My musical journey began in Randy’s garage, I think it was the summer between 5th and 6th grade. Randy and his family lived about a block to the west of our elementary jackson school. Small house, 1 car garage , like most of us lived in for this neighborhood. as I recall, I just got my first electric guitar and amp. Gibson SG jr, ( one pick up), red and a Gibson Maestro 1-12 amp. I took a few lessons from an older guy up in okc, but all he would teach was funky tunes like old calcatta, I was into the Bealtes, the Stones, rock n roll!, so I quite and learned by ear, listenting to records.
Well, Randy must have invited me over and of course we set up in the Garage!, Where else, right ? Well, an older kid stopped by to hear what was going on. I am sure my guitar playing at that time was basic if not just bad. like the song Secret Agent Man, one note at a time skill level. This older kid , as it was explained to me, was a real guitar player who knew all the chords and so on. he said he would show me, so I handed my electric guitar to him. as in all garage’s the floor was concrete, I think the kid was barefoot and when I handed him the guitar, he was shocked and dropped it, the neck broke off, I am sure I was in shock too. my dreams of being a rock n roller gone. end of story, Jenkins Music in okc, where my folks bought the guitar, gave a loaner guitar, Gibson melody Maker, and sent mine to Gibson factory, 3 mths later I had it back.
By 7th grade we all move up to West Jr High and Randy (drums), formed a band with fellow classmates James Cecil, Rusty Meyers, Shane Corroto – they were “The Uncalled Four”. I formed a band along with other Westies , Doyle Gill, Mike Lambert, Paul Jaqua called “Paraphanlia” One day both bands squared off in the West Jr High gym for kinda battle of the bands during a school function. Randy;s band played a song or two, I think maybe “Keep Me Hangin On ” Vanilla Fudge, ?? not sure, that was like 1967. My band played at least one song “The Pusher Man” by Steppenwolfe. now we kinda thought of our band as bit on the edgy side, not too main stream. so Doyle said lets do this song. now if you dont know or recall, this song has the repeated curse words G.. D.. in in it. Great song ! but maybe a bit too much for a daytime school assembly battle of the bands. Well, doyle said, I dont care, “Scre..em if they cant take take a joke ” as that was one of our common sayings back at that time. We played the song, I noticed the teachers, staff and principal stared in disbelief as Doyle sang over and over the chorus line GD The Push man. and its a long song!, like 4-5 mins. We never heard one word after the show from one teacher, the principal, not a!.
Randy and I have continued our friendship onward since 1966. I will miss you buddy but our shared experience and along with all our mutual friends togther, is one that I will cherish every day and that will sustain as will go forward.
bu
