Monday, June 11, 2012

The Groovy Way Back Machine (Part 2)


By Groovy Reflections Team Members Pete, Maria, Guy, and Tim


For part one, click here.


Time to hear from the rest of the team and then we have a special groovy surprise for you.


Pete: I would love to have had a seat next to Sam Phillips at the Sun Studio console to hear the likes of Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Charlie Rich, Carl Perkins and Roy Orbison hone their craft. To have been a witness to the melding of musical notes that gave birth to all forms of rock and roll would have been amazing!! This was a time when the quality and innovation of the music was just as important, if not more important, than the money made off of the records sold. 


To me, it would have been the musical equivalent of being in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776 when the founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence!!


Maria: Oh my goodness! The man in black was somewhat of a strong child's crush. The voice was soothing and the songs were rugged. He had such a broad musical perspective while in fact keeping morals strong in his family. I think that a lot of young girls probably had a crush on him. So tall, standing at 6' 2", that of a strong father figure who cared relentlessly about love and life and it showed. "Ring of fire" was my favorite song and oh my, what I wouldn't have given to get a chance to grab a hug from the "Man in Black".


Guy: Back in 1969 and 1970, country music, which has never faded or receded into the background, enjoyed a tremendous resurgence of popularity, and was going through an assimilation process with the rock and traditional folk idioms. 


It was a gradual process and had been going in that direction for quite a while. The Lovin' Spoonful's third album included Nashville Cats. Chris Hillman of the Byrds had a country/bluegrass background, and steered the band in that direction after David Crosby was fired from the group. Chris went on shortly to form the Flying Burrito Brothers. Hee Haw premiered in 1969 and mainstream audiences became more familiar with Buck Owens, Roy Clark, Loretta Lynn and Grandpa Jones. Ringo recorded Beaucoups of Blues in Nashville.


I was really into this at the time and harbored a desire to go to Tennessee, Nashville in particular, and check it out. That desire has never really gone away, although these days I'm not too heavily into contemporary country.


Tim: I grew up in Southern California and became aware of the surf scene at a young age. It was also the same time that Jan and Dean and the Beach Boys were very popular on the radio.  


Many days were spent at the beach, with me marveling at all the guys and their long surfboards riding the waves and partying on the beach with their gals. I longed to grow up to be just like Moondoggie!  That’s why I chose that as my vote.


And now here’s what YOU had to say: Presenting the results of our poll:


Dick Clark's American Bandstand is THE place  43% of you want to be. And just over one-third of you that want to be in that California sun. Thank you to all the GRoovy people that voted.


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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Always wishing I was at the beach! Just need my Daddy's T-Bird for fun in the sun!!