BIRMINGHAM RECORD COLLECTORS
DEDICATED TO THE COLLECTING OF MUSIC, ITS PRESERVATION, AND LASTING FRIENDSHIP
MONTHLY MEETING THIS SUNDAY, APRIL 10th, 2016
2:00 PM HOMEWOOD LIBRARY – 1721 OXMOOR ROAD 35209
NEXT MEETING SUNDAY, MAY 1ST, 2016 THE FIRST SUNDAY
THIS MONTH’S MEETING
Our instrumental program was loaded many with great sounds that most of us had never heard before. Songs like Gettin’ In The Mood’ by Jerry Lee Lewis, ‘Rockabilly Walk’ by Dale Hawkins, ‘Big Baby Blues’ by Ritchie Valens, ‘Night Train’ by the Viscounts, ‘Werewolf’ by the Frantics, ‘Beatnick Sticks’ by Paul Revere & The Raiders, and ‘Minnesota Fats’ by Johnny & The Hurricanes. Thanks Max. And we also played a special request from a BRC member in Florida. He said if we weren’t familiar with Ernie Freeman’s, ‘Live It Up’, be sure to play it. We really liked the song, Tony. Thanks. Max plans on doing another instrumental program later in the year. We look forward to it.
This month we will have John Mosley from the Alabama Music Hall of Fame as our guest speaker. Visit www.drugrehabdenver.info for more details. He will give us an update on what’s happening at the Alabama Music HOF, future events, and present a slide show concerning the HOF. If you’ve never been to the HOF, make plans and start by hearing this informative presentation so you will know more about what to look for.
Also with us in April will be singer Elnora Spencer who will be one of our Birmingham Legends that we will be inducting this year into the BRC Music Hall Of Fame. Come and hear her musical career story.
And as always there will be boxes of vinyl for sale. Hopefully you can find those recordings you have been searching for.
SNACKS: David has swapped with Don this month so it’s David’s turn to bring the snacks and refreshments. Next month it will be John’s turn. Remember, if you are the person scheduled to bring the goodies, you will be responsible for taking home any snacks and drinks at the meeting the month before. Thanks.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
I recently went to the website for Goldmine Magazine and saw where they have a section entitled, as we do here sometimes, ‘Where Are They Now’. I checked out one of the articles and thought I’d share it with you in a much shorter version. Remember Gary Lewis and his band called The Playboys. The band had seven top 10 songs between 1965-66. You might think that being Jerry Lewis’ son is what propelled the guys into the top 10 so often but consider this. Al Kooper wrote their #1 song, ‘This Diamond Ring’, and Snuff Garrett and Leon Russell helped write, produce and arrange the other hits. It was ‘a great team’ as Lewis put it when talking about how all their success came about. Gary had credits on the writing of the songs, ‘Everybody Loves A Clown’ and “Just My Style’.
For the most part he guys did their own studio work. But on their first release, ‘This Diamond Ring’, the producer, Snuff Garrett, used session musicians for the overdubs and the band members played only on the backing tracks. Garrett wanted to make sure the sound was good enough for a hit record. There were other times when members of the session players known as the Wrecking Crew did fill in though. The bands bass player was drafted, remember those days, and the Crew’s Carl Radle (Derek & The Dominos) had to fill in. And later when Lewis decided to be out front and sing and use his energy as a showman rather than drum and sing, he did this because he said he couldn’t see the people in the audience nor be seen, the Crew’s drummer Jim Keltner filled in. Keltner went on to work with John Lennon, George Harrison, and The Traveling Wilbury’s to name a few.
The band was first known as Gary & The Playboys. Gary didn’t want any connection with the group and his famous dad. Gary and his mom kept the band a secret from his dad, his mom renting a rehearsal hall and buying him the drums and telling Gary they would have to keep it a secret because if the project failed she would have to explain where the money went. The guys were hired to perform at Disneyland and were discovered there. It wasn’t until the first release, ‘This Diamond Ring’ hit # 20 that his mom said he could now tell his dad. There’s a story that even some of the session people didn’t make the connection between the two Lewis’ until he received a royalty check signed by Jerry Lewis.
The end of the band came when Gary was drafted into the Army in 1967. He spent time in Korea and upon returning the music scene had changed and what he was doing didn’t fit the FM play list of LP cuts and what was being called ‘serious music’. After giving up the recording business he ran a music store in the San Fernando Valley where he also gave drum lessons. He did this until the mid 1980’s when he received a call about being booked on an oldies tour and is still doing this today. Gary says the tour today is much better since the older days required riding in a standard bus but today he travels in a luxury bus with TV’s, privacy areas, and bunks. He says he loves doing the tours and is grateful for his musical talents.
From article on the Goldmine Magazine website combined with info from other websites.
UPCOMING MUSICAL EVENTS
Friday, April 8. Alabama Symphony Orchestra presents The Who’s “Tommy”. Alabama Theatre. 8 PM. $25-60. 500 23rd Street South. Birmingham, AL 35203. 205-252-2262.
Tuesday, April 19 – Jimmy Buffett. Oak Mountain Amphitheatre. 8 PM. Ticket prices starting at $79. 1000 Amphitheatre Road. Pelham, AL 35124. 1-866-459-2035 for ticket info.
Friday, April 29 – Delbert McClinton. Workplay 8 PM. $40. 500 23rd Street South. Birmingham, AL 35233. 205-879-4773 for ticket info.
Saturday, April 23. Knoxville Record Show. Change of Venue – Open Chord – 8502 Kingston Pike. Knoxville, TN 37919. 10 AM – 4 PM (EDST). $2. Email: GregNealShow@gmail.com Facebook.com/GregNealShows
Tuesday, May 3rd. Boz Scaggs. Alabama Theatre. 7:00. Tickets range from $32.50 – $79.50. 1817 3rd Ave North. B’ham, AL 35203. 205-252-2262. http://www.ticketmaster.com/boz-scaggs-birmingham-alabama-05-03-2016/event/2000506808516B43?artistid=736052&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=1
BRC Record / CD Show: August 20-21. We are just 6 months away from our record show and another fantastic Hall of Fame class. As we begin the preparations, be sure to volunteer for one of the committees.
BRC RADIO – HEART AND SOUL OF ROCK AND ROLL
Don’t forget to check out the radio shows the club offers on our website. We now have 80 shows with over 1300 different songs. Check it out at http://www.birminghamrecord.com/brc/ – Tell a friend!
HEY! HAVE YOU HEARD THIS ONE?
Ernie Freeman
See ya,
Charlie
