The Shadows - All County Sock Hop March 3, 2012 in Northport.

The Shadows are back, thanks to Dennis Hambright who asked the 1960s Northport garage band to get back together and play at the TCHS Alumni sock hop in 2011.  Over 750 people attended and the band is back playing this year's sock hop as well as other events (you can check their website http://www.theshadowsband.com/ for updates). 

Here is a video of their 2011 performance:

For more information on the Shadows see: http://alabamamusicoffice.com/artists-a-z/s/2710-shadows-the

All County Sock Hop on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/events/328926620464594/

Bassmen and Ramblers Feburary 18 in Birmingham

Two 1960's Birmingham garage bands, The Bassmen and The Ramblers will play a benefit show on February 18, 2012 at Park Lane located at 2117 Cahaba Road. Mountain Brook, AL 35223. Doors open at 6:30 and The Bassmen will play 7:00-8:00 and again from 9:15 to 10:00 and the Ramblers will play from 8:15 - 9:00.  Tickets are $60 per person and includes food. Proceeds will go to Children's Harbor in the memory of Sperry Snow.  Snow was a high school classmate of the Bassmen and board member for Children's Harbor who passed away last year.    To attend: RSVP to Ellen.philips@childrensharbor.com. Note that seating is limited.

The Ramblers, left to right: Johnny Robinson (seated), Chip Sanders, Chris Convey, Tommy Terrell and Van Veenschoten

Now in their 50th year, The Ramblers current lineup includes three original members: Tommy Terrell, vocals and guitar; Eddie Terrell, vocals and bass guitar; Johnny Robinson, drums and Jim Burford vocals and guitar; John Livingston, keyboards and vocals.  The group was formed in 1961 by brothers Tommy and Eddie Terrell with Chris Covey, Johnny Robinson, drums and Van Veenschoten lead guitar and Chip Sanders, keyboards.   Van Veenschoten was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1972 and Chip Sanders currently lives in Jackson, MS.  Later members included Chip's 11 year old brother, John Lee Sanders who sang and played harmonica and vocalist Vicki Hallman.  The group hopes to release a 50th year CD and record release as well as a Christmas CD with The Bassmen later this year.

The Bassmen playing live in Birmingham 1963

In 1962; five eighth graders from Birmingham. Alabama, Tommy Allison (drummer) Mike Easter (guitar) Rob Hackney (clarinet) Bert McTyier (sax) and Tommy DeBuiys (piano) came together to form "the Churchkeys". Soon, McTier and Debuys left, Hackney picked up the giutar and they were joined by Charles Feldman (singer) and Chuck Butterworth (bass). The band changed its name to The Bassmen in 1964 and began playing at sock hops, cotillions and other local venues. More changes came as Butterworth left to play with another local group and Easter picked up the bass. In addition, the band was joined by Vaughn Rives (rhythm guitar) and Steve Gilmer (keyboards). By this time it was 1965 and The Bassmen were in demand for college fraternity parties and other regional engagements. As graduation neared, the career paths of each member would take them in different directions and The Bassmen went their separate ways in June of 1970. It was not until 16 years later on the occasion of their 20th high school reunion that The Bassmen were reunited to play. After that, it didn't take long for the group to regain its momentum and popularity and today The Bassmen are still going strong, playing the same great music that brought them together back in 1962.

The Ramblers will also be playing at the 50th year reunion of the Ramsay High School class of 1962 in May 2012.

On August 18, 2012 both The Bassmen and The Ramblers will have their 4th annual show at Workplay in Birmingham.

For more information visit the bands' official sites: http://ramblersofbirmingham.com and http://www.thebassmen.com/

Also: http://alabamamusicoffice.com/artists-a-z/r/2707-ramblers-the
http://alabamamusicoffice.com/artists-a-z/b/2706-bassmen-the

Northport Garage Band The Shadows Reunion Show Jan 28th

Members of The Shadows, a 1960s garage band, will be reuniting after 45 years to play a sock hop in Northport Alabama.  The Shadows used to play after Tuscaloosa County High home football games and the reunion show is sponsored by the Tuscaloosa County High Alumni Association.   The band will include Jack Bigham, Michael Thornton, Stanley Fowler, Donnie Walker, Frank Cannon and Roger Young. 

For more information see:

Tuscaloosa News Teen band reunites after 45 years to play at TCHS
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20110123/NEWS/110129864/1007?p=all&tc=pgall&tc=ar

Garage Hangover profile for The Shadows
http://www.garagehangover.com/?q=Shadows

Rockabilly Gems from Mobile's Sandy Record Label

Sandy Records was an independent rock and roll record label established in Mobile, Alabama by Paul DuBose and Johnny Bozeman in early 1957. It launched the careers of many artists such as Ray Sawyer, lead vocalist of Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show. "Tell Him No" by Travis and Bob became the label's first hit record in 1959.   Many of the songs released on Sandy and its subsidiary, Orange, have become sought after by collectors and reissued on anthologies. Here are a couple of my favorites for your listening pleasure.

Here's Wild, Wild Party by Darryl Vincent released in 1959.



Rockin' In The Graveyard by Jackie Morningstar AKA Jackie Morrell, released in 1959.



Click for more information on Sandy Records
Click for more information on Darryl Vincent

D. A. Hunt and Sam Phillips

Sun Records owner Sam Phillips is best known for his role in promoting the emerging style of rock and roll in the 1950s.  The Sun sound which fused rhythm and blues with country was exemplified by stars like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Charlie Feathers, Jerry Lee Lewis and Roy Orbison as well as slew of other less famous musicians who recorded equally great records at the Memphis studio.  Phillips started his career by recording blues artists for the Modern and Chess labels.  When business with those labels dried up he opened the Sun Studio and eventually began pressing his own records.

Like other southern studios, Sun recorded a range of artists and genres taking advantage of the abundant and diverse local talent of the time. Some went on to impressive recording careers and some, such as D.A. Hunt, remained obscure.   As far as we know, Hunt recorded exactly two blues sides "Greyhound Blues" and "Lonesome Old Jail" released in 1953 as Sun 183.  You can check them out on YouTube:




For more information on Sam Phillips see: http://alabamamusicoffice.com/artists-a-z/p/1521-phillips-sam

For more information on D.A. Hunt see: http://www.alabamamusicoffice.com/artists-a-z/h/1085-hunt-da

Dinky Harris - limited edition 45 rpm release

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

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

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.