THE BAKERSFIELD SOUND

[Herbie Meeks]

Hi, DEAN
I can't place Gus Head, now, unless, seems Gus was the Fiddle player that worked with, DUB BENAE's Family Band, at "The Tropicana" I often picked gigs with Dub's Band. Then several years later I was in Nashville at Jerry Shooks Studio " Shooks Shack" adding some tracks to an album, And Dubs Lead Guitar player , Bill Hewelett, was called in to add some lead tracks, I had not seen Bill in 12 years, He also had become a good Steel Player, Yep I remember, DJ.s Cotton Seed Clark, Red Murrell. Black Jack Wayne, Lee Ross was a DJ at radio KSJO, while fronting for our band at the old , Hayloft, San Jose, Bud Hobbs always had a good band in SF. and so many I can not remember, oh yes Rusty Draper, used to stop by Morgan Hill. and sit in when I was picking with my Bro's Joe and Lonnie at The Capri Club, To much water under the bridge.

Herbie

[Herbie Meeks]

Anyone old enough to have picked at, Or remember these Bay Area Joints, (1940's and on, ) Tracy Gardens, Balconade Ball Room, The Coyote Inn, Villa Venice, Berts Country Inn, Campbell Corners, Forester Hall, The Hayloft, The Cozy Corner, Cow Town, 1440 Club, Tropicana, Red Barn, Scotts Valley Inn,
Redwood Lounge, Phils Club, Ferns Club. The Sunday Moose Lodge all Day Jams, The Saddle Rack, Niles Canyon Hidden Valley Dude Ranch, Almaden Club.
The Grange Hall Hollister, The Blue and Gold, Napredak Hall,
And many more all around the San Jose Area, that I can't renmember now. these spots always had live music some 6 nights a week , others were weekend Joints.

Herbie

[Herbie Meeks]

DEAN BAYTE
I tried the PM, Private Mail thing, to send you a message, I don't think I clicked on the right buttons,
Anyhow,,, Wanted to ask, Did you run a D-8 Dozer with George Stedham, If so and you have His address, please send it to me, I lost track of most the old gang out there,

Herbie

[Daryl Stogner]

Herbie.... you mean like these dances? The guys played every night, switching back and forth between each others bands.




Another Richmond, CA Newspaper Ad from 1944


February 18, 1944 Ad in Richmond, CA
(Bottom Left is Dave and next to him is his old buddy Bill Woods)

[Dean Batye]

Hey Hrebie,I ran dozer and scraper for Geo. I will get his address for you, I lost my book will have to call Bob Taylor and get it .I took some songs I wrote to Geo. years ago and he helped me cord them out. Herbie I am glad we got in touch after all these years. Your Friend.
Dean Batye Concord,Ca.

[Herbie Meeks]

DARYL STOGNER
Hey you saved some treasures, Yep that was the format back then, I am guessing, you are Dave's Son ?? On my last trip to, Coralitos, CA, to visit my Bro. Joe. a few years back, (A Senile moment can't remember the year ) any how Joe and I visited Dave, who then lived near Joe. some place in Corralitos Canyon, Dave pulled out an Elec. Fender Fiddle, !! one of the first five Fender built !! which I had the honor of playing three of that Five, This one had been given to , Merle Haggard, who then gave it to Dave, I was glad to have visited Dave at that time, not long after I returned to Arkansas,,,Joe phoned me, Dave had passed on.
So I will not forget that jam with Dave at His home, another of my Heros. gone on. We Fiddled that day, and My Steel Playing Bro. Joe, beat rythum for us,

Herbie

[Herbie Meeks]

Thanks DEAN
Geo. and Dorthy kept a log of musicians, If we needed one, or more to make up a band, we phoned Her, could have a Band together in a short while, didn't need to practice, we all knew eachother, and what they played, we always had a week end job working like that.
I moved back to arkansas, went on the road, and lost contact with all the gang,,,,,ha,,,they were probably glad to see me leave out.

Herbie

[Mark Lind-Hanson]

My Mother grew up in Bakersfield & left for the SF BAy Area during
WW2. I believe for a short while she actually worked someplace called the Kern County Music Company, or something like that- I have some stationery with some of her writing on it. As a typist.
I traveled to Oildale (where my grandmother & step-Grandfather moved, follwing her remarriage after my Grabndfather's untimely death in 1939)- a lot with my Mother & Dad through the 1960's & 70's- had some amusing encounters with older "straight cat" players while browsing the music stores on rainy days- Even then I remember remarking to my best friend about all the guitars, pedal steels & other stuff they had down there- quite amazing, for someone who thought the Bay Area was the World Capital of Music in those days-
My fondest Bakersfield music memory, actually, was of listening to the Wolfman Jack KXRB show late at night & hearing Johnny B Goode by the Grateful Dead (fromthe Last Days of the Fillmore album)- "That was the Gratefool Ded, Baybay! With Johnny B Goode! Alright!"- It was a funny moment.
It was somewhat surprising for me, when I learned that Clarence White, Gene Parsons (And Merle Haggard) were all from Bakersfield, & my Mom Dad & me used to watch the Porter & Dolly show all the time on Bay Area tv...
I wish I had been able actually to go out and hear stuff in clubs, but then again, I was a minor in those days, and after the death of my Grandparents, I never went back to Bakersfield again. Which is not saying someday I Won't, Either.
Great little place - if you know just what you are looking for!
(And a reason for looking there.)
But-if your'e a bored teenager, lookout!
Bakersfield IS a part of my family and my musical legacy, however...

[Daryl Stogner]

Herbie,

You are right on with your memory about Dad and that elec. Fender Fiddle. Here's a photo of Dad with it right after Merle gave it to him. To be honest, Dad didn't much care for the way it sounded. But he sure was proud of Merle having given it to him!

Here's that photo.....

[Herbie Meeks]

Hi Daryl
Thanks much for that picture of your Dad, and the Fender Fiddle. I Saved it in my collection,
I remember Dave saying he did not care much about the sound, also my Bro. Joe had adjusted it for Dave, as it had some kind of adjuster on the bridge.
Joe played some of the last gigs with Dave. picking Steel and Lead Guitar for Him. And yes , He was proud of that fiddle.
a real collectors item now.

Herbie

[Red Kilby]

I would invite you all if you have not checked out my website www.redkilby.com the song you hear when the site opens is "THAT BAKERSFIELD SOUND" and I sing about Buck and Don, Merle and Roy, and Wynn Stewart. I also have a special surprise at the end, with the Great Ralph Mooney doing the outro and playing "Under Your Spell Again" just like he did in 1959 with Buck. If you like that good old Tele Twang?? I have got both Redd Volkaert and Junior Knight doing the Lead Guitar Chores!!! If you get a chance give it a listen??? and if you like what you hear??? You can get your copy of "Keepin it Real"!!!


Take care, and hope to see you all at a Steel Show real soon!!

[Herbie Meeks]

RED
You cant get much more,,, Real,,, than that, Just wondering how you kept those Boys in line,? while recording.
Also, do you ever loan the 1968 Dodge Charger to Lloyd Green, so He can play His 8-Track Albums, better keep an eye on Lloyd, He might decide to make the rounds, and pick up some of those boys, Your Dodge would never be the same ,even if you got it back in one piece.

Herbie

[Dean Batye]

Herbie, I am still trying to get Geo"s address ,will get back to you as soon as I get it. I have the Oper. Engs. Local 3 WORKING on it, that will do the trick. See my buddy
Red Kilby on here,he must be back in CO. tALK TO YOU LATER.
Your Buddy
Dean Batye

[Herbie Meeks]

Thanks DEAN
And RED, I Thorughly enjoyed your Page,
That is taking music back " To the drawing board "
when it was really fun , and the audiences flocked to an evening out away from the TV
www.redkilby.com

The Real McCoy in the music scene

Herbie

[Herbie Meeks]

Bump Worth a Read and Listen

Herbie

[Kevin Hatton]

That tone that Dick Overby is getting in the opening is quintessential west coast. Bright and bouncy. Thats exactly the tone and style I shoot for every weekend. Way
to go Mr. Overby.