Wednesday, November 09, 2005

The Dynamics - Misery

Example
Hey Pete! There's some blokes from the USA
at the door saying you "borrowed" their song...
Example
The chapter is entitled – Sampling/Schmampling or How a Generation of British Rockers Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Concept of Blatant Plagiarism... So...a couple of years back (before I entered the world of satellite radio) we were driving back from visiting my folks down Philly way, and had a small NJ college radio station (Trenton State I think) tuned in. As I was spinning the dial, I happened upon some smoking garage punk nugget or other and decided to bear with the somewhat weak signal in hopes that continued listening would yield more of the same (now that I think of it, it may even have been something as far out as ‘Hurricane Fighter Plane’ by the Red Krayola, which would have been a real surprise...). But I digress.... So I continued listening, and the DJ was spinning a wide variety of 60’s sounds, garage, pop and soul, and I was digging it. Then, all of a sudden they slap on a record, that – now dig this – I had never heard before, yet strangely enough had definitely heard before. How’s that for a zen koan grasshopper??? The tune in question turned out to be ‘Misery’ by the Dynamics (that was the one I’d never heard). The one I heard (are you confused yet?) was ‘Zoot Suit’ by the High Numbers (aka The Who). Here’s how that whole convoluted scenario plays out. Back in 1963, a Detroit vocal group – the Dynamics – went into the studio and laid down ‘Misery’. The record is one of those great mixtures of R&B/rock/soul that was so prevalent in the early 60’s (and is so sorely forgotten today). Featuring a slightly menacing bass/drums/guitar backing, the lead vocal drops in as normal as can be - before suddenly changing to a falsetto and being joined by the other singers – at which point the drummer kicks things up a notch. After the second verse there’s a cool sax solo, and then the group comes back for more. The drumming on this track is outstanding. So....later that year (I’ll assume) after the Big Top label pressed up and released this treasure, some pimply kid in the UK gets his hands on a copy. He loves the song so much, he decides to write new lyrics and pass it off as his own. That kid....Pete Townshend. His band....the High Numbers (soon to become the Who). The “new” song....”Zoot Suit”. That’s what I meant when I said that I didn’t know the song, but did know it too. I’d heard ‘Zoot Suit’ plenty of times (some of my closest friends being card carrying, scooter coveting Mod types), but never in it’s raw, pre-stolen form, aka the original by the Dynamics. So, I’m riding along, minding my own beeswax, and I hear a VERY familiar tune, but in a whole new context. I was very excited by this discovery (my wife somewhat less so...). Naturally I set right out to find myself a copy of the Dynamics 45, discovering in the process that I was probably THE LAST person to figure this out. Adding insult to injury (or more injury...), the flip side of ‘Zoot Suit’ was a little ditty called ‘I’m The Face’, which just happened to be every bit as stolen as ‘Zoot Suit’, except this time the “source material” was “Got Love If You Want It” by the mighty Slim Harpo – proving once and for all that even if Pete was a thieving bastard, he had great taste in music. This combination of personality attributes seemed to be in some way inherent in the character of a certain age group in the UK, as the pattern of theft was continued on through the 60’s by countless groups, many of whom went on to fame and fortune. The modus operandi appears to have been, cop a tune from an obscure record by a (more often than not) black American artist, and “rework” it – reworking varying from rewriting the lyrics all the way to barely changing the song at all – collecting the copyright and all ensuing monies (be honest...how many of you used to think that Alan Price wrote ‘House of the Rising Sun”???). Now, as in all things, there are widely varying degrees of malfeasance. A group like the Beatles may have borrowed a riff here and there (see Bobby Parker’s ‘Watch Your Step’) but they weren’t really stealing anything. There’s along standing tradition in music (popular and other) of carrying motifs from the past into a new era. The entire Bebop era is based on interpolations and quotes from “standards”. However.... There were people who, unsatisfied with a mere riff – lifted entire songs and “rewrote” them (i.e. crossing out the name of the original author and replacing it with ones own being a most liberal definition of “rewrote”). The worst offenders of the lot being (cough...cough...) Led Zeppelin, who thankfully were dragged into court by the mighty Willie Dixon and taken to task for their appropriation (though to be fair, Willie ought to have named the Small Faces as co-defendants*). Fortunately for the Who (and unfortunately for the Dynamics) the whole ‘Zoot Suit’ thing was a very early, pre-fame and fortune escapade and never resulted in legal action (that I know of...). Either way, dig the tune, send a hail fellow well met to the Dynamics and a Bronx cheer to the Who. * If you get the chance, check out the Small Faces tune ‘You Need Loving’ and witness the blueprint for Led Zeppelin laid before you. This tune was of course a “rewritten” version of Willie Dixon’s ‘You Need Love’ (made famous by Muddy Waters), which Robert “My Pants Is Too Tight” Plant and Jimmy “Uh...’zat You Satan” Page turned into ‘Whole Lotta Love’.

41 Comments:

Blogger guapo said...

Well, it`s definately "Zoot Suit" but let`s face it they were hardly the first or last band to "borrow" a melody!

11/09/2005 06:31:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wasn't Pete Meaden the guy who introduced Townsend to the songs?

11/10/2005 04:12:00 AM  
Blogger Larry Grogan said...

Mr Barf
I think you're being a little too generous in saying that they "borrowed a melody". If someone today lifted the entire structure of someone elses song a year after it came out, it would not only be legally actionable, but in exceedingly bad taste.

Nick
It hardly matters who introduced Townshend to the song. It's regarded as a Mod classic and whether or not Meaden passed it along. Townshend had to know it was a Dynamics record.

Larry

11/10/2005 08:46:00 AM  
Blogger Todd Lucas said...

The only way Townshend wouldn't have known it was a Dynamics tune is if he'd heard it by some other band, like maybe in a club, rather than the original record. No matter, he knew that he wasn't the original source.

You weren't the last to know about the record though, Larry. I'd never heard the Dynamics song before now or even knew it existed. Great record, thanks.

11/10/2005 10:44:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Several USA bands did the same kind of plagarism. The Gants "I Wonder" swipes the melody of the Beatles "In My Life" for it's verses, and Phil & The Frantics "I Must Run" is just the Zombies classic "I Must Move" with new lyrics.

11/10/2005 08:29:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Can anyone tell me where to download the song Misery by the Dynamics? Tkx.

1/12/2006 05:58:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

STAN THE AXE MAN FOR THE ROYAL PLAYBOYS BAND IS STILL ALIVE AND PLAYING MUSIC IN BATTLE CREEK MICHIGAN.TELL HANK RIVERA I SAID HELLO....STAGE NAME STOSHIO....LOOK FOR MY NEW RELEASE AFTER ALL THESE YEARS CALLED B.C.M.

7/30/2006 03:38:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Anonymous,

I can't tell you how to download this song but i have better infos!!

The song is on the following record:

"Negermusik" from Diamant records.

I have this record. The record is handnumbered with the following tracks:

A Side:

Bobby Bland : "36.22.36"
Joe"Guitar"Watson: "The Git back"
Naomi Davis: "forty first street
breakdown"
Soul Inc.: "The Alligator"
Ron & Joe and the crew: "Riot in
cell block no.9"
Polka dot slim: "A thing you
gotta face"
Frankie Lee Sims: "What will lucy
do"
Don Convay: "Where are you"



B Side:

Lazy Lester: "I'm a lover not a
fighter"
Charles Sheffield: "It's your Voodoo working" this track is similar like Rose Mitchell-"Baby please don't go" on the "Hot Matador" LP from Bunkerhill records

Ramsey Lewis: "Wade in the water"

The Dynamics: "Misery"

King Odom 4: "All of me"
Cab Calloway: "chilli con conga"
The Islanders: "Forbidden Island"
Bonustrack


I hope it was helpfully for you.

look at my page:

www.discopusher.de
and write me if you it was helpfully for you.
i would be pleased

Bye,

Danilo

8/30/2006 03:17:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Cliff Bramlett is living in inverness fla. and runs a t-shirt business........we used his old fender mustang to motivate him to recover from a stroke, few years back......he would love to hear from old fans, and to know this web sight has im a man etc on it....call him at 352 330 1978, or write to profile t-shirts inv. fla

10/20/2006 12:03:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Its true, cliff is an awsome axman..a true bluesman...his version of wisky drinkin man will never be forgotten, for many reasons. He also has charactor you're right, credit were its due.Cliff if you read this.thank you for everything...you welcomed me into your world, fed me, roof over my head....Im grateful,and that night at johnny winter wont be forgot either.hug all them please...be healthy

11/17/2006 04:37:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm Kelli Bramlett, Cliff's daughter and what ever Judy said is it, because she got it straight from my Dad.

12/05/2006 06:53:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This record is the reason I am a musician today. I was 10 years old listening to the Robin Seymour Show, head under the covers with on my transister radio turned down low so my mom wouldn't know I was still awake. I wouldn't go to sleep until robin played it, or I'm the Man (flipside). One time after playing it, Robin said, "That was so good I'm playing it again." Which he did, probably got paid to do it, since he got caught up in the payolla thing not long after. I dind't care, I was in agreement, and veiw this song as the single greatest recording in the history of R&B, bar none.

12/07/2006 09:01:00 AM  
Blogger REGGIEVINSON ROCKIN REGGIE.COM said...

hi cliff

cliff take you mind back to 19[61.62] i was the shinny kid with a guitar
my name was vince and i came over to you house and i played jimmy reed so you begin to teach me to tune my guitar to open e and show me some harp and how to play angel baby and donna.
i had a 52 chevy and we would go over to big boy drive in and hang out .your dad had a 59 0r 60 white t b .then you begin to play on michigan at a little bar and sometimes i would join you on twist and shout or jimmy reed songs.then i begin to work with frigit pink and creem magazine tab me rockin reggie and soon i played session guitar on school's out and got my first gold record.then etta james
i remerber those early days at united artist my uncle was a backer with terry sherwood, don davies was ther also milan bogdon was engerner
and play bass on del shanon my little runaway.
miser and i'm the man were great songs i throught i[played some parts on it maybe not??
i played a some gig with mike and the royal playboys
and then sign
as a artist with big top and cut with harvie brooks and chico holiday.
i live in chicago and arizona these days and own a new mexico villa resort near Sodona az.
hacienda de la maripoa resort
www.rockinkatproductions.com
my 1 800 9 reggie or my ell 623 328 0066.would love to here from you after all these years ....an old friend........reggie vinson

1/05/2007 01:17:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hello CLiff:
It has been a very long time. Glad to hear you are well. Life is funny. I owned a company here in Dearborn where we manufactured textiles. We were the originators of the "Insulated Pizza Delivery Bags" and also screen printed and embroidered shirts. Sold the company in 2000. Knowing I could never get as good as you on the guitar I figured I had to get into something else. You always amazed me the way you played. I was in Seattle last year and my son and I visited the Jimmy Hendrix burial shrine. I told him I used to play with a guy that was better and that was you. I ran into Joe Cyers last year at the Dearborn Homecoming and naturally we spoke of you. He looks well and is doing good.
For your information, I just spoke with Jerry Hubbard who sometimes played trumpet with us. He told me Stan Petrew is still playing with a jazz band up in Benton Harbort. Louie Guido our drummer is good and retired from being principle at Dearborn High School. Von Dragan our other guitar player beside myself is living up North. The only original Playboy who is deceased is Mike Hedgi. He passed away back in the late 60's
Those were very good years. Take care.
Hank Rivera

1/23/2007 08:00:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

hey vince and hank, thanks for the comments. it's been a long time .i remember both of you. hey vince, remember when you hid in the girls bathroom at the escape lounge when you were underage? i do i'm glad to hear you are doing well. hey hank, good to hear from you, thanks for the kind words. sorry to hear about mike. i'm doing well, been living in florida for the last 20 years, but just got engaged to an old flame in michigan that i haven't seen in 43 years. how about that! hey, if you or anyone you know have any pictures back in the blue castle days please let me know.if you guys need to get in touch with me, leave a message on judy b hinz's blog. take care guys,yours truly, cliff and judy p.s again if anyone knows the where about's of my old drummer jimmy macgregor, please let me know. thanks guys keep in touch.

2/09/2007 05:14:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

HI CLIFF
WOW....GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU .
CAN YOU BELEIVE HOW MUCH TIME HAS GONE BY .
I REMEMBER ALOT ABOUT THE EARLY DAYS OF OUR FRIENDSHIP WE WERE TWO CRAZY COOL GUYS WHO LOVED MUSIC AND OUR HERO WAS JIMMY REED.
I LIVE IN ARIZONA AND OWN A RESORT NEAR PHOENIX WWW.rockinkatproductions.com
WHAT PART OF FL ARE YOU AT ?.
i think my mom has some photos of us with your dad's t bird.
i hope you get this note
VINCE VINSON ROCKIN REGGIE VINSON

2/12/2007 07:06:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hello Hank,
This is Al from west dearborn the other lead guitar player that play with the Royal Playboys for awhile back in 63 I replaced Jim Wyjecka.I remember you and Von Dragon you had a creme color Fender Tremlux piggy back amp and I had a creme color Fender Bandmaster do you remember Ernie and old man hedje he use to drive us to the gigs at Wall Lake Casino, Island Lake, The 20 grand Ballroom. Doing those shows for Lee Allen and David Prince from WXYZ. Stan Petriw doesn't play Sax any more sure a shame such a talented person I haven't seen him about 3 years He lives in Battle Creek. I am still giging have a band and I still live in Dearborn I still have a copy of Misery and I am The Man. Do you remember the west end kid with the Fender Jazzmaster guitar? If so lets get in touch I remember band practice in the south end of Dearborn believe it was your place!

3/08/2007 12:07:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

STOSHIO HERE .... 2007. WHO SAID I WAS'NT PLAYING THE SAX ANYMORE ? ORIGINAL AXE MAN NOW PLAYING SAX,SIMPLESIZZER,BASS,MANDOLIN , PIANO , AND THE PRIDE AND JOY - HARMONICA .... PS- GUITAR ( RYTHUM ) ALSO EVERY THING IV'E READ SO FAR IS 50% BULLSHIT ? LOOK FOR MY NEW C.D.-B.C.M.ALBUM..50 YEARS AND STILL KIKKIN.STAN THE MAN - ROYAL PLAYBOYS BAND-BACKING UO THE DYNAMICS 63....

3/10/2007 08:39:00 PM  
Blogger Lisa said...

Who started the band The Royal Playboys?? What did Stan Topij play in the band and was there a Stan Petri in the band at one time? Please list all the band members names. I believe they recorded at FORTUNE STUDIO'S. I have all the music and some radio interview from Joey Day and the Dares they say right there they recorded at Fortune Studio's with the Dynamics misery and good bye bo. My dad is Stan Topij and I heard he played accordian in a song does anyone know what song that is? When he passed away in 2003 I found old band pictures in black and white I don't know if this is the Royal Playboys but i do believe it is from the early 1960's. Thanks

11/29/2007 10:17:00 PM  
Blogger Sam said...

Does anyone know where to downnload this song? Was my number one favorite , Even named a custom car after it. Kind of used it as a theme song then.
beachadj@cox.net

2/10/2008 09:40:00 AM  
Blogger Sam said...

Does anyone know where to download this song? Was my favorite many years ago. Named a custom car after it. kind of used for theme song.
Thanks
beachadj@cox.net

2/10/2008 09:43:00 AM  
Blogger Kim Cyers-Hammill said...

My dad is Joe Cyers, the drummer on Misery and I'm The Man. I was trying to find members a while back for a party we were throwing my dad. I wish i would have found this site then. If any of the old members remember dad,please feel free to contact me. He would love to hear from you. He IS STILL into music, i think it is in his blood. Thanks, Kim

4/23/2008 12:49:00 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Lisa:
Sorry about your Dad. He was a good guy.
The band was started by Mike Hedgi(now deceased),2nd., to come into play was Lou Guido as drummer. Mike played base. Mike's dad was friend's with Von Dragan's dad and had mentioned to him that his son was starting a band. At that time Von and I (he lived across the street from me), were both taking guitar lessons and jamming together.Von's dad told Mr. Hedgi this and we auditioned and joined the band. The sax man Stan Petrew also joined.
Your dad played a mean paino and accordion when we played weddings or special parties. He did not play on any records.
For those who may not know this the First time "Little Stevie Wonder" sang in public the Royal Playoys backed him up at a roller rink in Brighton, Michigan. I ran into him a couple years back and spoke to him and he remembered it.
If you can e mail the pictures you have I will see if I can help you identify them.
You can contact me at hanriv@msn.com
I am now living in Clearwater Beach Florida.
Take care Hank

ps ask your Aunt if she remembers making out with me when we were kids and tell her I said Hello

5/11/2008 05:43:00 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Cliff, Judy, I am Bob McGregor...Jimmy's youngest son. My Dad is retired from Chrysler and lives in Madison Hgts. He is doing OK, but he has Alzheimer's disease. He only has problems with his short term memory. His long term memory is good and he talks about Cliff and the Classics a lot! I'll try to get him to contact you. If you can e-mail me your contact ifo at mcbob66@aol.com
Thanks.

6/08/2008 07:42:00 PM  
Blogger Malerie Bramlett said...

Im Malerie Bramlett, Cliff's grandaughter. Being 16 and in highschool corus, i admire the talent my grandfather has. I enjoy being part of such a musical family, along with my mom, Kelli Bramlett. Thanks for all the nice and encouraging comments everyone has left :) im sure they make my grandpa feel really great. He is in fact still an amazing guitar player, and singer. I hope he can go on making music for years to come! Thanks again everybody.

7/24/2008 03:20:00 AM  
Blogger judy hinz said...

Judy B Hinz ,Please go to my blog for message at, honest i do,RE Cliff and the Classics, Bob please contact me

9/16/2008 06:27:00 PM  
Blogger Kim Cyers-Hammill said...

If anyone would like to contact Joe Cyers of The Dynamics, please email me at khammill@twmi.rr.com . Cliff my dad would love to hear from you.

12/12/2008 07:18:00 PM  
Blogger Kim Cyers-Hammill said...

If anyone would like to get in touch with Joe Cyers of The Dynamics, please contact me at:
khammill@twmi.rr.com

Cliff-dad would love to hear from you.

12/12/2008 07:19:00 PM  
Blogger Kim Cyers-Hammill said...

If anyone would like to get in touch with Joe Cyers of The Dynamics, please contact me at:
khammill@twmi.rr.com

Cliff-dad would love to hear from you.

12/12/2008 07:20:00 PM  
Blogger On The Flip-Side said...

Nice post and a great song. One clarification on your post though. Pete Townshend neither wrote, claimed to write, or to even play on Zoot Suit. The credited writer was Pete Meadon, their manager at the time. Townshend has said he has never even heard the original song. He has also said that it was not him playing the lead on the song, but rather a session man with a jazz background (I can't remember his name). I think you are dead on correct though, the song is plagiarism, not riff appropriation. Same with the flip. I'll be delving into some of the Led Zeppelin rip off stuff real soon on my blog, http://ontheflip-side.blogspot.com/

1/07/2009 01:49:00 PM  
Blogger steve soul said...

hi,cant believe this blog,i am looking for joey day and the dares recordings for a cd release .....can you guys help,also associated groups at fortune records,please reply or contact
steve soul
smoothsoulinc@googlemail.com

1/27/2009 02:20:00 PM  
Blogger Chris Bramlett said...

Cliff is my Dad and i also play music..,My dad has been a big influence on my music career...Although i play heavy metal...I sing on three record's...2 full length CD's and a single(Angry) on the Quickstar Productions, "Downtown Metal" ,heavy metal compilation CD along with 17 other metal band's from all over the world...you can get it on over 300 download sites and I-tunes ,Nabster ,Best Buy ,Walmart and many others and you can here it @
myspace.com/dor2000com
and on college radio stations all over the world...
I just got a copy of Misery off e-bay the other day and an original juke box strip as well, i was going to have Cliff sign it and have a display case made for it...
My father is still a great musician and a very talented artist and i am lucky to have such a great dad...two of my older sisters also are singers and you may have seen them with my father when they used to play at the Tonky Honk...they were awesome musicians and i wish they would have taken it a little further, they still are very talented singers...
Misery was a great song and i listen to it now and then along with im the man witch ive always liked more out of the two songs...
In my ears it was an early version of heavy metal...fast licks and clever hooks...a work of art in every sense of the word...
Chris Bramlett...

3/27/2009 11:59:00 AM  
Blogger doxsun2 said...

I'm Ronda Cliff's daughter all i can say is my dad ROCKS.

3/30/2009 04:58:00 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Where can I find those songs!
I've been looking for Misery and I'm the Man forever!

4/08/2009 06:26:00 PM  
Blogger GpawLP said...

Hey Cliff it's me Lee Phillips, friend of Bill Andersons and Reggie V. I think you showed Vince the open E tuning,then Vince showed Bill and then Bill showed me!! you started a whole dynasty of open tuning guys around the Dearborn area!! Bill Anderson and I played in bands together for many many years afterward, always liked your beer bottle slide work!! Bill and I both sat in with you guys at the Blue Note and Coleman Taylor's other place? I'
ve forgotten the name? I used to date Sylvia Taylor, Coleman's sister... also we played the 007 Club down in Del Rey, I think you might have played there also? I'm still playing in bands pretty much full time around Detroit/Windsor. If you do remember Bill Anderson, he passed away about 5 years ago. I think I already told Reggie that. All the very best Cliff!! ...Lee

11/14/2009 01:51:00 AM  
Blogger rockin reggie said...

the Dynamics lead guitarist cliff bramlett

2/10/2010 10:12:00 AM  
Blogger Rick Clark said...

WOW i was just reading all the comments and everything. Hello to Cliff, Chris, Kelli and Rhonda. :) And just talked to my mom about it and for the first time ever, at 42 yrs old i just now find out that Cliff was the best man at my parent's wedding???? Dad has been gone for 7 1/2 years now. i met Kelli first at the boat dock at greenwood acres when she was just sitting there alone at around what?? midnight i guess?? then she took us to see Cliff then i met Chris and we became really good friends. it was cool going to the Honky Tonk at 15 and 16 to watch Cliff play. I wonder if any of the rest of the old band members remember my dad hanging out with you guys way back then. i know he was Cliff's friend in school and he had some guitar. i don't remember the brand of it now. maybe gretch? let me know if you remember Dick or Rich Clark or well, grandma called him Dickie. not sure if i should be putting that out there but... LOL :D Hey Chris, i just found some more of those singles on EBAY and i'm going to buy one too. that's so awesome. yeah, Cliff was a huge inspiration for me to play guitar too. i had been playing before we met but not all that much. after seeing him play and learning his open D tuning style i started playing that way and playing along to the tapes that my dad recorded at the bars and other places of Cliff and the classics playing. then Cliff helped me out by getting me a 1979 Fender Strat that i later had repainted to pearl white. BIG MISTAKE. i paid $250 for it then and it's worth close to $4,000 now. lesson... never alter an instrument. seems like i'm writing a book now but, i still play that way and the normal tuning as well along with drop D and C tuning for certain songs. yeah, like Chris, i play metal mostly also. i never recorded but more than likely because i never really had time to go at it 100%. I'm about to buy either a BC Rich Warbird or Epiphone Zakk Wylde signature bulls eye guitar in the next couple weeks. if i can't decide which one i want i might just get both. anyway, i'm just rambling now. so, if any of you guys remember my dad or have any comments please email me at.. rcc_2@yahoo.com which stands for Richard Carson Clark Jr. = rcc_2 Chris... text or call me... 256-614-2048 ok... L8rZ all and keep on jammin'

2/08/2011 07:51:00 AM  
Blogger Rick Clark said...

WOW i was just reading all the comments and everything. Hello to Cliff, Chris, Kelli and Rhonda. :) And just talked to my mom about it and for the first time ever, at 42 yrs old i just now find out that Cliff was the best man at my parent's wedding???? Dad has been gone for 7 1/2 years now. i met Kelli first at the boat dock at greenwood acres when she was just sitting there alone at around what?? midnight i guess?? then she took us to see Cliff then i met Chris and we became really good friends. it was cool going to the Honky Tonk at 15 and 16 to watch Cliff play. I wonder if any of the rest of the old band members remember my dad hanging out with you guys way back then. i know he was Cliff's friend in school and he had some guitar. i don't remember the brand of it now. maybe gretch? let me know if you remember Dick or Rich Clark or well, grandma called him Dickie. not sure if i should be putting that out there but... LOL :D Hey Chris, i just found some more of those singles on EBAY and i'm going to buy one too. that's so awesome. yeah, Cliff was a huge inspiration for me to play guitar too. i had been playing before we met but not all that much. after seeing him play and learning his open D tuning style i started playing that way and playing along to the tapes that my dad recorded at the bars and other places of Cliff and the classics playing. then Cliff helped me out by getting me a 1979 Fender Strat that i later had repainted to pearl white. BIG MISTAKE. i paid $250 for it then and it's worth close to $4,000 now. lesson... never alter an instrument. seems like i'm writing a book now but, i still play that way and the normal tuning as well along with drop D and C tuning for certain songs. yeah, like Chris, i play metal mostly also. i never recorded but more than likely because i never really had time to go at it 100%. I'm about to buy either a BC Rich Warbird or Epiphone Zakk Wylde signature bulls eye guitar in the next couple weeks. if i can't decide which one i want i might just get both. anyway, i'm just rambling now. so, if any of you guys remember my dad or have any comments please email me at.. rcc_2@yahoo.com which stands for Richard Carson Clark Jr. = rcc_2 Chris... text or call me... 256-614-2048 ok... L8rZ all and keep on jammin'

2/08/2011 07:52:00 AM  
Blogger GpawLP said...

Judy, was your brother PAUL? Paul and I where very close friends!!

2/20/2011 01:17:00 PM  
Blogger Trucky911 said...

Hi, my name is Steve Pilkins. I grew up in Dearborn on the cornor of Helen and Hubbard dr.(Gildow) Streets. I can remember the name "Royal Playboys" spray painted on the side walks down Hubbard dr.from Westland St to Chovin St. I came across this cite after a friend sent me a clip of some guys from Fordson on American Band Stand in the late 50's. It got me thinking about the Royal Playboys. As a teenager I knew Stan Petrew's younger brother Gary. I used to go to Wyjecka's party store on Green field to buy snacks after dinner.As an adult I worked with Dick Dragon, Von's brother on the Dearborn Fire Dept. My uncle Frank Kososki lives in the Dearboen Towers in Clearwater Beach Fla. where Hank Rivera lives also. Misery and I'm The Man were two of the best songs of the 60's.

5/15/2011 07:04:00 PM  
Blogger Trucky911 said...

I forgot to say that I met Coleman Taylor at the Dearborn home coming a few years back. he came to the Dearborn Fire fighters booth and introduced himself to me. Coleman was a fire fighter before I became one in 1975. Had afew drinks at his bar on Michigan Ave across from city hall when he owned it.

5/15/2011 07:11:00 PM  

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