Palomino Club History

Joe Casey · Post by **Joe Casey** » 2 Jul 2014 5:18 am

Johnny Davis played steel with Jimmy at one time.

Shari Boyd · Post by **Shari Boyd** » 2 Jul 2014 5:23 am

I have nothing to do with the industry Leo.. I moved mom here 3 years ago and I take care of her and run a bookkeeping service...

I lead a very quiet life - just miles from many I used to call friends - completely and totally... anonymously.

Most of my friends would be AMAZED at the life I once lead... but they haven't a clue about that person. And that doesn't bother me.. what does bother me is not meant for an open forum

But I am glad my dad's not here to see it

LJ Eiffert wrote:It's great to see you here on this forum Shari Boyd! Now maybe you can stand up for your Mother & father & us out here in Nashville as to what is the truth about what happen to our real deal Country Music here in Southern California with the Academy of Country Music beings you and your brother and son Joe let alone all you kids who watch us Build it Empire call ACM for what to days music is now that you kids grew up on.All I want out of this mess from Bob Romero and his Army with the hand conbat help of Rac Clark is A " Museum " for us neighborhood Musicians who made all this History that nobody's care about what we did for the support of your Mother & Father let alone Gene Weed to make our old late friend Dick Clark rich. The God father Of Southern California Country Music,Uncle Leo J Eiffert Jr & the Pigeons -Facebook.

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 2 Jul 2014 1:40 pm

While picking up tix one noontime in '75 for Commander Cody and what would be my last shows at the Palomino, I watched an older guitarist casually playing alone and doing some very tasty work, recognized him way later as Jimmy Bryant.
No, the place wasn't great, except when it was, which was often.

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 4 Jul 2014 10:20 pm

This song reminds me of the topic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0MnXhPQX-k

LJ Eiffert · Post by **LJ Eiffert** » 5 Jul 2014 7:42 am

Shari Boyd, You are a vital part of this History just like your brother Bill,Jr. of what your Mother & Father paved for all those who did cut their throat,not I (Leo J Eiffert Jr) that your brother thinks.That's another Story. You (Shari) did a job for those Artist/Musicians in this World of the music industry by the ACM that they don't know as to what we all did for them together here in Southern California for what is Called the ACM (Academy Of Country Music). I stood up for many of them Artist who really wouldn't have a chance just like you did. I can't step aside from all this History of our neighborhood for what crap is out there today by those we put in office to sell us out like they have. God Ain't Cheap & I died once and I can do it again for what I did for all of you. You know who the you's are! I did more than anybody for their Career in making Money than they have done for me. I never got paid one cent for my sevicies and didn't ask but did what I said I would do. The Real Traditional Country Music is not dead,but,the people are who lived it and what few who are still around have no power to change it back. God Bless you and your family. PS: I'll be in Nashville soon.

Leo

Gary Roda · Post by **Gary Roda** » 13 Dec 2014 3:13 pm

I for one have some great memories of the Pal. I played there several times in the mid-seventies and early eighties, first with Larry Hosford, later with Lacy J. Dalton. My Larry memories include the night picured here (about '76) the only picture I have of me playing mandolin, which I did only on a couple of songs in the show (I was mainly steel and six-string). I remember the PA system- a collection of Shure Vocal Masters, stacked up and spread around the club, used as both mains and monitors. I also remember meeting (and being blown away by) the house steel player at the time, the great Jay Dee Manness. Jay Dee had an interesting stage setup; a little riser for just his PP Emmons, behind which he sat on a barstool. He told me he "liked being at eye-level" with the other players...

The last time I played there was about '82 with Lacy J.; an unforgettable night! Lacy was headlining OVER Ricky Skaggs, with his incredible band- Ray Flacke on guitar, Bruce Bouton on steel... a really amazing group that totaly burned the place down. The first show, Ricky pulled Linda Ronstadt out of the crowd for a few little numbers, and we had to follow that. But wait! There's more! The next set, it was Emmylou Harris AND Albert Lee, with Albert and Ray having a cutting contest... Lacy was pretty hot that year, but going onstage after all that magic was murder, believe me. We did alot of dates with Ricky that summer, but by the end of it, we were opening for him!

I was sorry to see the Pal go, but I guess the spell could only last just so long...

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 14 Dec 2014 7:35 am

Interesting story, Gary!

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 14 Dec 2014 8:37 am

I remember a Shure Vocal Master p.a. in the house. That was in the 70's.
I think: that couldn't be; maybe it wasn't there, or I wasn't here.

LJ Eiffert · Post by **LJ Eiffert** » 14 Dec 2014 10:41 am

Well! It's sad to say. But, I (Uncle Leo J Eiffert Jr.) did the last gig there at the Palomino Club in North Hollywood,California with " Linda Gail Lewis ", sister of Super Icon Artist/Musician " Jerry Lee Lewis " of the closing of the doors with that lock and key. We tried hard to help " Sherry Thomas " keep it open,but,support was already dead and gone. Thanks to That Country Star walk of Fame Club that is now dead and gone too! See all that hot air did no good for the life of keeping Traditional Country Music alive let alone the real Night Clubs & Radio Station Dis-Jockers like a tune a fish,Charlie or Cook. Well like they the people who said they would from The Academy Of Country Music great board of " AMNESIA ". I will never WIN this battle of over turning the times of Southern California Country Music that we the neighborhood Musicians put on the map for this world to understand or who don't give a hoot. Uncle Leo J Eiffert Jr the Icon God father Of Southern California Country Music & a New Orleans,Louisiana True " Tokens " Musician from the 9th ward with that Mr.Fats Domino coonass blood in me.

leo@jtjsales.com or P.O. Box 5412,Buena Park,California.90620. PS: " Icon Super Star " Published by Young Country Music BMI on Young Country Records.Written By Leo J Eiffert Jr.-BMI

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 14 Dec 2014 4:56 pm

Far out!

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 16 Dec 2014 10:20 pm

I was attending college & working in The San Fernando Valley from 1971-76..started playing dobro at that time and heard of The Palomino Club....made there several times and I'm glad that I did....even though I was always leery of the place & neighborhood....but then again, I grew up in NYC so I wasn't green......

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 17 Dec 2014 2:36 pm

shari...it might have been pete grant on steel.

George Duncan Sypert · Post by **George Duncan Sypert** » 18 Dec 2014 11:03 am

I am pretty sure that Johnny Davis moved to Colorado Springs in the late 60's, about 1967 or 68 with a band from California, that included Jim Miller, Pat Price, possibly Denny Peters. They played at the Sundown Lounge in Manitou Springs for Maury Saphiro. I had heard years ago that Johnny Davis moved to Denver but I don't know that to be a fact. Does anyone have any info on him. As I recall he was playing a fender steel. I think a Double 8, but that was a long time ago.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 22 Dec 2014 10:03 pm

Johnny Davis was back in LA by 1971 because he was playing at the Cajun Country (around the corner from the Pal on Sherman Way) with Gene Davis mid-1971.

LJ Eiffert · Post by **LJ Eiffert** » 23 Dec 2014 8:37 am

That's right Herb, Cause Sharon & Yar who live in Nashville,Tn. and myself played there with Nudie the rodeo Tailor. I also did a lot of gigs with the late Gene Davis and Johnny Davis Too!.RIP my brothers. Those guys were the real deal of being a Entertainer/Artist/Musician.Will never feel those musician moments again in the rest of this life time.

Uncle Leo J Eiffert Jr.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 23 Dec 2014 9:39 am

Leo, I worked there at the Cajun with both Jimmy Lawton's band and with Jimmy Bryant, and each time I did that gig Tommy Thomas would 86 me from the Pal. Sometimes Sherry would sneak me in if Tommy wasn't there. When I quit the CC, I was welcome back in the club.

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 23 Dec 2014 11:28 am

George Duncan Sypert wrote:They played at the Sundown Lounge in Manitou Springs

Manitou was quite the place in the late '60s - early '70s. That's where I got hooked on the sound of the pedal steel guitar; from listening to KPIK all day working at Bobby's Custom Campers, and from the jukebox at the Pioneer Bar while sucking down the nickel beers.

Would never have made it past the front door of the Sundown in those days. You needed a Stetson, boots, and a fancy Western shirt. Ball cap, tee-shirt, cut-offs, and flip-flops just wouldn't cut it with the bouncer. Oh, and then there was the hair...

LJ Eiffert · Post by **LJ Eiffert** » 23 Dec 2014 8:58 pm

Herb,I know all to well in those days about the neighborhood politics of club owners and band leaders of their power house rules of having a sit down gig with them. Jack Tucker at the Pioneer Room with Lou Martin,Billy Smith & Zed Dixison. My Crawfish band at Bonnie Price's Foothill Club every Monday Night. The Blue Bayou Club in Lakewood. The Crazy Horse & The Cowboy in Santa Ana. D J Ranch in North Long Beach and so many others who called the shots of working in their Club. Nothing new of to days world of rules in clubs. I've had fun working with our late friend doing sessions with him Mr. Jimmy Bryant,Don Lee,Carl West,Red Rhodes,Bill Hoffman and many more who are gone. I not sure if I did any gigs with you! If I did it would be with Lou Martin & you somewhere. Merry Christmas & A Happy New year to you and your family Herb. Uncle Leo J Eiffert Jr.

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 23 Dec 2014 9:46 pm

Here's what the stage looked like no later than 1949, when it was still "The Mule Kick", and operated by Doug McGinnis.

This is before Hank Penny took it over and renamed it, circa late 49, early 1950. I think Hank had it fairly briefly, but sold out to Armand Gautier. The Thomas brothers took over somewhere in the early 50s?

Penny reportedly served buttermilk and black-eyed peas after closings during all-night jams on Monday nights.

Penny supposedly named it "The Palomino" after the logo on a shirt he happened to be wearing.

This picture shows, from left to right:

unknown, Curly Cochran, Doug McGinnis, and Jimmy Bryant.

Cochran of course the fine LA steel player who played behind Sam Nichols, Billy Hughes, Bud Hobbs, Jesse Ashlock, and others.

McGinnis and Bryant came out west together in I think 1948, shortly before this pic was taken.

LJ Eiffert · Post by **LJ Eiffert** » 31 Jan 2015 8:53 am

Them McGinnis Brothers with the late " Gene Bear " was a big part of the movement in Traditional Country music in the valley of Southern California with the late Don Hillman too. Nudie did his part in it too. Just like the late Joe Barber who always said, " Who wrote that song "? Just like that Bakersfield Sound movement that Big Johnny Russell,Big Bill Garner,Leon Copass who had something to do with as well as Buck,Merle,the late Joe Maphis and all us Musicians who pave the way for it's History to be put in place for the Country Wrecking Crew of Musicians That the Academy Of Country Music should Honor us all in their Museum.But, they won't support in educating those like Nashville is using to make money off of our back yard History. Uncle Leo J Eiffert Jr the " Icon Super Star ".

Jerry Hedge · Post by **Jerry Hedge** » 31 Jan 2015 9:35 pm

LJ Eiffert wrote:Come on " Earnest Bovine " the only place you liked was that hole in the wall " Ship Wreck Joey's Club " or you would be at that " Hollywood on the Pike Club " in Long Beach.Or was it " The Panama Club " not " The Foothill "?

L.J. you brought back a memory with that post. I was a young guitar player, a month after graduating high school. I got a call from my uncle in Lakewood telling me that this female country singer/friend of his needed a guitar player and would I be interested in the gig. I said sure... I always wanted to come to Southern California. So they get me a plane ticket and 24 hours later I'm on stage at Hollywood on the Pike!!! The singer was HORRIBLE! She sang so flat,and played rhythm on this D-28 Martin, so loud and so out of time it nearly drove me crazy. After 2 months I came back to Ohio, disappointed... but SO MUCH WISER!!!

Jerry Hedge · Post by **Jerry Hedge** » 31 Jan 2015 9:40 pm

By the way, does anybody know about a guitar player that I used to see. I can't remember his name, but he played a Gibson double neck similarly to the way Jimmy Bryant played. He had the 12 string neck tuned in 3rds, like Bryant did on "Stratospheric Boogie".

LJ Eiffert · Post by **LJ Eiffert** » 3 Feb 2015 11:52 am

That was my late friend Mr. Lou Martin who played for Jack Tucker & The Oklahoma Play Boys.Also, my late friend Mr.Big Bill Garner in Bakersfield,California did too!

Uncle Leo J Eiffert Jr the " Icon Super Star ".

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 3 Feb 2015 12:31 pm

There was an incredible guitarist that played at the Cajun Country, around 70-71, named Danny Holder. Danny played in a way that, if you were outside the club listening in, you'd think Curly Chalker was onstage. Then you'd go in and no steel was there.

He played a Gibson Barney Kessel with Scruggs/Keith tuner on every string, a Sho-Bud volume pedal, and a Bigsby vibrato. His secret was that he played the chord inversions Chalker did, gutted the volume pedal, set the amp right, and most of all used the Bigsby in a perfect reproduction of a steel player's bar vibrato.

He dropped out of sight and I moved to TX. Upon a visit back to LA I ran into him at Red's shop and Danny had all "hippie'd out" with a beard, long hair, etc. Always wondered what had happened to him.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 3 Feb 2015 1:05 pm

danny played around sac for a few years in the 70's. he was a monster. and an ok guy. he sat at my steel one night and played better than i did. he played through a standel custom 24 faced to the wall.

another one of those guitar players up here was jimmy baughman. he played a 335 with two palm pedals he and his dad, i think, developed. jimmy could way outplay any steel player. he was intimidating. finally, years later, i think of him as a good friend.

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