the west, Hw 12/50 is the last Columbus Exit. Go right on highway 50 for approx. 1 mile. You'll come to a 3-way Stop (2 gas stations at the intersection ) and turn left onto Gardner Blvd. Go approximately 1/4 of a mile. There will be two 40 mile/hr signs, after the second 40 mile/hr sign the Columbus Opry is on the first alley on the right which is a dirt/gravel road. The alley is in between Jerry's Upholstery and a Pawn Shop. The opry is a small white building on the right.
Y'all come!

The video clip is of "I Don't Know What She Said" with Lars Espensen playing saxophone.

Country Singer Vs. Notorious Politician

2008-07-29T16:33:00.025-05:00

When I first posted this, all I knew about Miss Hilton Hammond was that her song "Charlie" was included on a compilation called "Girls Girls Rockin Vol 6" on Collector records and that she'd recorded another 45 I'd found in a local thrift store. (Thanks to the esteemed Glenn House Sr., I now know a good deal more about her and hope to devote more space here to her story in the future.)

Both songs on my 45 are about one of the most famous and controversial governors in the history of the US, George Corley Wallace Jr., specifically his 1968 presidential campaign. Now, maybe all politicians are a little Faustian, but Wallace gave the devil a run for his money. He began his political career as a moderate backed by the NAACP. But after being defeated in a primary election for governor by a foul-mouthed white supremacist he decided to change his politics and hire a speech writer from the KKK. He won the governorship by a landslide in 1962. His "Stand in the Schoolhouse Door" in 1963, which intended to prevent black students from registering for courses at the University of Alabama, prompted President John F. Kennedy to order federal intervention. The resulting national attention made Wallace a hero to segregationists and running as an independent in the presidential election of 1968, he won nearly 10 million votes. He also branded Alabama with the national image of a backwater filled with vicious crackers who would keep the black population down by any means necessary. Alabamians who didn't support Wallace where not happy about any of this.

When Miss Hilton Hammond presented two songs critical of George Wallace to K-Ark records where she was under contract, they told her there was no way they would release them. So she recorded them in Birmingham and released them herself on Hammond Records, Ink. Side two is "Won't You Come Home George Wallace" and simply argues that Wallace should stay at home and off the presidential campaign trail. It's sung to "Bill Bailey" played on the piano. Side one can heard here.

Destination: Gordo

2008-07-20T11:57:00.036-05:00

There are a lot of reasons to go to Gordo, especially when you consider it's a small town with a population of roughly 1600 located in a dry county.

The first time I was there was on an elementary school field trip to Ma'Cille's Museum of Miscellanea which was a completely amazing and slightly scary wonderland. It included everything from an Indian burial, hundreds of old dolls, taxidermied animals and colorful antique bottles to a life-sized diorama of men tending a whiskey still. Ma'Cille has passed on and the museum is no longer there, but I think it's safe to say that its memory remains deeply etched in the minds of everyone who ever visited.

Besides Ma'Cille's museum Gordo is probably best known for its Mule Day parade (now combined with Chickenfest) held the first Saturday in June every year. Photographs from this year's Mule Day can be seen here. Mule Day was a lot of fun, though I was kind of lost on the Chickenfest aspect. I'm a big chicken fan whether they're in delicious fried form or alive and clucking but neither seemed to be present. At least not on main street. I will say I had a very fine corn dog and also noticed that gator on a stick was readily available.

This year Glenn House Sr., Ma'Cille's son, was named Pioneer of the year by the Gordo Chamber of Commerce for his contributions to the town. With his wife, photographer Kathy Fetters, and photographer Barbara Lee Black, he established an art gallery in the largely abandoned downtown. Many of Barbara's photographs incorporate objects from Ma'Cille's museum. He has also provided workspace for other artists associated with the University of Alabama's book arts program which Glenn founded. You can get all the details in the commendation by the Alabama State Legislature.

Last but not least, if you're a classic country music fan, the Gordo Truck Stop is the place to be on a Friday or Saturday night, with Thursday night devoted to gospel. No drinking of course, but they serve up some mean hamburgers. We've been there on both Friday and Saturday nights to take in the country jam where whoever shows up is welcome to play or sing a song or two. They're located on highway 82 and the music gets started around 7:00.