The late Eddie Drake and his GREAT band

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 12 Jul 2009 8:37 am

In a thread in Gone Home, a flyer was posted that advertised the Aces Club in the City of Industry CA that, back in the 60's, was home to the great and remarkably under-appreciated Eddie Drake.

Here's part of the flyer that shows his band:

If I'm not mistaken, that's Sammy Masters at the microphone, Eddie behind him with the Martin flattop, George French on piano, Johnny Davis on lead guitar, and Carl West on steel. I can't make out the bass player or the drummer, maybe Leo Eiffert or Jason Odd can help.

This was an EXCELLENT band, y'all. Southern California was a hotbed of great talent in the 1960's, no lie.

Scott Wehmeyer · Post by **Scott Wehmeyer** » 12 Jul 2009 3:53 pm

Here's another picture of the same band with Shorty Bacon in the cowboy hat.

I think the bass player has the name Toney on his strap.

Jay Dee Maness · Post by **Jay Dee Maness** » 12 Jul 2009 8:02 pm

Tony Goodman on Bass and Jerry Lee Carol on drums.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 13 Jul 2009 3:31 am

Thank you, Jay Dee. You are, as it is said, "the man."

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 13 Jul 2009 8:31 am

The site today, from Google maps street view:

Skeeter Stultz · Post by **Skeeter Stultz** » 13 Jul 2009 11:32 am

That sure looks like Carl West on steel. In the picture with Shorty Bacon I mean.

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 13 Jul 2009 1:18 pm

Skeeter:.
Pretty sure thats Carl West playing what looks like to top of the origignal model of the Fender 1000.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 13 Jul 2009 1:29 pm

Oh that's certainly Carl West.

I used to see Shorty Bacon on Cal's Corral all the time. I faithfully watched every Sunday. Shorty, Joe Carson, Gene O'Quinn, Billy Mize, Wayne Kemp, Wade Ray, Fred Maddox ("King of the Bass"... yeah, right

), Tex Carman, lots of 'em playing with Eddie's band or with Gene Davis and the Star Routers with Red on steel, also Jerry Inman, Delaney Bramlett on bass, sometimes Johnny Carver singing too. Harold Hensley and Norm Whistler on fiddles, Carl Walden (with long hair!), they were all there.