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The late Eddie Drake and his GREAT band

Posted: 12 Jul 2009 8:37 am
by Herb Steiner
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:

Image

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.

Posted: 12 Jul 2009 3:53 pm
by Scott Wehmeyer
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.

Image

Posted: 12 Jul 2009 8:02 pm
by Jay Dee Maness
Tony Goodman on Bass and Jerry Lee Carol on drums.

Posted: 13 Jul 2009 3:31 am
by Herb Steiner
Thank you, Jay Dee. You are, as it is said, "the man." :D

Posted: 13 Jul 2009 8:31 am
by Earnest Bovine
The site today, from Google maps street view:


Image

Posted: 13 Jul 2009 11:32 am
by Skeeter Stultz
That sure looks like Carl West on steel. In the picture with Shorty Bacon I mean.

Posted: 13 Jul 2009 1:18 pm
by Billy Tonnesen
Skeeter:.
Pretty sure thats Carl West playing what looks like to top of the origignal model of the Fender 1000.

Posted: 13 Jul 2009 1:29 pm
by Herb Steiner
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.