Bakersfield's Finest Son.

Buck Owens and Ringo Starr. Buck died this morning in Bakersfield, California.

As I sit here writing this sentence I have this vivid memory in my head of standing in front of my Grandfather Andrew's house on his tobacco farm about 2 miles from my chair I am sitting in. I was right in front of the side door standing on rocks that my mother and her brothers and sisters had gathered from the surrounding fields as children. On that day there was this "stereo" as we called them back then right inside the "screen window" playing a 45 RPM record...yeah vinyl record of "Act Naturally."

"I've Got a Tiger by the Tail", on and on, there are so many Buck Owens songs that all the great rock bands listened too. The Rolling Stones were huge fans. You can hear the influence come right though their music at times. I actually thought of Buck Owens back in October, 2005 when I saw the Stones play at Wallace Wade on the Duke campus. I turned to my daughter and I said over the loud music with my hands cupped to her ear...hear that? That is Buck Owens coming out of that song...remember that.

I spent 7 years living in the Mississippi delta town of Greenwood. Looking back I would not trade that experience for the world. Isn't it funny how your mind works? I have this black and white film reel running right now of a "Hee Haw" show in my head. Buck is sitting on a hay bale with that red, white, and blue striped acoustic guitar playing it..the show was in color but my mind has it in black and white because I think the first time I saw that show it was in black and white... I can remember visiting my friend David on weekends and his Mom and Dad would have that show on the television on Saturday nights as we left to go get into whatever it was we were going to get into....that's a whole 'nother story for another time. So many stories, so little time.

Sail on Buck Owens. Thanks for the music.

Together again my tears have stopped falling
The long lonely nights are now at an end
The key to my heart you hold in your hand
And nothing else matters now we're together again
[ steel ]
Together again the grey skies're gone
You're back in my arms now where you belong
The love that I knew is living again
And nothing else matters now we're together again
And nothing else matters now we're together again

Sunday ramblings....

For the Todd Snider fans out there here is a link to some recent pictures captured in Dayton, Ohio and posted by Ken Lotterman.

http://www.toddsnider.org/

I have heard and read information about Derek Trucks doing a tour with Eric Clapton. From what I hear Derek and EC will be doing "Derek and the Dominos" material on an upcoming tour. If anyone can play those slide parts it is Derek Trucks.

For the current time it sounds like EC is doing his European tour and has The Robert Cray band doing the opening act as of May 8 in Glasgow. Now there is some bang for the buck. I gotta' go check my frequent flyer miles account....

See ya down the road...

The Derek Trucks Band Could Use Your Help!

Derek's equipment trailer was just stolen in Atlanta. The band needs your help so please pass this information on to your friends! Note they are looking for the equipment and would like replacements as soon as possible to get back to their tour.

Derek Trucks Band Equipment Stolen....

Emergency - Please Help

The Derek Trucks Band's equipment trailer was

stolen last night in Atlanta. I need to purchase

the following equipment ASAP. Anyone who is

willing to sell any of this gear, please call me

at 303-778-1156.

1) Two blackface Super Reverbs, 1965 preferred,

1964 through 1967 acceptable. Must have

original transformers; everything else will be

tweaked by me to Derek's spec. Speakers

not important - keep 'em if you like. As long

as the cabinet and baffle board aren't busted,

I don't give a **** what it looks like.

2) One 1974 or earlier Ampeg SVT head. Must

have original trannies. Looks not important

Not looking for the oldest production with the

6146B output tubes, please.

Posters in the Atlanta area, please be on the lookout for the stolen

gear. A list of serial numbers will be posted as soon as I receive it.

Lord Valve

Here is a list of the key items that were in the

DTB trailer. This is not a complete list but these

are the items we’re most likely to spot and hopefully

recover. Please contact me if anything turns up.

Lord Valve - 303-778-1156

1) Pearl 5-piece Drum Kit (Black)

Serial numbers: 652623, 642341,

83233, 6526231, 652163

2) '66 Fender blackface Super Reverb

with Weber DT-10 speakers.

Serial number: A13225

3) '65 Fender blackface Super Reverb

with Pile Driver speakers; has

external bias and plate voltage

testpoints on rear next to line

cord. EXT speaker jack has been

converted to a line output.

Serial number: A06896

4) Hammond B-3 w/custom Leslie foot switch

Serial number: pending

5) Leslie cabinet, model 147

Serial number: H25474

6) Hohner Clavinet model E7

Serial number: 3447 410

7) Yamaha Motif keyboard

Serial number: IHO1189

8.) 1974 Ampeg SVT Bass Head

Serial number: 112149

9) Ampeg 4X10 bass cabinet

Serial number: pending

10) 4 LP Congas in soft bags

11) '96 Matchless Chieftain 2X10 combo amp

Serial number: pending

12) Mikes:

3 Shure SM57

2 Shure SM58

Shure Beta 52

2 AKG 460

3 EV 406

Neuman KM184

2 Sennheiser 421

Beyer M88

2 AKG C414

EV RE20

13) Furman-PL plus power conditioner

Serial number: 7Z37

14) Drawmer DL441 4 channel compressor

Serial number: 706

15) 3 DBX 160A compressors

Serial numbers: pending

16) TC Electronics D2-Delay Unit

Serial number: 3107455

17) Yamaha SPX90 effects processor

Serial number: 26308

18.) Tascam DAPI DAT recorder

Serial number: 580001

19: Midas Mixing Console

Serial number: 173052 0324011056

20) Tascam 8 track model DA78HR

Serial number: 100101

21) Tascam 8 track model DA38

Serial number: 270262

22) Tascam 8 track model DA38

Serial number: 40369

Robert Earl Keen, Robert Earl Keen!!

Rich Brotherton, Robert Earl Keen, Tom Van Schaik (just out of view), Bill Whitbeck, and Marty Muse. I really like this picture and the concept. This was the finale after 2 standing ovations. I mean loud ovations of "Robert Earl Keen, Robert Earl Keen" Robert Earl stepped to the microphone and said "We like to do this in our theatre shows." Everyone said shhh and the audience fell silent. They played acoustic and sang with no amplification and as they were finishing the song walked slowly off stage in a line. I think the smile is still on my face from this show. I know my throat is a little sore...Robert Earl Keen!! Robert Earl Keen!!!...

Robert Earl Keen at the Carolina Theatre in http://www.carolinatheatre.com/ Greensboro last Friday night. I took this picture from the pit where I stood during the show. The audience had packed the house and were all wildly enthusiastic. Of all the times I have been to this theatre this is the loudest audience I have ever heard. The band deserved it, they are sounding better than ever and they all looked happy to be playing to the local crowd. Speaking of local crowd, I am pleased to report that I turned REK's manager Melissa on to the Carolina Theatre back in 2004. I missed the first show in 2005 as I was in key West that week but I was not about to miss this one. This is one great venue and one great band. There is just nothing like a good historic theatre with no smoke, some really talented artists, and some good beverages out front.
Speaking of fashion...Robert Earl said his friend Reba, yeah you know who I am talking about...from Nashville, told him to wear the shirt he had on. Actually I thought it was kind of cool. After the show was over the band came back to the stage and signed autographs for all, including a fairly large group of children. Robert Earl went to the front lobby and sat down in a chair at a table. I'll bet he signed upwards of 200 items to every person who wanted one. Folks this is one talented artist and he gave me more than my moneys worth. There are some others out there that charge big money for shed shows and sometimes you wonder if they are playing like it is their last show. Enought of that. REK and the boys never dissapoint. I'll be back again. Soon.