Dear Lance M.:
We Southerners hate to admit it but each one of us has always known that you Yankees are way more smarter than any of us po' ass barefooted Rebel sons of bitches have ever been.

Therefore, you need to help us hopeless ones on this little media project called DANGEROUS HIGHWAY, a one hour 47 minute documentary on the life of blue-eyed soul singer Eddie Hinton http://www.zanerecords.com/hinton/ .

I'm in it because I want to capture images for my Sixties Panama City Beach movie which will usher in a new wave of "dialogue driven romance" [22 google hits] as opposed to a new wave of "dialogue driven porno" [7 google hits].

I just returned from an afternoon spent at FAME Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals where I saw the premiere of DANGEROUS HIGHWAY & met the Producers/Directors Deryl and Moises.

My constructive criticism begins with a need to anchor the film to time and place. More attention needed to be paid to the addresses and the hangouts of the participants. Way too much gossip.

The filmmakers need to get Bill Curtis and do an American Justice/City Confidential on they ass.

Which brings me to my main subject. I will be working with Deryl and Moises to improve this film so I plan to learn a who' lot mo' 'bout dah process. One weak part of the film I will concentrate upon will be images of Panama City Beach from the summer of 1965.[FULL NOTICE TO ALL THE "CUBA, ALABAMA" FAITHFUL: Please view the images below and collect similar data especially from anywhere on the water between Biloxi and PC circa '64 to '67 & send all that stuff TO ME!!!....]


Tippy & wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwyker On Stage At The Old Hickory in PCB, summer '65

Lots of Dickies & Madras & white jeans fashion & stuff along with musical instruments and the mural of the covered wagon in the background


http://www.spectropop.com/Sandpipers/200%20Sandpipers%2005.jpg
These are the Sandpipers from Pensacola


special "Cuba, Alabama" gracias goes out to Jeff Lemlich {aka JeffMiami} http://limestonerecords.com

Here's a crazy old bald head lighting up a fag right in front of Gregg's organ while the "Allman Joys" back up the Sandpipers in '66.



Members of Tuscaloosa's MAGNIFICENT SEVEN in front of the Old Hickory, summer '65
flip flops, huarachis, Weejuns, surfer shirts & white jeans cut-offs [prob'ly an alligator belt in there too]



Tippy and wwwwwwwwwwwwwyker are sitting on the couch with other members of Tuscaloosa's RUBBER BAND [notice the radio dude in the checked sport coat with one of those fake hankerchiefs in his coat pocket]



ANYWAY,Lance we showl do need yo' help.

Any suggestions you may have about releases from the people who were interviewed[a.k.a. innocent victims], music copywrites, copying from Internet to video, etc., etc. WE PO' ASS BAREFOOTED REB S.O.B.s Needs Yo' Constant Yankee Adult Supervision! Take a few moments out uv yo' busy Venice, California day and drop us po' folks a few lines.

We'd showl 'preciate it!
best,
reg http://rockpilgrimage.blogspot.com





NOTE TO DERYL & MOISES: ANY WAY YOU CAN TIE EDDIE TO THE ALLMANS, DO IT!!!!

THE HANGOUT AT THE LONG BEACH CASINOhttp://www.jdweeks.com/LongBeachResortHx.html

HEY Y'ALL:
Got to go to bed soon so I can get up tomorrow morning and head up to FAME Recording Studio in Muscle Shoals.
I have an invitation from Producer/Director Deryle Perryman to attend the premier of his feature length Eddie Hinton documentary entitled DANGEROUS HIGHWAY.

EDDIE at Porretta
http://www.porrettasoul.it/html/star05.htm

This trip promises to lead to great things for "Cuba, Alabama". Since most of you won't be at FAME tomorrow afternoon to see the film about Eddie, check out this video clip of Eddie from the Porretta festival in '91....

From: "Rune Blomquist" Date: Thu Feb 9, 2006 2:06 pm Subject: Eddie Hinton Documentary

The film about Eddie Hinton, "Dangerous Highway",
has been scheduled for screening, at FAME Recording Studios,
Saturday 4 March (12pm & 3.20PM).
http://www.lindseyfilmfest.com/screenings.html#SFame
Will this documentary get a DVD release,
or is it going to be put it in the vaults over at FAME
together with all the other unissued treasures ?
In the mean time you can enjoy a video of Eddie, that I've uploaded.
It's from the Sweet Soul Music Festival, Porretta, Italy in 1991.
At http://soulpole.0catch.com/Hinton.wmv
The file is in Windows Media File format, 28.5MB.
Right-Click link and download complete file before
playing to avoid buffering halts and jerky motion.
Rune Blomquist

From :
Richard Burke
Sent :
Thursday, March 2, 2006 7:07 PM
To :
"Robert Register"
Subject :
Just Talked to Steve.


Hey Reg,
I was at SAMC and as usual I bumped into Calibration, Med Equip. Tech, Piano
Professor, Audio Engineer, Song Writer, Performer and Security Expert
Extraordinaire Steve (Boonie) Clayton.


Legend with David Morris, Richard "Buddy" Burke , Steve Clayton and Jim Folmer, round 80'.

Needless to say we told Sherman to
set the way back machine to round circa 1976 or so.
Steve enjoyed and still
enjoys a special relationship to Farley Taylor, his wife Mary and son.
Steve was one of Farley's pall bearers at his funeral in Elba, Al. at a
very rural church with a grave site that actually had to be accessed on foot
at some distance as there was no access for vehicles. Steve told me there
were only eleven cars in the cortège and that was consistent with the
families wishes, as was the somewhat secretiveness of the location.
Farley's
wife Mary passed away a year or so ago and son survives. Steve told me that
he wanted to get up with Farley's son, I think his name is Jimmy, but I'm
not
sure, to return several of the vests Farley used to wear on stage and during
the live show. I remember the red vest with the "Taylor Made" Logo on the
breast.
[I am forwarding this to Jason Taylor, Farley's grandson, who works for Clear Channel in Mobile-ed.]
In his early years Farley went to work with Dorsey Trailers in Elba sweeping
a broom in bare feet. While employed there he became one of the leading
fabrication engineers. During the Second World War Farley came up with a
fabrication redesign for their 40 foot trailers where the I beam frames,
which would not flex under stress but fracture at stress points, were
replaced with a channel steel chassis that would flex under a load. The
payday from the patent made Farley a very wealthy individual and he retired
after the war. He built his Momma a new house and started his business
ventures. Farley ran his business from the trunk of his car, on a cash
basis and always "close to the vest". When his business ventures, mobile
homes to my recall, failed and the note was called in, he lost everything,
even his Mother's house.
There is probably no way to express how well Farley was connected with
traditional Country Music and it's movers and shakers, performers and
songwriters but I'll give it a go, according to Steve.
From my conversation with Steve Clayton:
When Farley was broadcasting live from WTVY in Dothan with the Saturday
night show he uplinked a satellite feed off of North Carolina by phone line
and was actually global from that point forward. He received Saturday night
call ins from aircraft carriers in the Berring Sea, not to mention service
men in Germany and all over the world. If you had a Dish you could get the
show.
Because of his large audience most of the old time Big Names would keep
contact with Farley cause at the time only "Pretty Country" was getting air
time and royalties from the Taylor Made Opry, for the old writers and
performers, warranted a call to Farley. Steve told me a story bout' Hank
Jr. who was an avid fan callin' in to Farley to tell him what a good show he
had and how his program was the only show where he could hear his Dad's
songs and Hank Sr.'s contemporaries. He commented that his management knew
to book lodging on Saturday night with establishments that by disk or
syndicate could get Farley's show.
Stevie told me of a call Farley got at the studio one day from country music
singer Lois Johnson. Seems that Merle Haggard had commandeered her yacht
and was wrecking havoc. She was hoping Farley could talk him off the boat
before he tore it completely up. Steve wasn't sure of the outcome.
Steve also served a stretch with the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and remains
good friends with Jimmy Johnson from the Shoals. Steve said he tried very
hard to get Farley inducted but could never quite pull it off.
He said Jimmy had been known to check in with a call starting "Hey Stevie,
I'm callin' from the house that Skynyrd built". I guess if "Sweet Home" was
written bout' you and yours you'd be proud too.

I want to give special thanks to Michael Steve Clayton for his friendship
and inspiration for low these thirty two years. He and His brother Donnie
are a very big part of my life. And for those of you who are fortunate
enough to know Steve and Becky, Steve has just passed the longevity date His
Dr.'s gave him and is steaming ahead with his wife sons and gran-youngun.
Here's to many more years for my very good friend.
Later...
rbiii

Got this off of Marty Whiddon's site on CD Baby http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mwhiddon2 :
But I soon got back into playing music as a singer and fiddle player on the Taylor Made Opry, a WTVY radio station show broadcast from the old Houston Theater in downtown Dothan. It was produced by Farley Taylor. There I got to mix, mingle and play fiddle some with such Grand Ole Opry stars as Dell Wood, Duke of Paducah, Ernie Ashworth, the late Nat Stuckey, and David Frizzel, brother of Lefty. Other stars that appeared on that little Opry included Earnest Tubb and Justin Tubb.

After that show folded a couple of years later I went to the J & J Opry which was a community type Opry house in Ashford, Alabama which was run by Mr. Jack Cochran, now deceased. But, he became a good friend of mine and helped make it possible - along with another good Pharmacist Friend in Midland City; Al. named Jack Sewell - for me to get one of my record albums produced. We stayed with the J & J about ten years....

Billy Gant recorded my Christmas song, "The Heart of Christmas is Love", and Richard Burke, III also did one of my Christmas songs, "Come On and Sing." Both were recorded at Studio Four in Dothan, Alabama.[Why didn't Marty mention "Sock It To Me Santa!", Buddy?-ed] Sonja Raley and Gordon Dodson also did a duet of one of my Christmas songs. Little Beverly Key did an intro on a Christmas recitation I had on that album.

Check this out from http://chrisdriggers.com
Do you remember Farley Taylor? He had a late night show on WTVY that my dad would sometimes help him pick out music for. I went over to his place one time and visited his trailer. He had a damn tractor trailer in his backyard full of boxes of records. Old country, gospel, and bluegrass records. It was fun to sift through all those. I wish I could see them now, I might even know some of the artists.

Moon Pies, RC, and Daddy Bucks cane syrup. I remember that while dad was working at the radio station, we had cases of that stuff. Literally cases of moon pies. Man that was awesome.

Farley even made it into a poem entitled HOMESICK http://www.goddess20vt.homestead.com/goddess2poems.html
Homesick
The tire swing on the old oak by the dirt road.
The porch swing that is home to a million memories.
Going for walks and picking blackberries.
Running out every afternoon to look for ripe strawberries.
Making waves with grandma using inner tubes in the pool.
Playing baseball in the yard, never really realizing that I was by myself.
Riding my go-cart in the pasture.
Picking beans and greens in the garden with grandpa.
Lying on the floor beside my grandparents bed listening to Farley Taylor and Ol' Bulger on the radio.
Pies, cookies, preserves.
The summer heat and the occasional draft from the chicken plant.
Yee-ha hills on the old dump road.
Yard sales and flea markets.
Fishing at Sweet Gum Head.
The joy of every holiday, every achievement, every lost tooth.
The comfort and safety.
This was home.
Home was real…but home wasn't forever.

special thanks to our old pahdnuh ROBERT NIX for the BMI MusicWorld cover photo of Skynyrd from the Winter 2006 issue

On Monday March 13, Skynyrd will be inducted into the hall of fame[it's about f*ckin' time!!!!-ed.].

In April the hall of fame will open their Roy Orbison exhibit....

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum to Open Roy Orbison Exhibit


CLEVELAND (February 21, 2006) – Roy Orbison was one of the true pioneers of rock and roll and one of the all-time greatest singers to ever record rock, pop or country music. In celebration of his legacy, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum will be opening an exhibit that highlights different aspects of his career and personal life on April 18. Orbison was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
The exhibit coincides with the release of Legacy Records Roy Orbison Reissue Project. The first Legacy release will be Black & White Night, the 1987 star-studded concert originally aired as an HBO-Cinemax special, and the long-awaited The Essential Roy Orbison, the first-ever “best of” collection spanning Orbison’s entire career. Black & White Night is currently in stores

“Roy Orbison secured his place in modern music history with a unique blend of rock, country and pop music that defies easy description,” said Howard Kramer, director of curatorial affairs at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. “His one-of-a-kind voice and ethereal songs set him apart from all of his contemporaries and made for a diverse set of followers.” Orbison influenced a broad range of contemporaries, like Elvis Presley and the Everly Brothers; rock superstars like Bruce Springsteen and John Lennon; as well more current performers such as k.d. lang and Chris Isaak.

The exhibit includes handwritten lyrics and setlists, production notes, handbills, clothing, rare records and more. Highlights are:
· Handwritten lyrics to “Careless Heart,” “Windsurfer,” “She’s a Mystery to Me”
· Production notes from Mystery Girl
· Rare Rockabilly Spectator tour program, 1958. The tour also featuring Carl Perkins, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent and many others.
· Jumpsuits and pantsuits from the 1970s.
· Rare records including the original acetate from “Ooby Dooby” and the highly coveted Sun Records promo EP.


About Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison possessed one of the great rock and roll voices: a forceful, operatic bel canto tenor capable of dynamic crescendos. He sang heartbroken ballads and bluesy rockers alike, running up a formidable hit streak in the early Sixties. From the release of “Only the Lonely” in 1960 to “Oh! Pretty Woman,” a span of four years, Orbison cracked the Top Ten nine times. Orbison's most memorable performances were lovelorn melodramas, such as “Crying” and “It's Over,”" in which he emoted in a brooding, tremulous voice. The melancholy in his songs resonated with listeners of all ages, but especially heartsick teenagers who knew how it felt to lose in love.

During his remarkable career, Roy Orbison received multiple Grammy awards including the prestigious Lifetime Achievement award and is also a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 1990, two years after his death, Roy received a Grammy for best male vocalist for his performance of “Oh! Pretty Woman” from Black & White Night. The love and respect for the writer and singer, Roy Orbison, didn't end the day he died in December of 1988, and it is still ongoing.

About the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, a nonprofit museum dedicated to collecting, preserving and interpreting the historical significance of modern music, will honor the legacy of Roy Orbison with an exhibit opening in April. The gallery will feature an intimate display of artifacts directly from the Roy Orbison archives. Handwritten lyrics, rare records, stage clothing, business documents and photographs will illustrate the life and work of one of the most enigmatic performers in rock and roll history.

The Museum is open seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. On Wednesdays the Museum is open until 9:00 p.m. Museum admission is $20.00 for adults, $14.00 for seniors (60+), $11 for children (9-12) and children under 8 and Museum members are free.


Well, y'all, two days after Skynyrd gets in and a month before the Orbison exhibit opens, Tuscaloosa will open it arms to the one & only Southern Rock 'N Roll Empresario Buddy Buie on March 15. Please keep "Cuba, Alabama" in mind for this Wednesday because we want to build Buddy a strong itinerary for his stay in Tuscaloosa.
Buddy will cooperate for interviews and any other activities related to promoting his upcoming projects. Please contact "Cuba, Alabama"
robertoreg2003@yahoo.com OR call 205-759-1906

HEY Y'ALL:

What I wanna talk about, friends & neighbors, is:

BAMA'S version of ANIMAL HOUSE!

http://www.hippieshop.com/cgi-bin/gold/category.cgi?category=0

My humble opinion is that social affiliate membership dues financed the entertainment [Of course, charging admission at the door works too.]

We're talking Hollywood here, FOLKS!

But, baby, think about this:

Fats Domino playing in your fraternity house at the peak of his popularity! That happened here,dude!

This quote is right out of the '67 Corolla:

This shot of the strip from the fall of '66 is for HARRISON!

Ya know all my ZEBE & Phi Yepp buddies always brag about Fats Domino and stuff playing at their house back in the day. Now I understand how they did it. MY HEBREW BROTHERS CHARGED ADMISSION TO THEIR FRATERNITY PARTIES!
Here's a quote from the '67 Corolla commentary on Phi Yepp:
"Socially, Phi Epsilon Pi is second to none, boasting such big name entertainment as John Lee Hooker, Lee Dorsey, Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Gary "U.S." Bonds, and Arthur Alexander."



From :
Richard Burke
Sent :
Wednesday, March 1, 2006 8:45 PM
To :
"Robert Register"
Subject :
Farley and Studio Four.

I remember big Earl Register, (there are smaller versions you are aware)
being a backer of Farley's round the time of "Too Late To Bring Pretty Flowers",
God, I love a Momma song.
I remember, I thinks twas, Jimmie Miller
who did, "From The Peanut Fields To the White House", a Farley original, and
it seems we were all asked to go to D.C. for inauguration or some other
event, but I may have been invited by osmosis, and graciously declined
so I could come up with this rant!!!!

RICHARD BURKE & JERRY WISE AT THE BOARD AT STUDIO 4, DOTHAN, ALABAMA!!!!

Farley also recorded his syndicated radio program from Studio Four after I
had pulled out of the partnership, Jerry and Stevie produced and engineered
and if I ain't mistaken I believe that Damn show was on in about forty of
the contiguous forty-eight States and had an audience rivaling WSM and the
Real Opry.

"It's the Ole Taylor made Opry", I can still hear it now,
"We're gonna' have a Hog Killin' Good Time Tonight".

God I miss the Hog Killins'.

I've seen Steve Clayton several times here lately and I'm sure we'll be
seeing more of each other, I'll get and post the Farley skinny from him.

And in an aside in agreement with Kenneth, Farley was always good on his
word to me during the time I worked with him and I believe Steve will say
the same.
It seems to me when he was doing the live show from the old Houston Theatre{home of the Wiregrazzzzzzzz Rat Museum-ed},
some loathsome scum bag absconded with the receipts, but it weren't Farley.
As I recall he stayed and faced the heat. And I recall initally some plans
where things "oft gang goon aglee" as Bobby Burns would pen, but if anybody
lost a dollar, Farley always lost two.

Course I could be wrong.
Later...
rbiii


Hey, Roberto.
Here's an old photo that was on my wife's computer that I thought you might be interested in having. It's a picture of the James Gang in one of our more sober moments, obviously. That is me in the lower left corner, most certainly holding a Bud which you can't see. That is Fred Guarino, our drummer, holding a cheap picture he removed from the wall of this motel, wherever it was. Under him is Johnny Mulkey, guitarist, Bubba Lathem (piano player) pretending to talk on the phone, and that is Wilbur Jr holding a lamp on his head. Yes, a lamp on his head. As you can see, our primary interest from the beginning was elevating the standards of Southern Rock and Roll. Well, that and rendering motel rooms unoccupiable for some time after we went to the next town. Don't give Holiday Inn, Inc., my address.
Jimmy Dean

From:
"John Mulkey"
To:
robertoreg2003@yahoo.com
Subject:
My wife was born in Cuba!
Date:
Tue, 28 Feb 2006 23:58:39 -0600

Hello Robert,
Bill Hanke exposed your "Cuba, Alabama" blog to me back in July
2005...I've
been an avid reader of it since!

I know I'm not from Dothan, but I've had many magical moments during
the
"James Gang Era" & the "Ramrods" before that.

I remember how good Frank
Bethea's folks were to us by putting us up when we played at the
Paradise
Lounge.
I can still picture myself eating at Buies City Cafe and then
walking over to Strickland's Music Store.

I could go on & on...
I have talked to Paul Cochran http://paulcochran.com
& Jimmy Dean as a result of your blog and
I'm
forever grateful to you, Robert.
John Mulkey






Quote:
"Guie correctamente o sera fusilado!"
which means: "Drive carefully or you'll be shot!(by firing squad)" -sounds a bit drastic
'Name of my next band...> 'Helicopter Movement'
Edited by: gabepenn


From:
"JM Dobies"
Subject:
Re: "Boys and girls, grab you an RC cola (coler) and a Moon Pie and we gone kick back til' the straddle o' the night!"
To:
"robert register"

Ka$h:

Just wanted to let you know that there's a radio spot for the Classics IV's SONG album "on LP, cassette, or cartridge" on the latest ep of "Florida Rocks Again!"

JMD a/k/a MT
J.M. Dobies Producer
Florida Rocks Again!
Industrious Communications Inc.
P.O. Box 1975 St. Augustine, FL 32085
http://www.floridarocksagain.com/

FLORIDA ROCKS AGAIN!: ALL ABOUT YOU

The latest episode of Florida Rocks Again! is now up at http://www.garagepunk.com/?cat=9. This installmentfeatures songs with the word "You" in the title. In addition to the usual assortment of mid-'60s garage bands, this episode also contains a set of smokin' southern soul, and, in honor of Bike Week (March 3-12 in Daytona Beach), a set of early '70s hard rock and boogie. Starring Conlon & the Crawlers, the Montells, BOOT -- the later, "heavier" incarnation of the Split Ends ("Rich With Nothing") -- and many more. Produced by MalThursday and JeffMiami in Living Mono. Special thanks to BossHoss for the Crawlers and Canadian Rogues tracks. Hope You all dig it!


If you would like to subscribe to the podcasts on Garagepunk.com (Florida Rocks Again!, Savage Kick, Snake Alley, etc.) via iTunes, go to http://www.garagepunk.com/?page_id=61. Among the recent entries is Psychotic Infractions, Vol. 1, which features members of the forum covering garage punk nuggets, including Mal Thursday & the Cheetahs' version of the Outsiders' "That's Your Problem."

Rock On,
J.M. Dobies Producer Florida Rocks Again!

From:
Jdean
Date:
Tue, 28 Feb 2006 00:37:42 EST
Subject:
Re: "Boys and girls, grab you an RC cola (coler) and a Moon Pie and we gone k...
To:
robertoreg2003@yahoo.com

Roberto----The Lord truly does work in mysterious ways, and I thank him for the gifts and opportunities he gave me, and also, for those I was spared.

As Kenneth Griffith and now Frank Tanton have witnessed, Charlie Silva really was gifted in a certain way that I had heard about before I joined Beaverteeth,

re: the famous Helicopter Movement.

I actually came dangerously close to seeing this myself some time before I joined the band, when ol' Charlie came to the room of a house he and some others were occupying and me and my brother Robert were visiting, and egged on by whoever was there, he was moved to demonstrate this talent. I had just fired up a Marlboro, and I faked a wheezing attack, so I was blessed to only catch a glimpse of a vague blur. It was enough to satisfy any interest I had earlier felt about this subject, and thankfully, it never happened again that I saw, most especially, not on stage.

Sheesh! James Ott would have had a heart attack.
Jimmy Dean

HEY Y'ALL:
Stuff happened today that convinced me to make some resolutions:

1) LEARN MORE SPANISH!!!!
(I got the best instruction book ever written from WWII! My favorite phrase from the "Hostile" section: "Guie correctamente o sera fusilado!"
That's pronounced:
GHEEay coh-rec-tah-MEN-tay oh say-RAH foo-see-LAH-doe
which means
GUIDE CORRECTLY OR YOU WILL BE SHOT!)


2) BE ROBIN HOOD!

3) Turn SNAKE DOCTOR http://snakedoctor.blogspot.com
into a different kind of dialogue driven romance.







4) Make a ...

5) FLAT OUT TELL PEOPLE!

6) tell people just how much I love them


Friends and neighbors, we're all God's people and God's people know how to treat their neighbors and we know how we want to be treated!

How precious that is!!!!

best,
Bob http://cottonkingdom.blogspot.com

Hi, Robert.

It was surprising that you built my letter into an entire blog; that was a nice thing to do.

It was great to see the replies from Jimmy and Rodney too. I’d forgotten about the part about playing for Farley Taylor’s radio program. I haven’t seen Jimmy in several years, but he always reminds me about that “Little Kenny Griffith” bit. I only played with the “Taylor Mades” for a few months. Farley always “Brought it all back.” People would tell me what a crook Farley was, but he always was honest with me. He paid me exactly what he said he would when he said he would.

Anyway, I’d better not go off writing another long letter. If you can get my address to Rodney and thank him for his nice comment about me I will really appreciate it. Here’s my address if he will burn me the CD:

Kenneth Griffith
Dothan,Alabama

If you will, please pass my email address on to Jimmy. I’d love to get a note from him.

Thanks a lot, Robert. I check your blog every morning and enjoy reading it. And even though I did get that degree from Auburn, I enjoy the Bama stuff too.

Kenneth

BeaverTeeth 1971: L to R - Kenneth Griffith, Frank Tanton, Charlie Silva, David Adkins, John Rainey Adkins.

Robert,
The first time I ever saw Kenneth Griffith play was in an old radio studio above
Hugo Griggs Carpet Store
about a block east the old Houston Hotel
that a lot of bands used for practice. I don't remember who all was in the band, but I believe Lamar Alley was the guitar player and Wayne Paulk was the singer. They did a hell of a rendition of "Kansas City." The year may have been 1968 or 69 or 70?????

I remember Kenneth playing around with a fretless bass.
I had never seen a rock & roller play bass like that. Prior to that, I had only heard Jaco Pastorius, a Brazilian jazz musician in Flora Purim's band play fretless.

It was almost like hearing someone play a slide bass, only with fingers doing the slide rather than a steel or a bottle.

A really haunting sound.

Kenneth was a hell of a bassplayer.
J. Hodges


BeaverTeeth 1971: (standing LtoR) J.R. Adkins, Charlie Silva, Frank Tanton, David Adkins, and Kenneth Griffith (seated)

Robert,
I just read Kenneth’s letter and was relieved, and amused to learn, after all these years, someone else witnessed Charlie Silva's “helicopter” maneuver. I must say, as impressed as I was with the actual event, I was even more impressed with the fact that he could perform this feat of speed and agility, right on stage, in front of the audience without them realizing what happened. The first time I witnessed the act, he had to repeat it twice before it dawned on me what had occurred.
He would unzip, whip it out, twirl it at a blurring speed, throw it back in, and zip back up, all in the blink of an eye…
This was on stage at the Flamingo Club in front of a full house.
I thought I had hallucinated.
Thank you Kenneth for drawing out some long suppressed memories…
Charlie was truly gifted…
Frank Tanton