Hey y'all~
HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM ZERO, NORTHWEST FLORIDA!
If you really dig that New Year's/Mardi Gras vibe then check out the juke box @ Professor Longhair's !
http://www.myspace.com/professorlonghair1
image courtesy of the Sunday, Nov. 16, 1975 issue of THE TUSCALOOSA NEWS
Hey Igor~
Do dat be you in THE RAUDELUNAS MARCHING BOOLEY BAND
of Bama Homecoming '75? http://www.craignutt.com/raudelunas/deals/rmvb.html.
This is gonna be one ambitious post because I have over 13 images and each one has a story behind it.
Clayton Lancaster, son of Jim & Jill Lancaster, had to have open heart surgery yesterday.
A lot of you know Clayton from working with him at Playground Recording Studio http://playgroundrecordingstudio.com/
image courtesy of
http://www.myspace.com/casperlayne
Clayton's not out of the woods yet so please keep him in your prayers.
Dear PRS Friends,
We'd like to thank all of you for your thoughts and prayers as well as the loving kindness and concern you have shown:
update for our Friends
Unbelievable how things can change in an instant. On Tuesday Clayton came into the studio about midnight with some severe pain that he couldn't really pinpoint. Patrick came and got me from the control room.. so I had Patrick take him to the ER in Niceville and they helicoptered him to Pensacola. Jill and I went over about 3am. Turns out he has a rare thing called Marfan's Syndrome and had an aneurysm on his aorta and long story short he had open heart surgery yesterday to replace some tubing and a heart valve.. a complicated 8 hr procedure that was supposed to last 4 hrs. The doc almost lost him in surgery.. and we almost lost him twice last night.. Thank God by daylight they have him almost stabilized.. enough for me to return to Valp for a bit. I have every confidence he will be just fine.. and really his quality of life should be better than ever after a month's recovery. He's not out of the woods quite yet.. but I could see plenty of life left in between the tattoos.
Ironically, we uploaded "A Stone's Throw" on Tuesday
After the dude threw his 3 children off of the Dauphin Island Bridge in Mobile.. no one could fathom or even discuss the situation. Clayton wrote this song within a day of the tragedy from the childrens' point of view
http://tinyurl.com/aybkbr or just go to http://www.ilike.com/artist/
Much Gratitude
The Lancasters
I received a nice email from the Roy Orbison Fan Club royorbison.com
detailing all of the Orbison organization's accomplishments in 2008.
Please check out the jukebox at Roy's myspace site. http://www.myspace.com/royorbison
Please check out the blog @ http://myspace.com/paulbearbryant
We are now approaching 17,000 views of the THE DAY BEAR BRYANT DIED http://daybeardied.com
on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCAq3D-AAbU&feature=related
& the fans have left 25 wonderful comments!
BEAR COUNTRY will have its world premiere at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival Friday night. There's a teaser video up on YouTube but the audio is TOTAL WRECKAGE!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA0C6wYRvnE
HE WAS PROUD OF IT, A LETTER FROM A MAN WHO'S A WINNER
by Clettus Atkinson
BIRMINGHAM POST-HERALD, Tuesday, January 13, 1976
He didn't just say it. He pronounced it.
"Bear Bryant says," he said,"that there's no such thing as luck. You make your own luck." Then he stood there, kind of looking around, maybe waiting for someone to dispute it. Nobody did, not even the Auburn fans. Because there was a glint in the man's eyes, as if he'd just read one of the 10 commandments when it was written on the tablet of stone. He had spoken.
He was a slight, stoop-shouldered man, about 50, with beer-dulled eyes and three missing front teeth. He was shooting pool, doing real well, too, for $5 a game. He had on a "Bear hat," black checked; a sweatshirt, white, with a charging elephant on the front of it. "Alabama" was emblazoned in red in a rainbow above the beast, which appeared to be stampeding, trampling everything in its path(Penn State, Oklahoma, Ohio State?)
"Coach Bryant wrote to me once," he told a couldn't-care-less early morning group, most of whom were trying to consume some of the "hair of the dog" that had bitten them the night before.
"I bought these down in Tuscaloosa," he said, pointing to a pair of red boots and crimson belt that had "Roll Tide," imprinted in white on it. Then he walked over to the huge glass window and pointed out. "That's my car," he said, of a yellow Chevy. On its windshield was an Alabama sticker, and on the bumper was a similar tag. So, you got the point all right. He was an Alabama fan.
Turned out, listening to him talk, he was from down in the West Blocton area, had "run up to Bessemer to see some friends." He was a miner, lived with his sister. "My wife died three years ago," he said, "And I ain't been interested much in nobody since."
He shot then, hardly ever missing, pinpointing the pool balls like Richard Todd did his passes in the Sugar Bowl. Right on target. He was beating everyone who challenged. His front pocket bulged with bills, and his right-side pants legs were streaked with chalk marks where he'd wiped his fingers.
"When Bear Bryant went out to Texas A and M from Kentucky," he said, "he told them people out there he'd come to win some ball games. And he did. Just like he's done here." Somebody played some loud music on the juke box. Englebert Humperdinck doing "Release Me." He told the woman behind the counter, "How 'bout turning it down some." She ignored him. He shrugged.
"You know," he said, "that next year, we gonna have the best team we ever had." And he named off a lot of players who were coming back, and told about the ones recruited this year. "It'll be a winner," he said. "We'll be able to pick our bowl."
We?
Well, that's what a man at the counter asked him. A tall, bigchested man with Muhammad Ali fists and a submarine sandwich half-eaten. "Whatta you mean, we?" he said, an end of the bun sticking from his mouth.
The small man in the sweatshirt with the elephant on it put his cuestick down, tilted his Bear-hat back and spoke above the noise of the juke box. "One time," he said, "right after my wife died, I lost a boy in a car wreck. I give up. I was a loser. There was nothing left."
But, he said, he got to thinking of the sign he'd heard about being in Bear Bryant's office that said, something to the effect that winning isn't everything, but it sure beats anything that comes in second, and he'd written a letter to Coach Bryant. "I spilled my guts," he said,"It was a crying letter. I ought not to done it, but I'm glad I did."
He went out to his car then, came back with an envelope. In it was a carefully handled letter. A reply from Coach Bryant. Just a couple of paragraphs, thoughtfully written, along the lines of "Win one for the Gipper."
He showed it to the man with the Muhammad Ali fists and the inch of submarine sandwich sticking from his mouth. The man sat there, swallowing. "That's a good letter," he said.
The "Roll Tide" man went back to shooting pool then. He cut a ball into a side pocket, told his opponent, "There's no such thing as luck. Coach Bryant says you make your own luck."
The elephant on his sweatshirt glowed in the sun from the windows.
And it looked twice the size it had been.
THE CRIMSON BLIGHT
Plaguing The University for more than 90 years.
April Fool's Issue April 1, 1982
BRYANT ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
by FRANK DEFLOORED CW Sports Correspondent
In a totally unexpected press conference Wednesday, Paul "Bear" Bryant, the winningest coach in college football history, announced his retirement from college athletics.
Bryant, who has 315 career victories to his credit, said he was "tired of all this football garbage. I know I said that football is my life, but I lied."
The coach said 315 games was enough, and it was time for him to "get back to Mary Harmon and my family."
Bryant said the reason for quitting now was that "I tried everything I could to lose against Auburn, so I would have something to shoot for next season. But we won anyway, and after I won number 315, there wasn't anything left to do."
Bryant also announced that his last act as University athletic director was to hire Doug Barfield as head football coach and promote Charlie Thornton to the office of athletic director.
When asked what he would do after his retirement, Bryant said, "I'm going to do two things. First, ABC has offered me a job as color announcer at college football games. I'll be working alongside Howard Cosell and, if I'm lucky, Ara Parseghian."
The legendary coach's last statement was, "Boy, I sure do loves that football."
Bryant left the press conference as a train rumbled down the railroad tracks, singing "Love Lifted Me" and toting a can of bug spray.
Seeing Shorty out in front of the Druid Dragon Marching Band reminded me of my ten years in the Dragon Den & so did this front page article from the Thursday, Feb. 27, 1975 issue of the Tuscaloosa News.
I was teaching at Druid the day Rhonda & Rosalyn were blasted by LaGrand White's shotgun as they sat in the parking lot. Our guidance counselor,the late Bob Roberts, saved Rhonda's life by stuffing a rag in her sucking chest wound so she could catch her breath. By doing that Bob also saved the life of Rhonda's unborn baby.
Mr. McDonald Hughes, our principal, tried to save Rhonda's mother's life. He called her, had her on the phone and yelled at her, "Get out of that house right now! A man's coming to shoot you." She replied something like,"Wait a minute, somebody's at the door." I'm pretty sure Mr. Hughes heard the shootgun blast that killed Rhonda's mother.
Years later, I worked with Rhonda and the daughter Bob saved that day.
Funny how these old newspapers from the Pake Realty Archives http://pakerealty.com
bring back so many memories.
Andy Warhol came to The University in the spring of '68 and this cover of the Farrago commemorated his visit.
The article PSYCHEDELIC WOMAN was a photo essay by Marshal Hagler but what I really loved was the following:
Oh Where Oh Where To Get A DRINK
Oh where, oh where can I get a drink? My world for a nice place to get a drink.
Yes, yes, where in the world- or more specifically, where in Tuscaloosa- can I get a drink?
There aren't many such places in Tuscaloosa to begin with- so even in the beginning you and your holy quest have one strike against you. And of all the places that do serve the nectar of the gods, you probably wouldn't want to go to many of them.
Once you have located said spot of repose, you will probably have considerable trouble digging your way through reds [ed. note: i.e. "rednecks"], wiping the grease off the glass so you can taste whatever it is you ordered, and finally trying in some futile way not to become annoyed by that damned drunk at the next table who thinks that the "C" he made in Basket Weaving 101 was the best thing on earth.
Beyond this, there is little trouble finding a good place to go have a quick one before dinner, or some place at least partially civilized where you can take that "nice" girl you have finally managed- after six weeks - to get a date with.
We recommend that you go somewhere besides Tuscaloosa if you really want a nice place to get a beer, or a gimlet, or even a whiskey sour- but there are a few places here in Tuscaloosa that are at least decent- some of them are even nice. And since our purpose is to tell you "where, oh where can I get a drink", we'll list most of the Tuscaloosa Pubs.
While it's certainly not the most elegant place in "T-town," THE CHUKKER does have an atmosphere of its own. It's one of those places you find in every college town that has the artwork of the local Chagalls hanging on the walls (the only trouble is that it's too dark to really make out what the paintings are all about). They only serve beer. They also have food- from inexpensive hamburgers to steaks. Sometimes on the weekends The Chukker features live entertainment (a guy at a piano) but the management usually does not like you to sing along.
It's a very close place, with concrete floors, sardine-like seating and a good supply of beer nuts. At The Chukker you'll find everyone from art students, journalism students, English TA's toan occasional professor. Watch our for reds any time but weekends. Location- across from Leigh Buick- 2121 6th Street.
A bit of a change from the having-to-shout-to-be-heard type place is the DEEP SOUTH LOUNGE (next to Johnny's at the corner of University Boulevard and Greensboro Ave). It is considerably more relaxing, and slightly more expensive, but is a better place to take a date. Here to you have to watch out for reds.
As long as we are on the clean-cut places, try Pete's on University Blvd. just before you get to Queen City Ave. Here you rarely, if ever, have to worry about reds.
The glasses are not greasy and the people frequenting this pub are usually more aware of the social graces. (Pete's is basically a restaurant which serves good, reasonable meals, but has a lounge in the "after" half of the place).
Pete keeps the color TV going most of the time- good color, too- has a nice padded bar with real brass rails around the bottom of the bar stools. You can eat in the lounge part at a number of tables. Pete will whip up just about any drink you can think of. About the same prices as the DS, but higher that the Chukker's beer.
If you really want to go all out and impress her, or even yourself, go to the Holiday Inn Lounge- across the foyer from the dining room. The Holiday Inn is located on the US-82 bypass between Tuscaloosa and Northport. Prices are higher that at most other bistros, but the atmosphere is better, often have entertainment on weekends, and you can charge it all on your father's Gulf credit card, we think. It's a good place- especially for cocktails before some big wingding.
The Red Ox- now there's a place- presents problems in finding a place to take a breather. Besides reds, the Red Ox usually charges a cover and a fairly good amount for the intoxicants.
The Tuscaloosa city commission would not renew the liquor license of the Cross Keys- now there was a swinger- a real Go-Go Girl and all. Scream at the puritanical, sanctemonious, inept city government for messing you up there.
The Hotel Stafford is another place you can go- but it's mainly frequented by the natives and some reds. Prices are high, atmosphere not too bad.
Two particularly good places, though visited by only a few Caucasian UA students, are
The Club 61 (ed. note: The Club 61 on 26th Avenue was demolished last month) and
The Citizens Club. They are both frequented predominantely by Negroes- but if you really want a rocking time, take 'em in. They're great. Entertainment on the weekend is the rule at both, as is a small cover charge, and the beer is reasonable.
The first time, go with someone who has been before because both clubs are hard to find: Club 61 is on the residential south side of Tuscaloosa, and the Citizens Club is on the Eutaw highway. You'll have a real swinging evening.
Kanora is a restaurant that has unpretentious, but good food and serves beer. Located on the University side of the Birmingham highway, near the Skyland Drive-In Theatre, the Kanora has been known to have reds. It's not a night spot, however, just a place to eat and have a drink. Good in the not-so-busy afternoon just to sit and have a beer and read the paper. Has TV, but it's black and white.
When it comes to drinking places in "T-town" there just aren't many. Sorry we couldn't have opened up a few more for UA'ers, but that's life.
We recommend, however, that if you really want a good time- but a fairly expensive one- go to Huntsville about 150 miles to the north. Go with someone who lives there and knows how to get to the spots. Go-Go girls are usually the rule, dancing everywhere, bands the rule, 50 cents and up for a beer is also the rule.
BUT THEY ARE OPEN ON SUNDAY NIGHTS, alas! All are private clubs- the only way they can serve mixed drinks by law- and usually require membership which can be purchased at the door.
image courtesy of http://www.hbo.com/events/breakingthehuddle/
While I was in Apalachicola last Sunday I saw the HBO documentary BREAKING THE HUDDLE.
My old friend Percy Jones is on there a lot and so is George Jr.
Junior says something about his Daddy being a racial moderate in the '58 Governors race and that the voters ignored his platform but started stomping their feet and getting excited when he talked about resisting integration.
I'm not so sure about how moderate our Little Fightin' Judge was in '58...
from the November 26, 1958 Montgomery Advertiser
After tour abroad-
Shooting war could erase mankind, says Sparkman
Montgomery, Ala., Nov. 26-(AP)-
If a shooting war should break out, there is a possibility that mankind would cease to be an occupant of the globe, Sen. John Sparkman (D., Ala.) warned yesterday.
Sparkman, who recently returned from a tour of the Far East, said he came back "with a feeling of discouragement" as to who is winning the cold war.
"Today we have an uneasy peace but a raging cold war," he told a Montgomery civic club, "and in the event a hot war should break out it is not beyond the realm of possibility that mankind as an occupant of the globe will come to an end."
The Alabama senator said people outside the South are beginning to realize "you don't force people by bayonets to change their way of life."
He said there has been talk that the Little Rock school integration controversy hurt U.S. influence overseas but added that this "has been overplayed as much as anything I've heard of."
"The feeling where I visited was that those nations had their racial problems just as we do,"
he said.
While minimizing the effect of Little Rock on U.S. foreign relations, Sparkman said Sputnik had a far different effect.
"YOU TALK ABOUT something that hit us hard, well Sputnik did," he said.
"That was all they were talking about."
While most of the countries are uncommitted to the free world or communism, he said,
"they want to be on the winning side."
"And with Sputnik up there they are no longer sure that America is on the winning side," the senator said.
Roberto-
Hope you had a good and safe holiday. I did my pilgrimage to the Studio One site in Doraville a few days before Christmas. I got inside the building. From what I could see there's not a clue left that there was ever a studio there which I knew would be the case but depressed me nonetheless.
Don't know if you heard but Delaney Bramlett passed away Dec. 27.http://www.myspace.com/delaneybramlett
Very sad. He was such a good man and a big influence on so many. Did you hear the cut he and my daddy did of "Lost Highway" on 'Last Man Standing'? (that's the album we released in 2006).
image courtesy of http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000GRUQYW.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
Anyway, he was so talented and will be very missed.
Take care,
Phoebe Lewis http://jerryleelewis.com/
from http://delaneybramlett.com
Delaney's memorial service was 1-2-09 at Forest Lawn in Burbank, Ca.
It was a send off fit for the KING he was.
The service was filled with music, tears, and laughs of joy and love for Delaney.
I am sure that Delaney was looking down with Duane, Jimi, George, King Curtis and John laughing at what he heard.
To all the fans of Delaney, on behalf of Susan Bramlett, I would like to extend a thank you for all your kind words of support and love.
I hope 2009 is filled with good health, joy and prosperity for all of you.
Steve Fischler
Magnolia Gold Records
Home of the Legendary Delaney Bramlett
Added: January 3, 2009
