Fire in the Water, Earth in the Air: Legends
of West Texas Music by Christopher Oglesby Published by the University
of Texas Press: "As a whole, the interviews create
a portrait not only of Lubbock's musicians and artists, but also
of the musical community that has sustained them, including venues
such as the legendary Cotton Club and the original Stubb's Barbecue.
This kaleidoscopic portrait of the West Texas music scene gets
to the heart of what it takes to create art in an isolated, often
inhospitable environment. As Oglesby says, "Necessity is
the mother of creation. Lubbock needed beauty, poetry, humor,
and it needed to get up and shake its communal ass a bit or go
mad from loneliness and boredom; so Lubbock created the amazing
likes of Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock, Terry Allen, and
Joe Ely."
"Indeed, Oglesby's introduction of more
than two dozen musicians who called Lubbock home should be required
reading not only for music fans, but for Lubbock residents and
anyone thinking about moving here. On these pages, music becomes
a part of Lubbock's living history."
- William Kerns, Lubbock Avalanche Journal
One of my
greatest pleasures editing virtualubbock is the e-mail I receive
from readers with valuable pieces of lore about Lubbock music
and art. Some of the most precious stories I've collected have
come from the suggestion of readers' comments. I'd like to share
some of that gold, below. Thank you for your contributions!- Chris Oglesby <click here to e-mail me>
From: Tommy
Hancock
To: Bill Kerns ; Cc: Chris Oglesby
Sent: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 6:40 pm
Subject: Lubbock Music
Dear Editor,
I know the people of Lubbock will enjoy knowing how well the
current music talent from West Texas was received in Austin at
the recent "Sandstorm
Picnic."
Every act of The NEW West Texas Music Showcase was an
ongoing hit for six hours of constant entertainment at the packed
house. Paul Bullock kept the audience very happy between acts with
his unique poetry and professional emceeing.
Most people already know of the many
well known musicians from Lubbock but this show included only
the as yet unknown. It verified the theory that there is a continual
phenomenon of terrific musicians in Lubbock--for whatever reason.
When I was an active musician, being from Lubbock was a wonderful
help to me. The current people are sure to enjoy this honor as
well. Thank you Lubbock.
From: Jean Patterson
Sent: Wed, 12 Mar 2008 9:15 pm
Subject: Fire in the Water, Earth in the Air
I just finished your book. Thank you,
thank you, thank you for Fire
in the Water, Earth in the Air! Finally
I have something to counter the "You're not just a liar
you're a damn liar" look I get when I tell people the truth
about Lubbock talent. Have you ever gotten that look? I imagine
that most Lubbock expats have at one time or another. It's happened
to me so often I really try to behave myself now. I'll be at
a party just introduced to a stranger and the conversation will
go something like the following:
"So you're from Lubbock, Texas.
Didn't Waylon Jennings write a song about Lubbock?"
"Hm-m-m. Not that I know of. You may be thinking of Luckenbach,
Texas. It's a common mistake."
"I know something happened in Luckenbach. Oh, I remember.
That's where Buddy Holly was from!"
"Well, actually, that would be Lubbock, and yes it is."
"Did you know Buddy well?"
"Not well. Not at all, really. When I was in first grade
at Roscoe
Wilson Elementary School he may or
may not have been in sixth grade at the same time. Some sources
say that is the case, but others say he went to another school
for sixth grade. In either case first and sixth graders don't
mingle much. I saw him once at the roller rink."
"Yeah. I saw that movie. It must have been exciting having
a big star like that in a little town like Lubbock."
"Not so much. You know, he wasn't a big star until he was
dead. His day job was at a dry cleaners. We didn't have any idea
what his influence would be. Just like all the others, Buddy was 'a prophet without
honor,' etc."
"What others?"
Now here is where if my better angels
are not asleep at the switch, I just toss off Dixie Chick Natalie Maines (Yes, that Dixie Chick) and maybeMac Davis and we're done. But no. As often as not I hurl
myself right into the "You're not just a liar you're a damn
liar" look by saying something like:
"Well, let's see. If we shorten
the list by limiting it only to the kids I personally walked
the now hallowed halls of Monterey High with in the four years
from fall 1955 to spring 1959, we have:
Terry Allen, Monterey ’61, is about as close to a
renaissance man as Lubbock has produced so far. Terry does just
about everything. He is an illustrator, sculptor, composer, singer,
author. There aren't many alive today who can top Terry for sheer
creative accomplishment in so many media. His stuff is in MOMA
in New York City, San Francisco's Moscone Center, Citicorp Plaza
in L.A. and it goes without saying the Museum of Fine Art in
Houston. He designed the Perrier label. And two Rolling Stone
covers.
Barry Corbin,
Monterey ‘59, is the actor who is probably best known as
the cantankerous former astronaut in television’s Northern
Exposure, but there is so much more. Currently you can catch
him on TV's The Closer and One Tree Hill, as well as the movie
No Country for Old Men.
Jimmie
Dale Gilmore, Monterey '62, is
a singer, songwriter, actor, recording artist and producer, and
one third of The Flatlanders.
Glenna (Maxey) Goodacre, Monterey ’56, is often referred to as
“America’s Sculptor.” Among many other works she
designed and sculpted the Women's Vietnam War Memorial in D.C.
and created the bas relief of Sacagawea that is on the U.S. golden
dollar coin. In addition to her prodigious accomplishments as
an artist, she is the mother of model Jill
Goodacre (Victoria's Secret)
and therefore mother-in-law of musician/actor Harry Connick,
Jr.
Butch Hancock, Monterey '62, was trained as an architect
and picked up photography as well somewhere. But of course he
also sang and wrote songs and was another third of the Flatlanders.
He started a gallery in Lubbock called "Lubbock or Leave
It."
Jo Carol
Pierce, Monterey '61, is another
singer songwriter who hangs out in Austin now. Oh yes. Forgot
to say that she has written several novels and a play that was
performed at Lincoln Center. While she was doing a lot of this
she had a day job as a social worker and all that is probably
why she didn’t get her recording career started until she
was 51 years old.
Al Strehli,
Monterey '59, plays many instruments and has been singing since
I knew him in grade school, but is best known today for his compositions.
Jimmie Dale Gilmore says he writes the most beautiful music in
the world. Al's sister Angela is probably
the preeminent Caucasian blues singer in the country today, but
I said I was limiting this to Monterey students attending between
'55 and '62.
Of course, if you want the long list,
we can add Joe
Ely as 1/3 of the Flatlanders who
is extremely popular in Europe, but I had cycled out of Monterey
High when he got there, and there is Ralna
English who went to Lubbock
High with Mac Davis while I was in Monterey but I knew her in
junior high school. Ralna was with Lawrence Welk, of course,
and still tours. . ."
Generally by this time the "You're
not just a liar, you're a damned liar" look is replaced
with frantic searching over or around my head for someone, anyone,
to bring into this conversation and break it up.
Occasionally -- rarely -- instead of bolting, someone actually
gets big-eyed and asks why Lubbock produces so many artists of
every stripe. I suggest the usual. Something in the water turned
our teeth brown but drew our creative spirits in sync with the
universe? The flying saucers showered us with stardust? Nothing
to do in Lubbock but entertain ourselves? The ol' if Buddy could
do it we could do it, too, thing? The truth is nobody knows why.
It is a great mystery why all these people have done what they
have with little encouragement from their environment. And it's
a mystery I enjoy relating whenever I can. Fire
in the Water, Earth in the Air is a
big help. I have one copy to carry with me and another for the
bedside table in my guest room.
From:
Steve Rogers
Sent: Wed, 6 Feb 2008 12:50 pm
Subject: LOVE Your Website! Chris,
I just stumbled across your website and I can tell I'm gonna
be spending many hours on it in the near future. I lived in Lubbock
from shortly after I was born in 1955 when my dad took a job
as an assistant basketball coach at Monterey High School, until
1980 when my job with Southwest Airlines took me to Beaumont/Port
Arthur. I've lived in Midland/Odessa since then, and raised my
family in San Antonio where my wife grew up, though we met at
Texas Tech. My roots are in Lubbock and I've been back there
many times, since my folks still live out at Ransom Canyon. My
oldest daughter is a junior at Tech, and my second daughter will
be a freshman there next year. Unless he changes his mind, my
son will probably end up there, too, so I'm happy they'll get
to spend at least a few years in my hometown.
My first exposure to the Maines Brothers
was at the KLLL Saturday Night
Oprys they had at the Municipal
Auditorium for a few years. An excerpt from one of those shows
is on their first album. My wife taught Lloyd Maines' oldest
daughter, Kim, in second grade, and our oldest daughter is named
after her. Kim was nice enough to remember her favorite elementary
school teacher and invite us to her wedding, so we were in Lloyd
Maines' Austin backyard along with the Dixie Chicks (pre-controversy)
a few years ago to see Kim get married.
My wife, Karen, and I were at the first
two Tornado
Jams, including the deluge. We
took a couple of tarps due to the threat of rain. She went to
stand in the tremendously long line for the port-a-potties. Karen
was in that line when the cloudburst hit. She told me that five
or six people were cramming themselves into each portable toilet
to get out of the rain. Given that choice, Karen decided she's
just rather be wet. After the rain, she finally got to do her
business and returned to the spot we had staked out, looking
like a drowned cat. I started to gather up our stuff, figuring
she'd want to leave. Karen said she was as wet as she was ever
going to get so we just stayed and enjoyed the rest of the concert.
I believe my daughter has my Tornado Jam and Maines Brothers
T-shirts with her up at Tech. I think I still have my T-Jam cap
here somewhere.
Your dad must be Corky Oglesby, and
I'll be he knows my dad, Gerald Rogers. After he coached
at Monterey, where he gave Gerald Myers his first coaching
job, my dad was the public address announcer for Tech football
and basketball for thirty-one years.
Though many of my growing-up friends
have left Lubbock, I still have a good friend there who works
at the A-J, Joe Gulick. I'm mostly an old talk radio junkie
these days, but I still have all the Maines Brothers albums,
several Joe
Ely albums and Terry Allen's "Lubbock...On Everything" album, all on vinyl. I'll have to find
those CDs, or figure out how to convert my albums to MP3s so
I can share them with my kids.
Thanks again for a great website and
I'm looking forward to checking out the rest of it. I had searched
in vain for a Maines Brothers website for
several years, and my wife told me yesterday that they finally
had one. I had toyed with the idea of putting up a fan site for
some time but never got around to it. A Google search for "Maines
Brothers Band" led me to your interview with Lloyd,
the Tornado
Jam stories, etc.
Steve Rogers
From: Freddie Steady
Krc
Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 7:27 AM
Subject: Re: WHAT'S NEW
Hey Chris,
Know anything about Lanny Fiel? He's
very talented, from Lubbock and still lives there. Played and
recorded with Jimmy Buffet in the early days.
I met Lanny in the 90s. He produced an R C Banks record I
played drums on and I got to know him pretty well. I returned
to his home studio in Lubbock a few years ago to play drums on
Lanny's record of his wonderful original songs. In the process
of spending time with him, I heard quite a few stories. He was
really the first guy of all that Jimmie, Butch,
Joe & Terry gang to leave
and make his mark.
Also, do you know Ralph De Witt
of Ralph's
Record Store? There's another
guy who is definately part of the fabric of Lubbock. Not a musician,
but
a music person.
From:
Debora Parks
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2008 10:55 AM
Subject: "sky" short film premiere hey chris--i lived in lubbock
for a long time; i went to lubbock high and texas tech. my best
friend was (and still is) curtis cates. i was married
to chex parks for 5 years. my ex brother-in-law is leland
parks (bass player in austin). i've lived in los angeles
for about 20 years. i've included some brief information for
you regarding my latest project...thought you might be interested... the short film's website is: www.skyshortfilm.com my website is:www.deboraparksdesigns.com
Sincerely,
Debora Parks
Sent: Tue,
5 Feb 2008 12:09 pm
Subject: sky short film
hey chris--fyi: our short film, "Sky," was accepted
to the san francisco independent film festival and the 32nd cleveland
international film festival. i've attached a copy of our
movie poster--enjoy! thanks for the exposure!
Sincerely, Debora ParksFrom: Bob
Livingston
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2008 10:49 PM
Subject: Re: WHAT'S NEW
Chris- I'm in Thailand playing the
craziest tour of all. spent 2 weeks in Vietnam playing sometimes
twice a day and now here. the king's sister dies and a lot of
shows were cancelled for a mourning period but's we've been playing
a t colleges. my guitar was smashed on the trip, we've been crazed
and exhausted and want to get home. playing for the US Ambassador's
party tonight. check out my blog: http://boblivingston1.blogspot.com
see you soon,
bob From:
Brock Mayo
Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2007 3:53 PM
Subject: Stranger Than Fiction
Chris,
Do you remember a group called Stranger Than Fiction
from Lubbock? They had a song called "Stop" with the
b-side "Tube Socks in Hong Kong" in the late 80's.
I would love to know how to get a copy, mine was stolen back
in 1993. Any advice you can give?
Thanks,
Brock Mayo
Editor's
note: If
anyone knows where to find this record, please CONTACT
US. From:
Dan Atcheson
Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2007 7:39 AM
Subject: Lubbock Lights UFOs
Hi Chris. Check this out: http://ufo.whipnet.org/xdocs/life.magazine/index.html
I had to pleasure of being Prof. Ducker's son's best friend.
Bill Ducker and I met in the 7th grade. Bill died from a stroke
a few weeks ago. He will be missed, terribly. He and his father
both claim the Lubbock lights were night-flying mallards--birds.
Dan
From: Trace
Reddell
Sent: Thu, 13 Dec 2007 10:12 am
Subject: virtualubbock
Hey Chris,
This is Trace Reddell! Wow, you got some very cool stuff going
on, and I thought I'd write to say, "Hello!" I recently
watched the Lubbock Lights film, which was just great.
Really loved it. That led me back to your Virtualubbock site,
which I hadn't looked at in quite a while, and I read about the
Lubbock All-Stars
Reunion and checked out those video
clips. Looked like a great show, and I wish that we'd been there.
I also read about your book, and I'll be ordering a copy of that for sure.
All of these things have made me think more fondly of Lubbock
than I have in a long time.
So, I'm married to another Lubbockite friend of ours, Leah Baker
(Jennifer's younger sister) -- Leah and I have been together
for, gulp, twenty years now, married for seventeen of those.
I'm a professor of Digital Media Studies at the University of
Denver. It's a great gig, as I get to do both scholarly research
and written work and creative multimedia projects. Most of my
writing has been about sound, technology and culture with a weird
philosophy of communication focus (I've taken the liberty of
sending along a chapter I wrote for a book called Cybersounds:
Essays in Virtual Music Culture, which you might enjoy).
I released a lot of my own audio works on the Web back when that
was still fresh, and I also DJ'd for Web radio back before DMCA
and the RIAA started hosing all of that. More recently, I've
been doing "live cinema" performances, which pretty
much means that I'm using a laptop to edit sound and video live
before an audience. A couple of summer's ago, I performed at
two different venues in Amsterdam, a solo piece at the Melkweg,
and a collaboration with one of my DU colleagues, at the University
Theater of UvAmsterdam. Way too much fun!
Now I'm on sabbatical and I'm working on a book project called
Technicians of Space, which is about the history/concept
of outer space in sound since 1950. I'll be writing about space
age bachelor pad music and the early round of electronic music;
several science fiction film scores; German psychedelic rock;
afro-futurist jazz; techno; dub; and New Age music. I'm also
working with Gates Planetarium at the Denver Museum of Nature
& Science to develop a multimedia performance/lecture program
for digital planetariums around the same topic. So, fun stuff!
Leah's an artist in her own right; she's a professional face
painter and body artist. She does amazing work ranging from birthday
parties to corporate gigs, as well as competes on the international
face and body art festival circuit.
Well, hey, man, take care, and keep up the good work of keeping
Lubbock lively and weird!
Cheers,
Trace From:
Steve Cooper
Sent: Wed, 7 Nov 2007 12:11 pm
Steve Cooper here. I think
you might have been around out at Wade Parks’ house back when I first
picked up the penny whistle. Anyway…that progressed into
playing the Irish timber flute, and that led to playing traditional
Irish music an awful lot. So…we just released our first
CD “Last Night’s Fun” by our band, Johnny Faa
(king of the gypsies). If you get a few minutes, I’d love
for you to check out our web site. http://johnnyfaa.com
There’s a link to CD Baby where you can hear some clips
of our music.
All the best,
Steve
From: Todd Engram
Sent: Wed, 17 Oct 2007 1:47 pm
Subject: Re: Hi Chris, Here's
the Beaumonts!
I went to Coronado for my senior
year, then Tech for six! My whole family is from up there (Littlefield,
Sudan, Canyon, Amarillo, Sunray) but I only did time in Lubbock
when I was born there, then 83-90 when I was basically wearin'
a groove in the road between the strip and town.
We started the Beaumonts as a joke on a guy down here
who books bands at a really great club in San Marcos. We are
really a rock band called HOGNOSE, and we asked if we
could get our "buddies from Lubbock" to open for us,
we did, and ever since our Beaumonts shows have been a hit, while
the Hognose shows have stayed the same with our ten loyal hairy
dude fans throwing the devil horns and spilling beer on our gear.
I guess people like to laugh. I wish somebody'd told me that
twenty years ago.
We might know some of the same
people, lemme see:
Wade Logenberger from Squat Thrust (rip)
Jimmy Bradshaw from Squat Thrust
Jason from Human (I saw the interview on your site, he ran sound
at a Flaming Lips hoot night (at Stubbs, funnily enough)
I played in Austin a couple of months ago and I didn't realize
it was him until I was on my way home)
His brother is also
a badass bass player. Sean [Frankhouser].
Brent Boepple and Russel Abbott,
both in a band called Superheavygoatass
Trent Parker (drummer)
Trinidad Leal, Kurt Kristensen from
Dixie Witch. There's probably more.
Anyway, man I have been a fan
of your site for a few years now. Ever since I read the interview
withJay Boy Adams(and
died laughing at his stories of Jimmy Page and Lloyd Maines). I was actually
looking for some info on Billy
Gibbons' early gear when I ran onto that interview.
I look back on my days in Lubbock as unexpectedly and remarkably
awesome. All of those Nelsons shows, Los Tornados,
Eddie Beethoven, etc... I even saw Black Flag there
in 86. Hell, I saw probably 5 or six Bill Hicks shows
there. Lubbock is like a
bean and cheese taco, a cursory description does not do it justice.
Thanks for the kind words, and keep up the good work. Talk to
you later
Troy Wayne (Todd Engram)
Delco
Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2007
14:15:27 EDT
Subject: Response to one of your books
To: University of Texas Press
I am Michael Allsup, guitarist
with the band Three Dog Night. We just played an event
in Lubbock a few days ago. Backstage was a goodie sack for each
of us. One of the items included was a book you published titled
"Fire
in the Water, Earth in the Air: Legends of West Texas Music" by Christopher J. Oglesby. I read the
book on flights back home to California, and finished up a day
later at home. I so enjoyed the book and being familiarized with
the "Lubbock Scene" that I felt the need to drop Christopher
an e-mail to express that. I would appreciate it if you'd please
forward this to him for me.
As well as the artist/musician interviews that were so well done and informative, I found
that when I got home I couldn't wait to run out and buy some
STUBBS barbecue sauce. Ha. A silly truth I thought he might enjoy.
Anyway, "Well Done, Chris." This old rocker
really enjoyed (and learned) from the read. Keep it up.
Michael Allsup
Three Dog Night
FROM: John
Frazier, Director/Producer Rollins Films
SENT: Friday, May 25, 2007
SUBJECT: video tributes to Jesse "Guitar" Taylor and
Lubbock deejay Misty
I think my friend Doug Nelson over at
KTXT-TV PBS sent you some information on our website. While we are
not from Lubbock we have worked a lot with South Plaines College,
KTXT-TV PBS and a variety of Lubbock based artist. Of special
interest maybe our tribute video
of Jesse Guitar Taylor and our dear friend Misty. Bless her heart. Any way I thought you may
want to add some links back to us.
Honestly, what made me this of this
was an inquiry from Jesse Taylor’s son/daughter, Carrie
Young, asking for a copy of his video.
If I can answer any questions please
let me know.
John Frazier
Director/Producer www.rollinfilms.com
Named one of the
top 100 producers in America for 2002
Chosen as the 2005 American Film Institute/Corporation for Public
Broadcasting Scholarship Recipient
FROM: Colorado
Bob
SUBJECT: biographical video
I'm a son of Lubbock, and here's
a 19 min. video of my 40 year career
as a leather artist ....
Jerry Goolsby
is one of my professors here at Loyola New Orleans. He is from
Lubbock and was reportedly in a band there back in the late 60's
while in college. They were signed to a major label (either RCA
or MCA) and he says it's up to me to figure out the band. I know
it may be a shot in the dark, but might you have any leads? He
said he grew up with members of the Flatlanders so I think I
can say it's not them. Goolsby played bass and later organ (Hammond?
Rhodes?). To make it even more difficult, it seems he used a
pseudonym. If you could offer any help to me and all my classmates,
I'd be much obliged.
Thanks,
Woods Drinkwater
Editor's
note: We
have the answer! From:
Johnny Hughes
Wednesday, May 02, 2007 8:00 AM
Subject: Lubbock gambling history
Hey Chris:
Congratulations on the success of your
book! I am sending you an
article that in is the current issue of Bluff Magazine. They
have agreed to run a series of articles on Lubbock gambling
history. Bluff is the premier poker communication company
world-wide. There is a Bluff Europe, Bluff Australia,(my articles
are in both), Bluff Radio, and web sites. They just signed an
exclusive coverage deal with Harrah's and the World Series of
Poker for tournaments world-wide. I also write for a new Irish
publication called European Player as well as a whole slew of
web sites.
I get a lot of comments about my West Texas language. This all
has a strange quality to it because this is the way lots of folks
at the truck stop talk, y'all.
From:
Landa Hardin
Subject:
Tom Jones
Monday, April 09, 2007 10:08 PM
Hi all,
My son, Cole, lost his father today. He was Tom Jones,
a bass player from Lubbock, who played with Don Jones(his brother),
Jesse Taylor, B.J. Thomas, Edgar Winter, Joe
Ely and many locals from and around
Lubbock. Tom had also worked with Jay
Boy Adams, driving tour buses for him
for a few years in the 80's. He had been living in Bedford and
worked for Bell Helicopter for the past 21 years. He had been
ill with cancer this previous year, and passed this morning at
11a.m.
God Bless, Landa Hardin From:
Mark Gunderson
Subject: Re: stubbs memoirs, etc.
Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2007 5:46 PM Attached
are a few memories which you may use,
if you wish.
I know it's a bit long but once I got started a while ago it
just comes out.
Best,
Mark "Stubb's Memoirs"From: "dabroots of the cosmos"
Subject: the stubb's site
Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2007 12:59 AM
to those of you that really know me...and
those of you that don't...i LOVE lubbock texas...i have been
happy there since 1975...made good friends...enjoyed many successes...etc...
but i have moved to bucerias mexico...and i came back to lubbock
last week to empty out my house...i had a garage sale saturday
morning...and this is a video of the weather that morning...
it is amusing...and all too real...every now and again....heh
heh...the wind kicks up around here...i SHOULD have just opened
up the doors and windows and let everything disappear...cuz it
WOULD have happened...
From: Paul Pendery
Subject: Your book!
Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 11:58 AM
Dear Chris
My sister sent me an email about the Lubbock
All Star Jam and your book.
I went right away to your website and started reading interviews.
I bought the book for my Christmas gift to myself, and I have
enjoyed it thoroughly. I passed it along to one of my best friends
here in Montana who was also in Lubbock during 68-77 and knows
many of the people in the book as well. I didn’t know him
in Lubbock, but when he applied for a job at this place I was
working, I knew all of his references. Welcome to the “Lubbock
Zone.”
I lived in Lubbock 72-76. My first day
there I went with a group of people to the 14th street house,
where Joey, Butch, Sharon etc. were living. The Flatlander’s recording
was hot of the press, and they were having an album release party.
I didn’t know much of anybody so I just found a spot in
the bay window seat, in front of one of the speakers, and just
tried to take it all in. I was shocked at first when Jimmy’s
voice cleared a path through the mix, but I had no where to run
so I stayed put. My older brother had explained to me, “well
it may sound like country but it’s really existential poetry
set to music”!...”you’ll see, it really grows
on you”. He was right.
The interview with Sharon reminded me
there were lots of folks doing their own thing to help create
the magic, the show. My sister, who was seeing Eddie Beethoven
at the time, would find out when and where there was going to
be music and start rounding up people to go. It wasn’t,
“do you want to go?” it was “WE GOTTA GO”!
She would spread the word, with a sense of life or death urgency,
to her family, friends and anyone that would listen. Next thing
you know there would be hundreds of people showing up at the
Cotton Club,
because there was a circle of people all spreading the word from
one circle to the next, etc. They might not know exactly what
was going to happen but they were going to be part of it when
it did.
I enjoyed the David Halley interview
and he actually mentioned me, “a guy named Paul". I
owned the Supernatural food store at the time. We became pretty
good friends at a time when he was writing music in earnest and
courting his soon to be (as David put it) future ex wife Linda.
David talked about the Lubbock sense of humor, he definitely
has it. He used to have this female dog, I think her name was
Sally, which would attract a pack of male dogs at certain times
of the season. David would occasionally lose it and chase after
them yelling, waving his arms and kicking at them. The dogs would
run just far enough away where he couldn’t catch them and
then drift back around, hoping opportunity would smile on them.
I would laugh and tease him about it because, well I just couldn’t
help myself, but it drove David crazy. One day I saw this gleam
in Dave’s eye and then this look of peace slowly spread
across his face. It wasn’t too long after that, he calls
me up and tells me he’s going out of town for a week and
would I mind taking care of his dog? So when he’s dropping
off the dog I notice the same gleam in his eye, but it doesn’t
register in my brain till the next morning when I wake up to
the sound of howling, fighting dogs. I look out the window and
there are no less than 15 male dogs of all shapes and sizes,
surrounding my house. By the end of the week I was foaming at
the mouth, muttering nonsense under my breath and maintaining
a supply of stones in my pocket as ammo to clear a path. Needless
to say, David was pretty smug when he came to pick up Sally,
but I had learned my lesson so I politely informed him, “NO!
she was no trouble at all”, but the next time he was planning
a trip he might explore other opportunities for dog care. He
smiled and winked as he left, having duly noted the bags under
my eyes, foam on my chin and the rocks in my pocket.
Your book is wonderful therapy. It’s so uplifting
to hear of the well deserved
successes of the Lubbock (west Texas) folk. And yes there is
something cosmic about that area and people. The natives in Alaska
and Montana, where I have lived, are very tuned into that kind
of thing, special places(or people) where the dividing line between
the spiritual and material world is particularly thin. Lubbock
is a paradox, it is higher in altitude than where I live in Montana,
but since everything is flat there, most people don’t realize
they are standing on the mountain top, only without the mountain.
The folks there always struck me as kind of like the weather,
extreme. Not much middle of the road, incredibly amazing or incredibly
awful.
Thanks! And much success in your writing,
Paul Pendery
From:
Vicky Pickering
Subject: The Picks
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 12:34 PM
Dear Mr. Oglesby,
I saw the mention of you and your book "Fire
in the Water..." in Texas Highways February magazine.
It was very interesting to read about you and the book. My husband,
John and I are looking forward to reading it.
I graduated in the LHS class of '55 with Buddy
Holly and several of the people
associated with him in his life and career. That was the last
year there was just the one white high school in Lubbock, so
we knew kids from all parts of town. There was not much to do
in Lubbock except go to the movies, watch Football in the Fall
or get involved in music.
In August of 1957 I married John
Pickering who was a member of
"The Picks" who were Buddy Holly's vocal backup group
on 9 of the 12 songs on the 1957 "The Chirping Crickets"
Brunswick album. Their voices are on Oh Boy, Maybe Baby and 7
other songs. In 1984 The Picks went back into the studio and
put harmony voices on a lot more of Buddy Holly solo masters
that were provided by MCA Records. Those songs are on CDs found
worldwide credited as "Buddy Holly And The Picks".
I am sorry that before you published your book, you were not
able to speak with John about his involvement in the music industry
in Lubbock, the South Plains, Clovis and Portales NM. John began
singing on the radio and in personal appearances in the South
Plains and other areas of Texas, Louisiana and New Mexico in
1939 when he was 5 years old. He joined his Mom, Pop and brother
Bill to form "The Pickering Family" quartet. They sang
on several stations in these areas.
While John was attending Texas Tech he also sang with men's quartets
including The Plainsmen with pianist Lawrence
Ivey, The
Happy Rhythm Boys and The Debonairs
who won the Horace Heidt Show in about 1955. John's brother was
doing DJ work in the area. Jerry
"Jaybird" Drennan,
DJ in Lubbock in the 50s was installed in the Country Music Hall
of Fame in Nashville in 2004. Jerry sang with the Pickering Family
when Bill was in the Navy and after Mr. Pickering died. If he
is not mentioned in your book, he deserves a mention. He died
December 10, 2006 in Kent Ohio where he was a well respected
DJ for over 28 years.
The summer of 1957 after John graduated from TT with a degree
in Petroleum Geology he and The Picks did a lot of vocal backup
work in Clovis for Norman Petty. The most memorable was the recording
of "Oh Boy" in July followed in October by 8 other
songs to complete the only group-sound album recorded and released
while Buddy was alive.
John was hired to work in Corpus Christi, Texas by the Humble
Oil and Refining Company August 28, 1957 making if difficult
to return to Clovis (670 miles one way) to continue doing backup
work. John had to serve in the military from May 1, to November
1, 1958. That is the reason The Roses did the work for Buddy
in 1958.
John is writing a book about all his family's musical experiences
from the time his father began performing in about 1920 and his
mother in 1925.
The days of recording in Nashville as The Pickering Brothers
and in Houston continued the story until the 1970s when Bill
suffered an aneurism and was unable to perform for 10 years.
Bill died in January of 1985 just six months after they had done
more overdubs. The third Pick is Bob Lapham of Abilene, Texas,
a retired newspaper editor with the Abilene Reporter News.
John continues to record and perform in the Houston area. Recently
he did backup vocals for Sonny West on 10 new Rock-a-Billy songs
he recorded.
The days of singing on the South Plains and Eastern New Mexico
set the stage for a career of singing. Including the careers
of his parents before him, his is an interesting story of 87
years of music including many years in the Lubbock area.
Thank you for your time.
Vicky Pickering
Pick Records, Inc.
Houston TX From:
Paul
Bullock
To: chris; tommyxhancock
Sent: Monday, December 11, 2006 3:54 PM
Tommy and Chris
I went to see a friend today who owns a diesel repair shop and
the shop is on the land that used to be the Original Cotton
Club. His name is Jerry Severe. I grew up with his family.
Jerry told me that they are finding stuff from what appears to
be the place where they dumped the trash. some old bottles and
stuff have been pushed back to the surface. Jerry would like to perhaps try to rebuild the club on
the original spot and he needs pictures and information.
Jerry is also a friend of Jack Burk and he is a good guy. I think
he is sincere about reconstruction and said he has some people
interested in investing. Jerry's work # is 806 745-3455. home
794-9388. Any help you can lend would be greatly appreciated.
Paul
From: Jamie Howell
Sent: Sat, 9 Dec 2006 4:54 PM
You missed me. I came to Lubbock in
the 6th grade from Brazil, played guitar with Jimmie Gilmore’s
first band, was likely the first Lubbock hippie, went to California
as the lead guitar player with Angela
Strehli’s band in 1967, was a
close friend of Tony Pearson, Butch Hancock, and
Jo Carol Pierce, produced Terry
Allen’s first album (Juarez Device),
and am Jo Harvey Allen’s cousin. But I married a girl from Santa
Barbara and after a long career in Music, I now sell houses to
rich folk. Oh, well. I also organized the first student demonstration
at Tech and was a founding member of SDS in Austin.
Jamie Howell
From:
Lynne Kelley
Subject: Lubbockite from 68-70
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2006 4:51 PM
I went to Tech in 68, 69, and 70. It
was really hip then! I moved to Austin in 72' with my then husband
Don Bennett,
who played with Jimmie Vaughan in Storm, and now
for 30 years, Marcia Ball. When I looked at your pics,
I became nostalgic! I remember, the Salt n' Pepper club,
the Student Union building, Tech, of course, Broadway, Speedy Perez' record
store, Heap Big Beef
on 50th, and The Hole in the Wall clothing Store on University
where I worked! Is it still there? I still love the Red Raiders
and the Raider horse! What about MacKenzie Park where we had
Gentle Sundays? Do you know Tom
Jones from
there? How to get in touch with him? I know Joe
Ely and Ponty very well. My daughter Christa was in 4th grade
class with Joes' daughter Elena Marie. We hung out before I had
my family. I saw Lloyd play at Soap Creek with Joe many times, the
Rollingwood location. We danced ourselves soaking wet!
If you want to see more about me, look at www.myspace.com/lynnarenae
Maybe you'll remember me.
Love and peace, Lynne
P.S. Oh yeah, Randy Banks, Tanner, John Staton, Terry, and Vince
Hopkins...Street Theater,
did you know them?
From:
Stewart Cheak
Subject: Help Please
Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2006 12:19 AM
I was born in
Slaton and lived in Lubbock for a while. I knew a few guys who
were local players back in the 80's but lost touch after moving
away. Could you let me know if they still ply around the Lubbock
area and how I could contact them? One mans name is Joey Bird, he played Bass and
Sax for Armadillo
Flats.
The other is Jerry
Jefferson,
he had a band called The
Jerry Jeff Jam Band
and also played with Vince
Hopkins
in the band Street
Theater.
I got to know those guys through my Dad. Joey and Armadillo Flats
billed themselves as "The National Band of Texas."
Other members of that group were Gallen Good, Jack
Bowden,
and Cecil
White.
I think they won a Battle of the Bands contest in Lubbock. They
played country music similar to The Maines Brothers and I think they even
played a few gigs with them.
Jerry Jefferson also had a band called Full Force, a Texas Boogie Band. They were more
rockin, and Jerry played lead guitar and sang while Pete was
on drums and Chris played Bass and sang.
I really enjoy reading the stories on your site. It brings back a lot of
good memories. Like a night I spent at the Cotton Club watching Alvin Crow and his Pleasant Valley
Boys play and Joe
Ely playing
the same night. After the show was over and because Joey Bird
knew Joe Ely and members of his band I got to shoot a game of
pool with him.
Thanks for any help you can give me.
Stewart Cheak
[Note:
I am not familiar with these folks and bands, so I was not able
to help Stewart. If anyone out there knows about these musicians,
e-mail
me
and I will pass the information on to Stewart and post it here
on virtualubbock.com. - Chris Oglesby]
Subject: Former Lubbockite/Changes Over the Years
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 9:37 AM
From: Dan Atcheson
Hi folks.
I was born and
reared in Lubbock, TX. I moved to Venice, FL, in 1990. I've had
an interesting life, to say the least. I'm the most famous person
in his profession with over 51,000 books in print.
Go to http://www.bullybaby.com/dan_author.htm to see my story.
By the way, my
younger brother, Tim, gave Joey (Joe) Ely his first guitar lesson.
We had a band called the Velveteens that was later changed
to the Traveling
Salesmen.
I also knew Don Caldwell.
Also, one of the members of our rock band in the 60's sent me
this link: http://www.pandora.com/music/song/29749375fe40c138
Click "Play Sample" for the song, "Days of My
Years." I was playing bass in the song. I'm grateful this
song is being re-released. This helps give our band (The Traveling
Salesmen) a place in Rock-'n-Roll history. Or, if you have Music
Match, you can hear the entire song by opening the attachment.
We were a famous
Lubbock band. It's just that we never made it big in the world.
We got close with a release on RCA Victor, but they dropped the
ball on the distribution. The song had a five-star rating in
Billboard, and there was an article that appeared in the AJ that
came out of NY City. It mentioned us, along with the Stones and
a few other groups to watch. My older brother Mike once said,
"It's probably a blessing we didn't get there; half of us
would probably already be dead by now." I think he was right.
But I did find fame in another area. [as a book author] Also,
I'm proud to boast owning one of the most famous dogs in the
world. You see this story at http://www.bullybaby.com/famous_baby.htm
I love and miss
Lubbock, but my move to FL changed my life and I wouldn't change
the experience for anything. As you can see, I saved the old
Velveteen drum head. I think the
old image was taken in 1966. I've
changed a bit in the last 40 years. LOL I suppose we all have.
After the chances I have taken during my life, I'm just grateful
to still be here. I played music part-time, but professionally
for 23 years--too long. Now, you'd have to drag me into a dark
nightclub. And on New Year's Eve, I love to stay at home, safe
from drunk drivers. But I'm not a girly guy. LOL If I can ever
afford one, I'm going to buy what I think is called a gyrocopter
and learn how to fly it. Also, if given the opportunity, I'd
make another 174-foot dive into Warm Mineral Springs in a heartbeat.
Please say "hi"
to Dee
Purkeypile.
He played piano in the Traveling Salesman band, at one time.
Dee was a health food and vitamin nut, and knew a lot about nutrition.
But one day, one of our vehicles broke down in New Mexico, so
four of the guys piled into the back of my pickup and we hauled
to Texas. When we got there, everyone was in good shape, except
for Dee. We thought he was dying on us. LOL
Thanks.
Dan Atcheson
Our home page: http://bullybaby.com Or 50's Rock-'n-Roll
page:http://www.bullybaby.com/babysrocknroll50s.htm Date:
8/17/2006 3:59 AM CDT From:
Mickey Burchfield I know this is all about
Lubbock, but, I just could'nt help it....I'm an artist from Spade,
which is pretty damn close. I even remember, bigger than dallas,
which became cold water country, and lord knows what else. Drink
or drownd night, when it was 75 cents for lonestar longknecks
and the same for a shot of tequilia. Man, they had the best sound
system in Lubbock and probably all of West Texas.
Out here in Spade,,,,,,,my dear mom actually beat Waylon out
in a talent contest way back in the 50's,,,,,when his first wife,Maxine
Lawerence went to school at Spade. My grandmother was an artist,which
is probably where i got it. My aunt shows her work on a site
called, garden of praise...Mother said that they used to have
talent contest out at Spade High School a lot back then. Her
mainden name is Willie Griffin. Her and three of her girlfriends
from school did their own rendition of "Blue Skirt Waltz"
with her on piano. Ol Waylon ended up taking second place back
in 1954 or 55. She graduated in 55. I thought it was kind of
cool to know. I really enjoy your web site and all the great
history of the artists and musicians of Lubbock and this area.
Take care. Mickey Burchfield
Mickey Burchfield
Spade,Tx. 79369
Subject:
Big hello from Glasgow, Scotland
Date: 7/14/2006 5:50 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Peter Carroll
I seen your link on www.buddyholly.com
and just wanted to say hi, especially after reading the interview
with Lloyd Maines, in particular, the impact Buddy Holly &
The Crickets have had on the music modern world, especially here
in the UK. Without the music of Buddy Holly & The Crickets
and the crucial tour in 1958, musically, the UK would be stuck
in a timewarp.
I'm a contemporary songwriter, guitarist and aspiring Producer
here in Glasgow, Scotland and have been seriously influenced
by Buddy's/Crickets music, and still am, to the extent that I'm
currently putting together an albums worth of material of Buddys'
& The Crickets' songs, as a personal hmage to my heroes and
maybe I can get a younger audience into the music to keep it
alive.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets changed my life 21 years ago,
when I first really go into the music after watching historically
innacurate film, The Buddy Holly Story back in 1985 when I was
just a lad at 19 years of age - this film put me onto the real
songs and I've had a wonderful 21 years musically.
I now concentrate on writing, composing, recording and producing
my own material and producing local unsigned artists here in
Glasgow. Without Buddy and the guys, I wouldn't have learned
to play the guitar, been in umpteen bands for 10 years, had recording
studio experience with those bands, gone to college to study
Sound Engineering (1 yr course) then Music Technology (1yr course),
learned how to write songs and compose music (for songs and instrumentals),
learn to produce, got into other genres of music and meet some
talented people along the way
Buddy Holly and The Crickets, and of course, Lubbock, are very
much ingrained in my heart and soul and for that, I want to thank
you.
As well as concentrating on the Holly/crickets material and my
own songs, I'm also an aspiring Producer looking to work with
US Singer/Songwriters (who play guitar/piano) and have existing
demo's of their songs. I'm currently working with Pam Messick
(see http://www.petercarroll.biz/petercarroll_producer.htm),
a New York state based songwriter and producing her demo's, getting
them ready for her to send off to Publishers in New York, Nashville
and pretty much country wide. I'm adding additional instrumentation
to her guitar/vocal demo, so that it is fully complimented as
though it were a band on the tracks, as opposed to just acoustic
guitar & vocals.
I want to give something back to Lubbock, as you know has
a very special place in my heart and has been good to me and
hopefully I can help some up and coming singer/songwriters in
Lubbock and produce their demo's for them for free, before they
send them out to Record/Publishing Co's.
Best wishes
Peter www.petercarroll.biz
http://www.myspace.com/petecarrollmusic
Glasgow, Scotland
Date:
Wed, 8 Nov 2006 8:50 AM
FROM: Peter Carroll
Hi Chris,
Hope all is well in Lubbock and hope the
book is doing great !?
Just thought I'd drop you a line to mention that I'm featured
on http://www.radiooneoldies.com/ as Artist of the Month, which is great Publicity
for me and adds to my conviction that the music has still got
mass appeal and folk out there love it.......the feedback I've
had for The Crickets Sound Project on my space is fantastic,
even from younger fans......some in their 20's.........
Subject:
David Box to be inducted to Buddy Holly Walk of Fame
Date: 5/29/2006 8:21 AM CDT
From: Jay Reichard
I wanted to pass on to you that
David
Boxwill finally be inducted to
the Walk of Fame after a long battle with the powers that be
in Lubbock. I remain convinced that we would all be listening
to a lot of David Box music still if he had survived. I heard
from Rita Peek, David's sister, that his induction is scheduled
for September 16, 2006. Wonderful news!
Hi! I worked
for Stubbs in Austin from 1983 to 1986…at Antone’s
and helped him open his first place (after that) on I-35. I became
great friends with him and of course have LOTS of stories about
him that I would love to share with you.
BUT I also have a cool document that I created (attached). You may be aware that
when Stubbs first started marketing his sauce (In Jack Daniel’s
bottles…labels steamed off and his put on) out of his house,
he included his Stubb’s Audio Cookbook Cassette, featuring
Jesse Taylor on guitar and Stubbs talking about BBQ and how
to make it. Well, at one point a while back I had too much time
on my hands and decided to transliterate the whole thing. I listened
carefully and typed every word or sound he uttered as I heard
it. I have so much fun reading it to this day that I thought
it might be something you could share with your readers!
It has occurred
to me more than once, especially after reading the words, that
this is not just a cook book but a guide to life. I mean, you
could apply any of the following quotes to your own existence:
“try not
to get your fire out of order”
“It’s
important to have everything you need right where you got it”
“you have
to have feelings for what you doin’”
I could go on,
but it’s more fun to search yourself! In fact, the whole
thing could be symbolic of life for all I know.
Subject:
Joey Ely
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 10:44:06 PM EST
From: J. David Stephenson
Our "scooter" gang
was called The Outlaws. Joe owned a Mo-ped, me a Vespa, others had the
esteemed Cushman, the Cadillac of the brigade; thus, was our
introduction into a unique culture that was cut from the cloth
of a Steinbeck dust bowl novel. Lubbock was as close to being
a little Chicago in that the gangsters of the 20's and 30's would
have felt at home in our "get-it-while-you-can" existence.
My dad was the minister of the Broadway Church of Christ
and the parsonage was located at 3210 27th Street. I initially
attended Lubbock Christian School, but when I came home in the
afternoons I would see a group of carefree individuals gathering
on my block and I so wanted to become a part of this sociological
experiment of adolescent individualization. Jon
Igo lived on this block, the
Horn brothers were only a few blocks away and our neighbor
across the street was Pam Strong. The Atchison brothers, who were musically inclined during that era,
lived on 26th, Joe lived in a house with his mother and brother
Tim on 28th and Boston and Hutchinson Jr. High
was the school we were all zoned for. After my 8th grade year
at LCS I persuaded my parents to let me attend Hutchinson in
order to play football and it was in this setting I met the first
people that would introduce me into the "live fast and die
young with a good looking corpse" genre.
This was the beginning of my introduction into being around people
who liked you for who you were and appearances be damned. The
honesty of their lifestyle began to mold me into who I would
become no matter how incongruent this was from my parents wishes.
Guys had nicknames like Fuzzy and Pee Wee and the adjectives
and adverbs of our vocabulary consisted of varies terms of endearment
such as motherfucker, cocksucker, shithead, etc. thus creating
a bond between the men of the 9th grade prior to our becoming
10th graders at Monterey .
We partied at Buffalo Lake and sometimes borrowed one of many
"week-end cottages" at the lake where conveniently
a keg of beer might be found. We once borrowed a keg by slicing
the plastic line that connected the keg to the spigot only to
bring it to a cotton field finding out the difficulty of trying
to suck out the beer that was held in an impenetrable vacuum
(Joe was a part of this foray and my dad's '58 Ford was our mode
of transportation.) There was also the time a grocery store "Green
Stamp" sign was mysteriously placed on the property of Broadway
church of Christ advertising that one could Green Stamps were
available there which did not appear to be humorous to the church
elders.
Our merry band of eclectic hell raisers rode our disparate two-wheelers
on ventures of conquests that would rival the crusades. Lance Copeland
and Joey shared a common loss and that was of losing their fathers
at the beginning of their adolescence. Lance became a true outlaw
in every sense of the word and Joe began to exercise his artistic
gifts. He had a draftsman easel in his bedroom where his early
drawings were more of hot rods and cars than of the expressionistic
art he developed over the years. Mid-way in our 10th grade year
at Monterey our family moved to Ft. Worth because the elders
of my church believed my chosen habits of drink, cigarettes and
experimentation with the wiles of the women of Lubbock were detrimental
to the agenda of their coveted church society. Therefore, I was
not privy to Joe's development into the music world. In that
I was unable to conform to the religious world of my parental
units, it was deemed prudent to join the military on the day
I turned 17. This decision was reinforced by my fathers eagerness
to sign the documents necessary for me to begin my military experience.
I did keep in touch with mutual acquaintances in Lubbock to hear
of Joe's adventures in the circus through the years and would
have much rather experienced "riding the rails" with
Joe than my two year vacation in the country of Vietnam.
I now live in Franklin, TN and will see Joe from time to time
when he performs in the Nashville area. The years have changed
us and the commonality we once knew as 13, 14 & 15 year olds
has faded into the past, but I am proud of this self-made man
and wish him many years of contentment as he continues to travel
the many roads of self-discovery and increased spirituality.
J. David
Stephenson
Franklin, TN Subject:
Education of Shelby Knox
Date: 6/22/2005 6:19:01 PM EDT
From: Cari Weinberg
Last night while watching "The
Education of Shelby Knox" on PBS
I saw your name scroll by in the “thank yous” section
of the credits and I thought, “hey, that’s the Virtualubbock
guy!” It’s a great piece, I enjoyed it a lot and it
reminded me of all of the things that I miss and don’t miss
in the fair Hub City.
Maybe it’s all those hours I spent
playing records at KTXT while I was going to Tech, maybe it was
all of the live bands that I went to go see while I was in school—who
knows—but last year I learned to play an old 60’s keyboard
and joined an all-girl rock band.
Please stop by and check us out www.myspace.com/lovie If we ever go on tour and include Lubbock in
our plans (it would give us another chance to play with the Thrift
Store Cowboys!) I’ll let you know.
Cheers,
Cari Weinberg
Subject: Terrific Site
Date: 4/26/2005 5:10:54 PM EDT
From: M.H. Hill
Attachment: Poetry.rtf Chris,
Just wanted to drop by and tell you how much I've enjoyed your
website. I'm an expatriated West Texan presently living in Georgia,
courtesy of my recently abandoned career. I was introduced to
your site by my sister, who was kind enough to forward a link
to your interview with Bruce Jaggers. I graduated
from Abernathy High School in 1978, and Tech in 1983, and spent
countless afternoons and nights at the Dawg, not to mention the
numerous other watering holes in Lubbock at that time. Memories
came flooding back as I read the interview, causing me to look
west for a couple of days afterward, pining for all things Lubbock.
Strangely enough, I had to move clear across the country before
having the opportunity to live in the same neighborhood with
a fellow Tech alum. Imagine the odds. She attended Tech about
the same time I did, so we naturally drift back to Lubbock whenever
we get together, talking about old days and the vibrant nightlife/music
scene that existed in the Hub City. Recently, over the course
of several martinis, I gave her my personal assessment of some
of the more popular/colorful establishments from that era and
thought I would share them with you: <Go
to "Letter & Poetry by M.H. Hill">
Sincerely, M.H.Hill
P.S. I've attached a collection of my work
that I'm attempting to build on...hope you enjoy.
Subject:
New Link
Date: Fri,
1 Apr 2005 4:05:55 AM EST
From: David Hamilton
Hi Chris,
David Hamilton here. I played bass with Jesse Taylor and Tornado
Alley back in Lubbock in the early 80's and also played bass
for Jay Boy Adams, which was how I moved to Lubbock from Abilene.
It would be nice if I could get back in contact with some old
friends through your site.
I want to pass on a link for you to post on Virtualubbock; it's
the site for my entertainment lighting design business.The address
is: www.songliter.com Have a look....
Well done, and thanks again, David
Hamilton
Subject: Maybe Eddie Dixon...
Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2005 2:55 PM EST
From: Dale Somers
I love your virtualubbock site. Maybe
consider adding Eddie Dixon to your list.
He is a sculptor that is kind of a hidden jewel here in Lubbock.
They have had Eddie Dixon Day in both Washington DC and New York.
He is currently sculpting the Willie McCool statue
that will be placed near the veterans memorial.
Take a look at his awards on this web site: www.eddiedixonartist.com
Thanks Dale Somers Subject: Sendin' ya some info
to be included
Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2005 11:36:13 AM EST
From: heather hollingsworth
Chris,
Great website! I also hail from Lubbock and crisscrossed with
some of the ol' gang(s). I did a great deal of theatre in the
late 70's there before I moved out into the big ol' carnivorous
world. I'm sure ol' Bill Kerns still remembers. He was a great
fan (as a rule--there was one Hayloft Theater mishap).
I am back in the Austin area after living in the area of theatre
& academia: acting, directing, dialect coaching, teaching
and the like. My latest gig was dialect coaching William Hurt
on his film this summer here in Austin.
I got the lubbock sunsets in my soul and the cottonfields in
my blood (and some probably still on my ass if ya wanna know).
I guess what I am tryin' to convey without much humility a'tall,
(I wouldn't be an alpha-Leo actress if I didn't) . . . the virtualubbock
site just wouldn't be complete without--me.
There was somethin' about being raised in lubbock in the 50's
and 60's?? Somethin' about that atmospheric phenomenon of those
Lubbock lights? No offense to the talented generations to come,
there continue to be many, but those coupla' generations right
around there, it's undeniable: in all fields of the arts, a plethora
of gifted, driven, searching folks with a unprecedented yearning.
I notice you have lots of musicians and a few theatre/film folks
but my generation produced a majorly successful crop of actors.
I won't steal the spotlight so I am going to mention other successful
Lubbock performing artists whom are loved ones of mine:
Conan McCarty -- Law & Order, Stuart Little II Brad Leland -- most recently Friday Night Lights Freda Williams -- Dr. T and the Women (Freda is married to
Brad Leland) Matt Posey
-- The Life of David Gale, Lonesome Dove Lynn Mathis (posthumous) -- The Alamo Mark Walters -- American Outlaws, A Texas Funeral Suzanne Smith -- Law & Order, & most notably the lead
on 42nd street on Broadway some decades ago
Gosh, there's GW Bailey and Larry Randolph. I'll stop now. But they all should at least
me mentioned because they all are a part of us.
thanks chris,
Heather Hollingsworth Subject:
Appreciate your site
Date: Thur, 2 Dec 2004 12:24:00 PM EST
From: Bob Williford
You have drawn a pretty good verbal expression of our hometown.
I, too, grew up in Lubbock and graduated from MHS in 67. Although
I have not been back but a few times since I left in December
of 69, Lubbock is still home, dust storms and all.
I am a Baptist preacher and lived in Peru for 13 years as a missionary
and have discovered that the truth of faith that I found in Lubbock
is just as true in Latin America. The crazy thing is that I live
in Hope, Arkansas now and in the shadow of Bill Clinton´s
birthplace. People in this town are the same as West Texas.....
Without guessing you know that I still cling to that Hellfire
and Damnation kind of preaching because I have read the Book
front to back many times and all of it seems to fit together
real good. This is a matter of faith.
Yes, Lubbock is a black and white kind of place, but the rest
of the world is just like that, too.
Have a great day Bob Williford Jesus said, "Follow
me." Subject:
Lubbock and its Music
Date: 4/15/2004; 8:50:17 PM Central Daylight Time
From: "Marianne and Stan Smith"
I've just finished going through the
features in the web sight and re-living many old memories of
those days when the music was fresh and original.
Truly all of the ideas and styles of
that time were original and pioneered much of the roots of the
Lubbock sound.
I played guitar back in those days,
and I really had few people to listen to that were from that
area. We all seemed to be doing our own thing, and had little
time to listen to each other that much. I guess my biggest influences
were Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, and Clyde Perkins (worked at Harrod
Music, on avenue Q). I liked Buddy's rich chordal solos, Chuck's
uncanny string bending techniques, and Clyde, well, he taught
me how to use the right fingerings and how to feel the music
when I played it.
Music was my life. I ate, drank, and
lived it. My idea of a great time was to strap on my Strat and
go play somewhere.
Those were wonderful times for me
and you have helped me to remember some of them. Keep up the
good work and don't stop searching. There is much more out there
and the history of "That Sound" needs to be told.
Thanks again Stan Smith
"The Sparkles"
Date:
Thu, 4 Dec 2003 12:01:25 AM EST
I have just now discovered this
site which I think is very cool. However, I do feel a little
left out of the picture. I had lived in Lubbock Texas for 14
years1976 - 89.
I even lived in Lubbock back in 1968 or 69 played in a club there
with a group called the Vicounts. My son was born there, I meet my wife in Lubbock.
I was a big part of the music family in Lubbock. To make this
short just go to my web site and read
all about it.
Us drummers always get left out. I am originally from Pampa Tx.
I have played drums for Jay Boy
Adams, and recorded with him.
Played drums on tour with Jimmie
Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock,
Joe Ely,
The Liquidators (x-Planet members ). Played at the original Stubbs Bar B Q,
West Texas Opry,Fat Dawgs, etc,...etc...recorded with a played live with
Jessie Guitar Taylor, Wally Moyers, Lloyd Maines, Don Caldwell
Studios, so on and so on...I
now live in Nashville, TN. Thanks for your time I hope I make
the cut..
Again Check out my site http://www.dannydarling.com
Thanks,
Danny Darling
Subject:
Downe Burns interview
Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2003 22:38 EST I'm Phil (http://homepage.mac.com/macdoc1)
and I am emailing you from Ontario, Canada - I live in a small
city called Peterborough. which seems to share similar values
to Lubbock. My first computer was a Texas Instruments 99/4A which
was manufactured in Lubbock. The Peterborough area is a tremendous
artist & musician's colony and hosts one of Ontario's biggest
annual art shows, the "Buckhorn Wildlife and Art Festival".
I discovered & enjoyed your Downe Burns interview on the Virtualubbock website. Downe
comes across as a straight up type of person in your interview
- I'm glad that he hung in there and stuck to what he believed
in. I admire his attitude.
I have just been introduced to Downe's
south western style of artwork which was displayed in a local
restaurant that we recently visited. That led my wife and I to
track down and purchase a print of the Three Amigos for our home
from Taos Design, a small shop in Toronto.
Yours truly, Phil Townsend
(retired teacher)
Subject:
Billy Walker
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2003 17:15 EST I believe Billy
Walker should be added to famous
artists from the Lubbock area. He was born in Ralls and lived
in Morton & other area towns growing up. He has been a member of the Grand Ol' Opry for more than
40 years. He has charted many
country hits including "Charlie's Shoes" and
"Cross the Brazos at Waco".
He was the first person to cut a Willie Nelson composition, "Funny
how time slips away" He has appeared in person with
such legends as Hank Williams (senior) Patsy Cline, and Elvis
Presley. Billy Walker is the most underlooked talent from this
area, although he is well known worldwide. I have submitted his
name to Civic Lubbock to be selected to the Buddy Holly Walk
of Fame. I have all sorts of bio info on Billy or you can search
the web. After reading his credentials, maybe you might help
me in getting Billy selected to the Holly Walk of Fame.
Subject:
Magic Dust
Date: Mon, 25 Nov 2002 7:40 EST I've been groovin' on your
website for a while, and I'm a fan. I live in Shanghai, China
now, and it is unbeleivable how much Lubbock dust is in China!
From Beijing to Shanghai to Hong Kong, I have met Lubbock people,
or in the most strange circumstances, someone who has a Lubbock
connection.
Case in point, and the reason
for this email:
I was sitting in a bar in Hong Kong,
and an Aussie came up to the bar already drunk and said "give
me a fucking beer." Seeing as how he and me were the only
white guys in the place, I decided to say, "What's up?"
I asked him, in my stellar West Texas dialect, "Where ya'
from?" He said "fucking Austrailia, and you?"
I told him "Lubbock, Texas," and he said, "No
shit! I love Buddy Holly, Terry
Allen and The Flatlanders."
I was naturally shocked and asked him how the hell he knew those
guys.
He told me that he was a die hard Buddy
Holly fan and was searching the Internet on his back ground and
discovered this website called virtualubbock.com
and got into the idea of the "Magic
Dust." He told me that
I was from a land of magic dust. Well, we of course got drunk
together... No shit true story! Here is a good link for your
site, I was missing the flatlands and found this: http://www.atmo.ttu.edu/dust.html
Brent Holbert
Subject: virtualubbock
Date: Fri, 29 Nov 2002 21:06 EST Hi Chris,
I've been looking at the site for about a year now and finally
offering my congratulations. I grew up in Lubbock about the same
time as you did (Cooper High School, in Woodrow). I worked at
the Red Carpet Carwash on Quaker, between 19th and Brownfield
Highway with a bunch of Tech guys. They really turned me on to
Fat Dawgs and some other places. Hell, I'd been going to Stubb's
for years and never realized how fortunate we were. There aren't
many places that pulled talent like Stubb's. By the way, the
second Stubb's location by the Depot was a truck stop my dad
owned in the 60's and 70's.
I left town a few months after Fat
Dawgs became the Fast and Cool club.
I think that was at least the temporary death of live music in
Lubbock. I wandered the globe for a few years and finally settled
in Tennessee. Every year on September
7th (Buddy's
Birthday), I drive down Music
Row with the windows down, the CD turned way up, Terry Allen singing Flatland Farmeras my symbolic protest of
the crap they put on records these days.
I told Lloyd
Maines about that and he loved
it. Please tell Terry that when you talk to him again.
Anyway, thanks for bringing back some great memories, and I'm
looking forward to the book.
Gary Johnson
Subject:
Another Hancock
Date: Thur, 3 Oct 2002 14:24 EST
Just wanted to send along my webpage....http://greyfax.home.texas.net.
I was just ahead of Butch, Jimmie Dale, and Joe Ely....Got drafted in 1966, and that was my exit
from Lubbock....via Viet Nam.....
My books went out of print around '93....but I have a new US
publisher, Tor Books.....the first of the Tor editions
will begin in July '03.....
One of the things that has kept me at it all these years, is
my training in missions behind enemy lines that I got by growing
up in that part of the country.....you can't keep us down.....and
we don't go away.....
all best, Niel
Hancock
Subject: Texas girl
groups: The Heartbeats; Ever heard of these girls?
<A HREF="http://www.cicadelic.com/">Click here: [left
side, Texas girl groups: "The Heartbeats"] Date: Sat, 3 Feb 2001 18:36:56 EST
The Heartbeats; Ever heard of these girls.?.....I
grew up around the corner from them, they had a brother my age
that I played baseball with. My brother and I
were good friends with all of them. We lived at 1318 26th and
they lived around
the corner from us on Ave L, then they moved to 1313 26th, right
across the street from us.
I am fascinated by your site. I live in Garland, the Lubbock
of the DFW metroplex, work for Southwest Airlines, went to Tech,
played in the Goin Band From Raiderland and hung out in the music
scene...
later, Chris Cates
Date: Sun,
1 Apr 2001 2:59 EST
Subject: Alex Ross
Greetings,
I don't know an awful lot about Lubbock. I used to have a boyfriend
who was
raised there, and I once went with him to visit his parents there
for
Thanksgiving. We took a little bit of time to see the city and
the
university. My ex-boyfriend is a graduate of Lubbock High and
a former Tech
student. He told me that one of his old schoolmates was a guy
named Nelson
Ross, now known as Alex Ross.
If you're not familiar with modern comic books, that name
might not mean
anything to you, but having worked in the retail side of the
comics
industry, I know that name belongs to one of the best comic book
artists in
the world, in this age or any other. In fact, his art is more
than just
comic book art, it's fine art in the truest sense.
Anyway, here's a URL to the official Alex Ross website, just
in case y'all
want to check it out.
Subject:
David Box and Virgil Johnson
Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2001 10:19 EST
I'm amazed that your site lists such a luminary as Norman
Odam but misses David Boxand Virgil Johnson.
Virgil Johnson is a terrific
guy; I visited him at his home here in Lubbock just last night.
He retired a few years ago as principal of Dunbar High School;
his son Patrick is presently assistant principal of the Jr. High
in Copperas Cove (he was there visiting last night too.)
I founded and built KDAV
three years ago and I got Virgil to come to work for me from
the first day as the 9AM to noon DJ; in fact, his was the first
show aired when we went on the air in September of 1998...just
in time for the Buddy Holly festival right there in the street
in front of the station. That was a great time; we had Bobby
Vee for a live interview, as well as Little Eva and Tommy James.
What you apparently don't know is that Virgil Johnson had
a very successful career
started as lead singer of The Velvets on Monument Records
(now a subsidiary
of Sony) and a couple of his songs charted nationally. He made
a responsible
decision to stay at home and raise his family instead of pursuing
the road
to stardom...a great loss for music, but I'm quite sure he made
the right
decision; he has a terrific family.
He is to this day extremely well known in doo-wop collector
circles. And I'm
not exaggerating when I say he is one of the most genuinely nice
guys that I
have ever known.
As to David Box, you can
be forgiven for not knowing of him, as he was
killed in a plane crash in Houston before his career really got
off the
ground. But what a talent! I had made it a goal when I ran the
radio station to see to it that everyone in Lubbock knew that
Buddy Holly
was not the only talented musician from here, and played a lot
of his stuff.
