I heard From Earl Yesterday and he sent the Following Message,
I am happy to announce that I was hired to play guitar in Louise Mandrell's Christmas Show at the Opryland Hotel this year. The show will run from Nov. 15 thru Dec. 25. It will be an 8 piece band with horns. The music director is Rick King.
In a Day Where everyone is complaining about the quality of music out there, This is refreshing news.
Thanks guys, I am looking forward to doing the show. I need to thank Cookie Jones for letting the right people know that I was available. I don't know who is in the band yet, but will let you know when I find out. Just a tidbit...I worked with the Mandrell family back in 68 and 69 when they were just a family band. I never was a Doo Right, that came later. I was offered the gig about the same time Paul Franklin went to work for them, 72-73? but turned it down to stay with Jim Ed Brown. I remember we played at Ft. Bragg at an NCO club, Barb was pregnant with her oldest son. She had costumes made to cover her belly. Before we did the first show, somebody went into her dressing room and stole her wardrobe. She had to wear her street cloths the rest of the weekend.
Oops, sorry I missed your reply back in August. So turns out there's no gig for you after all? If so, that's too bad, I was looking forward to some stories. I miss playing with Mike even though I prefer the stability of my computer geek job .
Carl, I think you misunderstood what I said. I am the guitar player in the band. I am not a steeler. Louise does not use a steel in her show. We are in our first week of researsals and Mike is a fine drummer. I'll tell him hi for you.
Oh, OK, I get it . Glad you're doing the gig. Mike grew up in Pennsylvania and didn't "sound southern" at all when I played with him. When I hear him on the phone now, he sounds like he grew up in Tennessee to my ear . Thanks for saying hi.
Hey Carl, Mike told me tonight he talked to you. The show is going very well. We have a very good band and Mike is a great drummer, solid as a rock. Thanks for asking.
Happy New Year Bo. I left Philly in 1966 and I am afraid I don't remember Don. If I can ever get another vacation I am heading for Wildwood. I spent my summers as a kid at my grand parents home in North Wildwood, at the corner of 1st and Atlantic Ave. water front property, right next to the Hereford Inlet light house. Haven't been up there in 5 years, and I miss the ocean.
Transplanted homeboys like yourself are always welcome at the NJ Shore.
Don was teaching at Herberts then started his own school and taught for me at Music City at Castor & Cottman from late 60's thru the 70's. He gave me lessons then sent me to Joe Sgro and the Sandole Brothers in south philly.
Glad to see your picking.
Bo
Bo, you got me thinking...if Don was a short, sorta heavy stocky guy, he might have been the guy that was teaching my brother guitar. I remember Howard would only take advanced students. If that's who I am thinking of I remember Don. Howard had a drum teacher named Frank Petner. We used to play gigs together before I left home in 66. Wow! Denny Sandole! What a monster player along with Chuck Hess. I remember when Mitzi Gainer would come to Cherry Hill to do a show, she always requested Howard to play guitar for her. I did not know Joe Sgro.
I don't think that was Don, he had been a student of the Sandole Bros and Joe Sgro and was also a Witness.
The Sandole's and Sgro were the top guitar teachers in Philly and didn't accept just anyone. I'm pretty sure Pat Martino studied with them too.
Adolph Sandole taught composition and theory and Dennis guitar. Joe Sgro was amazing, when he couldn't teach you any more he sent students to Tony Mattola in NYC.
It was ashame when the Latin Casino closed but everyone had hopes for Atlantic City but after a couple years everything was canned music and the union did nothing.
