Bakersfield Late 60's

Jim Simon · Post by **Jim Simon** » 26 Nov 2008 4:01 pm

Would love to hear some stories from those who were around with Bobby Austin, Wynn Stewart, Don Rich, Mooney, etc during the middle to late 60's. Those had to be fun times.

Please share your experiences.

Thanks,

Jim

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 26 Nov 2008 8:49 pm

Jim, here's a couple of links to some very interesting reading that tells all about those great folks that helped to define the "Bakersfield Sound".

http://www.bakersfield.com/static/FP/ba ... sequel.htm

http://www.rockabillyhall.com/bakersfieldtales.html

Gary Stevenson · Post by **Gary Stevenson** » 27 Nov 2008 6:15 pm

Andy Those where great links. they occupied me for over an hour and led me to some fine music

Glen Derksen · Post by **Glen Derksen** » 27 Nov 2008 10:37 pm

I have this album that was recorded in Bakersfield in 1963. It feature Roy Nichols on guitar and (I think) Red Rhodes on steel.

GaryHoetker · Post by **GaryHoetker** » 28 Nov 2008 9:14 am

Glen-

What a terrific post. That album was recorded live at the Bakersfield Civic Auditorium in November 1963 as a wonderful tribute to local TV legend Cousin Herb Henson.

To the beat of my knowledge, the entertainers shown on the album cover are:

Front row left to right- Merle Travis, Roy Clark, Joe Maphis, Rose Lee Maphis, Cousin Herb, Rose Maddox, Buck Owens, Jean Sheperd, Tommy Collins, and Glen Campbell.

Top row- The Buckaroos at that time...Bob Morris, Don Rich, not sure but might be Mel King, and Jay McDonald.

Sadly, Cousin Herb passed away about two weeks later
from a massive heart attack.

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 28 Nov 2008 9:22 am

That's a cool shot of the album with Cousin Herb Henson. I remember when I was at the old Foothill Club, our lead guitarist (Jim Bob Sedgwick) used to sing this refrain to the tune of "Moonlight in Vermont".........

Trash cans on the curb,

Music played by Cousin Herb.

Moonlight in Lamont...........

.................JH in Va.

Jim Simon · Post by **Jim Simon** » 28 Nov 2008 9:38 am

I believe it was Ralph that played steel on Bobby Austin's first album. I have heard that there was a real friendship among alot of these pickers and they especially liked going fishing together. They often played at eachother's gigs. Never new who was going to be on the bandstand on a given night.

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 28 Nov 2008 7:26 pm

Well, by the late 60s you probanbly wouldn't have seen as much of Bobby Austin (Las Vegas), Wynn Stewart (in Texas), Don Rich (on the road, or at Buck's studio), Mooney (Las Vegas), etc during the late 60's, as everyone got record deals, they generally moved base, although Wynn played in Bakersfield, he never lived there.
The Mandrell's moved away to Nashville by '69, Rose Maddox went to Portland around the same time, Haggard was constantly on the road, and Billy Mize was mostly at the Foothill Club.

Mosrite Guitars closed in '69, The ZB factory, at least the Bakersfield version, was short lived.

Leon Copeland, Gary Paxton, Bill Kelly, Harold Cox, Bill Woods, Larry Petree, Jim Bob Sedgwick, Tommy Ash, Dennis Payne and many, many others were still active, but the bigger names probably weren't seen around town as much.

B. Greg Jones · Post by **B. Greg Jones** » 28 Nov 2008 8:06 pm

It mentions the Kentucky Colonels on there. My friend Bobby Slone was with them at the time and told me about cutting this album and hanging out with Don Rich. Bobby Slone was the staff fiddler here at Renfro Valley for about 15 years or so. I would dearly love to get a copy of this one!!!!

Greg

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 28 Nov 2008 10:48 pm

You need to take a trip down to Trout's in Oildale which is next to Bakersfield. Forum member Larry Petree plays every Monday with Red Simpson and should have some stories. I believe he is friends with Norm Hamlet who is also on the forum. Larry was friends with Roy Nichols too.

Glen Derksen · Post by **Glen Derksen** » 29 Nov 2008 12:40 am

If anyone can get ahold of Merle Haggard's autobiography titled 'Sing Me Back home, it's worth a read. There are a lot of interesting stories in there.

Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 29 Nov 2008 12:33 pm

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Michael Lee Allen · Post by **Michael Lee Allen** » 29 Nov 2008 12:34 pm

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Scott Henderson · Post by **Scott Henderson** » 29 Nov 2008 2:08 pm

Buddy Cagle. I haven't heard that name in years. we used to finish the night with his song " Blue House painted White" I used to work with Ray Kneeland( Ray Rich) and of course his favorite hit was Cinderella by Buddy Mize. ( I think) Lotta great music came out of Cali

Glen Derksen · Post by **Glen Derksen** » 29 Nov 2008 8:06 pm

great pics michael! Thanks for posting those.

Mylos Sonka · Post by **Mylos Sonka** » 29 Nov 2008 9:58 pm

Nobody asked, but in case some were wondering, I can ID most of the people in the bottom photo above, except for the two younguns on the right.

Sitting at the piano is Cousin Herb, Johnny "Texas Drummer Boy" Cuviello (a later alumnus of my band for many years), Billy Mize, Jelly Sanders (I think), and Bill Woods.

Mylos Sonka
lonestarretrobates.com

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 30 Nov 2008 10:22 pm

What a treat that night was in "B"field. Ken Nelson brought the roster up for the show and I was at the second show. Seeing all these greats was a real Hoot at the "Hootenanny"

Cal Freeman · Post by **Cal Freeman** » 1 Dec 2008 7:01 am

here's an interesting link with a lot of good info

http://www.rockabillyhall.com/JimPierce1.html

Olaf van Roggen · Post by **Olaf van Roggen** » 1 Dec 2008 7:05 am

Robert Price wrote a big article called "Bakersfield Bandstand in 'The Journal of Country Music"magazine volume 23.1

Olaf van Roggen · Post by **Olaf van Roggen** » 1 Dec 2008 7:06 am

Mylos,the two younguns on the right are Dallas Frazier and Carlton Ellis.

Jim Simon · Post by **Jim Simon** » 1 Dec 2008 10:34 am

Great stories and pictures. Thanks for the replies so far. Did any one ever run across Chuck Bataglia, stage name Chuck West? Played bass with Bobby Austin some. Had a home made B-bender on an old Tele.

I think LeRoy Jones played in the valley about then also. Had some gigs with LeRoy in the Bay Area in the early 70's

Important history was cast during those years. It can get lost if we don't talk about it. Tell us your stories and experiences.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Bakersfield Late 60's

Bakersfield Late 60's

the photo above