Whatever happened to singers like Glen Garrison, Marvin Blanton, Jack Tucker, Jim Smith, Bobby Griggs, Joanie Waco, Lloyd Emmanuel Jr, Marvin Caves, Johnny Blankenship, Wes Buchanan, Norm Forrest, Hank Ross, Tom Holbrooks, Dick Burns and Jack Reeves.

Does anyone know?

Jack Tucker used to play Cal's Corral and I think he used to be in the Long Beach area in the early 1960's.
I remember Herb Steiner mentioning that while he was Ronstadt & the Stone Poney's {1968-69},that Jack had an attitude about Herb's long hair and wouldn't let him on the bandstand.

I have seen some photo's from a Local 47 Country Music Jamboree from 1964 which included Norm Forrest, Hank Ross, Blackie Taylor & the Southlanders, Eddie Bond, Herman the Hermitt, Sammy Masters and his group {with Carl Walden on steel}, Bobby Wayne {not the dude who played with Hag}, Wynn Stewart, Fred Maddox among others.

The houseband for those who didn't have a band there was led by Hank Ross with Billy Tonnesson on steel.
Hank played with Gene Davis i the late 1950's,worked with a few bands, some his own,even worked a couple with Blackie Taylor in the mid 1960's.
I've heard he may have moved to Texas, but i don't know for sure.

Norm Forrest, well I heard that he was part of a Arco Records deal. Arco was owned by Filmways & Cinema Pictures of Hollywood Ca.
Sometime in 1967 Robert Hinkle and Wes Buchannan were working for Arco Records, they
auditioned material for a proposed television show called "Hollywood Jamboree"
its premise was to showcase new talent and songwriters.
There was a four song session

"Unbreakable Heart", Hinkle Music BMI 45-6603, Written by Ace Tipton,backed with "Brazos Quicksand" Central Songs Inc. BMI 45-6604, written by Wes Buchannan & Robert Hinkle.
Vocals by Wes Buchannan.

"Every Now And Then", Hinkle Music BMI 45-6602, Written by Norm Forrest,
backed with "I'm Beginning to lose" Hinkle Music BMI 45-6601, written by Norm Forrest.
Vocals by Norm Forrest.
the backing group included Jimmy Bryant and Jerry Wiggins.

I also seem to remember that Jay Dee Maness mentioned working with Norm in 1968 until feb '69 when he joined the Buckaroos.
So after that Norm seems to dissapear?
*Actually in my original question I mentioned Wes Buchanan, but that was a mistake, I don't really know anything about him, but I'm sure i heard he passed away in 1985.

Tom Holbrook as 'Tom Brooks' was in the '69 Palomino band, he played the North Hollywood clubs in the early 1970's, and some Vegas gigs. He was even one of the artists who recorded with Michael Nesmith's Countryside band in 1973 {nothing issued}..dunno anything after that?

Jack Reeves worked around the Palmdale scene in the late 1960's. He actually had Eric White on bass, who after he left Ronstadt's group in 1970, just before they turned into Swampwater and cut an album. I believe that Bob Warford also played lead guitar for him, just before Freddy Weller hired him away, circa '69 and Wayne Moore who had played bass with Nashville West with Clarence White, also did a stint in Jack's group around this time. Jack's biggest claim to fame was "being Glen Campbell's cousin" (I think second or some obscure thing like that!). He was quite a showman on stage, rather Elvis like. He apparently worked mainly out in the San Bernadino-Riverside area. He did have the house band at a new club that opened up
in the middle '70's called Dodge Saloon (I've been told it was located in Downey, CA-about 15 miles east of downtown LA).
After that??

Frank Arnett, a steel player who split LA in '67 told me about quite a few of the people I mentioned. but seeing he split town in '67 he kind of lostrack of most of them.

Frank used to play steel for Joanie Waco in Sacramento, who had once had Ralph Mooney as her steel player and ran off with her bands fiddle player Billy Jack Soccier?{Saucier}, who I believe did some work for Hank Thompson
in the 1950's..

Glen Garrsion also played at Millers cave in the 1960's, and hada couple of solo albums in 1967 and 1968.
Jack Tucker cut some material for Toppa Records.

Marvin Blanton used to play at Marion's Saddle Club on Sth Vermont, LA. in the 1960's

Marvin Caves was around when the Tony Booth Band played week nights at the Pal, and either the Marvin Cave Band or Garland Frady played on Sundays.

He was in the main Pal' band when Jerry inman came on board in late 1973, but was soon replaced on bass by Buck Felts..after that?

Uhh can't think anymore..will get back, thanks guys.

Boomer, Wes with Marty Robbins?, that's cool.
Y'know he was in Vegas around 1960-61 working with Marshall Lytle who used to be in the Jodimars and Bill Haley's Comets.

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[This message was edited by Jason Odd on 07 March 2000 at 04:22 AM.]

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CJC

Speaking of drummers, I recently got a phone call from Ted Lessler, with whom I played in the Reb Allen Trio, also Garland Frady and the Outlaws. And I am in constant touch with Eddie Ponder, who also played with Jimmy Lawton, Bobbie Gentry, Byron Berline and others.

Jack Tucker is definitely dead. I hope the mortician gave him a final haircut!! Only kidding, Jack was a great part of the LA scene.

Bob Warford was a good buddy of mine who was a hell of a banjo player before Clarence got him into lead guitar... "show me the money!" Boomer may remember that Wayne Moore was the bass player when he and I worked the house band at the Jack O' Diamonds Club in Palmdale in February of 1971. Wayne had left Swampwater and sort of came with the club if any band wanted the gig there.

Boomer might also remember the 1970 rehearsal we had at Mike Murphey's house where we were prospecting gigs. Our gig at the Big Oaks Lodge in Simi Valley had run out. Murph suggested the Jack O'Diamonds, and Boomer said that Gib Guilbeau had the gig. I said no, that Gib and John (Beland) and Thad (Maxwell) had just joined Ronstadt. So we called the Jack and got the weekend house gig!! That was the start of a band called "Tex" that was popular in SoCal in 1970. In fact, Tommy Allsup produced a record for us on Metromedia that year.

Marvin Cave had a band with Danny Holderat the Pal for a short while, maybe Sundays. Danny could play standard guitar closer to a steel than any musician I have ever heard. You would literally swear there was a steel onstage. Ask Jay Dee, he'll vouch for that!

[This message was edited by Herb Steiner on 08 March 2000 at 09:20 AM.]

George

[This message was edited by George Duncan Sypert on 07 March 2000 at 08:15 PM.]

Joe Casey, I have heard of Jack Vaughn and Jimmy Moore, I'm not too sure about, i think there's a Flying Burrito Brothers '69 bootleg with a Jimmy Moore or Morse sitting in on vocals for a couple of songs.
Hey Joe I got sent an email with a 1963 clipping and picture of Bill Taggert who was a 'country comedian' outside the Pal'.
Did you know him?

Jerry, the book is coming pretty damn good, lost a lot of time though last year with the car crash, the computer virus crash and a few other things. Still kickin' and have really focused of late. I hope to have the sucker finished by the end of this year, and to hit the States to sell it off by next year at the latest.
By the way are you talking about the same Tokyo Ernie that played with Sammy Masters in the 1960's with Blackie Taylor, Cecil Bays and Al Bruno?
If so he'd been crippled in some sort of accident about 20 years ago and passed away in the first week of this year.

Herb you mentioned the Reb Allen Trio, was that Reb Allen ie. Robert Fogleman, who was an LA. Policeman who wore tailored Nudie suits, sung and played bass. Ace Tipton mentioned he lives near Knoxville TN.

Herb, did the Tex album come out, I haven't heard of that one, could it be like the first Swampwater LP {1970} and be a lost gem
of the SoCal scene?
Actually that's on CD now, so it's not so lost..
Love this post guys.

Actually the driver that hit the White brothers, {dislocating Roland's shoulder and killing Clarence} was one Yoko Ito.
Apparently somewhat of a regular at the Jack 'O' and had been kicked out that night before she attempted to drive. Well we know the rest.

Jerry, the bass player with Gib, Clarence and Gene would have been Wayne Moore. this tasty quartet on captured on the 'Nashville West' CD put out by Sierra Records. Clarence is really up front in the mix.

I've also heard that After the Pal and Corral club {late 1960's}, Gene Davis went on to work at the Nashville West in El Monte, CA with The Star Routers for several years, before he moved down to San Diego in the mid 1970's.

Interesting juxtaposition of band names: Jimmy Lawton and the Lawmen, Garland Frady and the Outlaws, and Charlie Call and the Call Boys (featuring the amazing Ron Still on bass!)

Jerry
The Parrish House was the sight of a brawl between Boomer and a couple of thugs who were upset that "Tex" had gotten a gig away from their buddies. I recall Boomer kicking their asses, but he probably forgot to take their names down, forgetfull that he is.

Jason
That's the Reb Allen I knew and unsuccessfully tried to love ! He had an album out on Crown (Folsom Prison Blues) with a cover photo of him in a chain gang outfit... too bad it was only a staged photo! He was kind of an jerk about paying the band what he promised them before the gig, as I recall it.

"Tex" never cut a full album, just 4 songs. I had a copy of them years ago, but God knows where it is now. The stuff wasn't very good from a steel guitar point of view, truthfully, since I really couldn't play in those days. If my memory serves me, the songs, written by Boomer and Murphey, were "Fort Worth I Love You," "Lee Roy," "West Texas Highway," and... and... ? Boomer, help me here!

Jason, do you have any information on Ron Still? There was also a wonderful guitarist and great guy named Hoss Huffman who passed away a long time ago, but was a big part of the after-hours band at the Imperial Inn in Santa Fe Springs.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Homesite

Ron Still's name seems familiar, but can't place it. Hoss I haven't heard of. Might have to keep an eye out for him though.
Whatever happened to Jimmy Lawton?

One note, who would call their group the Call Boys now?..did this name/term have a different meaning in the early 1970's?

Regarding TEX, it's about time someone put together a comp of these artists!

Herb,
I'm glad you remember Bill "Hoss" Huffman. One of the truly good guys in the music scene. I've never heard one bad word about him from anyone. I really admire Al Bruno for what he did with Hoss. Al was at the hospital almost everyday until Hoss died. He was his best friend in the world. Hoss gave Al a T-bird and when he died I think his wife took it back. The last time I saw Al he said he'd found another one just like it and bought it. I sure miss the way we all used to look out for each other. It's sure not like that anymore.

quote:

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. I sure miss the way we all used to look out for each other. It's sure not like that anymore.

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You got that right, hoss.

Jason
Ron Still was a "big Injun'" (we weren't so politically correct in those days, but we knew we loved each other so it didn't friggin' matter) bass player who knew every country song ever written! Boomer introduced me to him in 1970 and we became best buddies. Ron had a laugh and a smile that could power the Anaheim Stadium, although in those days there was no Anaheim Stadium!

Ron tired of Hollywood, and since Charlie Call worked so much in Brawley CA, Ron just moved there and became secretary of the Musician's Union. I lost track of him in the mid-70's, sadly.

"The Call Boys" had the same meaning that it does today, and I think it was Charlie's idea of humor. The name was inaccurate though; when a female fan wanted sex, we never charged for our services.

Only Boomer... Boomer charged, as I recall. (Only kidding Linda!!!!! )

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Herb's Steel Guitar Homesite

Oklahoma drew in Frank Arnett in '67 {now in Nashville}and Dale Bennett who split in 1970.
And the list goes on, no wonder no SoCal pickers of today know who I'm on about *sigh*

Jerry, what happened to Danny Michaels of the Rebel Playboys fame?

Bakersfield too, even with it's heyday in the 1960's it really was the end of an era, guys like Gary Paxton, who had studios and a record store went bust around 1970 and had to close the lot. Mosrite and Fender sold themselvesinto deals that went really wrong in the late 1960's, heck, Mosrite folded in '69 and around 1968 Capitol Records dumped the likes of Red Simpson and the Gosdin Brothers..how they justified that is beyond me. So yeah I dig what you're saying and I couldn't blame anyone for bailing, and when i mean bailing I meant as 'leaving' rather than deserting. I'll try to word things a little better next time *smile*

By the way Boomer, who were you playing with before you left town?

Regards from the always 'curious' Mr. Odd

Actually Moserite didn't fold altogether. Semie Mosely moved the operation to North Carolina where he did limited business for some time afterwards.

I got an interesting email this morning to, from John Delgatto from Sierra Records..do any of you gentlemen remember this group?

From John.

quote:

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Have you ever heard of a country group from LA in 1967 called "The
Roustabouts"--they use to play the Nashville West club in El Monte, CA. (Another one of my missed opportunities, the club was standing until the early 80's but I was too stupid not to take a picture of the place!). It is of course now gone. The location is only about 5 miles from where I live.

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Any ideas anyone?

The word is that this was a long unknown tibbit of information and when word got around to Japanese bluegrass / Clarence White fans, well they were quite distressed that a Japanese American had run down Clarence.
I really can't say for sure, but I don't think it became much of a court case, I thought that perhaps the court case where bar and club owners might be liable for drunken patrons, might have resulted from this unfortunate event. But at the time there seems to have been next to no real coverage. I think in local papers, Clarence was mentioned as any other citizen, and no mention of his musical career.
Bluegrass Unlimited did a '73 one page tribute, mainly with a big photo of Clarence, but having said that most bluegrass fans would have thought that Clarence had retired or something, given the little crossover between contemporary country music fans and bluegrass fans.

His last project the Muleskinner LP may have changed all this, had he lived and been around to promote the album, as Warners sat on it until '74...let it sink into obscurity and delete it!
Thanks to John Delgatto for bringing it back, it's a really good album.

Interesting Boomer, I've been trying to track down Bill via email, but do you still keep in contact with Ethan Reilly?
Ethan played on “Judy Mae”, and well you know him, I don't need to go on.
We've been exchanging emails about the Pal' bands etc and he mentioned you. If you don't want an email I can pass it on, off forum if you email me.

quote:

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I used to play ocassionally with Boomer. He had a Telecaster with six palm pedals and played and sang quite nicely.

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That sez it all really. Although I would have to say that in a couple of country bars I could have done with anyone to have saved me. There's really nothing more humiliating than walking around trying to hold your split chin together while the guy that did it is bragging to his buddies two feet away!

Boomer, your track 'Judy Mae' can be found on Rhino’s “Super Hits of the Seventies - Have a Nice Day, Volume 20”...do you have any of your other stuff that's out on CD, old or new?

By the way, that girlfriend, was she a keeper?