1930s to 1950s
Matchbook covers were the way to advertise:
Witham's Appliances, M & M Smoke Shop, Penny Fine Foods, Snyder's Evinrude, Doctor's Ambulance Service, McCoy Tire Recap Co., Rod's Enterprises, Union Ave. Gift Shoppe, The Old River Dept. Store, Yosemite Ice Cream, King's Cleaners, Stop N' Shop Variety Store, Walt's Orchids, Frazer Service Co., M & M Smoke Shop, Cliff Greenleaf Used Cars, Sanitex Cleaners, Permanente Cement Company, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie no. 93, Maurice Coiffure, Seiler's Mens Store, Jack Landson Drugs, Robert Hill's Save More Drug, Bail Bond Binger, Richardson's RCA radios, Bewicks Flowers, Union Ave. Smoke Shop, Trones Gas & Electric, Chevrolet Motor Center, Aaron Liquor Stores, Derrick Liquor Store, Joe's Meat Processing, Joe Bertolaccini, Headlight Shrunk Overalls, M.L. Myers Texaco, Jones' Body & Fender Shop, Kimball & Stone Druggists, El Adobe Motel, Gorman Motel & Cafe on Ridge Route US 99, Dew Drop Inn Union Ave., Desert Inn, Motor Court, The Cawelo Motel, Motel Inn Union Ave., Motor Court, The Desert Inn (cowboy scene), Sierra Vista Motel, Hotel El Tejon, A Home away from Home, Tegeler Hotel, Bakersfield Motor Hotel.
-30-
Friday, September 19, 2008
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Takin' the country boy out of the country...
We all live in a big ol' world
By Bryce Martin
Pop music was never more groovier than in 1969, and no song better exemplified that than the hippie anthem, "Aquarius." Let the sunshine in, by all means, yes. Kenny Johnson provided vocals for a Gary Paxton budget album in the works aimed for Alshire Records. Johnson's moon was in the seventh house and all was copasetic while he got through on such lines as "no more falsehoods or derisions," but the country in him was exposed when he got around to another song, "Yellow Submarine," which he sang as "yeller" submarine. I asked him about it and he straighforwardly replied, "I thought it was yeller."
-30-
By Bryce Martin
Pop music was never more groovier than in 1969, and no song better exemplified that than the hippie anthem, "Aquarius." Let the sunshine in, by all means, yes. Kenny Johnson provided vocals for a Gary Paxton budget album in the works aimed for Alshire Records. Johnson's moon was in the seventh house and all was copasetic while he got through on such lines as "no more falsehoods or derisions," but the country in him was exposed when he got around to another song, "Yellow Submarine," which he sang as "yeller" submarine. I asked him about it and he straighforwardly replied, "I thought it was yeller."
-30-
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Wolfman Jack mortalized at KAFY
When Wolfman Jack didn't rule the airwaves
by Bryce Martin
Wolfman Jack, late at night crusin' down a quiet, moonlit highway with The Wolfman bayin' and howlin' from rebel stronghold XERB ("in Rosa-lita, Ba-ha Calefornya"), fading in and out between mountains and offering a delightful radio fare found nowhere else on the dial.
Who was this guy anyway? Then, the movie American Graffiti showed us and he lost much of his mystic appeal because of it.
But the worst was still to come. He showed up in Bakersfield and went on the air for KAFY, a station whose days in the sun were in the past. No fault of KAFY's, mind you, it was just that time and taste had moved beyond the Golden Years of music and radio for all America. No fanfare. No media hype. Just another DJ on the DJ Scene. No rebel in the night. America's DJ was relegated to the backyard of radio history.
He even drove a dilapidated van. Times must have been rough. You knew he wasn't going to get rich dj-ing in Bakersfield. What a comedown, for me. I hated to even think about. Still do.
Goodnight, Wolfman.
-30-
by Bryce Martin
Wolfman Jack, late at night crusin' down a quiet, moonlit highway with The Wolfman bayin' and howlin' from rebel stronghold XERB ("in Rosa-lita, Ba-ha Calefornya"), fading in and out between mountains and offering a delightful radio fare found nowhere else on the dial.
Who was this guy anyway? Then, the movie American Graffiti showed us and he lost much of his mystic appeal because of it.
But the worst was still to come. He showed up in Bakersfield and went on the air for KAFY, a station whose days in the sun were in the past. No fault of KAFY's, mind you, it was just that time and taste had moved beyond the Golden Years of music and radio for all America. No fanfare. No media hype. Just another DJ on the DJ Scene. No rebel in the night. America's DJ was relegated to the backyard of radio history.
He even drove a dilapidated van. Times must have been rough. You knew he wasn't going to get rich dj-ing in Bakersfield. What a comedown, for me. I hated to even think about. Still do.
Goodnight, Wolfman.
-30-
Bitched-on Schlock
A nod to (Wendy) Carlos Williams
by Bryce Martin
What do you do when you have a new recording studio and you've plunked down several thou for some kind of gizmo that makes funny sounds?
A wacky Moog concept album of Buck Owens tunes played on that newfangled synthesizer dumaflogy thingie.
Ten tracks include "I've Got a Tiger By the Tail," "Buckaroo," "Sam's Place."
Switched-On Buck
Jeff Haskell
Capitol ST-679
1971
How Long Will My Baby Be Gone; I've Got a Tiger by the Tail; Under Your Spell Again; Where Does the Good Times Go; Buckaroo/ It Takes People like You; Sam's Place; Raz-ma-taz Polka; The Kansas City Song; We're Gonna Get Together
-30-
by Bryce Martin
What do you do when you have a new recording studio and you've plunked down several thou for some kind of gizmo that makes funny sounds?
A wacky Moog concept album of Buck Owens tunes played on that newfangled synthesizer dumaflogy thingie.
Ten tracks include "I've Got a Tiger By the Tail," "Buckaroo," "Sam's Place."
Switched-On Buck
Jeff Haskell
Capitol ST-679
1971
How Long Will My Baby Be Gone; I've Got a Tiger by the Tail; Under Your Spell Again; Where Does the Good Times Go; Buckaroo/ It Takes People like You; Sam's Place; Raz-ma-taz Polka; The Kansas City Song; We're Gonna Get Together
-30-
Monday, June 30, 2008
Non-Country Music Bakersfield recordings
Bakersfield private, vanity and indie longplay pressings
by Bryce Martin
From the thrills of the smokin' burnouts from careening dragsters on legendary Bakersfield race tracks, to the vinyl tracks of the Cal State Bakersfield jazz stage band and its smokin' arrangements, here is an all-too-imcomplete look at some recordings other than those associated with the Bakersfield's country music heritage.
Bakersfield High School Driller Band
A two-record set, 100-plus member band under the direction of Wesley Moore and issued in colored vinyl. Performed at Harvey Auditorium on March 14, 1960, two and a half weeks after Martin Luther King gave an address there (February 25).
Title:?
Catalog No.: ?
1960
+++
Bakersfield Smokers
Albums such as these were issued during the hot rod craze of the early to mid-60s. They are found under the rock or exotica genre in today's listings. No music on this one, "songs" are strictly the sounds of stock cars, hot rods and dragsters in action at Bakersfield. The 16 cuts offer racing sounds from cars and motorcyles. Recorded, produced and edited by rod enthusiast Griff Borgeson. NHRA drag racing legends on hand include "TV" Tommy Ivo, James Warren, Tom McEwen and Camfather Ed Iskenderian.
Griff Borgeson Presents Hot Rod Heaven
Riverside Records RLP 95509
1961
+++
5th Annual United States Fuel & Gas Championships
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield '63
Fleetwood Records FLP4004S
1963
+++
6th Annual United States Fuel & Gas Championships
Recorded March 6-7-8 at the Famosa Drag Strip,
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield '64
Fleetwood Records FLP4017
(Lynn, Massachusetts)
Recorded by Richard Blake
Narration by "The Voice of Drag Racing" Jon Lundberg
Side 1: Eliminations, Hot Cars, Fuel & Gas Dragsters
Side 2: Final Eliminations, Hot Cars, Fuel & Gas Dragsters
1964
+++
Bakersfield College Choir
In Concert 1964-65
Century Custom Recording (label No.?)
Joseph Huszti, Director
1965
+++
Bakersfield College Choir
In Concert
Century Custom Recording 23983
April 15, 1966 at Civic Auditorium
Joseph Huszti, Director
1966
+++
Honor Orchestra, Honor Chorus and Honor Band
Bakersfield City Junior High Schools 26th Annual Concert
Century 6623
1982
+++
CSB Jazz
Yes, We're Open
Writer's Album 1983/84
KM Records KM12575
(Burbank, Calif.)
Groups include: Sanctuary; Five Options; Not Ready For Coffeehouse Players; Over-Easy.
Titles include: Cancion Para Dona Pancha; All's Afire; Mark's Supreme Solo; Four Hours in Carlotta; Supreme My Holdings; Marie, Katwalk, Waltz For Pam.
1984
+++
Cal State Bakersfield Big Band
This is a double-album that includes tracks from the Sanctuary ensemble, originally formed by the college's Doug Davis. The cover artwork is similar to a 1972 LP as done by Humble Pie.
Smokin'
(record label and No.?)
1988
+++
BC
Renegade Sounds
Century Custom Recording 19919
Ca. early 1960s
Tracks; Fight Song (Band and Choir); Alma Mater (Band and Choir); Ray Newman (BC Football Coach); Alma Mater (Small Choir); George Washington March (Band); Fight Song (Band); Sounds From the Stadium; Stars and Stripes Forever.
+++
Calvary Chapel Bakersfield
The album's long title and equally long catalog number is a hint that long song titles will follow.
Let All Who Hath Breath Praise The Lord
(Label?) SPCN-7-100-03472-8
Ministry Resource Center
Inner liner sleeve has "The Making of a Praise Abum"
1984
Tracks: Lord I Lift Up This Day; Living Sacrifice; I Just Wanna Be Like You; Your Will is he Wish of My Life; Humbly Trust; Holy Wind; Sing Unto the Lord / The Lord is My Shepherd; Thank You Lord; There is Healing in the Wings of Jesus; Praise Him; We Bow Our Hearts Before You; We Lift Our Voice; Let All Who Hath Breath Praise the Lord
+++
George Leonard and His New Orleans Stompers
The Second Bakersfield Concert, 1954
(Storyville label)
Released on CD January 20, 1998
Tracks: Panama; Tin Roof Blues; Lord, Lord, You've Sure Been Good to Me; Burgandy Steet Blues; The World is Waiting for the Sunsrise; Caldonia; Muskrat Ramble; Sensation Rag; Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home; Old Man Mose; When the Saints
+++
Cradle of Thorns
A gothic rock group with Ty Elam, David File, Kris Kohls, Scot Elis, Tamera Slayton. Their eponymous album was produced by Alex Woltman and engineered by Mikey Davis.
Cradle of Thorns
1994
+++
Relating to Bakersfield
Society For the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA)
1979 Fall Convention
at Bakersfield, California
October 13, 1979
Shelex Records SHX-79-41
1979
+++
Leroy Jenkins
Songs and Sermons in Bakersfield
LJEA 1009
19??
He prays for the sick, preaches and sings, pretty much what the LP's title says. Jenkins was a former Georgia businessman who turned to religion and became a reverend after being cured of an injury to his arm, all according to him, after going through the healing line of a tent revival in Atlanta. Man of Faith is the title of a movie based on his life,
+++
Bootleg:
Neil Young
The Last Album
Bakersfield, California, 1973
American tour (with Crosby and Nash)
Tracks: Sugar Mountain; Sweet Joni; Look Out Joe; Time Fades Away; Don't Be Denied; New Mama; Last Dance; Southern Man; Improvisation
+++
Mickey Kalis and The Bakerfield Blues Band
A single from August 1969. The custom pressing was neither country or blues but garage rock. United Audio was a small independent from Youngstown, Ohio. The singer was still issuing singles in the early 1980s on his own Mickey Kalis Records.
2:10 to Yuma b/w Got No Time
United Audio 6003
August 1969
+++
-30-
by Bryce Martin
From the thrills of the smokin' burnouts from careening dragsters on legendary Bakersfield race tracks, to the vinyl tracks of the Cal State Bakersfield jazz stage band and its smokin' arrangements, here is an all-too-imcomplete look at some recordings other than those associated with the Bakersfield's country music heritage.
Bakersfield High School Driller Band
A two-record set, 100-plus member band under the direction of Wesley Moore and issued in colored vinyl. Performed at Harvey Auditorium on March 14, 1960, two and a half weeks after Martin Luther King gave an address there (February 25).
Title:?
Catalog No.: ?
1960
+++
Bakersfield Smokers
Albums such as these were issued during the hot rod craze of the early to mid-60s. They are found under the rock or exotica genre in today's listings. No music on this one, "songs" are strictly the sounds of stock cars, hot rods and dragsters in action at Bakersfield. The 16 cuts offer racing sounds from cars and motorcyles. Recorded, produced and edited by rod enthusiast Griff Borgeson. NHRA drag racing legends on hand include "TV" Tommy Ivo, James Warren, Tom McEwen and Camfather Ed Iskenderian.
Griff Borgeson Presents Hot Rod Heaven
Riverside Records RLP 95509
1961
+++
5th Annual United States Fuel & Gas Championships
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield '63
Fleetwood Records FLP4004S
1963
+++
6th Annual United States Fuel & Gas Championships
Recorded March 6-7-8 at the Famosa Drag Strip,
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield '64
Fleetwood Records FLP4017
(Lynn, Massachusetts)
Recorded by Richard Blake
Narration by "The Voice of Drag Racing" Jon Lundberg
Side 1: Eliminations, Hot Cars, Fuel & Gas Dragsters
Side 2: Final Eliminations, Hot Cars, Fuel & Gas Dragsters
1964
+++
Bakersfield College Choir
In Concert 1964-65
Century Custom Recording (label No.?)
Joseph Huszti, Director
1965
+++
Bakersfield College Choir
In Concert
Century Custom Recording 23983
April 15, 1966 at Civic Auditorium
Joseph Huszti, Director
1966
+++
Honor Orchestra, Honor Chorus and Honor Band
Bakersfield City Junior High Schools 26th Annual Concert
Century 6623
1982
+++
CSB Jazz
Yes, We're Open
Writer's Album 1983/84
KM Records KM12575
(Burbank, Calif.)
Groups include: Sanctuary; Five Options; Not Ready For Coffeehouse Players; Over-Easy.
Titles include: Cancion Para Dona Pancha; All's Afire; Mark's Supreme Solo; Four Hours in Carlotta; Supreme My Holdings; Marie, Katwalk, Waltz For Pam.
1984
+++
Cal State Bakersfield Big Band
This is a double-album that includes tracks from the Sanctuary ensemble, originally formed by the college's Doug Davis. The cover artwork is similar to a 1972 LP as done by Humble Pie.
Smokin'
(record label and No.?)
1988
+++
BC
Renegade Sounds
Century Custom Recording 19919
Ca. early 1960s
Tracks; Fight Song (Band and Choir); Alma Mater (Band and Choir); Ray Newman (BC Football Coach); Alma Mater (Small Choir); George Washington March (Band); Fight Song (Band); Sounds From the Stadium; Stars and Stripes Forever.
+++
Calvary Chapel Bakersfield
The album's long title and equally long catalog number is a hint that long song titles will follow.
Let All Who Hath Breath Praise The Lord
(Label?) SPCN-7-100-03472-8
Ministry Resource Center
Inner liner sleeve has "The Making of a Praise Abum"
1984
Tracks: Lord I Lift Up This Day; Living Sacrifice; I Just Wanna Be Like You; Your Will is he Wish of My Life; Humbly Trust; Holy Wind; Sing Unto the Lord / The Lord is My Shepherd; Thank You Lord; There is Healing in the Wings of Jesus; Praise Him; We Bow Our Hearts Before You; We Lift Our Voice; Let All Who Hath Breath Praise the Lord
+++
George Leonard and His New Orleans Stompers
The Second Bakersfield Concert, 1954
(Storyville label)
Released on CD January 20, 1998
Tracks: Panama; Tin Roof Blues; Lord, Lord, You've Sure Been Good to Me; Burgandy Steet Blues; The World is Waiting for the Sunsrise; Caldonia; Muskrat Ramble; Sensation Rag; Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home; Old Man Mose; When the Saints
+++
Cradle of Thorns
A gothic rock group with Ty Elam, David File, Kris Kohls, Scot Elis, Tamera Slayton. Their eponymous album was produced by Alex Woltman and engineered by Mikey Davis.
Cradle of Thorns
1994
+++
Relating to Bakersfield
Society For the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA)
1979 Fall Convention
at Bakersfield, California
October 13, 1979
Shelex Records SHX-79-41
1979
+++
Leroy Jenkins
Songs and Sermons in Bakersfield
LJEA 1009
19??
He prays for the sick, preaches and sings, pretty much what the LP's title says. Jenkins was a former Georgia businessman who turned to religion and became a reverend after being cured of an injury to his arm, all according to him, after going through the healing line of a tent revival in Atlanta. Man of Faith is the title of a movie based on his life,
+++
Bootleg:
Neil Young
The Last Album
Bakersfield, California, 1973
American tour (with Crosby and Nash)
Tracks: Sugar Mountain; Sweet Joni; Look Out Joe; Time Fades Away; Don't Be Denied; New Mama; Last Dance; Southern Man; Improvisation
+++
Mickey Kalis and The Bakerfield Blues Band
A single from August 1969. The custom pressing was neither country or blues but garage rock. United Audio was a small independent from Youngstown, Ohio. The singer was still issuing singles in the early 1980s on his own Mickey Kalis Records.
2:10 to Yuma b/w Got No Time
United Audio 6003
August 1969
+++
-30-
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Conceived in Bakersfield
Alley Oop--Hollywood Argyles
1960 (Dallas Frazier)
(Oop-oop, oop, oop-oop)
Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
There's a man in the funny papers we all know
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
He lives 'way back a long TIME a-go-oh
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
He don't eat nutthin' but a bearcat stewww
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
Well, this cat's name is-uh Alley Oop
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
He's got a chauffeur that's a gen-u-wine din-o-so-wuh
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
And he can knuckle yo' haid befo' you count ta fo-wuh
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
He got a BIG ugly club and a head fulla hair-ruh
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
Like great big lions and grizzly bear-ruhs
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
(Aaalley Oop) He's the toughest man there is ALIVE
(Aaalley Oop) Wears clothes from a wildcat's hide
(Aaalley Oop) He's the king of the jungle ji-ive
(LOOK AT THAT CAVEMAN GO!) (Scream)
He rides through the jungle tearing limbs off-a treeees
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
Knockin' great BIG monstuhs daid on their kneeees
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
The cat's don't bug 'im cuz they know bettuh
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
He's a mean mota-uh scoot-uh and bad go-gettuh
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
(Aaalley Oop) He's the toughest man there is ALIVE
(Aaalley Oop) Wears clothes from a wildcat's hide
(Aaalley Oop) He's the king of the jungle ji-ive
(LOOK AT THAT CAVEMAN GO!) (Scream)
Thair he go
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
Look at that cave man go
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
He shore is hip, ain't he?
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
Like what's happenin' ?
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
He's too much
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
Ride, Daddy, ride
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
Hi-Yo dino-so-wuh
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
Ride, Daddy, ride
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop- oop-oop)
Get 'em, man
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
Like--Hipsville.....
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)...........(fade out)
.........................................................
1960 (Dallas Frazier)
(Oop-oop, oop, oop-oop)
Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
There's a man in the funny papers we all know
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
He lives 'way back a long TIME a-go-oh
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
He don't eat nutthin' but a bearcat stewww
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
Well, this cat's name is-uh Alley Oop
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
He's got a chauffeur that's a gen-u-wine din-o-so-wuh
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
And he can knuckle yo' haid befo' you count ta fo-wuh
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
He got a BIG ugly club and a head fulla hair-ruh
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
Like great big lions and grizzly bear-ruhs
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
(Aaalley Oop) He's the toughest man there is ALIVE
(Aaalley Oop) Wears clothes from a wildcat's hide
(Aaalley Oop) He's the king of the jungle ji-ive
(LOOK AT THAT CAVEMAN GO!) (Scream)
He rides through the jungle tearing limbs off-a treeees
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
Knockin' great BIG monstuhs daid on their kneeees
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
The cat's don't bug 'im cuz they know bettuh
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
He's a mean mota-uh scoot-uh and bad go-gettuh
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
(Aaalley Oop) He's the toughest man there is ALIVE
(Aaalley Oop) Wears clothes from a wildcat's hide
(Aaalley Oop) He's the king of the jungle ji-ive
(LOOK AT THAT CAVEMAN GO!) (Scream)
Thair he go
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
Look at that cave man go
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
He shore is hip, ain't he?
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
Like what's happenin' ?
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
He's too much
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
Ride, Daddy, ride
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
Hi-Yo dino-so-wuh
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
Ride, Daddy, ride
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop- oop-oop)
Get 'em, man
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
Like--Hipsville.....
(Aaalley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)...........(fade out)
.........................................................
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Doug Beatty remembered
By Bryce Martin
Doug Beatty was known in area clubs for his self-contained act and especially for his solo version of the falsetto-charged "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and its catchy "Wimowehs" borrowed from a traditional Zulu melody. Beatty was a member of The Lelands (previously the Leland Four), joining in 1982 when the group's original guitarist Rick Stock left. (Beginning in September 1967, according to Stock, The Leland Four on tour established itself in Bakersfield as a popular attraction with regular appearances at Maison Jaussaud.) In the mid- to late-60s, Beatty joined with Kenn Lively for one of Lively's many folk trio combinations. One of those with Lively, Beatty and Mike Meyers led to a 45 rpm recording on Bill Woods' Fiesta Records, of which Beatty was superb on lead guitar on a combination Doors' "Light My Fire" and the Nashville Teens' "Tobacco Road" coupling. It's a lost gem of a record.
Note: The Leland Four originated as a rock 'n' roll band in Honolulu, Hawaii, under the name Hawaiian Shadows, 1961-1965. The name was changed upon arrival in Portland, Ore., in April 1965 to avoid any possible confusion with the English group The Shadows (Cliff Richard and The Shadows). They were Leland (Lee) Henriksen, Jet Kanani, Spud Ivens and Rick Stock. After playing all over Nevada they called it home and became a show band. In August 1975, they recorded an album at John Ascuaga's Nugget in Sparks. When Ivens left the group in 1978, they became The Lelands and a number of musicians revolved in and out of the remaining original group structure.
Doug Beatty was known in area clubs for his self-contained act and especially for his solo version of the falsetto-charged "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and its catchy "Wimowehs" borrowed from a traditional Zulu melody. Beatty was a member of The Lelands (previously the Leland Four), joining in 1982 when the group's original guitarist Rick Stock left. (Beginning in September 1967, according to Stock, The Leland Four on tour established itself in Bakersfield as a popular attraction with regular appearances at Maison Jaussaud.) In the mid- to late-60s, Beatty joined with Kenn Lively for one of Lively's many folk trio combinations. One of those with Lively, Beatty and Mike Meyers led to a 45 rpm recording on Bill Woods' Fiesta Records, of which Beatty was superb on lead guitar on a combination Doors' "Light My Fire" and the Nashville Teens' "Tobacco Road" coupling. It's a lost gem of a record.
Note: The Leland Four originated as a rock 'n' roll band in Honolulu, Hawaii, under the name Hawaiian Shadows, 1961-1965. The name was changed upon arrival in Portland, Ore., in April 1965 to avoid any possible confusion with the English group The Shadows (Cliff Richard and The Shadows). They were Leland (Lee) Henriksen, Jet Kanani, Spud Ivens and Rick Stock. After playing all over Nevada they called it home and became a show band. In August 1975, they recorded an album at John Ascuaga's Nugget in Sparks. When Ivens left the group in 1978, they became The Lelands and a number of musicians revolved in and out of the remaining original group structure.
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