BIRMINGHAM RECORD COLLECTORS
DEDICATED TO THE COLLECTING OF MUSIC, ITS PRESERVATION, AND LASTING FRIENDSHIP
MONTHLY MEETING THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 11th, 2015
2:00 PM HOMEWOOD LIBRARY – 1721 OXMOOR ROAD 35209
NEXT MEETING SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8th 2015 THE SECOND SUNDAY
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
THIS MONTH’S MEETING
We’ll have two of our members presenting a musical explosion at this month’s meeting. Jack Wilson and David Bryan will be playing some 45’s that should be very interesting. Covers will be the theme of this presentation. It should be very informative and fun. Come and be with us.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Our February meeting will be dedicated to the loss of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper. February 3, 1959 has been called The Day The Music Died but as sad and unexpected as the events of that day were we know the music continued and still goes on but we do like to look back at that day and honor the 3 who died, their music and the influence they left behind. Along with some memories, music, and thoughts, we plan on playing a video about Buddy as well. Hope you can make it. Visit MoneyFall for more details.
BRC NEWS
I wanted to once again print the names of the 2015 officers so you will be reminded of the changes. Thanks, guys. Volunteer in any way you can to help as they lead BRC through the many activities planned for 2015.
President – Ray
Advertising – Don
Dealer Relations – Joe
Technology – Charles
Treasurer – Terrell
Monthly Programs – John
Membership – Charlie
Hall of Fame – Jack
Food & Refreshments – TO BE DETERMINED IN APRIL
PASSING OF BIRMINGHAM NATIVE MUSICIAN
Born in Birmingham, Henry Strzelecki started out playing in local bands in Birmingham and formed his own groups, The Four Flickers and The Four Counts. In 1959 while sitting in a Bessemer, Alabama eatery Henry noticed a tall man walk in wearing a big cowboy hat. That man he noticed turned out to be Tex Ritter. This lead Henry to write the song, ‘Long Tall Texan’. A song that his group, The Four Flickers would record. His friend and partner in the music business, Jerry Woodard would record his version in 1960. Later in 1963 Murry Kellum would record a version having it hit the national charts. The song would also be covered by The Beach Boys and Lyle Lovett. click HERE to hear the Four Flickers version.
Henry would move to Nashville when he was offered a job and would record with Hank Garland and would later be hooked up with Chet Atkins. This lead to Henry becoming one of the most sought after session bass players in Nashville. He would record with many people including Chet Atkins, Jerry Jeff Walker, Joan Baez, Jerry Reed, Faron Young, Billie Jo Spears, David Allan Coe, Larry Gatlin, Billy ‘Crash’ Craddock, Johnny Rodriguez, Lacy J Dalton, Loretta Lynn, Elvis, and would be on countless famed recordings such as Roy Orbison’s ‘Oh, Pretty Woman’, George Jones’, ‘He Stopped Loving Her Today’, and Bob Dylan’s ‘Blonde on Blonde’. In 1987 he was nominated for Bassman of the Year at the 23rd Academy of Country Music Awards.
Henry died on December 30, 2014 after being hit by a car. He was 75. He was an honorary member of the Birmingham Record Collectors. “A Celebration of Life for Henry Strzelecki” takes place at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 17 in Nashville at Pennington United Methodist Church – 2745 Pennington Bend Rd.
RECORDS FOR SALE
Greg Neal informed me of 65,000 78s he has for sale – Set Sale includes lots of R&B, Blues, Doo-Wop and more! If interested contact Greg at GregNealShow@gmail.com.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW
When it comes to the genre of instrumentals, there are some great songs that made the 1950’s – 60’s the best era of music ever. ‘Peter Gunn’, ‘Raunchy’, ‘Rebel Rouser’, ‘Tequila’, ‘Happy Organ’, and ‘Sleepwalk’ are just some of the great sounds that we could hear on the radio while riding around with friends, cruising the city, or on a date. If I had to pick 5 favorites I would have to pick the following- ‘Rumble’, ‘Tall Cool One’, ‘Wipeout’, ‘Tuff’, and my top instrumental would be ‘Last Night’ by the Mar-Keys – a group formed by Steve Cropper and fellow guitarist Charlie Freeman, first known as the Royal Spades. One person who was very ‘instrumental’ in the creation of this great recording was Floyd Newman. Newman was a baritone sax player who had been with B B King in the early years and later formed his own group, The Floyd Newman Orchestra which included Isaac Hayes. Newman was in Memphis and with Chips Moman at the beginning of the Stax era.
Listening to ‘Last Night’ I’ve often wondered who was doing the, “Ooh… Last Night” and “Ohh… YEAH!” during the songs’ breaks. Well, it was Floyd Newman. Newman and tenor sax player, Gilbert Caple were the two who came up with the horn riff as well – and what a riff it was and is.
Over the years Newman has continued to be a sax session player and semi-retired. In 2014 Floyd received a ‘NOTE’ on the historical Beale Street Note Walk of Fame. And by the way, the sax Floyd used, not only in the recording of ‘Last Night’ but used in all his work was bought by and given to him by his father in 1949. His father bought it for $200 at a pawn shop. Checking the serial number on the horn, Floyd found it was manufactured in 1918. That is some kind of special horn. Thanks, Floyd for putting together my favorite and one of the best instrumentals ever recorded.
And one other bit of information about that recording. If you notice there is no guitar used. As stated earlier guitarist Steve Cropper was part of the group and has been asked about his absence from the recording. He said he was a part of the recording although no guitar was used. If you’re familiar with the song you know that there are two times in the song that a note on the organ is held down for a long period of time – or as Cropper calls it, “the hold-down on the organ on the root note”. That was Cropper holding that key down. So now you know. And by the way, it was not Booker T playing the keyboards. It was Jerry Lee “Smoochie” Smith.
ROCK & ROLL BIRTHDAYS
Steven Stills 1/3/45 Dolly Parton 1/19/46
Kenny Loggins 1/7/48 Jack Scott 1/24/36
Little Anthony 1/8/40 Ray Stevens 1/24/39
Shirley Bassey 1/8/37 Neil Diamond 1/24/41
David Bowie 1/8/47 Aaron Neville 1/24/41
Joan Baez 1/9/41
Jimmy Page 1/9/44
Crystal Gayle 1/9/51
Rod Stewart 1/10/45
Allen Toussaint 1/14/38
HEY! HAVE YOU HEARD THIS ONE?
Vancie Flowers
See Ya,
Charlie