In the early part of 1959
Joe Reeves and I had a trio we called "The
Shadows". In late 59 of my second year at Arkansas
State Teachers College, Joe Reeves, and myself
added Lee "Gander" Hensley on Piano, Warren Crow,
Sax and Dave Thomas on drums. We appeared some on
the local dance party television show "Steve's
Show", Channel 11 in Little Rock. About 1962 most
of us graduated from college and had gone our
separate ways. Myself, Joe Reeves , Warren Crow,
and a drummer by the name of Rupert Sims added Jack
Nance as our piano player. Jack Nance had been
Conway Twitty's drummer all of those early years
and had written "It's Only Make Believe" and others
for Twitty. During that period we played at the
famous "Silver Moon" in Newport, Arkansas. We
recorded a 45 rpm "You Can Count On Me" b/w
"Ketchy" at Lyn-Lou Studios in Memphis with Bill
Black as producer. By this time we had become the
"Young Shadows" although we still publicized and
recorded under the name "The Shadows". By then ,
The Shadows were very young. Jack Nance, Joe
Reeves, Rupert Sims and Warren Crow had left the
area. Jack Nance, (now deceased) was going west to
manage "Where The Action Is" for Dick Clark. He
often came back to Little Rock with "Paul Revere
and The Raiders" and other great bands. Crow
finally formed his own band. After their departure
I added Harrell Clendenin, Drums; Randy Tarver,
bass; and Jim Glover, manager. In 1966 I replaced
Tarver and Glover with lead guitarist Larry Nichols
and organist Jeff Coursey. In October of '66 I was
sent to Viet Nam. When I came back in '67 music was
in chaos. I think we did one single which KAAY
picked up but by that time the hippies and
protesters had become a big part of music and
society. By 1969 I wanted to go in another
direction with a smaller group. "The Music Shoppe"
was formed consisting of Alfred Crump, (now
deceased) on drums; Jimmy Jobe, bass; and Pat
"Dutch" McRae, bass and organ. That's the year my
biggest thrill came in the recording entitled "East
Of Tulsa". It was picked up by KAAY, KXLR, WSM.
truck driver stations and those throughout the
region. I never had any trouble getting that
particular record programmed. It gave me an
opportunity to go to Nashville and do Ralph Emery's
and Grant Turner's WSM Opry "Start Spotlight" and
"The Early Show" radio show. Also, Alfred Crump and
I were staff musicians on the syndicated television
show, "Ozarkland Jubilee".
After "The Music
Shoppe", I formed "Autumn Mist" with Ronnie
Harrison, drums; Linda Harrison, organ, and Jimmy
Jobe on bass. Later replacement members of that
band included Judy Cupit, bass; Alan Cost, drums;
Paul Brock, guitar; and Carolyn McPeake, bass; also
Linda Moser, manager and driver. Personnel: Influences: Setlist
Sample: Equipment:
Rehearsal
Space: Band
Vehicles: Fashion
Statement: Best
Gig: Gig
from
Hell!: Last
Gig:
Information contributed by Roy Cost vegarecords@conwaycorp.net |
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