Looking back...

Huntsville AL

Description

Looking back on my musical carreer since "moving south" I started out getting into a Reggae Band, The Reggae Mystics, (now Kush). Played with them in various different line-ups for many years. After that I got into a few bands with several local musicians, some of the best players in town, and wow was I on my way. Then I started finding Blues bands and got into my own, Drivin' South, with two amazing players there also. Sat in with several other Blues bands like 4 Door Ramblers and Cletus Puckett. Some great Blues players all around. Also played with a couple different Allman Brothers type cover bands with many of the great players who love the ABB like I do. Travelled to Live Oak Florida and jammed with many great players at the Wanee Campground jams. Also participated in the GABBA festivals and jammed with some great pros there also from Lefty Collins to Uncle Dave and others. Also jammed with Pedro Alavero, Dickey Betts' bass player. Good times. Back here at home I worked hard to get a Blues fest started here in Huntsville. In 2007 and 2008 we had the first two Rocket City Blues Fests which I organized and even raised money for the Music Makers Relief Foundation. We had six great bands at each event and even had some famous Blues musicians from MMRF come and lend credibility to the fest in 2008. Seemed like we might have something going, but it quickly faded, and now there are few bands around who play Blues. After that I did some more Blues with Bob Walters and Trent Gilbert for awhile. Bob retired and moved away and on we went. Then I met Rich Carter and we formed the Rockin' Rich band and did all kinds of music that lots of bands weren't doing like Rockabilly, Alt Country, Surf, Oldies and more. We were the hot band around town and kept getting better and better gigs. After some personal issues Rich decided to hang it up and I was bandless for a while. Man, he is a great entertainer and I hated when that band folded. Started to get a new band together with Heath Bucklew aand David Littel, but covid hit and everything stopped. Damn. I have helped other bands get gigs, even gave other musicians gigs that I could not do just to keep my spots. I tried to get a Blues Fest going but could get any support, and have been a supporter of live music everywhere I go. So, now I sit home, with no band in sight, 66 years old and no one is calling or even returning my calls. I just cannot figure what happened to all the friends I made along the way, or why I seem to be cut off from the local scene. Yeah, part of it is I am not on "insociable media"so I am out of the loop so to speak. But I still have email, text, and even a phone, can you believe it? LOL So I can't understand why I am not getting any support from the local music community. I'll only leave this posting up a couple days, not really expecting any responses, just had to vent. Best to all who are out there gigging and struggling to get gigs. Play while you are young.