Hey y'all:

I saw the promo tonight for the first time of CMT's Southern Rock show which airs at 9 this Saturday night. Didn't hear ARS mentioned in the ad so I looked the show up on the Web.Here's the list of featured artists from the CMT website: Lynyrd Skynyrd, .38 Special, Blackfoot, Charlie Daniels, Gregg Allman, Elvin Bishop and Hank Jr.

Don't know whether I'll see the show Saturday night or not but I'm sure I'll see it eventually.

The cat who took the shots you will see below works for the University & I say these images set a standard and I challenge anyone else to come up with BETTER BAMA SPIRIT shots for wallpaper for
THE BAMA NATION CD.









Robert,

Today as I went about my business I got my first responses concerning your interview. I had two women that told me you were their teacher. One said she had a big time crush on you. I had a guy that said he knew you from seeing you at some of T-town's finer libation providers. Another wanted to know if there was a book about the Chukker in the making. You might be signing autographs before this thing is pulled from the stands.
Stay in touch,
Jerry


Laurie, oldest daughter of Gerry Bensberg

Gerard J. Bensberg Jr.


WIMBERLEY, Texas – Gerard Joseph Bensberg Jr., known to his family and friends as Jerry or Dr. "B," passed away on June 23, 2006, at Deer Creek in Wimberley, Texas.

Born in Camden, Ark., Nov. 15, 1927, the youngest of seven children of Gerard J. Bensberg Sr. and Grace Pearl Edrington Bensberg. He is survived by his devoted wife of 58 years, Mary B. Looney Bensberg, daughter Laurie Herselman and her husband Lance of Kyle, Texas, daughter Sara Kazmi of Albuquerque, N.M., grandchildren Jaclyn Edens of Dodge City, Kan., Jordan, Jared and Taylor Herselman of Kyle and greatgrandchildren Alexis Raines and Spade Pool of Dodge City, brother Thomas Edison Bensberg, wife Bonnie and sister Margaret Sessoms of Camden, Ark., and many nieces and nephews around the country.

He graduated from Arkansas College (now Lyon College) in Batesville, Ark., in 1947 where he was later honored as a Distinguished Alumni in 1978. He received his master’s degree in psychology from the University of Arkansas in 1948. On June 1, 1948, he married his college sweetheart, Mary Looney in First Baptist Church in Batesville, Ark. He enrolled in the doctoral program at Northwestern University, but was soon hired as the Chief Psychologist at the Southern Wisconsin Colony and Training school in Union Grove. He left this position to resume his graduate work and received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a minor in Special Education from the Peabody College at Vanderbilt University in 1955. He was employed by the Arkansas Department of Health as Associate Director of the Child Development Center and Associate Director of Mental Hygiene in 1957. In 1961, he accepted a research and educational position at Southern Regional Education Board in Atlanta, Ga. This project focused on developing effective training programs for personnel serving the mentally disabled population. It was during this time that he served as a consultant for the President’s Council on Mental Health and Mental Retardation.

In 1966, he joined the faculty of the University of Alabama in Birmingham as a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Associate Director of the Center for Developmental and Learning Disorders. In 1971, he moved his family to Lubbock, Texas, where he joined the faculty of Te xas Tech University as a Professor of Psychology and Special Education and served as the Director of the Research and Training Center in Mental Retardation.

After retiring in 1992, he and Mary moved to Hot Springs Village, Ark., to be closer to family and friends. They were active members of Presbyterian Kirk in the Pines Church and Lyon College Alumni Association. They enjoyed spending summers at their cabin in Pagosa Springs, Colorado and traveling to visit children and grandchildren. Wimberley became their home in 2003 where they became members of Wimberley Presbyterian Church. Jerry dedicated his life to the service of others and was a strong advocate for people with disabilities. He was an avid sports fan, had a passion for music and was a loyal supporter of the Democratic Party. He will be remembered for his love and commitment to his family, his compassion for others, his gentle sense of humor, generosity, keen intelligence and sound, practical advice.

His will to live and deep love and commitment to Mary kept him strong until the end. He will be missed by all those who loved and respected him. Jerry’s family wishes to thank the staff at Deer Creek for their constant care, love and support for him while he found his home there and Heart to Heart Hospice, Chrissy, Amy and Bonnie for your gentle kindness, care and guidance during his final days. A memorial service in celebration of his life will be held at the Wimberley Presbyterian Church in Wimberley, Texas, at 3 p.m. on July 30, 2006. Memorials may be given to Habitat for Humanity or HEIFER Project in care of Wimberley Presbyterian Church, PO Box 1854, Wimberley, TX 78676.

ROBERT NIX'S PRAYER

DEAR FATHER GOD,
I HUMBLY ASK YOU TO INTERCEDE AND HEAL A GOOD FRIEND, DAWN
BAILEY. A SWEET, AND BEAUTIFUL LADY THAT I HAVE ALWAYS HELD THE MOST RESPECT AND REVERENCE FOR.

THE WIFE AND LIFE-LONG SOUL MATE OF MY VERY GIFTED FRIEND,BARRY BAILEY. SHE HAS NEVER HAD A NEGATIVE OR DEMEANING VIBE AROUND HER.

DEAR FATHER GOD
I HUMBLY ASK YOU TO TOUCH AND HEAL OUR GOOD BROTHER MIKE CLARK. HE IS
A TALENTED MAN AND DESERVES YOUR GRACIOUS ATTENTION.

BOTH OF THESE DEAR FRIENDS
HAVE DONE GOOD WORKS ON THIS EARTH.
PLEASE DEAR FATHER HEAR MY PRAYER AND BLESS
THEM WITH YOUR MERCIFUL WILL. HELP US ALL TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR WILL IS.
IN JESUS' PRECIOUS NAME,
I ASK THESE THINGS,

AMEN...................................ROBERT NIX

Visit Alison online!http://www.alisonhe
From :
Keep on Rockin'


From :
JOSEPH GOLDSTON
Sent :
Friday, June 30, 2006 3:30 PM
To :
ROBERTOREG@HOTMAIL.COM
Subject :
Hey down in Alabama


I enjoy reading your blog several times a week.....

I'm a native of North Carolina and still live here in central N.C. I truly enjoy reading about about all the fantastic musical related experiences on your website and it brings back great memories for me.

As I read your latest entry this morning,I noticed that Hendrix came to Alabama....it must have been around 1968 or 1969....and he also did a stop or two in NC on that same tour. But believe it or not....I saw Hendrix open for the Monkees in July,1967 in Greensboro,NC when I was 14 years old. I actually went to see the Monkees,but I was completely blown away by The Jimi Hendrix Experience. They did three songs...Hey Joe,Purple Haze,and one other song that I cannot remember the name of.

Many years later when I would mention the fact that I had seen Hendrix open for the Monkees in 1967,some people didn't believe me.....but all you have to do is go to Google and search for anything related to "Jimi Hendrix and The Monkees" and the proof is there....along with a couple of really crazy stories related that that same tour.

I purchased a copy of the first Hendrix Experience in August of 1967 at a Thalhiemers Dept. store "record section" in Greensboro....they had one copy and I'm quite sure that no radio stations in NC were playing any Hendrix songs at that time,except on a couple of university stations at Duke or UNC-Chapel Hill.

Time flies.....
when your're having fun.....
and I'm still having fun up here in NC....
so time must still be flying.
Joey Goldston

Hey y'all:

Our good friend Robert Nix, a founding member of the Atlanta Rhythm Section, has helped form a new band called DEEP SOUTH
which is made up of founding & former members of LYNYRD SKYNYRD, WET WILLIE, ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION and THE MARSHALL TUCKER BAND.

Please visit their myspace site
http://myspace.com/deepsouthband

and listen to their absolutely killer 5 minute 45 second live version of SWEET HOME ALABAMA from their new CD/DVD.

Please add them as friends, listen to their music and view their pictures.

Members of DEEP SOUTH are Artimus Pyle (formerly of Lynyrd Skynyrd), Robert Nix (formerly of Atlanta Rhythm Section), Jimmy Hall (formerly of Wet Willie), Hal McCormick, Dean Daugherty (formerly of Atlanta Rhythm Section), Chris Hicks (formerly of Marshall Tucker Band)

DEEP SOUTH is also launching their
official website http://deepsouthlive.com

Y'all check 'em out!

Best,
Robert



A REQUEST FOR A SPECIAL PRAYER

To:
"robert register"
From:
"Buddy Buie"
Subject:
prayer request
Date:
Fri, 23 Jun 2006 08:16:00 -0500

THIS IS A PRAYER REQUEST FOR DAWN BAILEY AND MIKE CLARK.
DAWN BAILEY is the wife and sweetheart of Barry Bailey, ARS guitarist
and founding member.
She is battling lung cancer. They have been married since high school.
MIKE CLARK is the owner of Southern Tracks Studio. This is where Stone
Temple Pilots, Elton John,
Bruce Springsteen , Pearl Jam, Train, ARS, and many other artist
record. He too is fighting for his life
suffering from lung cancer.
PLEASE PRAY FOR THEM.
BUDDY BUIE

A PLANET WEEKLY MAGAZINE Interview With Roberto "KA$H" Register!
http://www.theplanetweekly.com/



'74


'06

Jerry Henry: Robert, You have the honor of being the first nonmusician to be included on this page. I am interviewing you as a historian. Your knowledge of local and southern music in general is impressive. What promoted this interest in music?

Robert: Well, I grew up in Dothan and it seemed like I was around music all my life there. My grandmother who lived in Dothan played piano and my grandmother who lived nearby over in Georgia played the accordian. I've always been around radios and record players. We got a TV when I was about 5.

When I was in kindergarten, our maid, Rosa, taught me to sing SIXTEEN TONS. I'd stand up in front of her while she was ironing and she would sing the song and do a little dance as she ironed. She taught me all the words and she taught me to sing while I did my little dance. Before Little Bo Peep Kindergarten graduation, Ms. Loftin had me get on Barbara Gellerstedt's TV show and sing and dance SIXTEEN TONS. That really caught people's interest and I got to perform the song in front of a packed house in the Highland School auditorium before the graduation ceremony so I really got bitten by the music bug.

Later on that same year, at Christmas in 1956, Santa Claus brought me a record player with some Elvis 45s and I've been entertaining
myself with music ever since.

Jerry: Did you ever try to learn to play a musical instrument?

Robert: I banged around on the piano with no success & when everybody got garageband fever around the time the Animals released HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN, I tried to play guitar but nobody could teach me how to play lefthanded. So I'm not a musician but with the right lubrication at a jam session, I might be persuaded leave my conga drum long enough to step up to the mike and sing "The Letter".

Jerry: What was the early Rock and Roll scene like in Dothan?

Robert: As far as I know the entire Rock & Roll scene in Dothan centered around John Rainey Adkins house on West Main Street. In '58 and '59, that's where it was happening. If the Adkins had a TV set, they didn't turn it on very much. Every evening you could hear music coming out of that house. My grandmother lived on Jeff Street across Porter's Woods from John Rainey's house. My grandfather died on Halloween day of '59 and I moved in with my grandmother to keep her company. She spoiled me rotten so I always had money to go to Northcutt's Drug Store where there was a soda fountain and a comic book rack. It was located just across the gully from John Rainey's house so I made it a habit of kind of playing peeping tom in the Adkins front yard so I could hear the music. At Dothan High, John Rainey, Buddy Buie, Bobby Goldsboro, Amos Tindall, Gerald Hall and Dave Robinson had gotten together and formed Dothan's first rock band, The WEBS.

There were other places that could have had rock music but I was too young to know about it. Napier Field had been an air base during World War II so we had a string of dead end clubs out toward Grimes and some more toward Ft. Rucker in Wicksburg. All the guys in the Webs knew what was happening out there and I'm sure some of those musicians inspired the WEBS.

Jerry: I think every one knows who Bobby Goldsboro is but another recognizable name is Buddy Buie. Wasn't he with The Atlanta Rhythm Section?

Robert: Buddy Buie is Dothan's original Rock & Roll empresario.He managed the Webs, then after he got Orbison to hire them as his backup band, he convinced Orbison to hire him to be his road manager. Buddy always dreamed of being a songwriter and he's been very successful. He cowrote Spooky, Traces of Love, Stormy, Georgia Pines. He had enough success with the Classics IV, The Candymen and Wilbur Walton Jr. & The James Gang that he was able to build Studio One in Doraville, Georgia.

Around 1970 Buddy organized the Atlanta Rhythm Section from his recording studio session musicians. Buddy also co-wrote all of the ARS hits. SO INTO YOU, BOTHER ME TONIGHT, DORAVILLE,CHAMPAGNE JAM

In fact,right now I'm helping Buddy promote an Atlanta Rhythm Section song. He and ARS lead singer, Ronnie Hammond, wrote it in late January of '83 after watching Coach Bryant's funeral procession from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham on television. The song is called THE DAY BEAR BRYANT DIED. It's gonna be released on THE BAMA NATION CD in August.

Jerry: When and why did you move to Tuscaloosa?

Robert: I'd never been to Tuscaloosa before I came here for freshman orientation in July of '68. I came a day or two early and got a motel room at Dill's Motor Court so I could adjust to the scenery.

I came back in September and got a room in Friedman Hall and it's been going on ever since. I've traveled a lot and I left town for three years back in the 80s but I subleased my apartment so for the past 38 years, I've always had a place to stay in Tuscaloosa. I swear the the biggest thing in this town for me other than the obvious is the libraries. Now with the Internet, I could see myself moving away from here.


Jerry: So you have experienced the music changes in Tuscaloosa since 1968. What do you remember from those early days?

Robert: O.K. '68 and '69. The number one thing I remember is that I was lucky I didn't flunk out because I was under the bad influence of some of my older friends from Dothan, the notorious Blue C. Squad. They had already flunked out of Montevallo along with their girlfriends and were making another attempt at academia at Alabama. All of their girlfriends had transferred to MSCW in Columbus so I spent the year commuting to Columbus every weekend with that gang of drunks from my old neighborhood in Dothan. In Columbus, I got to know and love BIG BEN ADKINS AND THE NOMADS. Oh man, they were my kind of band, just like the Rockin' Gibraltars and Wilbur Walton Jr.
"There's a party going on, come on over!"
We'd get started at Gateway or Wild Turkey's or Bob's Place or The Crossroads or Len Lew's but by the end of the night we'd all be down front at The Southeraire hollering at Big Ben.

The music scene around here was over in Northport. Dancing was illegal in Tuscaloosa bars until draft beer came in around '75. I went to fraternity parties and I saw my first real psychedelic rock concert at the coliseum when Iron Butterfly came to town. I missed the Hendrix concert but I met my first hippies down on the Strip the night Hendrix played the coliseum.

Bands like the Candymen played Ft. Brandon Armory every now and then and The Raquet Club was kind of an open bottle club that had good bands.

All the clubs with live bands were across the river in Northport. The Chef, The Red Ox, The Shiloh, the Ponderosa and The Stardust. I went to the Stardust all the time because I knew the manager Ted Grace who was from Enterprise and one of my roommates, Bob Newberry, was a bartender.

The first Tuscaloosa band I started to follow was BUTTERMILK in about '69. They played the little music festivals that would happen on the quad or in Foster Auditorium on Sundays. I remember the performances of their lead singer ,Billy Townsend's, real well and Marshall Hagler's light shows.

There was a Friday night coffee shop in the Barnwell Hall basement called DOWNUNDER. Courtney Hayden would MC there on the weekends. Dusty Lamont played a lot at DOWNUNDER.

I listened to Tiger Jack on WTBC and as far as I recall, a cat named Seth Hirsh was the first big FM DJ. I will never ever forget the first time I heard him play the long version of "Whole Lotta Love" on the radio. I thought he was gonna get arrested!

Jerry: From what I hear you are know as the official historian for the historical Chukker. What are some of the printable highlites that happened at the Chukker?

Robert: I guarantee you there's very little "official" about anything associated with The Chukker. What I officially am is the proud owner of a recipe box filled with 4 by 8 cards.They tell one hell of a story.

This attempt to preserve Chukker history began on December 21, 1987 when we were all sitting at the bar and the late Dart Hayward, brother of Charlie Daniel's bass player Charlie Hayward, suggested that we start a contest for "The Best Personal History of the Chukker."
Well, that contest never occurred but I started taking notes that night and basically it all degenerated into "The Craziest Stuff That Ever Happened In The Chukker."

In most people's opinion, the craziest thing that ever happened in the Chukker involved the late Bob Weston and Michael McGovern's toe. That's all I'm gonna say about that because my Mommy and Daddy raised me not to talk about stuff like that in public.

Jerry: The Chukker is gone. The early Rock and Roll groups have been taken over by the sons of the originals. What do you listen to today and where do you see the Tuscaloosa music scene in the future?

Robert: I mainly listen to the stuff I listened to in high school and college. Because of my blog, I get a great opportunity to listen to the old stuff because people are always sending mixed CDs with Wilbur Walton & The James Gang, The Candymen, Otis Redding, The Temptations,Classics IV, Big Ben Atkins. We call it ANIMAL HOUSE MUSIC.

I still love Duane Allman ,Jethro Tull, Skynyrd and ZZ Top.

My most recent obsession is all the myspace.com pages on the old Delta bluesmen. Charlie Patton, Robert Johnson, Son House, Bukka White, Howling Wolf, Muddy Waters plus there are pages on Blind Willie McTell, Johnny Shines, and Elmore James. You can download music off almost all those myspace music pages.

Locally, I enjoyed the crawfish festival over on 4th Street. Got to hang out with Topper Price. Little Willies is about the only place I care about going to for live music. That Boykin kid who plays down there is super.

Every chance I get I encourage people in business to push for more open air music events with festival seating. The Bama Theatre is doing a good job of attracting acts. I haven't been to any of the concerts over there but I hope they're selling tickets.
They're talking about building an amphitheatre down where the Farmer's Market is located so that new venue could bring some great talent to town.

The joke everybody plays on me around here, is they'll come up all excited and lie to me by saying something like "Hey Robert, Billy Joe Royal is playing in Birmingham Friday night. I got an extra ticket!" just to get me excited and see me disappointed.

Jerry: Robert, The Planet Weekly appreciates you granting this interview. If our readers want to get in touch with you how would they do that?

Robert: I work for Lee Pake so you can usually get me a Pake Realty, 759-1906. I also have some blogs on the Internet. Just type "robertoreg" into Google Search and you'll find out all about me out there in cyberspace.
Thanks, Jerry.
I really appreciate this opportunity to tell some of my story.

To:
"robert register"
From:
"Buddy Buie"
Subject:
prayer request
Date:
Fri, 23 Jun 2006 08:16:00 -0500

THIS IS A PRAYER REQUEST FOR DAWN BAILEY AND MIKE CLARK.
DAWN BAILEY is the wife and sweetheart of Barry Bailey, ARS guitarist
and founding member.
She is battling lung cancer. They have been married since high school.
MIKE CLARK is the owner of Southern Tracks Studio. This is where Stone
Temple Pilots, Elton John,
Bruce Springsteen , Pearl Jam, Train, ARS, and many other artist
record. He too is fighting for his life
suffering from lung cancer.
PLEASE PRAY FOR THEM.
BUDDY BUIE