Singer and guitarist Dickey Betts dead at 80

Osprey, Florida, USA (April 18, 2024)- Dickey Betts, singer and guitarist with the famous Georgia-based Allman Brothers Band has died, according to a statement from his family. Betts had been battling cancer for more than a year and had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, David Spero, Betts’ manager of 20 years, said.

The American rock band was formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1969 by brothers Duane Allman and Gregg Allman, but shortly after moved to Macon, Georgia and established Capricorn Records. Betts shared lead guitar duties with Duane Allman in the original Allman Brothers Band to help give the group its distinctive sound and create a new genre — Southern rock. Acts ranging from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Kid Rock were influenced by the Allmans’ music, which combined the blues, country, R&B and jazz with ‘60s rock.

 

The Allman Brothers Band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and earned a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award in 2012. Betts left the group for good in 2000, and also played solo and with his own band Great Southern, which included his son, guitarist Duane Betts. Forrest Richard Betts was born Dec. 12, 1943, and was raised in the Bradenton, Florida, area, near the highway 41 he sang about in “Ramblin’ Man.”

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His family had lived in area since the mid-19th century. Betts grew up listening to country, bluegrass and Western swing, and played the ukulele and banjo before focusing on the electric guitar because it impressed girls. At 16 he left home for his first road trip, joining the circus to play in a band. He returned home, and with bassist Oakley joined a group that became the Jacksonville, Florida-based band Second Coming. One night in 1969 Betts and Oakley jammed with Duane Allman, already a successful session musician, and his younger brother, and together they formed the Allman Brothers Band.



The group moved to Macon, Georgia, and released a self-titled debut album in 1969. A year later came the album “Idlewild South,” highlighted by Betts’ instrumental composition “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed,” which soon became a concert staple. The 1971 double album “At Fillmore East,” now considered among the greatest live albums of the classic rock era, was the Allmans’ commercial breakthrough and cemented their performing reputation by showcasing the unique guitar interplay between Allman and Betts.



Their styles contrasted, with Allman playing bluesy slide guitar, while Betts’ solos and singing tugged the band toward country. When layered in harmony, their playing was especially distinctive. Betts also wrote or co-wrote some of the band’s other best-loved songs, including “Blue Sky” and “Southbound.” In later years the group remained a successful touring act with Betts and Warren Haynes on guitar. Gregg Allman and Butch Trucks died in 2017. After leaving the Allmans for good, Betts continued to play with his own group and lived in the Bradenton area with his wife, Donna. Funeral arrangements are pending. 

Street Survivors Trailer Released

Badlands of Indiana, USA (February 29, 2020) WHR — Told from the perspective of drummer Artimus Pyle, the film centres on the tragic Mississippi plane crash on 20th October 1977 that claimed the lives of legendary Lynyrd Skynyrd singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and his backing vocalist sister Cassie Gaines, road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray.

Powered by Artimus Pyle’s first-hand recollections of the crash, the film focuses on the hours leading up to the crash in the rented plane, and the aftermath.

The film premiered at 7.30 pm on Sunday 16th February at the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival before hitting select cinemas Stateside this spring.

Artimus Pyle says of ‘Street Survivors: The True Story Of The Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash’: "This film's story — MY story — is not just about the plane crash but also about my personal relationship with the genius that was Ronnie Van Zant — whom I loved like a brother and still miss to this day."

Watch the trailer below:


Named after Lynyrd Skynyrd’s 1977 album of the same name, ‘Street Survivors…’ is directed by Jared Cohn and features Cleopatra Records founder Brian Perera on production duties.

The cast includes Ian Shultis as Artimus Pyle, Taylor Clift as RonnieVan Zant, Samuel Kay Forrest as Steve Gaines, Rich Dally III as Allen Collins, Hudson Long as Billy Powell and Nick Cairo as Leon Wilkeson. Neill Byrnes and Anthony Rocco Bovo play Aerosmith rockers Steven Tyler and Joe Perry.

Principle photography on the film began in April 2017 in Los Angeles, however in August of that year, sole original member Gary Rossington and heirs of Van Zant and Gaines successfully won a court injunction to halt production of the film.

The judge decided that the film violated a “blood oath” consent order Pyle signed with his band mates in 1988, that allegedly gave individual band members permission to tell their own life stories but not exploit the Lynyrd Skynyrd name after the crash.

However, in October 2018 the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan, New York overturned the permanent injunction and Cleopatra Records Inc. were free to distribute the film.

“That crash is part of the history’ of the band, but it is also an ‘experience’ of Pyle with the band, likely his most important experience,” the ruling read.

“Provisions of a consent decree that both prohibit a movie about such a history and also permit a movie about such an experience are sufficiently inconsistent, or at least insufficiently specific, to support an injunction.”

Chris Darrow of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Dead

Badlands of Indiana, USA (January 17, 2020) WHR — Chris Darrow, a country-rock pioneer who made his mark over the '60s and '70s, most notably as a member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, has died at the age of 75. No cause of death has been released yet.

Darrow was born in South Dakota in 1944, but grew up in the Southern California suburb of Claremont, where he first honed an interest in folk and bluegrass music. He formed the Dry City Scat Band in 1964 while pursuing college and graduate school, and during this time became acquainted with Chris Hillman of classic rock legends the Byrds, who had a profound influence on his transition from bluegrass to rock music.


Darrow went on to form the genre-bending rock band Kaleidoscope, recording several albums before his joining influential country-rockers the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1967. He worked with the band on two albums, and also appeared in the Clint Eastwood musical, Paint Your Wagon.

In1969, he formed the Corvettes, which became the touring band for Linda Ronstadt, who herself was quickly exploding as an influential artist in the country-rock scene.

Darrow also had a prolific solo career, releasing a total of 10 records between 1972 and 2006. He worked with such notable artists as Leonard Cohen and James Taylor, and mentored younger singer-songwriter and fellow Southern Californian Ben Harper.


Information on Darrow's passing and survivors is limited.

SOURCE: Taste of Country

Iconic Southern Rock recording studio is revived

Atlanta, Georgia, USA (December 4, 2019) WHR — The Georgia music studio that fused blues, country and other sounds into Southern rock is being reborn. Capricorn Sound Studios in Macon helped propel the Allman Brothers Band and other groups to stardom in the 1970s.

Capricorn’s historic Studio A is reopening this week, after years of work by Mercer University and other supporters to restore and equip it with state-of-the-art technology.

“It’s a place that spawned a decade of remarkable creative activity,” Mercer President William Underwood said in an interview.

It also helped make Macon one of the nation’s music capitals. Underwood hopes the renovated studio will help preserve Macon’s place among cities that forged the music history of the United States — places like Nashville and Memphis in Tennessee, Muscle Shoals in Alabama and Detroit, Chicago and New Orleans.

Macon’s civic leaders view Southern rock through a far different lens these days than in the 1970s.

Southern rockers and Southern Baptists traveled in different orbits back then. The Capricorn music scene — part of the drug-infused counterculture movement of the time — was not always welcome in conservative Middle Georgia.

Now, Capricorn and Southern rock are officially sanctioned by today’s leaders, many of whom were fans in their younger days. Underwood, for instance, grew up listening to Southern rock and considers The Allman Brothers Band “the greatest jam band ever.”

In planning the new music complex, Underwood and others visited music hubs including Nashville, where Elvis Presley and others recorded their hits in RCA’s Studio B.

“There are people all over the world who travel to see these restored studios,” said Larry Brumley, a senior vice president at Mercer.

Macon-area officials hope the restoration — funded with help from two charitable foundations and other private donors — will help spur downtown redevelopment.


The restored Macon studio is part of Mercer Music at Capricorn, a 20,000-square-foot (1,860-square-meter) complex that will include a museum. Among its goals: To train and inspire new musicians. To that end, the Capricorn Music Incubator will provide 12 rehearsal rooms for musicians to hone their craft.

The idea is “to be a place to bring talented, creative people together and have them interact and engage with one another,” Underwood said.

“One day hopefully the next Otis Redding will come out of that incubator,” he said.

Redding’s voice became emblematic of Macon music six decades ago, after Mercer University student Phil Walden discovered his vocal talents while booking local bands for fraternity parties.

In 1969, Capricorn Records was formed by Walden and others, including Frank Fenton and producer Jerry Wexler of Atlantic Records.

“My father loved the South, he loved Georgia and he especially loved Macon,” Phil Walden’s daughter, Amantha, said at Tuesday’s dedication ceremony. “He loved Southern music deep inside his soul.”

“My father’s life mission was to show the world what the South was capable of, and today we are here to celebrate a chapter of that mission,” she added.

Walden, his brother Alan Walden and their business partners discovered new artists who went on to create what became Southern rock.

The Charlie Daniels Band, the Marshall Tucker Band, Elvin Bishop, Wet Willie and others recorded songs inside the studio that was built for the Capricorn record label.

The Allman Brothers Band became so popular that they helped a former Georgia governor named Jimmy Carter win the 1976 presidential election by performing at campaign events, Carter has said. Carter told Mercer graduates at their 2016 commencement that he might not have been elected if the band hadn’t “adopted” him.

“Gregg Allman was better known than I was at that time,” Carter said in 2017. “The band got the campaign political attention and raised much needed funds.” When Underwood became Mercer’s president, the vacant offices that once housed Capricorn were a shambles, with one exception.

“The studio itself — that magical place where this great music was made — was still intact,” Underwood recalled. “It was kind of a miracle.”

A second venue, Studio B, will be used for larger-scale recordings and to host concerts and other special events. Film scores could be recorded there, tying into Georgia’s booming movie industry, Underwood said.

The studio will also feature a custom-built, 40-channel analog sound board that was created by the Maryland-based company API, he said.

Wes Griffith, who now manages the newly restored studio, recalls the first time he stepped inside.

“I was in awe, standing there where all these great things happened, all this great music was made,” Griffith said. “It’s just a dream come true for me to be the steward of that place and share that history and start a new beginning.”

The Marcus King Band shake up Iowa City

Badlands of Indiana (November 25, 2019) WHR — Iowa City got a visit from arguably one of the most talented modern guitarists in rock ’n’ roll touring today, Marcus King, front man to the Marcus King Band, on November 21 at the Englert Theater.

Before the show, the Englert had hummed with anticipation. A full theater of music lovers had turned out on a chilly November night to see the Nashville music group.

The Marcus King Band performs at the Englert Theatre on Thursday, November 21, 2019. 

Photo: Katina Zentz

The King Band is a Southern rock, blues, and soul fusion band made up of six members. Singer and guitarist Aaron Lee Tasjan took the stage to warm up the crowd before the band came out. The artist’s music was described as “indie folk grit” by Broadwayworld’s in “Aaron Lee Tasjan to Play at the Rockwood Music Hall Stage, 7/6.”

After Tasjan and his band finished their 48-minute set, the swaggering guitar riffs came to an end. The crowd had already given a standing ovation before the headline act walked on stage, something rarely seen for openers.

Yet even more energy burst from the crowd once the King band walked on the purple- and blue-lit stage.

King stepped into the spotlight and began to sing Son House’s iconic song “Grinnin’ in Your Face.” The famous blues song features a sole singer paired with rhythmic clapping. Even with the bare instrumentals, the audience rose and began to scream in excitement.

The band’s sound is a mix of 1970s soul melded with Southern rock from the same era, with a blues twist. In the grorup’s performance, viewers could visualize silhouettes of past artists such as Stevie Ray Vaughan and Aretha Franklin as the band played.


Though the group draws from past musicians for inspiration, the King Band achieves great nuance in both its musicality and attitude.

The way the band connected with the energy of the Englert was an example of how its sound is so complementary and adaptive, flowing in specific ways depending on the crowd.

The energy in the venue was both electric and bold. The crowd members shot to their feet, swaying and dancing as the frontman sang. “We’re one week away from Turkey Day,” King said early to the cheering crowd. “But I want to say how thankful I am for you guys tonight.”

The band plays a sound from the past for today’s audiences, but with the nuance that only comes with time and a deep love for what came before. Its most recent album, Carolina Confessions, was featured often in the Iowa City set list. The band also featured some earlier songs from albums such as Due North.

The most striking aspect of the stellar rock concert was the way King constructed free-flowing solos for his songs. The way the notes rang out from his guitar almost seemed as though he was having a conversation only he could understand.

After a concert filled with cheering, shredding guitar solos, and an insanely funky horn section, the King Band left the stage, leaving the ringing of songs from both the past and present for everyone in attendance.

STORY: Austin J. Yerington
SOURCE: The Daily Iowan

Chris Stapleton sets 2020 tour dates

Badlands of Indiana (November 25, 2019) WHR — Chris Stapleton has unveiled his 2020 spring tour dates. The shows will feature support from Willie Nelson & Family, The Marcus King Band, Yola, Jamey Johnson and Sheryl Crow.

Stapleton’s spring tour will begin on Mar. 11 in Corpus Christi, Texas at the American Bank Center with special guests Jamey Johnson and Yola. The dates continue in Texas with a show in Austin on Mar. 12, followed by a Mar. 14 date in Arlington, Texas at Globe Life Field. The Arlington show – with support from Willie Nelson & Family in addition to Johnson and Yola – will mark the first ever concert at the venue, which is also the Texas Rangers’ brand new stadium.


Stapleton will then venture out of Texas, with stops in Biloxi, Miss., Birmingham Ala., and Columbus, Ohio. These three shows will feature The Marcus King Band and Yola. Finally, Stapleton will head to Lexington, Ky. to headline the previously-announced A Concert For Kentucky benefit. Willie Nelson & Family, Sheryl Crow and Yola will join him at this final show.

Tickets to Corpus Christi, Biloxi, and Birmingham go on sale Dec 6, while Austin & Columbus on sale Dec 13. For more information, visit chrisstapleton.com, and check out a complete list of upcoming tour dates below!

Chris Stapleton Spring 2020

Mar. 11 – Corpus Christi, Texas – American Bank Center*
Mar. 12 – Austin, Texas – Frank Erwin Center*
Mar. 14 – Arlington, Texas – Globe Life Field^
Mar. 20 – Biloxi, Miss. – Mississippi Coast Coliseum+
Mar. 21 – Birmingham, Ala. – Legacy Arena at the BJCC+
Apr. 23 – Columbus, Ohio – Schottenstein Center+
Apr. 25 – Lexington, Ky. – Kroger Field#

*w/ Jamey Johnson and Yola
^w/ Willie Nelson & Family, Jamey Johnson and Yola
+w/ The Marcus King Band and Yola
#w/ Willie Nelson & Family, Sheryl Crow and Yola

Steve Gaines of Lynyrd Skynyrd celebrates birthday

Miami, Florida, U.S.A (September 2, 2019) WHR —A birthday bash to celebrate Steve Gaines’ 70th birthday will take place Saturday, September 7th, in downtown Miami as part of the annual Designs of Autumn FestiFall.

Steve and Cassie Gaines, brother and sister, were Miamians who gained international fame as members of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, and were tragically killed on Oct. 20, 1977, when the passenger aircraft the band had chartered ran out of fuel and crashed in a wooded area in Mississippi.

The Birthday Bash is a way to honor and celebrate Steve and Cassie’s lives.

“I am just ecstatic about this. We have been trying for years to get Steve and Cassie recognized and for it to come to fruition is just amazing,” said Debbie East, one of the founding members of the Ottawa County Musicians’ Tribute Committee. “We formed the committee together and we all have equal roles — Bob Poole, Sammie Ketcher, myself and Jordan Boyd.”

The Miami High School band will kick off the music celebrating Steve Gaines’ birthday at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, followed at 3 p.m. with entertainment by “Oklahoma Alibi,” a Lynyrd Skynyrd and Steve and Cassie Gaines tribute band out of the Tulsa area.

Following that there will be a Lynyrd Skynyrd documentary shown at the Coleman Theatre and the possible introduction of some of the plane crash survivors from Mississippi and Florida.

The main event will be a band called the “I Knew You When” band at approximately 5 p.m. that is made up of former members of bands that played with Steve Gaines, including John Moss, Johnny Rose, Sam Ketcher, John Seeburg, Miles Jacobs, Annie Walser, Rusty Knight and special guests.

The emcee for the night will be Hank Rotten Jr., of Joplin, who was the headmaster of ceremonies at the famous Sturgis Festival in Sturgis, South Dakota, recently.

And, finally, there will be a celebratory birthday cake presentation and everyone at the Coleman will get a piece (while it lasts).

“I was in bands with Steve; I didn’t play music; I ran the light shows, but we all feel like it’s great that the City of Miami is going to honor Steve on his 70th birthday. We are glad it’s going to be happening,” Poole said.

“People around Miami have been asking for a few years why we hadn’t been honoring Steve. So finally we have been able to do that. We got the street named for him last year, and we got him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Oklahoma last year, and this year we are doing the 70th birthday celebration and having a big birthday cake for him on stage. We are just glad it’s happening. His time has come.”

While all of the events are free and open to the public, donations are welcomed and will benefit the new Steve and Cassie Gaines Memorial Scholarship, which will be awarded to deserving music students at NEO in the future.

SOURCE: The Miami News Record

Remembering the Allman Brothers Band

Badlands of Indiana (July 8, 2019) WHR — The Allman Brothers Band revolutionized the music industry. Although the band was actually formed in Jacksonville, Florida, their ties to Macon made the city a recording hot spot in the years that followed and cemented the city’s place in music history. It’s a step back in time for visitors at 2321 Vineville Avenue in Macon.

“The old house has a unique aroma about it. It smells like an old home that had a lot of love in it and a lot of caring," said Richard Brent, director of The Big House Museum.

The house was for rent in 1969. By 1970, it became a place where band members, friends and family would stay for the next few years. The home’s location even influenced some of the band's lyrics.

"Rolling down Highway 41 and the song Ramblin' Man—to look out the window there and you see Highway 41. The song Blue Sky, 'good ole’ Sunday morning bells are ringing everywhere' and there’s church bells right behind you," said Brent.

Brent said The Big House is now the ultimate Allman Brothers Band experience. Memorabilia and artifacts line the walls from each decade the band performed. It’s an attraction that draws people to middle Georgia from all over the world—including fans who’ve followed the band since the beginning.

“They were the best band in the Unites States at that time. There’s no question about that. They played every single night somewhere, said James Devine, a fan of the band who was visiting from Daytona Beach.

“Seen them as individual players. We’ve seen them with Gregg Allman by himself," said Moira O'Leary, who was visiting with friends from New Jersey.


The band’s distinct style and sound changed the course of music forever. Southern Rock became a household name and the band consistently had success on the charts. But they did have their fair share of challenges. Band members Duane Allman and Berry Oakley both died in motorcycle crashes a year apart. The band also experienced personnel changes over the years, and even broke up and got back together more than once.

"They were just so super talented, genius musicians. That’s the only way I can describe their music," said Devine.

Nowadays, The Big House continues to thrive—about 20,000 visitors a year—double the number from just two years ago, according to Brent. The artifacts and the experience still excites fans to this day.

“It’s just been a thrill. This is like one of these where I’ve got to pinch myself that actually I’m here and seeing all of this memorabilia. It’s just been so wonderful," said O'Leary.

Duane Allman, Berry Oakley and Gregg Allman are all buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, which is about two miles from The Big House. March 26th was the actual 50th anniversary of the band.

SOURCE: Fox24

Duane Roland: The Last Interview

Badlands of Indiana (June 22, 2019) WHR — When Indiana native Duane Roland died at the age of 53 on June 19th, 2006, he was right in the middle of a major comeback as a member of Gator Country, reuniting him with other founding and former members of Molly Hatchet in a band that was truly on the verge of greatness. They had recorded an excellent cover of "Oh Atlanta" and were working on a full length album.

As a founding member of Molly Hatchet, Duane Roland brought a massive amount of talent to the three guitar lineup that became Hatchet's signature sound. Several years ago, when Dave Hlubek left the Southern Rock Allstars, Roland stepped up to the plate to knock it out of the park. Then last year, he suffered one of the hardest blows anyone can suffer, when his wife passed away.


Roland picked himself up, dusted himself off, and did what he did best- played guitar with Gator Country. We started this interview the first week in June, and never had a chance to complete it. We are printing what we have, as a tribute and insight to a true Southern Rock guitar giant.

Tell us a little about where you were born and raised.

I was born in Jeffersonville, Indiana, near Louisville, Kentucky. We moved to Florida when I was seven years old.

Was there a lot of music in your family?

Oh yes, definitely. My mother was a concert pianist. My dad played guitar some.

Who was your biggest musical inspiration early on?

There are a lot of guitar players that inspired me, but my favorite was, and is, Eric Clapton.

How did you initially hook up with the guys in Molly Hatchet?

I was working on putting a band together with Banner and Bruce, but that didn't work out. They joined Dave and Steve, and then Danny. At this point, I was in another band called The Ball Brothers Band. Dave didn't show up for one of Hatchet’s gigs and Banner called me to fill in so they could get paid for the night. They and their management were thinking about going to three guitar players, so one they came down from Macon to hear me play and after that I was asked to join.

How did you come to leave the band?

We were only planning to take a year off. But that changed. There was a lot of corporate b.s. going on that's best left unsaid.

What is your favorite Hatchet album?

I really loved the second album. It’s usually pretty easy to come up with a debut album because everybody in the band has been writing for years. The sophomore effort is usually the one that tells the tale, and I think we proved ourselves.

What was it like to be a member of The Southern Rock Allstars?

I had forgotten how much fun it was playing music with really great musicians. It woke up an old rock beast in me. I loved playing guitar with Jay. Charles is a fantastic bass player and Jakson- damn- Jakson. What a powerhouse. I miss that man every day. And it was great to once again stand behind the greatest singer I've ever played with, Jimmy Farrar.

Which brings us up to Gator Country. Once again you are playing with Jimmy, and many of the original Molly Hatchet members. How does that feel?

I tell ya, Michael, it’s great. You heard the single right?

Yeah, you sent it to me. A great cover of the old Little Feat song “Oh Atlanta.” It’s awesome.

Thanks man. We are not really trying to sound like the old Molly hatchet, although we certainly tip our hat to that music in a big way. But we have all matured a lot since those days, and we have a lot of music in us we want to let out. We are just getting started.

I was sad to hear of the death of your wife last year. Are you doing okay with that?

The best I can man. It was one of the hardest punches I’ve ever had. All of the deaths lately have been really hard, but to lose your soul mate is the worst of all. I just take it a day at a time, you know. But there will always be a part of me missing.

I fully understand. I want to talk a little about the current Molly Hatchet band with Bobby Ingram, and get your thoughts on that.

Oh, sure. No problem. Michael, can we finish up the interview next week. I have to run. Would that be okay?

Sure it will Duane. I’ll call you back. Thanks bro.

Less than a week later, Duane Roland was dead from natural causes. I was honored to be the last journalist to interview him, even if we never finished our conversation. Godspeed Duane. To the rest of Gator Country and Molly Hatchet, all our best wishes. Keep the music alive fellas. I’m sure Duane would want that.

By Michael Buffalo Smith, July 2006
SOURCE: Swampland

Blacktop Mojo announce 2019 Tour Dates

Badlands of Indiana (May 31, 2019) WHR — After spending the first 3 months of 2019 in the studio, Texas Based Rock Band Blacktop Mojo has announced a summer headlining tour in support of the debut single and video, “Can’t Sleep,” off of their highly anticipated, upcoming 3rd album, Under the Sun.

The video is scheduled to premiere on June 21, at which time the track will be available for download and streaming, with the album slated for a mid-September release.

The Can’t Sleep 2019 Tour launches July 13th in Kansas City, MO and runs through August 24th, finishing in Quapaw, OK.


Catch Blacktop Mojo Live on their 2019 Can't Sleep Tour w/Special Guests Lullwater

07/13 @ Aftershock – Kansas City, MO
07/14@ Apollo Theatre – Rockford, IL
07/16@ Spicolis – Waterloo, IA
07/18@ Durty Nellies – Palatine, IL
07/19@ Rock USA – Oshkosh, WI
07/20@ Bike Rally – Sturgis, KY
07/21@ Exit/In – Nashville, TN
07/23 @ Winchester – Cleveland, OH
07/25@ Hard Times Four Mile Fork @ Fredericksburg, VA 
07/26 @ Muddy Creek Saloon – Heath, OH
07/27 @ Cotter Pin – La Crosse, WI
07/28@ Q and Z – Ringle, Wi
07/31@ Token Lounge – Detroit, MI
08/01@ Manchester Music Hall – Lexington, KY
08/02@ Madam Caroll Boat – Monticello, IN
08/03@ Moefest – Monticello, IN
08/04@ Madison Live – Covington, KY
08/06@ Hard Rock Café – Pittsburgh, PA
08/07@ The Chance – Poughkeepsie, NY
08/08@ Wally’s – Manchester,, NH
08/09@ Alchemy – Providence, RI
08/10@ TBA
08/11@ TBA
08/14@ Eclectic Room – Angola, IN
0815@ Illinois State Fair – Springfield, IL
08/16@ Rose Music Hall – Columbia, MO
08/17@ ABATE Summerfest – Bristol, IN
08/18@ The Warehouse – Clarksville, TN
08/20@ Sidetracks – Huntsville, AL
08/21@ TBA
08/22@ Commandry – Ft. Smith, AR
08/23@ City Limits – Oklahoma City, OK
08/24@ Downstream Casino – Quapaw, OK

SOURCE:

Call Me The Breeze by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Badlands of Indiana (May 28, 2019) WHR — The song "Call Me The Breeze" was written and originally recorded by the Oklahoma guitarist J.J. Cale. The song is about a guy who can go where the weather takes him, unburdened by the weight of the world. It was a fitting statement for Cale, who went out of his way to keep things simple and stay out of the spotlight (his photo didn't appear on his first seven albums). The concept of savoring simplicity and going where the wind takes you is also a theme of many Skynyrd songs.

"Call Me The Breeze" appeared on Cale's first solo album, a 1971 release called Naturally. He got his record deal after Eric Clapton recorded "After Midnight," a song Cale wrote and recorded with his band the Leathercoated Minds in 1966. Naturally did well, placing three songs in the Hot 100 and garnering Cale offers from bigger labels (he was signed to Shelter Records). Cale kept it low-key, however, and worked at his own pace.

When Lynyrd Skynyrd covered this song, it once again financed Cale's lifestyle, allowing him to release albums in a leisurely fashion and without concern for hit potential. Clapton remained a key supporter of Cale, later recording his songs "Cocaine" and "Travellin' Light." Cale died in 2013 at age 74.

The original J.J. Cale version of this song is stripped-down, with the vocals far lower in the mix. Skynyrd decided to cover the song when guitarist Gary Rossington came up with a riff that distinguished it from the original.

This was one of the few cover songs Skynyrd recorded, and the only one on the album a band member didn't write. They recorded another J.J. Cale song, "Same Old Blues," on their 1976 album Gimme Back My Bullets, and had plans to work with Cale that were derailed by the 1977 plane crash that killed three members of the band.


Despite being one of the most popular Lynyrd Skynyrd songs, this was not released as a single. Albums were a much bigger deal in 1974, so just two singles were issued from Second Helping: "Don't Ask Me No Questions" and "Sweet Home Alabama."

Since it never got overplayed when the album was out, "Call Me The Breeze" found a spot on most classic rock playlists for many years.

Phil McCormack Dies at Age 58

Badlands of Indiana (April 27, 2019) WHR — Phil McCormack, the lead singer for Jacksonville-based Southern rock band Molly Hatchet, has died. He was 58.

McCormack’s death comes some 18 months after the September 2017 death of Dave Hlubek, a founding member of the band. Earlier that year, Banner Thomas, the band’s former bassist, also died.

McCormack’s death was confirmed in a social media posts by The Roadducks, the Virginia-based rock band that McCormack frequently performed with.

“Phil was a fabulous, singer, band mate, brother, and human being,” the Roadducks said in a statement. “Collectively we spent thousands of hours that turned into thousands of days together, creating an unbreakable bond few people are fortunate enough to ever experience.”

Later Saturday, McCormack’s death was announced by Molly Hatchet.

“It is with great sorrow to announce the passing of our friend and band member, Phil McCormack. Our condolences and prayers go out to his family during this time of loss. Phil’s contributions to Molly Hatchet were heard around the world. He will be missed but never forgotten.”


McCormack, who performed with Jacksonville’s Molly Hatchet in the early 1990s, joined the band full time in 1995, taking over for Danny Joe Brown, who left the band due to health problems.

No cause of death was given.

Hlubek founded the band in Jacksonville in 1971, the same year he graduated from Forrest High School. The band is named after a legendary killer prostitute.

SOURCE: The Epoch Times

Barber shop spins scissors and rock music

Marshall, Virginia (March 21, 2019) WHR — It’s tough to say when it began, perhaps in the 1970s. Its progression grew quietly. Then, one day the American male arose from his hirsute slumber and realized most traditional barber shops had morphed into hair salons. Guys had lost another battle to the increasing influence of the gentler persuasion. But still. There is something nostalgic about guys chatting away among themselves as their locks are shorn.

To their benefit, there is a shop reviving the old-time haircut, but with a modern twist. “I started cutting hair at a salon near Akron, Ohio back in 2001. I don’t know why, but I picked up a really strong male following. I enjoy cutting men’s hair. I don’t like coloring, permanents and all that,” said Kristy Haase, owner of Rock-N-Barbers in the Marshall Center in Marshall. “I always thought it would be neat to combine the best of a hairstylist and a barber.” But the idea had to incubate for a few years. In the interim, Haase moved to D.C. and cut hair at a high-end male-only hair salon. “They offered a full spa with massages and adult beverages.

It was very much what I wanted to do and I spent several years researching the idea without success,” she said. But there is more than one way to trim a head. Haase took a modified approach to her barbershop dream when she moved to Front Royal seven years ago. Realizing a full-blown shop (pun intended) would take considerable financial investment, Haase elected to start where everything does: at the beginning. “I said, ‘You know, I’m just gonna start small. I don’t have all this money to get a huge, fancy place with fancy chairs so I’m just going to start somewhere.’ I knew had the experience and talent and there was no one that could do what I could do.” Confidence is what someone is looking for when they make a decision to place their hair in scissor-powered hands. It’s also why Haase’s shop has been a success from the first hairs that hit the floor.

What she has created is a traditional barbershop, catering to men but also serving women. “About 90 percent of my customers are guys. But the men will tell their wives what we do. When the women come in, they don’t see old barbers in overalls cutting hair,” she said laughing. What they do see is a shop staffed with experienced women hair stylists who know hair from the roots up. At any given time, you’ll see Haase and one or two of her staff of four cutting or shaving while chatting away with their clients.

Rock music plays in the background and friendly banter echoes around the shop. “I wanted a shop that was modern, but with a relaxed atmosphere. That’s why I went with a rock music theme. I’m originally from Cleveland, which is the home of rock and roll and I just thought it was a cool idea,” to create a shop called Rock-N’-Barbers.

In addition to custom haircuts, the guys get to choose their favorite rock genre if they like. Amazon’s Alexa stands at the ready to play classic rock or whatever generation of rock is desired. “There might be Pink Floyd or Guns N Roses playing, but a customer can ask Alexa what they want to hear,” said Haase. Clients and services So, are the loyal customers who drop by for a trim the edgy clientele she served at the high-end D.C. shop? Not quite. Haase explains her customers range across all age groups from the very young to seniors. “I’ve had customers where it was their first haircut and, unfortunately, where it was their last one,” she said.

There are a lot of businessmen and farmers who frequent the shop along with high schoolers, reflecting the demographics of a rural location. And the dream of serving adult refreshments has been put on hold for now. Instead, there is a Keurig machine at the ready, serving coffee, tea or hot chocolate. For a full description of the shop’s services and personal profiles of Haase and her four stylists visit www.rock-n-barbers.com

SOURCE: Fauquier Times

Vote for Your Rocks Hall of Fame 2019 Nominees

Badlands of Indiana (October 17, 2018) WHR — Music fans of all persuasions have now been invited to vote in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame’s annual Fan Vote. For the seventh year running, fans will be able to have their say in the Fan Vote, with the five artists who receive the most votes making up a “fan’s ballot” that will help determine who makes it into the prestigious Rock Hall. 

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

The Class Of 2019 – which includes first-time nominees Def Leppard, Stevie Nicks, Todd Rundgren, Roxy Music, John Prine and Devo – will also be decided by artists, members of the music industry, journalists and music historians. The other influential acts to be nominated for the 2019 Rock Hall are The Cure, the MC5, Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, Rage Against The Machine, Janet Jackson and two acts previously nominated for induction in 2018, Radiohead and The Zombies. Also on the nominees list are Kraftwerk and LL Cool J, both of whom have previously received four Rock Hall nominations.

To be eligible for induction into the prestigious Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, an individual artist or band must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination. Several of the nominees have enjoyed high profile success during 2018. Iconic Yorkshire rockers Def Leppard and Journey played an acclaimed co-headlining North American tour across the summer, performing to some of the biggest houses of their career.

Stevie Nicks

According to reports in Billboard, the two bands playing in venues ranging from 8,500-seat arenas to 45,000-capacity baseball parks. Def Leppard have also recently announced the imminent release of an upgraded greatest hits anthology, The Story So Far, while The Cure have confirmed a series of huge festival appearances for the summer of 2019, including South Africa’s Rock On The Lawns and Malahide Castle in Dublin, Ireland.

 As uDiscover Music previously reported, the winners will be announced in December 2018, with the induction ceremony taking place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, on 29 March 2019. Ticket information will be released in January. To enter, visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and enter your selections. Hurry, it ends December 9, 2018.

 SOURCE: UDiscoverMusic

Capricorn Records: Southern Rock’s sounding board

Badlands of Indiana (October 1, 2018) WHR — In the musically-rich history of Macon, Ga., families like the Waldens and Allmans left a huge mark on American rock history with Capricorn Records. The local business with major label ties provided a global sounding board for Southern rock in the 1970’s. Decades later, it remains a symbol of excellence for fans of jam bands, Southern rock and other forms of roots-based popular music that predate Americana.

The Allman Brothers from their "The 1971 Fillmore East recordings" album cover

In the 1960’s, brothers Phil and Alan Walden found a niche in the music business as managers of regional R&B talents, including Clarence Carter, Johnny Jenkins and local treasure Otis Redding. Initial plans for a record label that’d revolve around Redding had to be reconsidered after the singer’s 1967 passing.

Phil’s music business involvement often paired him with Atlantic Records’ Jerry Wexler. Through that work relationship, he discovered a different building block for a Georgia-based imprint in Atlantic session musician Duane Allman.

Beginnings

Duane, his brother Gregg Allman and the rest of The Allman Brothers Band relocated from Jacksonville, Fl. to Macon in 1969 to become the cornerstone for Phil Walden and co-founder Frank Fenter’s Atlantic/ATCO Records-distributed Capricorn Records. The Allmans and their  supporting cast need no introduction as classic rock artists, bluesy proto-Americana innovators or the granddaddies of the jam band scene.

Late ’60s and early ’70s releases by The Allman Brothers, Bonnie Bramblett, Wet Willie and others served as stepping stones for Southern rock as it emerged from the smoky clubs that hosted both country music and the blues. After the smash success of the 1971 Allman Brothers live album At Fillmore East, Walden moved the label to Warner Bros. Despite the 1972 death of Duane Allman and the Allman Brothers’ short-lived 1976 breakup, the Southern rock imprint barely lost a step as the home of  The Marshall Tucker Band, Cowboy, Elvin Bishop, Dixie Dregs, Stillwater and even country singer Billy Joe Shaver.

From outside of the South and Southwest came heavy rock supergroup Captain Beyond, a psychedelic answer to Black Sabbath called White Witch and two of James Taylor’s brothers, Livingston and Alex. Those exceptions aside, the Capricorn catalog reminds us that Southern rock was the Americana of its time–a country and rock-leaning interpretation of regional folk and popular sounds.

Although these acts probably held bluegrass masters, the Rolling Stones, country blues greats and peers like Charlie Daniels in similar regard, each sounded at least a little different from their label mates. For example, The Marshall Tucker Band’s guitarist and lead songwriter Toy Caldwell and Wet Willie’s frontman Jimmy Hall were cut from similar musical cloth, but their bands had separate identities from their label mates.

Second Helping

Changing trends and other factors forced Capricorn’s final distributor of its original run, Polygram, to cut ties in 1979. Walden rebooted the label in Nashville in 1990. The success that followed built around Athens, Ga.’s own Southern-flavored jam band giants, Widespread Panic. Their label mates ranged from Col. Bruce Hampton’s Aquarium Rescue Unit and Lynyrd Skynyrd to 311 and Cake. Kenny Chesney’s debut album In My Wildest Dreams was also released on the label in 1994.

Decades later, the label’s original run represents a creatively free time when hippies and rockers took country and roots sounds to a broader audience as Southern rockers, “newgrass” pickers and members of some of the earliest jam bands.

SOURCE: Wide Open Country

The Devon Allman Project: An Allman Brothers Reincarnation

Asheville, North Carolina (September 23, 2018) WHR —  In early May this year, at a gig in Asheville, North Carolina, the Devon Allman Project were 33 minutes into their set list when Duane Betts joined them on stage as a surprise guest. Betts, skinny and long-haired, sat on a stool with his guitar, as the band launched into Friend Of The Devil, the well-known Grateful Dead song from 1970. Betts didn’t play the first solo riff that came up after the first verse; it was the band’s full-time guitarist Jackson Stokes who did that honour. But when Betts’ guitar finally kicked in a couple of minutes later, the crowd erupted.

His licks were incredibly sweet sounding and subtle but you could tell right away that this was a master rock guitarist. When Devon Allman, lead singer, guitarist and frontman of the band finished singing the last verse of the song, Betts launched into a concluding riff before raising his guitar over his head to the crowd and quietly stepping off stage.

Allman, Betts, and Duane...these are dear names for rock fans, especially those who were weaned on a diet that was heavy with the sound of southern rock. For many music fans like me, the Allman Brothers Band, formed in 1969, rank very high on their list of all-time favourites. That band had its share of tragedies: its leader and ace guitarist Duane Allman was killed in a motorcycle accident just two years after the band was established; and months later, bassist Berry Oakley died in similar circumstances. 

The band carried on though with the other founding members, including Gregg Allman and the second guitarist Dickey Betts. Later, and not amicably, Betts was replaced with other guitarists, including Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks and Jimmy Herring, and the Allman Brothers Band toured and recorded till they disbanded in 2014, three years before Gregg died.

Devon, 46, is Gregg’s son; and Duane Betts, around 35, is Dickey’s son. After that guest appearance on the Devon Allman Project in May, he’s now touring with the band on its journey to keep southern rock’s legacy, and especially that of their fathers’ storied band, alive. Devon, older and more seasoned of the two, is already a veteran of two other bands: Honeytribe, a blues-rock band that he leads; and Royal Southern Brotherhood, a sort of blues-rock super group. But with the new Devon Allman Project, he is reviving the legacy of the Allman Brothers. 

That, however, doesn’t mean that his new band only does covers of Allman Brothers’ songs. True, they do versions of some of them but their repertoire has mainly original compositions that recall the southern rock genre that Allman Brothers pioneered: Electric guitars and vocals play a central role; and long jams are typical, especially during live performances.

Devon’s musical evolution has been interesting. His parents divorced when he was an infant and Devon finally met his father for the first time only in his late teens. He grew up liking heavy metal and, in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, says that among the bands he liked were The Cure and The Smiths—whose proximity to southern rock of the type his father’s band played was remote. But when he picked up the guitar at 13, he also explored the blues for which his inspiration was stars such as B.B. King and Buddy Guy. He has at least nine albums (from solo and collaborative projects) out and a distinct guitar-driven blues-rock sound but with influences also of heavier genres, including metal.

Duane Betts, who has played with his father Dickey’s band (Dickey Betts and the Great Southern) and with Dawes, a folk rock band from Los Angeles, has a style and sound that is closer to early southern rock—more bluesy and folksy. On his debut solo EP, Sketches Of American Music, which came out this May, his guitar-playing style evokes those of his father’s as well as his namesake, the late Duane Allman. Sketches is a superb first album that provides a glimpse of the huge potential that he has. Two songs, Taking Time and Downtown Runaround, are standouts that every blues-rock fan should check out.

Devon and Duane are believed to be working on an album that they’re writing together but it will be out only in 2019. Till then there are the shows from the tour that they’ve embarked upon from July this year. Besides the US, they’ve played in Europe and Britain, drawing audiences that include ageing southern rock fans as well as younger converts. Then there are their albums to check out. Allman’s most recent solo is the full-length Ride Or Die whose 12 songs also include a cover of The Cure’s A Night Like This. 

Devon has looks that are similar to his father—Gregg’s dirty blond hair—and in his distinctive voice you can discern elements of the senior Allman’s vocal style, yet there is a hard rock dimension to his singing and guitar-playing that works rather well in his quest to further the legacy of southern rock but also bring to it something more contemporary.

Just before Allman Brothers disbanded, they had a stunning line-up at live shows with star guitarists such as Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks. If you were lucky to catch some of their gigs during those last years, it always was a treat. I caught one on a rainy night in 2011 at New York’s Beacon Theatre and was mesmerized. When they decided to stop touring or recording, fans worldwide were disappointed and saddened further when Gregg died. But with their new project, the second-gen combination of an Allman and a Betts promises to bring back some joy.

More information including show dates are on their website: The Devon Allman Project

SOURCE:  Live Mint

Win a George Thorogood signed guitar

Sturgis, SD (November 16, 2017) — Rock the Holidays Sweepstakes winner to receive “Bad to the Bone” prize: a George Thorogood-autographed guitar and a $200 Hot Leathers shopping spree!

The Sturgis Buffalo Chip has teamed up with one of the biggest names in music and the hottest name in apparel to offer fans the chance to win a unique holiday prize.

Rock the Holidays Sweepstakes

The winner of the 2017 Buffalo Chip Rock the Holidays Sweepstakes will receive a sleek Epiphone Les Paul Special II guitar signed by none other than the legendary George Thorogood, and a $200 Hot Leathers shopping spree. 

The guitar features a solid mahogany body with gloss black finish, a slim taper mahogany neck and a smooth rosewood fingerboard with dot overlays. George Thorogood signed the guitar while performing at the Chip last August, instantly turning it into a highly sought-after collectible.

“This is the chance for someone to own a piece of rock history,” said Rod Woodruff, president of the Sturgis Buffalo Chip. “This guitar should hang in a museum, but we are excited to offer it to one lucky fan for the holidays instead.

And the bonus $200 Hot Leathers shopping spree it comes with will ensure the winner looks just as cool as George Thorogood did when he played on our stage last August!”

Registration closes Dec. 14, 2017 at 5 p.m. MST. 

The winner will be announced Dec. 15. The participating partners who made the Sturgis Buffalo Chip’s Rock the Holidays Sweepstakes possible include George Thorogood, Rock 106.7 in Salt Lake City and Hot Leathers.

Fans may enter to win at: RockTheHoliday.com

SOURCE:  Sturgis Buffalo Chip – – Rock The Holiday

Southern Rock Legend Gregg Allman Dead

Allman Brothers Band Great Gregg Allman Dead at 69

Savannah GA, (May 27, 2017) — There’s sad news to report as Gregg Allman, longtime vocalist, keyboardist and a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, has passed away at the age of 69.

A statement on his website and social media (LINK) reveals that Allman passed away peacefully at his home in Savannah, Ga., on Saturday (May 27). The singer had struggled with several health issues in recent years. An official cause of death was not revealed.

According to the statement, “Gregg considered being on the road playing music with his brothers and solo band for his beloved fans, essential medicine for his soul. Playing music lifted him up and kept him going during the toughest of times.”

Gregg Allman in his younger days

Gregg’s longtime manager and close friend, Michael Lehman said, “I have lost a dear friend and the world has lost a brilliant pioneer in music. He was a kind and gentle soul with the best laugh I ever heard. His love for his family and bandmates was passionate as was the love he had for his extraordinary fans. Gregg was an incredible partner and an even better friend. We will all miss him.”

The musician is survived by his wife, Shannon Allman, his children, Devon, Elijah Blue, Delilah Island Kurtom and Layla Brooklyn Allman; 3 grandchildren, his niece, Galadrielle Allman, lifelong friend Chank Middleton, and a large extended family. The family will release an additional statement soon, but for now ask for privacy during this very difficult time.

Allman founded the Allman Brothers band with his older brother, guitarist Duane Allman. The group also featured guitarist Dickey Betts, bassist Berry Oakley, and drummers Butch Trucks and Jai Johanny “Jaimoe” Johanson. They were known for their blues and country-infused improvisational jam style and their band became one of the leaders in what many coined “Southern Rock.”

The Allman Brothers Band in 1969

With the Allman Brothers Band, Allman and his bandmates churned out such classic songs as “Ramblin’ Man,” “Melissa,” “Whipping Post” and “Midnight Rider.” The group entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. And as a solo artist, Allman went on to release multiple albums, with the songs “I’m No Angel” and “Anything Goes” achieving his biggest successes.

Our condolences to the extended Allman family, his friends and peers.

Sun Studio

Sun Studio in Memphis, TN

Photo Credit: Lance Vaughn

The Sun Sound began when Sam Phillips launched his record company in February of 1952. He named it Sun Records as a sign of his perpetual optimism: a new day and a new beginning. Sam rented a small space at 706 Union Avenue for his own all-purpose studio. The label was launched amid a growing number of independent labels. In a short while Sun gained the reputation throughout Memphis as a label that treated local artists with respect and honesty. Sam provided a non-critical, spontaneous environment that invited creativity and vision.

As a businessman, Phillips was patient and willing to listen to almost anyone who came in off the street to record. Memphis was a happy home to a diverse musical scene: gospel, blues, hillbilly, country, boogie, and western swing. Taking advantage of this range of talent, there were no style limitations at the label. In one form or another Sun recorded them all.
Then in 1954 Sam found Elvis Presley, an artist who could perform with the excitement, unpredictability and energy of a blues artist but could reach across regional, musical and racial barriers.

 Sam Phillips

He helped form the beginnings of the Sun Sound by infusing Country music with R&B. Elvis’s bright star attracted even more ground-breaking talent to the Sun galaxy. Listed among his contemporaries and lab mates were Johnny Cash, the inimitable Jerry Lee Lewis, and the “Rockin’ Guitar Man”, Carl Perkins. These four soon became known as the Million Dollar Quartet. Right behind them came Roy Orbison, Charlie Rich, Bill Justis, Harold Jenkins (a.k.a. Conway Twitty) and other equally memorable musical talents. All eventually sold on Pop, R&B and Country charts and grew to international fame.

Rockabilly became the major evolution in the Sun Sound. Lyrically it was bold; musically it was sparse; but it moved. In the 1950’s Country music rarely used drums that were so vital to jazz, blues, and jump bands. In fact, drums were prohibited on stage at the Grand Ole Opry. However, Rockabilly drums played an essential role in driving teens across the nation to become enamored with the Rockabilly movement and the revolutionary Sun Sound. Once again, Sun was able to break new ground recording music of unparalleled diversity in an incubator of creativity.

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