Q
Tell me a little bit about yourself?
I am from a close family of six. My father was in the Air Force.
We moved a lot which gives meaning to:
Your Clan is your Family.
Q
Why do you love music?
Everybody has their thing.
Some people like to sew, embroider, or read. They have their hobbies.
Mine is music.
I also like jigsaw puzzles. They offer a buffer to my day.
An escape from the trials and tribulations.
Q
Are there any music experiences you would like to share,
such as a concert that sticks out in your mind,
or meeting a favorite singer/songwriter?
My first concert. My parents brought us to was what was called “A Million Dollar Party.”
It was in Honolulu, Hawaii on July 3 and 4, 1964.
Presented by K-poi Radio, Jan&Dean performed along with the Beach Boys,
Bobby Rydell, Teddy Randazzo, the Kingsmen and Jimmy Griffin, the list goes on …
It was an incredible concert of music and memories.
This concert also contributed to and solidified my love of music.
Another incredible concert was the Box Tops.
I have a great story about this group.
I went to a party in Fairfax, Virginia.
One of the people at the party was in the band The Box Tops, whose popular song was “The Letter.”
I asked him “What was the key that changed it for you?”
He replied,
“We were 15-16-year-old kids, having fun playing in one of our garages.
One day we decided to rent a studio for the afternoon.
We were playing ‘The Letter’ when a Record Executive
came in to pick up music for the Purify Brothers, famous for the song
‘I’m Your Puppet.’”
That Executive signed them on the spot.
Within three months they were on top of the charts.
Another interesting note.
In the 1960s, if you had a contest of any type,
you had to fill out the top of a cereal box.
With their sudden success, they were sitting around trying to decide upon a good name for their band.
One member said, “Let’s have a national contest and everybody can send in 50 cents and a box top to name our band.”
After a long pause, and some discussion the Producer Dan Penn then decided to skip the process and dubbed them “The Box Tops.”
Q
I find that people really connect to music because of a memory a song can evoke.
Please tell me the following:
What is your favorite song?
I have three tiers.
1st Tier Folk: Gordon Lightfoot and “Canadian Railroad Trilogy”
Wonderful in concert, particularly at
Merriweather Post Pavilion.
Just listen to it one time, you will love it.
2nd Tier Rock: Steely Dan “Reelin’ In the Years”
1972. One of my neighbors needed money and was selling all his records.
I was at work and my roommate got there first and bought all the good stuff.
He said there was nothing left that I would like.
I went over anyway. And there it was, Steely Dan’s “Can’t Buy a Thrill.”
A five-star album, with my song on it.
3rd Tier Oldies: The Duprees “You Belong to Me.”
Also, great in concert.
“See the pyramids along the Nile
Watch the sunrise on a tropic isle
Just remember, darling, all the while
You belong to me.”
A favorite song from childhood?
“Kentucky Babe” by Bing Crosby.
My Dad sang it to all of us when we were kids.
Favorite love song?
For this one, may I suggest:
Turn the lights low, sit back and relax with beverage of choice
and listen.
“The Other Side of Life” by Bread
From “On the Waters” by Bread.
(Jimmy Griffin played at “The Million Dollar Party”
and later went on to play for Bread.)
Favorite song to dance to?
“The Twist” by Chubby Checker.
An interesting fact;
“The Twist” is the “greatest of all time” singles
according to Billboard.
“Duke of Earl” by Gene Chandler.
I saw him in concert and he tore down the place!
Favorite Disco song?
I like the Average White Band.
“You Got the Love” by Candi Staton.
When I was age 23-28 I lived one mile from the beach, in Virginia Beach.
I was out dancing every night. It was Rogues Gallery, Worrell Brothers, and The Shack.
Great beach music from The Rhondells, that was fun.
Q
What is it about music, particularly oldies music, that moves you?
Music sends me into a calmer place. I also feel that the ten very best years in music
are from 1961-1971. These also are the years I was in junior high, high school and college.
“Music digs into your soul.”