It was sad to hear that Bill E. Burk (a/k/a "007"), the music columnist for the Memphis Press-Scimitar, has passed away. I'll never forget "007" telling me about blackmailing the Scorpions at the Peabody. Ardent records is producing the finest of contemporary Christian music. Joy Whitlock, the newest artist on their roster, is brilliant. She launched her official website (designed by Memphis internet guru Steve Cox) this week. Passing Through is the new album from Don Nix. This is an unreleased follow up to In God We Trust recorded at Malaco Studios in Jackson, Mississippi in 1978. Nix's brother Larry discovered the master reels buried deep in his ancient tape vaults at Ardent studios last year. "I Belong to my Songs" was co-written with Larry Raspberry.
Mike Simpson lived in Memphis in the 80's playing drums with Roy Howell in a band called The Actors. Later, he worked in the group Avenue with Jerry Dean, Freddie Kirksey and Chuck Jones. Simpson tells me that he is "living in Ohio now, having just celebrated 22 years with FedEx. I flew down to Memphis last year, to play a gig with Freddie, Chuck, and Jerry, and have to say it was probably the most fun I've had since I left!"
It was great to hear from guitarist Bobby Bell. He told me about his former band Prodigy, who played around Memphis from 1979 until the early ‘80s. "The original band lineup was myself and John McGrory (guitars), Robbie Schupe (bass), Richard Butler (drums) and Steve Gaines on vocals. John McGrory left the band early and the spot was filled by Phil Crittendon, a great left-handed guitarist (and Michael Schenker look-a-like) and eventually Steve Gaines was replace by Jerry Browning. We were basically a ‘70s British influenced hard rock band covering tunes by bands such as UFO, Rush, Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest, The Babys, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, Eddie Money, etc. We played various rock clubs around town and all of Bobby Kizer’s places on the Highland strip (New Horizon and it’s earlier name, but I can’t think of it), Poets, and others, opening frequently for Target, Handmade, Thumbs, and others, as well as occasionally headlining (with opening acts such as The US Kids from NYC). I remember opening for Creed when they had their big coming out party after cutting their first album for A&M. It was at Poets and the place was packed and rocking with a fair number of local music celebrities and few A&M executives in attendance. Richard Butler was a good friend of Chip Thomas (drummer for Creed) at the time which helped getting us in with Bobby Kizer (famous or should I say infamous local promoter) and getting our start. I left the band around ’81 to concentrate on school (at Memphis State) and was replaced by a great guitar player who played in a mid 70’s Memphis band called Nova." Bell added that he "still actively plays Christian contemporary and worship here in town and am enjoying every minute of it. Those were some great rocking days with some great memories of seeing some fantastic musicians and bands." Detailing his four decades in the music business, Phillip Rauls has posted a new blog of amazing stories and images. This year's Memphis Italian Festival in Marquette park has scheduled Kevin & Bethany Paige on 5/29/08, Jimmy Davis and Keith Sykes on 5/30/08, and concludes with Delbert McClinton on Sunday 5/31/08. Joel Williams from Down2 Five explains that "Yes, we are working again. We seem to be working a lot. And the places we play seem to like us a lot...dare I say, love us a lot. Go figure." Two ailing members of the Legends of Rock (David Beaver, Dean Deyo, Mike Strickland, Mel Senter, Andy Black and Gina Moore) will be back in action and rehearsing for shows next month. Banged and bruised after his truck was totaled in an intersection collision, Terry Wall is still alive and well. Joe Davis, drummer for 1960's Memphis band the Guilloteens, passed away on 4/20/2008. Memphis writer Jimmy James is finishing work on his Cargo: Destiny Defined screenplay. John Long was the program director at WHBQ-AM during it's late 1970's heyday. He has started Paper Sound, LLC, a company which provides audio content to newspaper web sites. If you haven't already heard, 80's Memphis band Tora Tora is reuniting to play the Rocklahoma festival in Pryor, Oklahoma. Wayne Jackson (of the Memphis Horns) is on Consolers of the Lonely, the new album by The Raconteurs, which debuted last week at number 7 on Billboard. You can hear Wayne's signature sound on tracks "The Switch & the Spur" and "Many Shades of Black." Soon, he will go live with a new website. Andy Tanas has finished writing his book entitled Thoughts From the Indie Frontlines. He tells me that "It's about my life as an indie since I left Krokus in 1985. I went from big time rock star to nobody overnight. It also covers the indie scene today, good guys and bad guys, the oncoming fall of the major labels, what the future holds, growing up in Memphis in the 60's and the slumping local music scene of the early 70's, my time with Skynyrd in 75 and my dysfunctional life in Frayser with my paranoid shizo alcoholic step father. Fun stuff, huh?"
Memphis T is a fantastic rockabilly/blues band from Toulouse, France. Memphis radio legend Ron Jordan has passed away, he was great at FM 100 in the 70's.
Jimi Jamison relaunched his official website on 12/1/07. He has posted nice words of condolence toward Kevin Debrow. It seems just like yesterday when Jamison's band Cobra was opening for Quiet Riot. Jamison and guitarist Robert A. Johnson (remember him from John Entwistle's group Ox?) are working together on a project...
Restorations and new buildings on the Highland strip are the talk of the University district. You never know who you may spot catching breakfast at Brother Juniper's. It was great to hear from guitarist Ric Moore last week. The story that isn't in the local news media: the extremely low freight volume at Fed Ex during "peak" season. After years, it was great to speak with Roger Loyd (Elvis' cousin) over the weekend. He told me about his new book, Growing Up In The Shadow Of A King, you can order it from Barnes & Noble.com.
Mr. nice guy John Fry was in the store last week. He told me that Christian musician Todd Agnew has just finished work on his new project at Ardent studios. He's CIA by day, so don't ask him to show you the secret handshake of the illuminati, but you can listen to Mike Honeycutt's "Audio Exotica" radio show on WEVL radio every Sunday evening at 10 pm.
Guitar hero Alvin Lee released his new album "Saguitar" on 9/18/07. I can't wait to hear "Memphis"--note his famous "Big Red" gibson guitar on the cover. It's good to see that Strings and Things is back in business. Ann Peebles' keyboard player Paul Brown is playing fantastic solo shows at BB King's blues club on Beale Street.
Carol Plunk played a couple of short sets to promote her newest cd, Odds and Ends at Borders Bookstore on Poplar @ Kirby parkway. Memphis Queen is the new group featuring former Mother Station guitarist Gwin Spencer and singer Stacey Plunk. Kevin Waide, bassist Randy Byrum and drummer Chip Thomas (from Memphis 70's band Creed) are playing around town as Sugarditch. Karate instructor Mr. Buffalo tells me that Khang Rhee also teaches yoga. For years, everyone has always said that Mr. Rhee is an honorable man, so don't be surprised if you see me signing up for kung-fu lessons. I can't get over the Jo Jo Jefferies clips on Youtube, they are priceless.
David Corbett, the Quartermaster of the Wolf River Pipe and Drums corps stopped in the store. He told me about his new business, Birls Gone Wild. It was great to speak with noted photographer Phillip Parker at the store last week. Visit phillipparker.com, his work is brilliant. My buddy Neil Masner retired from the hub at FedEx (at age 75!). He plans to travel abroad and dedicate time to his church, Cherry Road Baptist in East Memphis. It was great to talk with Dale Hawkins (he wrote the song "Suzy Q") as he was passing through Holly Springs, returning from Dallas scouting a new slide player. It's an honor to have Debra DeJean visiting jungleroom.com. She said that while living in New York, 9/11 was "up close and personal" for her and she is presently "spending some time with my family in Louisiania after the hurricanes" adding that she "would love to arrange a performance in Memphis" and for me to "tell Ward Archer, "Je t'aime", and Ward, I still wear leather & ride motorcycles." I asked Bob Tait if he remembered playing at Peaches Records with a group named Wyzard. "You are the you the first person I've heard mention that band in years," he said. "Wyzard was Debra Preston (who later became Debra Dejean) on vocals, Delmar Preston on guitar, myself on bass and Chuck Bratton on drums.We opened for Meatloaf at the Ritz on Madison avenue the first time he appeared in Memphis on the "Bat out of Hell" tour. We opened for alot of bands coming thru memphis and bigger bands from here. Today, Bob plays bass with the Memphis Hurricanes, and on and off with Chuck Bratton in the Killer Minks. Kyle Aylor has opened River Walk Multimedia, a new audio mastering studio in Memphis. Contact him at 901-531-8238 or rwalk@midsouth.rr.com. Punk blues masetro Johnny Lowebow played the agricenter horse arena on 6/2/07.
The brilliant Marguerite Piazza signed copies of her autobiography Pagliacci Has Nothing on Me! at Davis-Kidd booksellers last Friday. Did you see the 5/27/07 article on her daughter Anna Becky Redlich from Michael Donahue in the Commercial Appeal?
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