Smokey Rodgers/Bostonian Ballroom

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 10 Oct 2006 7:47 am

Did anyone here frequent the Bostonian Ballroom in the mid to late '50s??? I was stationed in San Diego back then and took guitar lessons and ran with the guitar player (Tommy Turman??) for Smokey's group. Back then I was so "eat up" with Travis style guitar that I was oblivious to steel guitar. Does anyone have any idea who played steel there for Smokey at that time??? (the forum ALWAYS has the answer!!!! LOL)

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 10 Oct 2006 8:04 am

It could have been Joaquin or possibly Pete Kleinow who replaced him.I know both played in the time frame you mentioned.

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 10 Oct 2006 9:33 am

I wonder if that old honky-tonk is still there???

Any more info on the steel player of that time????

Roy Ayres · Post by **Roy Ayres** » 10 Oct 2006 10:19 am

Sonny,

I was stationed in San Diego in the USMC for 16 weeks in 1952. My wife and I lived off base. I got off from duty at 5:00 p.m. and my wife got off from her job at 11:00 p.m. Smokey was playing the Ballroom 4 nights a week, and Joaquin was playing with him. I went out 4 afternoons each week and sat through their rehearsals. Joaquin would go out front and come back with a bottle of wine. He would sit at a table with me and we would sip wine and talk while the rest of the band worked up an arrangement. They were taking classical pieces and making dance arrangements from them. After all of the other musicians got their parts worked up, Smokey would call Joaquin up and they would run through the song. Joaquin would amaze everyone with his chorus -- having sat through the rehearsal without even having tried the chord progression. He was truly a musical phenomenon.

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[This message was edited by Roy Ayres on 10 October 2006 at 11:21 AM.]

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 10 Oct 2006 11:28 am

Hey Roy,,,what a memorable experience!!!! I was there about 5-6 years later,,, but didn't have enough sense to appreciate steel guitar at that time. Do you know what year Joaquin left?

Anyone else have any input from that era,,,???[This message was edited by Sonny Jenkins on 10 October 2006 at 12:29 PM.]

Roy Ayres · Post by **Roy Ayres** » 10 Oct 2006 4:06 pm

Sonny,

Joaquin dated a friend of my wife; the four of us hung out together in San Diego for 3 or 4 months. We never talked music except during the rehearsals (the girls didn't like us talking "shop"). I don't know when he left Smokey. He was a real "nut" and a lot of fun to run around with. I miss him and his phenominal playing. All of the stories I had heard about him were, apparently, exaggerations. He never objected to my fooling around with his Bigsby, and he willingly showed me some of his licks.

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Visit my Web Site at RoysFootprints.com
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[This message was edited by Roy Ayres on 10 October 2006 at 09:03 PM.]

Anita Kleinow · Post by **Anita Kleinow** » 13 Oct 2006 9:26 pm

Sonny, my father, Sneaky Pete was hired in early 1958 to replace Joaquin. We had just moved from Dowagiac, Michigan and that was the first job my dad got. Hope this helps.
Anita

Ronnie Miller · Post by **Ronnie Miller** » 14 Oct 2006 3:07 am

Hey Sonny, I grew up in San Diego in the 50s and I remember my folks going to Smokey Rodgers/Bostonia Ballroom. although I was to young to go (8 or 9) I took steel lessons at Smokey Rodgers Valley Music. The teacher was none othere than a young Al Petty.
Does anyone remember Finders Music store on 4th ave???? on the 2nd floor they had a large room like a storeroom FULL of new Fender Guitars, I mean a bunch of them, and that room had that new guitar case smell. I ditched school a few times, I was around 15, and spent all day in that room, pretty much by myself playing those guitars...Finders moved to Bdwy in the early 60s, and it just was not the same.
I have visited San Diego many times since and sometimes go downtown, It has really changed. the Plaza, and the pigeons are gone, and no sailors...cya...Ronnie
[This message was edited by Ronnie Miller on 14 October 2006 at 04:11 AM.][This message was edited by Ronnie Miller on 14 October 2006 at 04:12 AM.]

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 14 Oct 2006 6:54 am

Anita,,,thanks for that info,,it was probably around 1958 that I started going there,,,so I guess your dad was the steel player at that time.

Ronnie,,,yes,,I worked in that area a couple of years ago (during the fires) and I went downtown and was amazed at the changes down around 5th street,,,no more sleazey pawn shops, bars, locker clubs (where the swabbies changed into civvies). BTW,,I enjoyed your set in Dallas,,,looking forward to seeing you next year.

I wonder if the Ballroom is still there???,,is Smokey passed on???,,anyone know of a guitar player named Tommy Turman??

Rick Jackson · Post by **Rick Jackson** » 14 Oct 2006 7:02 am

Sonny, unfortunately the ballroom is no longer there. If I rember correctly, Smokey moved to Nashville in the 70's and started a tour business. I remember as a kid watching Smokey on local TV. He sure loved to mug for the camera. He and Cactus Soldi owned Valley Music in El Cajon. Cactus's son John Soldi and his sister run the store now. It was a great place to see the stars of the day as they all came thru and played there. Just wish now that I had been old enough to go. I heard from someone that Joaquin arranged his "firing" in order to go back to LA and work for Spade Cooley for higher pay...rj

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 14 Oct 2006 6:44 pm

Trivia: The Bostonia is where Pete first got called 'Sneaky,' and he used the stage name Pete Erwin rather than Kleinow.
He was there for about a year.

Perry Hansen · Post by **Perry Hansen** » 15 Oct 2006 5:35 am

Thanks, Jason. I thought I was loosing it when I spoke of Sneaky Pete Erwin. He was the one with Don and Roy Hogsead(sp). I had his 4 neck Stringmaster with two Bigsby pedals for a long time. I was with the first band in the Westerner in National City. The old Hydlburg(sp). Myself, Neal Hartung on drums, Glen Holloway on Guitar. That was in the late 50s. I bought my Fender 1000 from A salesman named Don Gibson at Finders music store in San Diego. That's when I first met Leo Fender.

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 15 Oct 2006 12:34 pm

Hi Sonny, Was nice to have you at our club meeting. Bring your guitar next time. Al Petty moved to Calif. from Texas in 1954. He did some work with Smokey Rodgers. Jody.

Rick Jackson · Post by **Rick Jackson** » 17 Oct 2006 7:18 am

On Al Perkins' website he sells a CD that includes him playing at the Bostonia Ballroom when he was 11 years old.He had come from Midland, Texas on a bus with just him and his Magnatone steel guitar for lessons with Al Petty. You can hear Smokey pitching Valley Music and some interplay with Al Perkins, Al Petty and Smokey.Smokey predicted little Al Perkins would be come a well known name in the steel guitar world. It captured a great moment in time for me growing up in this area...rj

Lee Jeffriess · Post by **Lee Jeffriess** » 17 Oct 2006 6:12 pm

Are there any recordings of Sneaky playing with the Caravan or any western bands from this period, I would love to know what kind of approach he had.
The fact that he is filling Joaquins shoes speaks volumes.
Lee

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 17 Oct 2006 7:39 pm

Al Perkins and Bobby Tuttle were students of Al Petty when Al had his studio in Odessa, Texas. They both became super steel players. Jody.

John McConnell · Post by **John McConnell** » 17 Oct 2006 8:10 pm

Here is a little article on the old Ballroom. I grew up in that neighborhood and remember it well.

( http://www.sdreader .com/published/ 2005-10-13/ letters.html ):

Real Skinny on Bostonia
In the September 22 issue of "Blurt," there is a small article dealing with the Bostonia Ballroom, in El Cajon. Unfortunately, most of what is written as to the venue is completely in error.

To begin with, the Bostonia Ballroom was not the first dance venue on the West Coast to have a cork floor. The Avalon Ballroom on Catalina Island had such a floor and was built in 1928/29. Secondly, Smokey Rogers never owned the Bostonia Ballroom. During the period in question, he, Andrew "Cactus" Soldi, and Larry "Pedro" DePaul leased the property and building from Mickey Whelen, who is still alive today. Rogers, Soldi, and DePaul were all members of Sol "Tex" Williams's Western Caravan, which was the house band at the Riverside Rancho, in Los Angeles. At the time, big bands were fading out, and the three left Los Angeles for San Diego about 1947.

Elvis and the Rolling Stones never played at the Bostonia Ballroom, but Johnny Cash did so on more than one occasion. I have enclosed a copy of the contract for one of the performances which did take place. Apparently Cash and sideman Luther Perkins were both so drunk they had to lean on each other for support on the bandstand!

Later, the partners divided up their business empire. Rogers retained the ballroom and also opened a record store on Magnolia Avenue in El Cajon. Soldi kept Valley Music (which his son and daughter still operate today at 530 E. Main Street) and DePaul's percentage was bought out. All three are now deceased.

Now if someone could just find some original concert posters for the Bostonia!

I understand the building is still there as a resturaunt today. John McConnell, Yuba City, CA

Thomas S. Sims

Perry Hansen · Post by **Perry Hansen** » 18 Oct 2006 3:17 am

John. The way you discribed the area is close to how I remember it. There were a lot of shows at the Ballroom in the 50s. That's where I first watched a youngster on a great big steel guitar knock our socks off with an old tune called Little Coquet(sp). His name was Buddy Emmons and he was with The Tater. Also, I have pictures of Johnny Cash when he worked with our group at the EM Club at the Naval Base. I was with Bud Crowder on bass, Bill Broadway lead, Kenny Slaten on Drums. This was in the late 50s and the Ballwoom was going strong.

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 18 Oct 2006 6:20 am

I believe the move by Smokey, Pedro, etc to the Bostonia was much later than 1947, more like 1950.

note:

ARTISTRY IN WESTERN SWING - Tex Williams & His Western Caravan Capitol single #40095, Mar. 8, 1948, orignially by Stan Kenton.
The band: TEX WILLIAMS: leader . REX CALL, MAX FIDLER & CACTUS SOLDI: fiddle . BENNY GARCIA, JR. & JOHNNY WEISS: electric guitar . SMOKEY ROGERS: guitar .JOAQUIN MURPHEY: steel guitar . OSSIE GODSON: piano . PEDRO DePAUL: accordion . DEUCE SPRIGGINS: bass . MUDDY BERRY: drums . MANNY KLEIN: trumpet . PAUL "SPIKE" FEATHERSTONE: harp, flute Produced by LEE GILLETTE Recorded in Hollywood, Dec. 16, 1947

A photo from 1949 lists The Western Caravan as bandleader Williams (vocals), Joaquin Murphey (steel), Spike Featherston (harp), Muddy Berry (drums), Pedro De Paul (accordian), Duece Spriggins (string bass), Rex Call (fiddle), Max Fidler (fiddle), Cactus Soldi (fiddle), Benny Garcia (guitar), Smokey Rogers (guitar, vocals), Johnny Weiss (guitar) and Ossie Godson (vibes).

Capitol Transcription discs from 1949, Capitol Studios, Melrose Ave., Hollywood, Cal. Probable personel: Tex Williams, leader, Benny Garcia, Jr. and Johnny Weis, electric guitars; Smokey Rogers, rhythm guitar; Max Fidler, Cactus Soldi, Rex Call, fiddles; Earl 'Joaquin' Murphey, steel guitar; Deuce Spriggens, bass; Spike Featherstone, harp; Ossie Godson, vibes; Pedro DePaul, accordion; Warren penniman, drums.
The group kept scoring hits, culminating with Bluebird On Your Windowsill in 1949. The group was also utilised for sessions for Smokey Rogers and Spriggins, that year they issued Deuce Spriggins’ Red Hot Mama (Cap 15405), with Tex Williams' Orchestra.

Lee, I don't think Pete got a chance to record with Smokey and the boys, although they did airshots/broadcasts, whether any were saved...???

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 18 Oct 2006 6:31 am

Does anyone remember a TV show from the fifties which I belive was hosted by Smokey Rogers called "TinyTown Ranch"? It featured kids doing country music and was pretty good. A couple of the kids names I remember were Tommy Shaddock and Curtis Ray Young. I asked Curtis Young (Nashville singer) if that was him and he said it wasn't. Also around that time there was a TV show from San Diego hosted by a guy named Roy Hogshed.........JH in Va.

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Perry Hansen · Post by **Perry Hansen** » 18 Oct 2006 7:58 am

Jerry. I remember the show. Roy Hogsed wrote Cocain Blues. Him and his brother Don were at a club on University ave when I first met Sneaky Pete. Don played fiddle. at that time there was a rumor that Tex Williams and Smokey Rodgers had left Spade Cooley in the early 50s??.

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 21 Oct 2006 8:23 pm

Perry, they left Spade in 1946, most of the band went with Tex after Spade let him go.

Perry Hansen · Post by **Perry Hansen** » 22 Oct 2006 4:29 am

Thanks, Jason. I arrive in San Diego in 52 and that was the story then. I sat in a few times with Sue Nickels and Mona Greer at the Rancho on Broadway. They told me the story.

Mike Black · Post by **Mike Black** » 24 Oct 2006 8:43 am

xxxzxz

Perry Hansen · Post by **Perry Hansen** » 25 Oct 2006 10:41 am

Mike. You're right. San Diego in the 50s was a great learning place for Country Music. I got a chance to meet and work with some greats. Such as Bud Crowder , Tex Vardiman , Bobby Ayles , Paul Harper . Mona Greers , Sue Nickles . Arkie Garron, Merrel Moore, Bill Foster, Milt Forrester. Lee Ross, Buck Turner, Eddy Villa, Sam Nickashay, I jamed with Tommy Turman many times. The List goes on and on.