"John Lomas, long time
Lawrence guitarist, sent me a link to Andy Curry's new
website. It is full of Lawrence/Kansas musical
history,
wonderful pictures and more music than I can play in a
day (but I'm going to try). Talk about a trip down
Memory Lane!! Pictures I never
imagined seeing and so much music from some of my
favorite local musicians. Thank you John for the
link and Andy for the site."
-- Bill Lee, 6/1/2006
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Andy, John Lomas sent me your link. I really enjoyed
looking back over your career and the memories of
Lawrence scene. Excellent job and thanks for preserving
and making this material available. Best Tom"
-- Thomas J. Coleman 6/1/2006
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Ha Ha. That's a hoot! Boy did I get a chuckle out
of the Richmen Express poster! I couldn't get any
of the Richmen songs to play, but that could be because
of firewall protocols here at the state. I'll give
it a shot from home. I have more recordings of the
Richmen Express. I think several cassette tapes of
different gigs. If you're interested in same, I'll
give a look for them. I saw Michael [Roark] about
a month ago for taxes. We both thought it would be
nice to get the old band together for a little
get-together. I still give guitar lessons at
Richard's every Saturday. That really helps me
stay pluged-in to the music scene in Lawrence.
I've taken an interest in playing lap steel guitar for
the last couple of years. It's really fun and I
love to do Hawaiian stuff! Good to hear from you,
regards, corky."
-- John Bell 6/1/2006
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
To Andy Curry: I hope you receive this via our KC
GenOne Rockers network, because I want to acknowledge
your website before your peers as an amazing and
wonderful journey through not just your musical history,
but through the whole midwest music evolution that so
many of us are blessed to have been a part of.
Congratulations and thanks for this incredibly
comprehensive retrospective! It inspires me to
look back and try to put together my own memories and
treasures of the musical path I took. Mine can't
be nearly as impressive as yours, but maybe my grandkids
will get a kick out of it someday! Great work,
Andy. I salute you!
-- Evan Johnson (Red Dogs) 6/2/2006
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
"John Lomas sent me a link to your web site -- great
work!
"Just a couple of things... I played with Billy in
1973/1974... along with Janet, Billy Berosini, Mike
Roark & Bob Case primarily playing steel at that
point. I could never do all the gigs since I'd just
started my job in the sound dept. at Centron and was out
for location shoots all the time.
However... I was there, though, twice for the Billy
Spears Blue Grass Festival... it rained like hell both
years and I think Dwight or whomever
was behind it just totally had his ass handed to him
financially... ... I had to get off the pot and he hired
the guy who I think was named "Link"
who had been doing all the gigs that I couldn't -- he
played an ES335 guitar... do you remember him? I don't
recall the remainder of the band at that point...
"I don't think Janet ever performed with the Pat &
Gordon version of the band, nor did I. I may have done a
gig or two with Billy after his accident -- I recall
something in a tent somewhere, but that could have been
another band, another place, another time -- maybe that
was just something with you and John Lomas and Buddy???
Still, I credit Billy with reviving my interest in
country and western swing music. He'd start off one of
those lightning quick fiddle tunes that I'd never heard,
play one chorus, complete with 3 beat bars, extra 5's,
etc., then turn to me and say "Take it Straaanger...
"(his pronunciation of my name, of course.) My
contribution to Billy was that I taught him "Sugarfoot
Rag" -- we played a kick-butt duet with him on his
four-string electric mandolin.
"Also... I was a charter member of Used Parts, as I
recall was Jim Wilson, the sax player who used to be
with Larry Emmitt and the Sliders.
Lomas called and enticed me. Jim Wilson used to run the
butcher shop in Eudora. I think Jim played for more
gigs, as I recall --
but, as was my life at the time, I was traveling so much
with Centron that the first gig had to also be my
last... at least, I don't recall
doing any after that, as much as I would have liked to.
"The other memorable (or NOT) gig that you and I, John
and Buddy did was the thing with Eddie Harris at the Dog
(or whatever it was at THAT time), though I've certainly
tried to erase that from memory! I think we all expected
he'd play "Listen Here" and "Compared to What",
but he had a book of be-bop, none of which I'd ever even
heard before, though I'd been playing nothing but be-bop
at the time!
Eddie showed up about 15 minutes AFTER the gig was
supposed to start... I don't recall that there were many
people there anyway.
I think he was pretty miffed by the whole thing -- I
mean TWO guitar players? All white boys!
"Enough ranting... thanks for taking all that time on
your web site... that's some great Lawrence history.
- Jim" -- Jim Stringer, 6/2/2006
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>Do you remember that there was no heat [at
the Opera House when Bud, John Lomas, Jim Stringer, and
Andy Curry played with Eddie Harris]?
"Yes... I recall Eddie Harris wearing some cloth gloves
with the fingers cut out! Mostly, I remember he was
really hilarious! And what a great player. It's too bad
we didn't have a chance to practice on some of his
music... it could have been fun, I think.
"I'm a little sketchy myself about the Pat and Gordon
years, except I recorded Billy down at Centron while Pat
& Gordon were part of the band. It may have been
actually later than that... I might have a track sheet
from that session, though I doubt it. I'm really not
sure who was what at this point... Pat, Gordon and
Bryson Roberts had a band called "Cowboy X", too... I'll
have to go back to the tapes and see if I have dates on
any of them. I think I sent all the 4track stuff to
Billy after I copied 'em off to digital, so I may not
have ANY historical record at all. Memory is a poor
record!
"All I can remember about the Used Parts gig is that the
first couple of songs sounded about as good as a band
can sound!!!
After that, maybe I got drunk or something... I don't
remember! <grin> I'm probably thinking of other
gigs with Jim Wilson,
though he was a really good player. He did some gigs
with Bill Doggett had been Clifford Scott's "understudy"
and could do all those sax licks... he could really
mimic Clifford's tone, too.
"I'll have to see if I can barter some images for time
on the OldKC site... looks like some interesting
photos."
>>Do you mind if I use your reminiscences?
"No... of course not. I've "bookmarked" you web site.
"Do you have the Penetrations stuff that you recorded at
my studio in the late 60's or early 70's? I must have
lost about 1/2 of the four track masters I once had. I
had to bake the rest of 'em to make them playable."
-- Jim Stringer, 6/2/2006
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Andy,
I happened upon your web page after googling
"ensytes". Congratulations on a very interesting
webpage.
I certainly do thank you for remembering the Ensytes
on your page, along with the other groups active in the
Columbia area at that time.
I played keyboards for the Ensytes and I would have to
say that my time with those guys was wonderful. I
periodically search on the
band's name in the hope that someone might have posted a
couple of pictures. The few pictures I did have
burned in a fire back in early '86.
Columbia really was a sort of rock and roll incubator at
that time, I remember counting something like 75 band
business cards at
Shaw & Sons music store. It is gratifying to
see sites like yours that preserve this type of history.
-- Lou Washington , 6/10/2006
---------------------------------------------------
Lou,
Thanks for the message. I seem to remember you
guys played at some assembly at Hickman - maybe it was a
talent show - and you had
the absolute best equipment! I think you did "In
the Midnight Hour," or maybe it was "Knock on Wood," and
you had matching tall suede boots. Somebody must
have had some money.
Lest you think my memory is that great, the memory was
prompted by a photo of you guys from my HHS yearbook
(the Cresset)
-
but I DO remember seeing you play and being
jealous. I think you were sophomores when I was a
junior. If you'd like, I can image it and send it
to you.
Too bad about losing pictures, isn't it? A bunch
of mine were water damaged beyond salvaging.
May I use your message in my "Notes" section?
Regards,
Andy
-------------------------------------------------------
Andy,
I do have that copy of the Cresset, but I thank you for
your offer to scan the pic for me.
I think it probably was Midnight Hour, one of my
favorites because of the organ break. The suede
Beatle boots, the gold puff sleeved shirts
and pinstriped slacks were inspired. We were lucky
to have parents that were generous both with love and
money!
When we started out, I had a Wurlitzer Electric Piano. I
love that sound which can still be heard in the song
She's Not There.
The amp was a Magnatone which was kind of a dog at the
time, but their equipment does have some following
still.
Later on, came the Baldwin/Howard electronic organ
and Fender Super Reverb amp. We had pretty good
personnel,
especially our drummer, Rodney
Southard. I think Rodney might still be
active. I have not talked to any of those guys in
at least 30 years!
We were only around for maybe 18 months, but we did
enjoy some success. By that I mean we got quite a
few gigs. We had a manager,
Ted Dugan, and he actually did a pretty good job of
getting dates for us. I loved playing The
Stables. The Den was allright except it could
get a bit rowdy. There was also the Corncrib, the
Cavalier Club in Kingdom City and a party venue north of
Columbia, BonGor Lake?
We played there a number of times for the Delt house at
Mizzou.
It was a great time and place to be in a band.
Most of the bands were "older" then we were, but they
were very willing to teach us a thing or two. Guys
like Norman
Jolly, Steve Jenkins (Nightriders), Roger Sprague
and Larry Bedford were all very generous with time,
advice and help. They all taught me a great deal.
-- Lou Washington , 6/10/2006
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
What a hoot!
Dwight Haldeman sent me your URL.......I loved the pic of the Billy Spears Band!
Where are you living?
Stop by my site....for an update of my travels.....
Hope you are well...
My Best,
Chet Nichols, 6/25/2006
-----------------------------------------------------------
Hey Andy! Been a long, long time.
Curtis Reinhardt just sent me the link to your site & I will browse through it shortly.
Hope all's well for you & family.
Tree Frog will be playing at Liberty Hall on Oct. 20th, so swing by & say hi if you can.
I can't remember the circumstances, but I did play with the BS Band.
The most memorable involved me obliterating my ankle playing racquetball the day before a gig.
I had to drive to Manhattan with my (bass drum, of course) ankle and foot swollen like a cantaloupe and
play swing and breakdowns all night. I seem to remember medication and alcohol was involved.
I also remember the Billy Spears Festival, mud and all, was one of the more fun times I had in those days.
Cheers -
Gary Durrett - drums, Tree Frog
6/26/2006
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
well guess what
?? I finally got internet access at work
so I've been perusing the site and it's pretty
outta sight!!
Great job. It's informative, interactive
and quite artistic. Those old photos give
it a sort of vintage feel.
I guess that's what we are, vintage. ha ha
--
Becky Reed, 6/28/2006
----------------------------------------------------------------
Andy,
Dwight told me about your site while I was traveling (he called to tell me Merrifield had left us; I was in Vegas at the time).
So now I'm home and checking it out. What fabulous memories! I was stunned when you came here to the Lake and I discovered
that the Farises were your relatives. And now I find out you were a Battenfeld boy (as was my very first college b/f!).
Who knew? WTF did we talk about for a year plus?
Anyway, I have a lot of sketchy memories of the BS and Used Parts days
(remember being double-billed with Dale's Chili and the sign read "Dales Used Chili Parts"?).
When time allows I will forward them. Thinking about Clyde (a/k/a "Lumpchen") almost made me weepy - what a
sweetheart he was; I remember walking him in the snow down to Rusty's IGA for breakfast supplies,
when his "used parts" were dragging in the snow, poor fellow.
I'm grateful that I at least merited 'friend' status in the Halloween photo.
Best always,
-jj
Wow, I never thought I would be told that anything about me was "too hot" for the internet. I can die happily now;-)
Appropriate whatever you wish - my life is an open book and I've long since given up thinking that I will ever
be compensated for my writing, despite its [obvious] poignancy.
It's funny - I remember your mother and father (separately, of course); your sis the chiropractor;
your family's habit of wearing disguises to airports and a few other bits and pieces but swear I didn't know you
were born in Columbia [I was born in Wichita] (would've been a deal breaker - we'd never have held hands -
I DO have some standards, you know); didn't know about Battenfeld, or much of the music history prior to when
I moved to Lawrence ('74). Of course I've heard all of the tall tales of the BS band over the years
from Dwitless, Jimmy Ray, Boris & Dilly and, to a lesser extent, Mike. That was a fun time -
if unproductive and irresponsible. Unlike a lot of our contemporaries, I really don't look back with regret;
it's all part of what got me here and I'm OK with it, if not proud in all cases.
Dale Gadd (short little round fellow, KU prof-cum-Jazzhaus doorman, may he RIP) used to make and serve chili
when Used Parts played at the Jazzhaus on Sundays (you didn't think all of those people were coming to hear the music,
did you?). So the chalkboard sign once said
Dale's Used
Chili Parts
but with a squiggly in the middle that I'm too lazy to format at the moment.
So reading left to right (and ignoring said squiggly) it was "Dale's Used Chili Parts"
which was a running gag amongst the staff (er, staph) there for a long time -
still is, in fact - I was just in Surfside CA visiting Bunner et al., and he still refers to it when
reminiscing about those days. Didn't see Bemis and Wiles this time, though I often do when I'm there.
Chuck's still one of the funniest human beings I know.
Best,
-jj
-- Judy Jones, 6/30/2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wow! Somehow you managed to retain a lot of pictures, tapes, and memories of a time when it was difficult to retain anything.
I really enjoyed reading through the Billy Spears Band and Used Parts pages since the events took place during
my formative young adult musician years.
-- Brett Hodges, 8/2/2006
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andy,
Who were you playing with when you played the Cains in Tulsa?
Do you remember that I brought your grandmother from Bartlesville to surprise you and see you play?
I walked up to the stage when you took a break, and you had no idea who I was...
As mother & I sat at a table and listened, she sniffed a couple of times and said "What's that smell?"
I said, "That's marijuana, mother."
She replied, excitedly, "Where? I've always wanted to try that!" She had to have been well into her 60's by then...
I've enjoyed reading through your web site and learning all kinds of things I never knew about your life.
You've had some fun and some interesting experiences... Thanks for letting me know about it.
Did you really do it all in HTML? There ARE some cool tools out there, you know, that will produce the HTML for you...
-- John (my Uncle) Schmidt, 8/11/2006
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Very cool site! I spent many hours last week at my in-law's house reading your history.
I just read an article on a project called StoryCorps. You should participate.
-- Sally Burke, 9/1/2006
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have so many wonderful memories of Used Parts!
(Those were kinda my wild years as well! pssssst..... don't tell Dad and Mom! ha! )
It was so awesome to get to listen to the music ~ I just love it!
Oh my how much I miss hearing Becky singing as well as YOU!!!!!
What fun we had! Those were definitely the good 'ol days, huh!
You know Andy, one thing I can honestly say is.....
having my Dad as a musician I have been SO blessed to be around so many truly talented people in my life.
And Used Parts just like the Receders have all become like family!!!!
I love listening to my Dad play that sax and it brings my heart so much JOY each time I go to hear him.
My youngest son Michael has been playing the alto sax for the last two years.
Naturally, I am one proud Mama...
But in my eyes and in my heart there is no one that can ever play the horn like my Daddy!
So I guess that makes me one proud Daughter too, but Dad always made that easy!
He was one totally cool Dad and still is!
Thank you so much for the fabulous website as well as the wonderful memories!!!!
I will forever cherish them!!!! Keep up the awesome work!
Love,
Lynn Wilson-Bruce (Jim Wilson's older daughter), 9/1/2006
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello, Andy, I stumbled onto your site, don't remember how, but it proved to be quite entertaining!
As an old road dog myself, I have played music across the country too, but it's been quite a few years ago.
The thing that struck my interest was the mention of Bud Pettit -
way back in the late 60's I was in high school in Winfield Kansas, and there was a drummer
there by that name who had the reputation as the baddest-ass drummer in town,
and was highly regarded by everyone. He was sort of my mentor, all the other drummers
looked to him, and I was just wondering if it's the same guy, and if he's still around and/or online anywhere.
-- Harrison Sweazea
Jefferson City, MO
[I answered Harrison: Yes, Bud's from Winfield, and he's still the "baddest-ass drummer" around.]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey Andy,
I just found all of the Kansas music web sites and yours is great.
Those rusty synapses are getting a workout remembering all of the names.
I played with Mud Creek and hung with the Spears family a lot and of course
was a big fan of most every band you played with.
You also have a very nice microphone collection.
I did a lot of recording with Tower of Power and Hot Tuna after leaving Lawrence
and the tube and ribbon mics were always on hand.
Hope all is well with you. I'm still in Los Angeles mixing sound for TV and film...
but getting back into doing some music recording.
Hope all's well.
Cheers, Rick Sanchez
3/10/2007
---------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Andy,
I wanted to sign your guestbook. I found the website by a self-google. Really a fun read!
It brought back some nice memories of the younger me and Kansas.
Since I didn't know much about you or the other players it was nice to catch-up even at such late a date..
I am really glad you survived to continue your life in music.
Nice pictures and well-presented stories. I was uplifted to discover your autobiography. Carry on.
Regards,
Melanie Oldfather [Robinson], March 2007
---------------------------------------------------------------
Hey Andy,
I finally got around to taking a look at your website, sorry it wasn't sooner. Pretty impressive.
Of course I scoured the Penetrations area first. I don't remember half the details you give...
we really got beat out of that gig in Hutchinson by Kansas? That's one to tell the grandkids.
I also loved the mp3's. It was scary to hear "Wild Horses". Don't tell my piano tuning customers about the guitar.
I don't really have much I can add, except I do have a picture of me on the piano
when we played an outdoor gig in Kansas City. I remember that one because my parents were there,
(they must have taken the picture) and I was a little apprehensive about having them
hear me sing "Goddammit" in "Compared to What." Did I really sing "Gee Whiz", on the version you have?
I forget if I was being sarcastic, or whether the ownership was sensitive or what that was about.
Looking back, one of my biggest regrets is the sorry-ass state of technology for
electric keyboards in the early seventies. God, how I hated playing the RMI piano that Michael
loaned me that sounded like a kids toy. And the Fender Rhodes really wasn't that much better,
though it had more soul. But overall, the band was a great experience, for developing my
improvisation chops, or laying around getting stoned, listening to a recording
of the gig we just played.
I wish I could have heard you with Billy Spears. It was about that period of time
I was getting folkified out West, especially after being introduced to fiddling,
which consumed me for the next 20 years. We shared a lot of similar tunes in the bands we played in at that time.
Since then, well five years ago, I found my real instrument of choice--the accordion.
Irish music, Quebecois, and the standard contra-dance repertoire keeps me pretty busy.
I'll be back in Kansas next July (12-17) [2007] for my parents 60th wedding anniversary.
Let me know if there are any plans for a Penetrations reunion.
I'll be checking on possible Irish sessions happening in KC or Lawrence.
-- Brad Reynolds - keyboardist/singer for the Penetrations - March 2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey Andy, I accidentally ran across your website tonight.
I had so much fun checking it out and I sent it on to a good friend of mine
that you might remember, "Virgil" George Leedham (a Great fiddler from Kalamazoo)
who now lives near Birmingham Alabama.
I live in Seattle now and teach vocals and harmonica in a blues in schools program and
play music with a band...sometimes with a drummer from the old Doug Kershaw band,
Marty Vadelabene. I think I was at that Odie Acres you talked about.
It's such a crazy and small world.
Anyway, great to read about you...I'm so slow at getting up to technical speed.
I don't have a website or even a myspace page yet ...soon.
You can check out some of what I've been up to over all these years if you google me
or check out www.bluesintheschools.org
Annette Taborn, 6/15/2007
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Andy,
My name is Jackie and I was a great fan of you guys way back when I lived in Denver.
Some of the best times I had enjoying live music was with The Billy Spears Band.
Can't remember the name of the bar out West of the city.
I kept in touch with Dwight for quite a while but not lately.
You and your band were the best! One night after the show you all came over to my apt.
and were impressed with my Bob Wills' and assorted swing collection..
Great times,
Thanks,
Jackie Lovell
Jackie,
Thanks for the message.
Yes, there were some good times. Was the bar you're remembering called "Daner's?" West Colfax?
I went to a party in Lawrence week before last. Billy was there, playin' his fiddle!
Regards,
Andy
Hi Andy,
Thanks for the memory boost, it was Daner's. Many a good night of dancing there, mostly with my sister.
Any chance of getting a hey through to Dwight? Last time I talked to him he was in Nashville.
I am in IL now, west of Chicago, saw you guys play once in Champaign, probably mid to late 70's.
Seems a very long time ago.
Good to hear Billy is still playing, I remember the accident and long time healing for him.
Does his daughter still play? Have to love the internet.
thanks,
Jackie -- 6/20/2007
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salutations Ol'Friend
What a great treat for all of us who shared in those creative and magical times.
You've done a great job compiling info and presenting your story (your dad would be proud). I guess?!
I enjoyed reading parts of your history I had either forgotten or had never known.
It's good to know your doing well.
I have stopped by and visited with Billy when I go home, we've even played some fiddle tunes together.
Which brings me to the big question... would it be possible to get a CD of the Spears Band music??
Of course I would be happy to reimburse your efforts and materials.
I don't have a sense if this is an outrageous request...
if so forgive me if I'm asking something really unreasonable.
Let me know what you think.
Roz [Roz Newmark] 7/9/2007
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Andy:
I just ran across the Billy Spears tracks from Off The
Wall Hall.
I was the McKinney of McKinney Mason Stringed
Instruments and the person who booked all the acts at
Off The Wall.
My compliments on a great site that brings back a ton of
memories.
Cordially,
Brian
McKinney
8/24/2007
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello Andy
Though we do not know each other, we certainly have
a lot in common.
Imagine my surprise last night as I was googling
for "Lee Stover" - or Alice L Stover, Al Stover, etc.,
and put in Lee Stover Trio, and came up
with a page you'd written about the time you played in
her trio
(I have quite a similar sign, but my photo was of the
band in our first road hotel, the Holiday Inn West,
Billings, MT.
I was so tickled to read your account about how you
joined the band because the bass player
(who was Paul Augspurger, by the way) wanted to leave
the band.
And then the drummer, which was also a good friend of
mine, Rex Stone, left, and your buddy joined the
group,
if only for a short time.
I attempted and managed to get in touch with Lee a
few years ago. She is still living in St. Louis,
MO.
I began working with her after her long stint in
Springfield, MO - my home town, and Lee's residence
for some time.
I was not the first keyboardist to go on the road with
her - that was good friend and now exceptional
professor at NYU, Davey Scott.
Dallas Bartley was the original bass player, and Rex
started life on the road with Lee, Davy and
Dallas.
Seems D and D were both ready to leave the band after
only a few weeks.
I recall like it was yesterday getting a call after a
gig one late Saturday night, telling me Lee wanted
Paul and I to catch the
first flight we could to Billings - and to plan on
being gone for a while.
We literally rehearsed non-stop for days and days,
trying to get Lee's keys down, etc. I was 17 at
the time. Unbelievable.
It's all surreal, and like I said, seems like
yesterday.
We played in Billings for a couple of weeks, and
the hotel didn't pick up our options, so we had a week
between
there and the lovely (NOT) Molene IL. I,
meantime, had to be hospitalized for kidney
stones. YIKES.
The band went on to Moline, and to another place, I
don't remember - and I met them about 4 weeks later in
Jeff City,
where we played at the top of the round for some weeks
- 10 or so, I wanna say.
I won't ever forget it, I can tell you that. Met
some awesome people there. I have a recording we
did in Jeff City -
similar to your recording online here. I had to
smile, remembering all those dates.
Lee and I had a falling out (can you believe it?)
:) - at some point after we went back to Moline.
There were a few other towns in between, but
eventually, I left the band.
Rex and Paul stayed. I remember Rex telling me
about someone joining the group - following Paul -
then he finally left I think in Wichita KS, or
somewhere like that.
When I read your account of happenings, and heard
your mp3, I had to laugh.
Lee came back to Springfield after that road trip, but
we didn't work together for some years, as she was
angry with me. :)
However, she did call me one day out of the blue, and
told me she wanted to "bury the hatchet" and, oh, by
the way, could I play for her again?
We did a gig for about 3 years at a place here in town
called The Golden Lion, then went to a spot called
Hootens.
We also played church together. Ha. After
several years of working with Lee again, which was so
much nicer
than when we were on the road.....she moved to St.
Louis to be close to her daughter, Pam.
As I was googling for Lee last night, I sadly came
across an obit for Pam.....seems she died only a
couple of years ago.
Perhaps why I never heard back from Lee after she
wrote once. Pam was alive and well when Lee
wrote back the first time.
I won't keep you - but I recognized that voice
immediately - that same album, Lee Stover for the
First Time hangs on
my music studio wall in my home, lovingly inscribed
"Kidney Stones or not, you're the best, for
always. Love, Lee (mom) Stover."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well Andy i was playing about on my puter and up popped this site you have...
thanks for a great walk down mem lane....though for a min I was tripping.
Will share this with Robin, and Regina...Like they haven't found it themselves...
thanks again , Susie
Well lets see if I can explain myself...I never thought I would see Michael Duby's name in print...
I always wonder what happens to folks when they grow up...
I can't (Old age) explain how I found the site,
I truly don't remember what I was doing on Google in the first place,
as I play there lots during the day when I am bored.
Well anyway I am glad I found your space and will revisit often. Susie
Hello Andy,
Well I
spent more time going deeper into your site...very
fun thank you again..
I don't
remember you from those early days, but I did live
on the North side of you when you were on 706 Mass
in
the very beginning, with Keith Eicove ( Kansas
City ).
I do remember your practice sessions in the
beginning came right in my back window.
I remember how excited everyone was to have this
great new band, except me, you were awful in
the begining.
And then I moved or you all moved.
I remember
Duby because of the cowboy boots, and would always
see him on Mass st.
I didn't know that he was somewhat local, being a
townie myself, I was a year ahead of Sandy Binns
at Lawrence High.
Can't quite pix her singing in a band.
Do you
remember Terran Titus, she was local to...we went
to all the potters lake stuff together,
dropped acid and freaked.I don't remember what
bands played.
Wish I had pix like you.
I remember
going to the building across from the chalk for
dances, and some big party in an abandon building
on 9Th st...
apartments, lots of bedrooms. I think some one was
living there... it was a frat
house at one time.
I remember
John Wlhite, but not a clothing store that he
owned???
And then I
remember all the cool western shirts you wore in
Billy Spears...Loved those clothes and you...
Time to go
home, Susan
Susie Creamcheeze, 10/4/2007
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok, how cool that I found your site.
I've been trying to reconnect with Bud for years.
I'm originally from Winfield, and played with
him pre-your band (1969-1971).
Definitely one of the finest drummers I've ever
played with -- so solid. And not a bad guitarist
either.
Would you happen to know how to get in touch with
him. Would appreciate any help you might be
able to give me.
We probably knew some of the same
people from back then. After Bud I played with a
group called ASH -
Richard Bourne, Randy Kuhn, Bill (can't remember his
name, but a monster bass player with s Sunn 200s ad
4 cabinets --
later heard he switched to guitar and was montser)
then a group called ICE --
Randy Platt and Stan Bass from Ottawa and the
Everette Brothers from Olathe.
Memories, memories.
Thanks!
:-)
David Gurnee, 12/20/2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I DID get your email
about your moving but i did not know what to
say.
I have been on your
site listening and reading.....where is this
site stored and will it ever go away?
I wish I could back up the whole thing..but dont
know how from here.
Hope you find good
things to do where you are living now.....
Buddy has been
playing with crumpletons as of late...same ol
bud.......
Have happy holidays
John Lomas,
12/17/2007
------------------------------------------------
I don't know what
prompted me this day to Google the
Penetrations but Google
I did and sum'bich, there you guys are!!
Fantastic.
Will you remember Irie, doubt it. I was a
drummer and flute player in Lawrence, you guys'
musical junior. I arrived in fall 71.
I was in the Almighty Buck Band with Mark
Swafford, Dave Swaboda, Rick something and Jodie
something that year,
then in fall 72 me and a couple roomies moved into
that weird sort of abandoned frat house co-op on
9th street and I think several of you guys were
living there. Ring a bell?
I was also quite the little head. I
remember some kind of party, might have been Halloween -- I just
heard about it --
and some guy named Michael who had something to do
with your band freaked out on acid and strangled a
cat. Or so I heard.
That year I joined Frank Kyle and Jeremy
Blackledge and Mike Beringer and fuck, what was
his name, Louie something, in a band called
Daedalus.
We joined you guys on a double bill at the Student
Union, maybe twice, or maybe it was two causes in
one dance.
I have a poster still, yellow, with big black
letters LSD, Legal Self Defense, and no, it was
two events,
the other thing was the Gay Liberation Dance and
the theme was "Love the One You're With",
which you guys nailed ,
whereas earlier as the warmup act I thought we did
a killer job of "Low Spark of High Heeled Boys"
heady days
I LOVED
the Penetrations, and Bud was a major influence on
my style of drumming, no lie.
You guys really guided me to the world of
black music and I never looked back. DooLang
DooLang DooLang.
I'm very grateful, my ass is permanently
kicked. By the way, I ran into Darrell some
in KC a few years later,
after his Berklee stint, and did some jazz gigs
with him and a strange guy named Ray,
or "Cosmic Ray". strange days, lots of dope
and alcohol.
Oh--- I was
thinking that we had established that you played
in a band at one time called Back Forty, and that
was cool,
that band played a prom or something at my high
school in Atchison.
Maybe I'm mixed up. I know White Clover (Kansas) played
there. No, , now that I think of it I
think Back Forty was
one of the openers for Led Zep at Memorial Hall in
October 69, the nigfht of the infamous failed
second set.
If you would like my
Student Union poster or a copy, let me know.
Hey- great job
on your site, thanks for taking the time.
btw, check out my hilarious original music at
all the best,
Mike
Fitzpatrick
St. Joseph, MO
2/1/2008
------------------------------------------------------
Hi Andy,
I was taking a
walk down memory lane this evening and came
across your web site and pages about Billy and
the band.
I was so surprised to see a picture of you Jim
and Billy taken in my apartment (along with my
roommate Barb).
I must have been taking the picture but that
is most definitely my place.
I still have that chair in the picture with
Buddy although it has been recovered.
Jim and I had a thing for a little while and I
even sang on stage with him once.
I can't remember where it was but I think it
was at Fairway's.
And yes, I was at Odee Acres for the
Festival. Good grief and I'm still alive
to tell about it!
I hope you get
this e-mail and write back. I'd love to
see some more pics if you have them.
Unfortunately, I lost so much of my
memorabilia from that time.
Best regards,
Deb Marquette
02/20/2008
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Was
searching for an old friend and when I
googled her name – got your website.
Yep – the same Lana Duby.
Do you have any idea where they are now?
I was home a few weeks ago because my father
was ill and ran across a picture of my 9th
birthday party – with Lana sitting next to
me.
It’s a shame the people you lose track of!
Since her name popped up, I thought it was
worth a try.
Would love to catch up with Lana some
day. I think it was the early to mid
70’s when I saw her last
and that was a quick visit in Topeka – but I
thought she was in Colorado
then.
We went to school together for many years in
Lyons
– and if my poor memory serves me right –
she left during high school.
Dana Letson
(Colle) Lana's
9th-birthday party
2/22/2008
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Andy,
I stumbled upon your website awhile back,
and wanted to send this little hello to you.
Glad to know you’re keeping the faith, as it
were! I’ve been a big fan of your
playing/singing since I first heard you
w/Billy Spears back in the day.
Then, of course, Used Parts, probably
the best band that ever was.
My folks still live in Lawrence, so we get
back there from time to time.
I’d sure love to know if you’re playing out
anywhere the next time we’re there.
Please tell Becky Reed hello for me. I’ve
lost touch w/her since I moved out west.
Feel free to pass my email address to her.
Cheers to you,
Susan (Hyde/Bethke/Hyde/Stringer/Hyde)
Holmes
http://www.myspace.com/holmesbass
http://www.myspace.com/alfacats
http://www.myspace.com/santafeallstars
http://www.myspace.com/thecherrypickersusa
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Andy,
I can’t believe I Googled “The Billy Spears
Band” and came up with so much information,
including the picture of the band and your
website.
You and the band
were playing at Evo’s Time Out in Littleton,
CO., and I was with my best friend Barb, and
we met there.
Then you invited me to join you at a gig you
were doing in Georgetown , CO . I
drove up to Georgetown
from Denver, met you and ....
I have never forgotten you or the band and
as a result of the love of music The Billy
Spears Band generated (Bob Wills and the
like), I started playing the fiddle 4 years
ago. Always loved fiddle music but I
was always told it was too hard, so I
believed it was.
Andy,
It
just so happens I can accommodate you on
the picture.
I was only 18 here, but it may jog your
memory.
Thank
for the encouraging
words of wisdom with regard to the
music. After I had some more time to
look at your website,
I found it interesting to see how far back
your musical talent went.
I was fortunate to have music education in
my school, as well, in the form of chorus
and band and I sang in the choir at church
also.
So like you said, the music has always been
in me.
I saw the reference to Billy’s 78th
birthday party. I would never have
guessed he was that much
older.
You will have to keep me posted if there is
an 80th Birthday party.
That would be fun to catch.
Maybe I could play a Bob
Wills tune on my fiddle. That will
give me 2 more years to practice.
I look forward to seeing the video and
whatever else you post.
Thank
you for preserving the past. It was
really fun to remember. Stay well
and happy and keep on playing.
Lynne Walker
1/26/2009
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Andy,
Wow! Was I excited to find a mention of
Stover... after all these years?
On your site I also found a possible link to a
former customer/friend Tim San Paolo, who
mentions that Stover might be in St. Louis.
The reason I'm writing to you is that I was on
the road playing (drums & vibes) during the
time Lee Stover was in Springfield
so I did not get to meet her, but a couple of
years ago my wife, who is a volunteer sorter for
Friends of the Library,
brought home an unopened LP (the "For The First
Time" album) since she recognized the name of
the bass player.
I called my bass playing friend and he was
thrilled to know that a stack of new LPs were in
the sorting room
selling for a buck a piece. He bought them all
and gave the other two guys from the session
what they wanted and stashed the rest.
Recently the drummer on the session (also a good
friend) told me that he had no way of
listening to the LP so
I just finished converting the 10 songs to a
good sounding CD. I modified the art work
and photos so that it all looks like an original
CD.
This project renewed my interest in what ever
happened to Lee. I would love to give her one of
the CDs and let her know that she still has a
following here in Springfield, MO.
Hope you forgive this rambling but I will get to
my point now... something that might be of
interest to you.
The recording session was planned and paid for
by a female professor of English who had been
teaching for many years at
Southwest Missouri State University
(now Missouri State University).
This woman was a real jazz fan and thought
that Lee Stover could make it big with a break
that this album might provide.
As you can already surmise, Lee didn't make it
big, the professor ended up with a big stack of
LPs and when she died,
it appears that the LPs of Stover were given to
the Friends of the Library along with the books
that her survivors did not want.
I often think of how easily those records could
have ended up in a dump if my wife had not
recognized
the name of my bass playing friend on the album
credits.
Thanks for your web site and the pix of the Lee
Stover Trio sign. That tells it all doesn't it?
Chuck Beach
2/10/2009
Thanks for the reply Andy.
Go ahead if you think my note might be of
interest to any one... more exposure about the
whereabouts of Lee Stover might help me find
her.
I think I have gap in my 1970s life by missing
out on her stay in Springfield.
It feels a little weird having so many friends
that knew and worked with her when I have no
memories of meeting her.
On having heard my name, it might have been
because I was lucky enough to have a lot of
weekend jobs with well known people.
In '56 I played with Charlie
Haden on the ABC TV Eddie
Arnold Show with Chet Atkins
and Hank
Garland.
I was mostly on drums from the early fifties to
1970 when I went to Jefferson City with a long
time friend, John Park.
John was Stan Kenton's
lead alto player from about '72 through '73. He
always had a weak heart (inherited from his dad)
and
had to leave Stan's band by 1974. His son Kim Park,
then 18, played high bari with the band as soon
as he got out of high school.
Two other friends of ours, Bill Hartman (bass
trombone) and Mary Fettig (tenor sax and flute)
were with Kenton during the same period.
You can see them all in several Utube videos
shot by the BBC during the 1973 British tour
(mistakenly listed as 1976 on Utube).
I had an undeserved reputation on drums which
lives on to this day. It may have been because I
always tried to fit in and
never wanted to play long drum solos, but trust
me, I was a really LUCKY cat to have played with
such great musicians.
Charlie Haden is still one of my best friends
and we talk several times a year. John Park died
of a heart attack on December 7, 1979.
As his son Kim puts it, "He only got to make 45
trips around the sun". And by the way, Kim has a
web site and
has played with Stan Getz and many other famous
musicians. He sounds nearly as good as his dad.
Thanks for the info and we jazz nuts in
Springfield would like to hear more stories
about Stover if you think of any.
Chuck Beach
2/11/2009
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andy,
How's it goin? Haven't talked to you
in years. Last time we met, I probably
had short hair.
I've kept it long since late 1997. Grown
it and cut some, donated a stock to locks of
love in 2006.
Currently it's a little past my
shoulders. Also have an Abe Lincoln
beard and earrings to add to the mix. 
I always admired you as a teacher as well
as a musician. So yeah, I did a yahoo
search to see if I could find an email address
for you,
and what do you know...an awesome
webpage. I've only heard 3 of the
recordings so far, but I'm impressed.
The Billy Spears band was really cool.
And I was totally surprised to find out that
you played with Junior Brown.
Loved reading the stories about life on the
road, Lawrence, various gigs, etc. Looks
like you put a lot of work into your site and
I think you did a fine job. I love
nostalgic stories and pictures of Kansas City
and Lawrence.
The stories I hear from people about the 60s
amd 70s make it seem as if I were there
(despite not being born until 1980).
Glad to hear things are going well with you
and BelleAnne, as well as the L'Chaim
Players.
I'd love to see one of your shows when I get
the chance. Are you familiar with the
Tizmoret Orchestra? I played 2 gigs with
them last summer. Another gig is
scheduled on March 29th. Not sure where
it is yet.
Mike Goldman, who is married to a distant
cousin of mine, plays drums for
Tizmoret.
He recommended me to Milla Portman, the
director/pianist and the rest is
history. I play mainly electric
bass.
Started out playing guitar, then took up
double bass in 7th grade orchestra. Also
did some classical bass playing at KU for a
few years.
Other than Tizmoret, I also jam at this guy
Randy's house. He's one of the
technicians in my shop. Plays drums.
Other than that, I'm working at Wal-Mart in
the auto center. It's annoying and
stressing, but it pays the bills and
the job is there for me no matter how bad the
economy gets. I have a girlfriend named
Lizzy.
She's 23, in her last semester at Midamerica
Nazarene University, attempting to double
major in psychology and sociology.
Not Jewish, but very cute and fun to be
around. My sister Sara lives in
Plantation, FL (near Fort Lauderdale).
Works in admissions at St. Thomas University.
<>
What made you move to St. Louis? I've
always wanted to see Chuck Berry at Blueberry
Hill. I've heard getting tickets is not
easy.
Ben Koven
3/8/2009
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I found your site looking for info about
Alamo and Airline amps.
I am not much of a player but enjoy restoring
many old amps from that era back to new.
Fender Champs, Kalamazoos,
Harmony, Many Silvertones, Airline and last
week an Alamo Challenger amp.
You got a heck of a good website and must
have a steel trap memory too!
I know nothing about the Kansas music scene
of any era but it has been fun reading your
website.
I have not even gotten to hear any of the
music yet, that should keep me entertained for
quite a while!
Rob
Atlanta, Ga.
3/29/2009
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just went to yer wild and crazy site and saw the new pics....man, that's one
of the most complete places I've EVER seen about anything!
The Jazz Composers Alliance has a web site.We've been around 25 years. That's a long time for a group to last.
Our site doesn't have even close to HALF has much stuff as yours does for a
band that lasted 2 or 3 years thirty years ago!
It's a pity that we couldn't have gone on little bit longer and managed to do a recording of more substance than the one in Jim Stringer's studio.
How's things in St. Lou?
Darrell Katz
5/10/2009
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey Andy!
I stumbled
across your website and I just wanted to
say "THANKS!" It's just great to
hear some of the good old music from Used
Parts & Billy Spears.
You may not remember me, but I'm Joe
Anderson. I was a bouncer/bartender
at the Opera House and general hangaround
at the Country Playhouse. Great
time!
Anyway, just
wanted to say thanks.
Good luck!
Joe
5/19/2009
Yeah, that's me!
I've been with the geological survey for 25
years now. It's over on west campus and
I see Lomas driving around over there
often.
I think my wife
is getting tired of having me say, "Come
here, ya gotta here this!" or "...ya gotta
see this!" It's so great that
A) all this audio/video/photo material is
still around, and
B) that you took the time to organize and
post it up.
I actually saw myself in one of the vids
from Billy's 60th. I almost didn't
recognize me, I look so skinny! LOL.
Thanks again
for the site, I'm really enjoying it.
Damn, what a blast we had! I don't
have any pix, but lots of stories.
I'll try to work some up to
contribute.
Good Luck and
keep in touch,
Joe
5/20/2009
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Andy,
Kim Olson
here. I'm the Kim who worked at
Pastah's and Corno with you. I heard about your
web site from Joe Morrison today and
immediately went to take a look.
What a great trip down memory
lane!!!
I have been working in Kansas City at the
Environmental Protection Agency for about
20 years and moved out of Lawrence in
1993.
I hated to leave, but I got tired of
spending 2 hours a day commuting.
Now I live in Roeland Park (NE Johnson
County) and only get to Lawrence
occasionally. I'll be at
Walterpalooza tonight and
hope to see you (and lots of other folks)
there. I really had forgotten how
involved you were in the local music
scene,
but your web site does a great job of
chronicling those years. I'm going
to dig a little deeper into the site and
see what treasures await.
Thank you for putting this together!
Kim
6/7/2009
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Andy-
High atop a mountain in Big Sur, California we
write to you regarding your Cornucopia Alumni List,
from your website sent to us from our dear
friend Bill Brennan just today.
You can imagine our surprise getting the email
during my visit to the lovely Branham's,
(Brandy) hilltop retreat in Big Sur.
I live in San Francisco.
We had such a great time looking at the historic
pictures, and perusing the alumni list.
stay in touch
B and R (Robin Dick and Brandy
Rendlen)
Continued ...
I will never forget your stand up bass being
stolen from your car at the Corndog. Happened
really fast if I remember correctly. Ouch.
New Grass Revival, (I remember a mad crush on
Sammy Bush).
When I get home I have a photo from Bean Blossom
that I will share...you and 8 naked girls. It's
priceless. Oh those were the days.
Michael Roark. One of the great loves of my life
that one. Is he still around, and do you know
how to contact him? (email, Facebook?).
Give him my love. I think that he and I
used to hang out at a house where eventually
William Burroughs resided before he died.
Or something like that, my memory too can seize
up on me.
I had dinner with Junior Brown about a month
ago, told me about the Spears reunion.
I know there is so much more... Brandy found
some pics, she will scan and send.
Until then, have attached one of myself (from
the era), I think it was a Big Eat. Hah!
stay tuned. 
Continued ...
AC-
This Spears stuff is amazing...
What happened to Lawna? I remember her so
well. So sad. be in touch.
Robin Dick and Brandy Rendlen
7/31/2009
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oh Andy......I was perusing your history
of the world as seen thru the eyes of a
Spear Currier (sorry....couldn't help
myself)
and noticed that you attached the month of
April to Odee Acres.....actually, it'll be
35 years ago this week.
There sure was frost on the stage
though.....and Kershaw was the same jerk
then as he was when we had dubiousity of
opening for him at the Golden Inn a year or
so later.
We (Twang Bros.) did play a gig earlier in
'75 with y'all at a racetrack in Hartford,MI
(the date ,however may have been
inadvertantly deleted while I was
abducted by Aliens later that decade.)
I'm really sure about Odee...as a matter of
fact...
the following May/June there were several
babies born to Hippie girls that looked a
lot like Jimmy Ray.
RSVP me sometime, Noah
There were several Odee"s. We
(Twangs) only played the one Sept.'75.
I'm pretty sure you guy's played one that
was in '74....but I didn't
attend.....guess I wasn't ready.
Where are you living these days? I'm in
a small town (Allegan) 25 mi. NW of
Kalamazoo.
I couldn't swear as to the Alien
thing.......but it sure ties a neat ribbon
around some gaps and gaff's.
Peale
-- Noah Smith
9/15/2009
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
Sarah Walker just sent me the link
to your web page. I just about
cried when I looked at those
Penetration photos. I still have
that poster, believe it or not.
I think the Penetration days were just
about the best days ever. I'm
thrilled to hear you are still
playing. What a brilliant way to
start the day.
Susan
I've been playing that music over
and over. I'm sure others have
asked you this question - how can I
get copies of the music? I'm
happy it sounds so good - since they
are 30+ year old recordings.
I don't have any photos. I'll
ask Sarah Walker if she does.
Just tons of good memories. I
don't think you should share the kind
of stories that I'm thinking about.
Emailed Bud after I read the stuff
on your website. Do you talk to
him? Do you live in KC?
Where's Becky? Liz is still in
touch with Darrel.
Oh yeah, I'm the librarian for Fire
Protection Publications, Oklahoma
State University. We
write/publish training manuals for
fire fighters. Never thought I'd
end up in Oklahoma.
-- Susan Walker
9/17/2009 |
|
Andy: I am
sure you do not remember me, but I do
you. My closest friend, Jeanette
Floth, and I met y'all in Denver back in
1976-77.
Eventually, after numerous road trips from
Greeley to Albuquerque (the honkey tonkin'
Golden Inn) or Lawrence, or Golden, Colorado
or wherever the hell...
Jeanette's brother John played with the New
Starlight Ramblers for years. He died
some years ago.
Anyway, I just ran into someone from
Lawrence Kansas the other day and we were
talking about the Billy Spears Band
and on a lark, I "Googled" you guys.
Great website and lots of great photos and
memories of a lot of fun.
I am happy to hear that you are still
playing music - there is always something
special about the bass guy (or gal).
Turns out, my ex-husband married a pretty
famous bass player named Mary Struebling who
used to play with the Mother Folkers.
If you ever hear from Jimmy - say hey.
Thanks for taking time to put together a web
site. Your former fans and friends are sure
to get a kick!!
Every best wish, and thank you for giving me
so much fun in the seventies!!
Sincerely, Patty Siehl
11/5/2009
Hey
Andy:
This is Peggy-Sue or Bitsy i don't remember
which one you knew me by. I hope you
remember me;
I met you in Vail with my friend Denise and
for awhile there managed to make it to
Colorado when you were playing, kicking up my
heels,
reeling to the bluegrass tunes that you and
the band performed. We kept in touch for some
time and then good times as so often do fade
away.
So i googled Billy Spears Band and found you
and I love the site you have put together,
lots of great photos and nostalgia.
Great job! After we lost contact i spent the
last 30 years commercial fishing up in Alaska
and eventually bought and operated my own
boat.
As i could see the writing on the wall and
farmed fish and hatchery fish hit the market i
decided to bail out.
I live in Washington State now in the columbia
Gorge beautiful area i own five acres and
provide a garden market in the summer and do
some construction to fill in the gaps.
I would love to hear from you. We sure had a
lot of fun and i remember the bus. Take
care
Fondly, Bitsy
11/15/2009
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andy, Congratulations on your education in school and on the road. You are a stand up guy.
I stumbled on to your website; and even though I only have dial-up here in Lawrence, Michigan,
I was tickled pink by the memories.
I can't wait to get to a faster connection to cruise through your outstanding compilation of your history.
I am proud to have known you and a few of your fabulous friends.
I saw myself in one of your pictures... Gosh I used to be young...
I took my daughter to see Billy in Vicksburg, Michigan a few years ago...
he claimed to remember me, of course I did hang out in his basement for a little while, so maybe he did.
How is he? Please give him my regards. -
Bless you.
One of the gals from Kalamazoo, zoo, zoo.
Cheryl
1/26/2010
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andy:: Just found your site - lots of
great stuff. I think I still have some of the
memorabilia from my "Mike Duby" period,
including a 45 that we recorded at the Cavern in
KC -
horrible but wonderful at the same time.
Give me a shout sometime - I'm in Iowa now,
still playing and raising what hell I can.
Also on Facebook if you get a hankering to check
it out.
...
No way to
transfer 45 to digital, let alone the fact
that I don't really want that recording
preserved for posterity. YEEECH!
John Barleycorn has been ancient history for
some time now, but you can add it to the record
if you want.
I'll see about the photos, don't know if I have
any of the "Polio" band.
Good to hear from you again. Glad to see that
you're still wailin' on the bass - me too.
Also picked the guitar back up enough to record
3 CDs worth of original tunes.
I can run you off copies of those if you want,
as well as the demo disc of my current band
"Mojo Bone" -
Rock & Blues cover tunes. Send your mailing
address.
JD Willhite
PS - my clothing store was called "John
Barleycorn".
3/7/2010
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi
Andy,
What
a great website-and a wonderful trip
down memory lane. I always
wondered what became of the band that I
used to go see so often and so I was
very happy to find your website
with all the great history. I'm
sure you don't remember me, but I was
sort of a groupie when you guys played
Evergreen (Timberline), Denver or
Colorado Springs. Billy Spears
Band remains to this day my favorite
dance band. I think the last time
I saw you guys perform was when you
played in Denver with the late Clarence
Gatemouth Brown - I remember it was
awesome. I miss those days in
Evergreen, hell, I miss being 22 years
old but I'm glad to see that everyone in
the band is still around. If I
remember correctly I think you used to
hang around with my friend Jane in
Evergreen - not sure what ever happened
to her. I remember I spent a day
in Denver with some of you guys - Jim
and Carol - not sure who else, I'm
pretty sure we were doing laundry.
I vaguely remember. I live in
Santa Barbara, calif. now and I've never
enjoyed the music scene in California as
much as Colorado - I'll always have a
bit of the mountain girl in me. If
you see Jimmy Ray - tell him Cindy from
Evergreen said hi (I hope he remembers
me). It's always fun to visit the
past - especially the good parts!
Thanks
for the memories!
Cindy
from
Evergreen
3/11/2010
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
I stumbled upon your site and it made me
wish I had some pictures of my high school days
playing Rock&Roll and wishing I was
cool like Mick Jagger.I even played in a Texas
swing band for 9 years and have no pictures of
any of that either.But I am still in music and
teach as well.I have a pretty nice recording
studio and if there's anything I can do for your
site just let me know,no charge just think your
site is a true site that reflects what its all
about.
Hope your day is great and if you know of any
vintage microphones or other equipment let know.
Brandon,Green Room Recording &
Instruction,Statesville NC.
Brandon
3/25/2010
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andy,
I certainly
have enjoyed your website. I went to look up
Becky Reed, just to see if I could find her.
She's still the best singer I ever heard.
Then I found a
picture of myself with Brad Reynolds. That
was kind of unexpected to say the least.
Kind of fun, though.
I am still
wondering where Becky is now. Do you know?
I sang and
played keyboard in a band called Shirley
Carter and the Midnight Special from
1976-1978 and
a bunch of other bands before that and in
Nashville with a band called John Hall and
the Town and Country Review.
Since 1979 I have played in church bands in
several states (Louisiana, Tennessee,
Kentucky, Southeast Missouri and now Kansas
again.
Anyway, it was
great to find all that stuff on the
Penetrations. Thank you for doing that!
Good to know
you're still alive and around.
God bless you,
Carolyn
Cogswell
4/12/2010
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI,
I ran across your site searching for Kansas
City information. As it turns out I
know of Rabbi Shoham who used to be the
Rabbi in my community many years back.
Have you seen this site?
http://www.virtualcantor.com/ It was
created by a high school friend of mine Josh
Sharfman. It is recordings of
traditional nusach for all the tefilot for
Shabbat, chagim, megillot, etc. I was
in the same community as a child and I knew
the Chazzan that oversaw this project.
If you happen to see Rabbi Shoham please
tell him that Eugene Gruenberger’s son, Alex
Greenberger’s nephew made contact with you.
Yasher Koach
David Gruenberger
Simi Valley Ca
5/23/2010
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi, Andy:
You don't know me, but
you do know my uncle, Dwight Haldeman.
I was a rather young kid when Dwight was
managing the Billy Spears Band back in the
early-mid 70s, and I remember him coming to
visit us in Houston wearing his Billy Spears
t-shirt (with one for me, I think), and of
course his signature beard. Anyway, I have
some musical exploits of my own in my past,
including a brief time on the road, and I
got to thinking about the Billy Spears Band
and whether any of the musicians were still
playing and what they were up to. So
it was great fun to find your website,
complete with stories on the road with the
band.
It is also great to see
that you (and some others) are still
playing. And, as it happens, I am interested
in Jewish music, so your recent bands are
fun to listen to. Though I'm not
Jewish, my wife is, and we're raising the
kids Jewish. I'm learning and singing
in the choir.
Just thought I'd drop you
a line to let you know I really got
something out of the site. It looks
like you enjoy what you're doing, and
that's always good to see. Keep it up!
Best,
Shannon Brown
San Jose, CA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI Andy,
I Google'd Madame Lovejoys and found your
website, and I'm so absolutely pleasantly
surprised, just WOW !!! ... Its odd
that in all of the years that I've been
using the Internet I've never searched for
Madame Lovejoys before. My name is Bob
Coats and I, along with Tom Kramer,
conceived, built and managed Madame
Lovejoys. It was our baby and quite a
fantastic whirlwind trip filled with lots of
fantastic people and music.
I do remember your band, I was always there,
but I don't remember the recording that took
place. I was wondering if you had any
photos from that session and what you may
remember about it. Were you on the
live radio show that we broadcast all over
the midwest during that time? Also, do you
remember any of the other bands that played
regularly at Lovejoys ?
I do have photos of other groups in the bar
and photos of the stage and our famous
painting that was on the wall of the stage
that you played in front of if you would
have any interest in seeing them ?
Thanks so much for the memories... I hope I
hear from you.
Bob (Robert Coats)
7/3/2010
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just found your website today.
Wow. So much to go through and so
many memories. So here's just a
couple of notes that came to mind.
First, the guy under the cymbal on page
one of the Spears Band is Ned Nelson and
he was Michael's roommate. For a
while they lived north of Lawrence
in a house up on the south bluff of
the Kaw. I hung out with him for a
while and loved that house. One of
my favorite memories (that doesn't involve
you!) was laying in bed after Ned had gone
to work and listening to Michael playing
his mandolin on the front porch.
I didn't see mention of the 1976
Bicentennial Fourth of July trip to
Hartshorne OK in the Winnebago. I
remember we stopped in Tulsa and picked up
Gary Merrifield and then didn't stop
laughing the rest of the trip. You and
I stayed in some little dump of a motel on
the main drag and got crabs. The band
played in the middle of the highway which
was also the main drag in town, blocked off
for the street dance.
Two Billy stories (with all due respect
to Billy): I was there in Vail the
night Susan Ford came to the show.
You guys presented her with a Billy Spears
Band T-shirt and as we were all standing
around her, Billy bummed a cigarette from
her. Not every day you get to bum a
smoke from the President's daughter.
I also went to Houston with you
once. The band was interviewed for a
TV show (or maybe radio, but I think
TV). I wasn't there for the interview
but you guys told the story when you got
back: The interviewer had asked Billy
a question which I don't recall but which
was something like how many shows are you
going to play. Billy responded "Well,
we're tryin'." For months after that,
any time something seemed like a non
sequitur, someone would say "Well, we're
tryin' " and we'd all crack up.
Somewhere I have some pictures from that
trip. When I find them I'll let you
know if there's any worth sharing.
Those were sweet days. Thanks for
the memories, AC, in more ways than one.
Mary Prewitt
11/19/2010
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andy- what a great rush of memories
looking through your website! I kept
expecting to see
a picture of the band playing on the front
porch of the Hill Farm from one of the
Horseshoe Tournaments ’73-’74. Thanks for
putting this together, it is
great!
Buddy Kruger.
Otto J. Kruger, Jr., P.E.
President, Kruger Technologies, Inc.
11/19/2010
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So I was on facebook, and in one of
"those" moments, thought I'd see if I
could locate Duby.
Ton of guys named "michael duby" but none appeared to be him.
But I came across your link to your "Duby years" page.
Never had read that one. HA! What detailed records you've kept!
By the way, Alan Chase, who has played on and off with my band for years,and is:
A terrific alto saxophonist
chairmen of Berklee's ear training department
Used to be dean of students at new england Conservatory.
After being chair of the jazz studies department.
Wrote his graduate thesis on the music of Sun Ra.
Has gone through the Penetrations stuff, anyway, and thought it was great.
Darrell Katz
11/26/2010
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andy,
I think I mentioned once that I had a copy
of this article
you wrote a while back (30+ years). I
was going through some old boxes and found
it. Enjoy.
Brett Hodges
11/13/2010
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andy, I saw you all in the early seventies
at a little place between Ft. Riley and
Manhattan.
I was in the army at Ft. Riley at the time
Do you remember the name of that place?
Man those were some good times, and sweet
sounds.
Michael DiCristina , Berthoud, Colorado
2/5/2011
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Andy, Looks like you are doing
well.
Give me a holler back.
Doug Waldron
North Little Rock, AR
2/23/2011
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Andy,
My name is Amy Bowen. I came across your
exquisite website while researching the '70s
music scene in Lawrence and in particular
Lee McBee, whose biography I'm working on. I
was wondering if you would be willing to
meet with me to talk about him, the '70s in
Lawrence and other possible sources of
information.
It would be my pleasure to buy you lunch or
coffee or beers or whatever small gesture of
appreciation that might suit your fancy,
should you have the time and willingness to
meet with me and chat for a while.
And yes, your site is a work of art. It's
rare to find anything on the internet
anymore that has such... elaborate
simplicity. It's
straightforward, has no ads or annoying
share buttons, etc. It has content and the
means for navigation, which are the whole
point of the internet - everyone else seems
to have forgotten this. :)
Thanks!
Amy Bowen
3/22/2011
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I came across your website by
chance. I think that I met you
personally on several occasions but you
probably do not remember me.
I went to the same high school in the same
class as Michael Duby. Lyons High
School in Lyons Kansas had only about
80 people in the entire senior class and
there were only about 4500 people in all of
Lyons Kansas. Sometime during or just after
Mike;s senior year in high school his
parents divorced and apparently Mike, his
mother and his sister and younger brother
went to Lawrence Kansas, I spent some time
with Mike in Lyons Kansas. He loved
the 45 single Wild Thing and supposedly
played it so many times the grooves wore out
and it skipped.
After two years at another college I
transferred to Kansas University. One
of the first things I did was look for
Mike. By now He was in full hippie
mode. he was or had been a student a
KU but was now only interested in his band
or forming a band. Mike was convinced
it was only a matter of time before he
became the next John Lennon. I
remember i went to visit Mike once and he
was busy discussing the latest issue of The
rolling Stone and what John and Paul of the
Beatles were doing. I do
distinctly remember an Andy who looked a lot
like your picture on your website.This Andy
did play off and on in Mike's off and
on band. I also remember a
Marilyn Brune who was Mike's more or less
steady girlfriend. Marilyn was one of
the few people who could get the best of
Mike at board games and arguments.... I
remember once Marilyn was very upset when
Mike took off to one of his gigs or actual
paying jobs. She was sure he was going
to see his groupies. I think it was
unlikely Mike had any groupies but it was an
interesting evening with Marilyn
anyway. I do remember
driving a big red ambulance to a Jefferson
Airplane concert in Kansas City. Mike
got me a ticket in exchange for being the
designated driver ... On the way
home Mike was ecstatic as he said that he
somehow sneaked back stage afterward and
actually talked briefly to Grace Slick and
Paul Kantor.
I do not know to believe this story or not
but knowing Mike it was possible. By
Spring of 72 after 2 years as a poor student
I left and moved to Norman Oklahoma where my
mother and younger sister lived and finally
got serious and actually graduated and
eventually earned a graduate degree.
During the late 60's and early 70's Lawrence
Kansas, dubbed the Berkley of the Midwest
was full of strange spooky people more
interested in getting high and having as
much sex with as many people as possible and
generally being hippies. and only nominally
being college students.
Do you remember a Marilyn Brune? What
ever became of Mike Duby? ...
... Mike Duby and Marilyn Brune were smart
people with a lot of potential. The
last i heard Marilyn Brune was selling cars
and I have no idea what happened to Mike
Duby. Evidently he did not become the next
John Lennon.
I am glad to hear you have done reasonably
well and still occasionally perform if only
for fun.
If you do know anything about Mike Duby let
me know.
... I am now mainly curious why you went to
considerable trouble to make an elaborate
website about your years in Lawrence Kansas
with Mike Duby and playing with his band and
others. How did you travel from rock
and roll Duby style to folk to being a
Cantor in a synagogue? I was just an
immature and often confused outsider in
Lawrence Kansas...
This would be a stranger than fiction story
about going from a Mike Duby obscure rock
and roll band to a Cantor and a computer
programmer. How does that happen?
Edward Kahnert
4/29/2011
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Andy- Someone told me there was a Corno
website today and I found this on your
website. I actually started reading
yours this past winter and saved it to my
favorites - it's great. I just need to
more time to read it all. I hadn't
noticed the Corno section. You forgot
ME but I'm not offended just add me to the
list. I always loved hearing you call
my name in your melodic voice when my order
was up - nice way to start the morning.
Bobo is Bo Marsh who is an architect in
Lawrence now - I see him around. He
recognized me a few years ago & said "Hi
Joanne - remember me - Bobo?" I had no
idea who he was - all grown up!
Another one of the busboys at that time was
Jerry Palmer who is the manager at
Office Depot in Lawrence - he also
recognized me. I also see Curtis
around town occasionally. I'll ask him
his last name sometime.
Walt was the third Weaver brother - he broke
my little sister's heart - but she got over
it. Bob & I have been out to see
Branham a couple of times in Big Sur &
we're heading out again this fall.
I'll tell her about your site. I'm
glad you took the time to put this all in
writing.
Joanne Bergman
6/2/2011
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andy,
I hope all is well for you.
I stopped by and saw Billy and Doris a
couple of weeks ago en route to
Hutchinson. Billy looks good (and has
quit smoking cigarettes). I guess
they're having a party of sorts in
October???
Have you talked to Bud? I think about
him often but mainly correspond via
email. Doris keeps me posted.
She sees him some.
Your BS band website appears to be
down. I was trying to direct Bily
Higgins to it. He is thinking of
shooting a short documentary on Billy.
I really have enjoyed that site.
Please put it back up!
I too am thinking of documenting my past and
have a lot to draw from. I've kept a
daily journal (albeit brief each day) since
1970 and have tens of thousands of photos
filed in order by month and year. I
have old letters, etc. My memoirs, if
you can call it that, will be written
primarily for my children. They
have no clue about all the things I've been
able to do. From the romance of the old gray
gypsy bus roaming the heartland, living hand
to mouth and town to town; to the excitement
of riding the star bus with Merle Haggard,
Roy Orbison, Tammy Wynette, George Harrison
, Carl Perkins and dozens more.
It must be a "getting older thing". We
lived through some exciting times in a much
different world than we have today. It
seems there are a lot of us old people
trying to document those times. I have
a lot of old music row buddies here in
Nashville that are largely retired but a
hell of a lot more fun than the people in
the music business today. It too has
dramatically changed. Different
rules. Different people.
I hope you'll be at the party in
October. It would be good to see
you. I think it's toward the end of
the month.
Let me know about your site.
Peace,
Dwight
PS Please continue to keep my photos
respectful.. I still have a job I'd like to
keep:-) Thanks!
7/28/2011
--------------------------------
hello from switzerland,
I saw the your great picture with
Eddie Harris on your page. I miss Eddie
Harris. I saw often saw Eddie when he
came to switzerland. After his
death I started to write a book about
Eddie. It was a great time and I met over
Internet lot of people who played with
Eddie Harris. But now ...... he's
gone.
Sincerely
Peter Tschirky
8/10/2011
--------------------------------
Hi Andy,
I thought you might get a kick out of me
sending you an email... My name is Andy
Curry too.
I was searching some things on the internet
about myself and stumbled on your site.
I just turned 50. I'm a musician, like
you. I once had a music studio (like
you). I'm mostly playing Bluegrass
now. You can
see our facebook site at: http://www.facebook.com/CrystalHillBillys
Don't know if you've searched Andy Curry on
the internet but I have found a surprising
amount of "us' who are also musicians AND
play guitar. Weird.
Anyway, just thought I'd say "howdy" from
Colorado Springs.
Andy Curry
8/25/2012
--------------------------------
Hey Andy how is it going. Remember
me? I lived across the hall from you
over Burks Awning on Lawrence.
As I remember there were three upstairs
apartments.
Yours, and right across from you guys was an
elderly couple. Yes I was on the south
side of the elderly couple.
My apartment did not have built in
bunks. But now that you mention it I
remember it having booths in the
kitchen.
I was an art student and usually had large
paintings in my loft.
I took some pics of your band. The one
on page 12 of The Insider King Harvester
Review is a pic I took.
In exploring your pages I found more pics I
took of your band.
Do you remember who I am?
Truly, Bart Kreutzer
10/5/2011
--------------------------------
A friend of mine (Rick Sanchez from
Lawrence, maybe you know or know of him, he
is/was a guitarist and a friend of Jody
Spotts) posted a video of Muddy Waters'
Mannish Boy on FB this evening, and it
reminded me of when I'd seen him in Lawrence
and a small white chic belting out the blues
alongside him. Rick reminded me it was Becky
Reed of the Penetrations and when I googled
her/them and found your website. I lived in
Lawrence '69-'79 and graduated from both LHS
and KU. I dated Carol Spears for a while and
listened in on more than one the basement
jams out in their farmhouse. What times
those were. Your site really took me back.
It's great. There need to be more like it.
Keep up the good work, and thanks for
(refreshing) the memories.
Regards,
Randy Spence
11/27/2011
--------------------------------
Hello
there... My name is Elliot
Karlan...
I just stumbled on your old
band's web site. (The
Penetrations)
You are very fortunate to
have amassed such living
archives.
We had the good fortune to have
Becky Reed Singing in our band in
San Francisco in 1976.
The name of the band was Bag Elliot.
I would love to be able to
contact Becky. I have not seen nor
spoken with her since the mid 70's
when we all went our separate ways.
My contact info is below
Thank you for any help you can
give...
Elliot www.ElliotKarlanPhotography.com
National Press
Photographers Association
San Francisco Bay Area Press
Photographers Association
Photojournalist The Ark
Newspaper Tiburon Ca 94920
1/27/2012
-------------------------------------
I am the owner of the ES-5 on www.tonepedia.com
( http://www.tonepedia.com/electric-guitar/gibson-es5-switchmaster-1956
)
I am always curious of the origins of
my guitar so I was researching ES-5’s when I
came across your site.
Your site and story are
wonderful, the Switchmaster being
amazing is obvious J
Love It!
Wonderful Staff.
Thank you,
Savi Lior
-------------------------------------
HI My Name is Dennis Embry...I attended
Christopher Rankin School .
Hello, I have been searching for people who
attended that wonderful school. It was a
tragedy with communist witch hunting caused
it to be closed.
Dennis Embry
10/29/2012
--------------------------------
Andy, I stumbled
across your website when thinking about
my old days in Lawrence
(1966-1977). Becky and I were good
friends and I lost track of her around
'78.
Thanks much,
Frank Kolsky
12/2/2012
--------------------------------
Hi Andy.
I literally stumbled onto your website.
Seeing how unsavy with the Internet World.
Really loved your web site and seeing
Darrell, Brad , Becky and yourself.
I am still playing. Doing jazz and been
writing for some time.
I am a Scientologist and have been on staff
for some years.
I've always had some humanitarian and
spiritual objectives and looking
for something that gave some direction and
answers yet as we say in
Scientology, "What is true is what is true
for yourself."
Great to see you doing things with the
Jewish community with music and playing.
Maybe I didn't read far enough but what
happened or is happening with Darrell, Brad
and Becky.
Darrell and I lived in Lawrence by the
tracks-literally- and I one day decided to
leave and go to Berklee. Darrell followed
soon after. I was amazed that he stuck it
out and graduated--something that wasn't in
my vocabulary.
All the best,
Alan Klebanoff
Great hearing back from you, Andy.
Wow, I didn't know you and Devra creating
music together. Definitely say a big "hello"
to her from me.
I am working and living in LA, Hollywood
area as that is where the major Scientology
Center is located. I teach advanced courses
there.
As far as the music, I love all genres of
music but I mainly write in the jazz vein. I
recently hooked up to a wonderful bass and
drummer who have been playing for decades
and we really hit it off and they seemed to
like the music.
Yes, I lived on Elm by the tracks with
Darrell. I decided one day that I had it
with Kansas and was going to go to Berklee
and tried to get Darrell to go with me at
the time. He didn't then but the rest is
history. That's really wild that he's
teaching there. Great. He was always
inviting me to the Composer Alliance
Concerts but I unfortunately never made one.
I remember visiting you at your home in
Wichita and was really impressed with the
fact that you didn't have TV. It was like
"Wow, here's a guy who actually has to
create his own adventure."
There is quite a large number of Jews in
Scientology. They hold to their beliefs and
we even put on Jewish events at the
Scientology Center for Purim, Chanukah, etc.
Recently a new center was established in
Java which is beautiful. On the
ribbon-cutting ceremony there was an Israeli
woman and violinst who were incredible. I
got to see a filming of the opening. You can
check it all out if you want on the
Scientology web site.
I hope that fills you in a little bit. Hope
to stay in touch.
All the best,
Alan
12/11 12/14 2012
--------------------------------
Reading around at your
site. Did I ever tell you that
I Saw duby in the early 80’s. A
circus came to the fairgrounds……and there
he was…giving elephant rides and I am sure
shoveling elephant shit. The outfit
was out of Oklahoma. I know it was
him but he did not acknowledge my
presence…
John Lomas
1/9/2013
--------------------------------
Hey, Andy, For no obvious reason,
except that I miss seeing Billy and the
band, I googled Billy Spears and up came
this great band history site. Thanks
for putting that together. It was
absolutely great to see the pictures of all
of y'all. I am the harmonica player
from Kansas City who moved to Denver and
wound up playing with Johnny Neill in
Breakaway for years. I used to sit in
with y'all like at the Timberline and maybe
the Little Bear. My brother, Gary
Kirkland, had a bluegrass band in K.C.
called Buzzard Creek and he took me to one
of y'all's rehearsal/jam sessions in
Lawrence, I think. I may have even sat
in with you in Madame Lovejoy's back when I
was playing with Ed Toler in the Reaming
Demons. I left K.C. in January, 1975,
and moved to Denver.
To see your photographs and
read your names opened up this whole dormant
part of my brain. What a trip. I
loved you guys. Sitting in with you
was some of the high points of my
life. I'm pretty sure I've got a
couple of cassettes of us playing together
in a club in SW Denver.
Anyway, I hope you get this
email. I would love to hear from
you. I am actually considering moving
back to Missouri soon. I will be
playing in Knuckleheads in K.C. this coming
Sunday afternoon. I will be back
playing in Knuckleheads for Ray Bagsby's
70th birthday bash on Monday, June 24.
I played with him in the Jerry Wood Band for
a short while in 1973, I believe.
There will some old timers coming out of the
woods for that. Come out if you
can. I look forward to seeing you
someday.
Clay Kirkland
5/19/2013
--------------------------------
Andy,
Wanted to let you know how much I
appreciate the work you did on the Billy
Spears Band website. Found it while
reminiscing about Billy after I heard of
his death. May he rest in peace.
Also have to tell you what an influence
y'all were on a young Great Bend picker
who heard you play in 75 or 76 at a high
school football stadium in Hoisington.
And several times after that at other
venues around Kansas!
I reconnected with Billy when I moved to
Lawrence in the 80s. But, as you say so
well on the website, it was different by
then.
On that website, you have a photo of J.B.
Brown leaning on a newspaper delivery tube
for the Santa Fe New Mexican. Is that
yours? I'm wondering if it'd be OK for me
to share it with a friend of mine, the
publisher of the Santa Fe New Mexican, who
might like to share it with her paper's
readers. Lemme know!
Thanks again for the great site, but
mostly for the memories the band was a
part of (not the least of which is the
first monstrous drunk of my young life,
but that's a whole 'nother story!)
Cheers,
Ric Brack
7/9/2013
--------------------------------
Andy,
I stumbled on to your
website quite by accident this day and
nearly cried to hear of Billy’s
passing. Such memories!! I
lived at Odee Acres in Paw Paw MI with
Mike Fetterolf and Michele Pierman back
in 1975-77 and remember you all
fondly. The parties, the fun, our
extreme youth. Thanks for
sharing. I am sending out your
website address to many people here in
Kalamazoo that will enjoy the pictures
and the walk down memory lane.
Thanks again Andy. Till we meet
again.
Diane Gregory Pierman
7/17/2013
Andy –
It’s not surprising
your memories are fuzzy. It was a
wild and woolly time. I am
Michele’s sister-in-law. Michele
passed away in 1995. Billy and the
entire band still have many fans
here. I went by the old farm not
too long ago and despite the fact that
it is now broken down and abandoned, in
my mind I could hear the music and see
the crowds. My thoughts and
prayers are with Doris, Carol and
Lisa. I’d love to bring a crew to
Larry for the shindig. Attached is
a picture from Odee of your fans. J Take care.
Diane
---------------------------------------
Hello,
I'm Laurie Foster, a young girl
16yrs old when we all met in paw paw
Michigan! Im so saddened i didnt
stay in touch, billy and yall were such a
huge part of my youth. From Lawrence ks to
Lawrence michigan. odee acres.
so many drugs, my oh my we made it!
And billy made it to 81!!! right
on! R I P ! I hope he was at
peace.
I have so many things i want to ask you
about.
We all followed you around wherever you
went.
I've recently been looking for some music
to download, I can't find any to
purchase. Please send me in the
correct direction.
I'm wondering about a player y'all had
back in the 70's, his name was. Mike
cats? I think. What ever happened to
him, I recall when the bus rolled, can't
put it together.....
Hey, if ya have time I'd love to hear from
you and about the gang!
Laurie
7/18/2013
---------------------------------------
Andy,
It was good to see old friends and
bandmates last evening; I especially
enjoyed hearing you sing again. You always
had a big voice, and I felt like you've
mellowed and improved it over the years.
Aine and I had to leave early, but your
love of music and the discipline it takes
to keep improving yourself, was very
evident. She is a highly accomplished
pianist...and even at our age keeps taking
lessons and applying her skills to her job
teaching piano(and hopefully the
discipline it takes to succeed) to kids of
all ages.
So this is just a note to say hello, and
to congratulate you on a life well
lived...it's readily apparent.
Dave Wendler
www.gtrz.com
8/11/2013
-----------------------------------------------
hey andy
just discovered your site,wow.kathy
and I have spent the last few
evenings listening,remeniceing and
thouroghly enjoying this site.we have
been gone from river city for 10 years
now. you took us back to the big
eats,the red dog all the pig roasts
where the late nite music was always
the best.the wranglers even played at
our wedding at the teepee in north
Lawrence in 79.thanks for bringing us
back.
love
dave and Kathy levine
8/17/2013
----------------------------------------
Andy
You may not remember me. I
am the girl who married Doug Waldron and
you so graciously played at our
wedding. If I recall You guys were
USED PARTS at that time. I'm
not sure who all was there as far as
other members and unfortunately I no
longer have the pictures. Doug
might.
Kathy Levine sent me this stuff
from Sarah (Henderson) White.
I now am
living in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
I am very
impressed with your website! Also,
sorry to hear about Billy but he had a
pretty good life. ( And I
mean that versus dying at 50 after a
horrible life). That picture of
you taken in October 2010 is so
nice. You look great.
I have not
listened to any of the music yet but
plan to. Boy all this really
brings back good memories! I hope
you do remember me and throw me an email
back!
Susan Waldron
8/18/2013
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Curry,
I was referred to you by Darrell
Katz. I am assisting the producers of a
documentary on the rock group Kansas,
and I had contacted him trying to locate
a picture of The Kansas Blues Band,
which he was in with two of the later
Kansas band members. He wasn't able to
help with that, but he gave me a few
leads.
He also told me about The
Penetrations, and it reminded me that I
had seen the name before. I have a
poster from an all-day rock festival at
The Store in Emporia (Aug. 24,1972),
with these groups on the bill: Kansas,
The Penetrations, The Jerms, Beast,
White Lead, Rathbone, Join Session. That
wasn't the lineup of Kansas that became
famous (it only had later member Kerry Livgren).
Do you remember that gig?
I wanted to share a little clipping I
found for The Penetrations playing at
the Iron Horse in Emporia (from Emporia Gazette,
9/27/72) that I thought you might want
for your website. See the attachment.
Did your path ever cross with any of
the members of Kansas? If so, and you
have any photos, handbills, etc., I'd be
interested in getting copies to use for
stills in the film.
I hope to hear from you. Thanks.
Andy,
Thanks for your reply. I found
another item that might interest
you: a
clipping for a Penetrations gig in
Lawrence on Jan. 21, 1973 (in Jan. 18
edition of Lawrence newspaper).
---
Kerry
3/14/2014
Enjoyed your site. The fiddling Roger
Osborn just left my house and told me
of Billy's passing. That was one cool
dude.
Craig from Vicksburg
Michigan
4/6/2014
-------------------------------------
Just heard
about Lee. So sorry to
hear this! Went to high
school with him in Osage City.
Then saw him again years
later by chance playing in a bar in
Corpus Christi Texas. He
will be missed.
S. Eiermann
6/25/2014
-------------------------------------
Hi, Andy.
Just spent a couple of hours perusing your
website, and had to drop you this note to
say how much I enjoyed it and what a great
site it is. I love the pix and the music
samples, and your writing has a lovely, wry
touch.
I should also express my condolences to you
on the death this week of Lee McBee.
Best regards to you and BelleAnne, who is my
Facebook friend. I see you in some of the
pix she posts, but don't see your profile
there …
Rick Hellman
6/28/2014
--------------
Hi Andy ...
Love your website. Such detailed
info - it sums up an era for many
people.
I was looking for information on Odee
Acres festival in Michigan, but got much
more.
Thanks for documenting it all.
George Crow
2/1/2015
--------------
My name is Stan Crocker.. I'm looking
for history regarding the son of a
friend of my father in law. The name is
Rex Stone, a percussionist, drummer if
you will. Also played the Vibe. I'm
attaching a photo of the group Rex
played in around 1971/72/73. The names
provided by his mother at Lee Stover,
group leader, Dallas Barclay, on bass,
Rex Stone, drums and Dave Scott, guitar.
In the photo, stage right to left is
Dallas, Rex, Lee, Dave.
Rex recently died while visiting his mom
here in Springfield, Mo. She was sharing
his story with me and showed me this
picture. Anything, good, bad, or
different is appreciated. Rex was no
saint, but who cares. I am Rex's age,
61. I grew up here in Springfield
too. I'm just searching history to
allow a mom to relive a departed sons
world. She is a worldly person herself,
with a wicked sense of humor. If anyone
can help, thanks!
Stan Crocker
Nixa
12/1/2015
--------------
Hi, Andy Curry,
I was googling around for Cornucopia
Café in Lawrence, Kansas and came
up with a historic page, lots of
photos and your name at the bottom ( http://www.andycurry.info/cornucopia.htm). You
mentioned 'here in St. Louis' so I took
a stab and came up with this e-mail
address off the 'Andy Curry web site'.
It all appears to fit so I thought I'd
take a chance.
I was a HUGE fan of Cornucopia Café
while in school at Lawrence between
1974-1978. I would LOVE to get some of
the salad dressing recipes in
particular; doubt I could replicate the
phenomenal croutons, but the salad
dressings were superb.
If you are the same Andy Curry, would
you happen to know anyone I could
contact regarding the above? I'm not a
business, just a private individual with
excellent memories who'd like to
replicate a few.
Please let me know, and thank you for
your consideration.
Best regards,
Zo ë
Baldwin
Kansas City, Missouri
3/2/2016
--------------
Andy,
Allow me to introduce
myself. I am Tracy Davis,
and I am a big fan of The
Cornucopia Restaurant in
Lawrence, KS. It was one
of my first experiences with a
salad bar which baked their own
fresh bread.
Delicious! During the
course of my eating there, I
fell in love with their 1000
Island Dressing. In all
the time since my last visit,
I’ve not encountered another
dressing like it, and I have
been craving it ever since. Is it possible that
you remember how that dressing
was made? I would be
forever in your debt if you
could help me figure out how it
was made. If not, do you
possibly have a contact to
someone who knows? I
really appreciate your help
getting this yummy dressing back
into my life.
Sincerely,
Tracy Davis
5/2/2016
--------------
Andy
– I was thinking about the
past this morning and took a
look and found your site. This
is Marc Castle here, whom you
may remember as your “roadie”
for a short spell, being on
the Oklahoma trip and when you
guys opened for Muddy. That
was a fun week...Muddy, not
Oklahoma!
I’ve
bookmarked this and I’ll spend
some time listening. I thought
you all were great! Great
seeing these photos, too.
I
heard Bud had cancer a while
back but I never heard how he
did with it. Shelley Nixon, my
girlfriend back then, has
died, which you may have known
about, if you even remembered
her. I heard that Bee had died
some years back. I thought he
was a hell of good guy and a
fine musician.
Thanks
for putting this out and
making my day! I hope you’re
well, Andy.
Marc
Hey Andy – I happened to be
sitting at the computer just
now when you wrote. You’re
right. I was thinking of Jim
Bee. My memory was that his
last name was something other
than Bee, so I thought that
was him. Someone did get paid
from that Oklahoma trip...me.
You promised me 25 bucks to go
on the trip, along with meals,
and though the band didn’t get
paid, you did give me the 25
at the end of the trip!
Hindsight tells me I shouldn’t
have accepted it...but I did.
Sorry about that. I’d be happy
to pay you back.
Shelley was the best friend of
Sarah Walker... I got back in
touch with her right as she
had been diagnosed with breast
cancer and did my best to be a
friend and help her as she
went through all that shit. I
went to Leavenworth and saw
her shortly before she died. A
crude story about her and
Pinetop... After the last
night of the Muddy gigs,
Pinetop Perkins was trying to
talk Shelley into going back
to Chicago with him and she
was flustered and looking to
me for help as I was helping
with the load out. I didn’t
know what to do...so as I
walked past them I stopped and
said to her, loudly enough for
everyone to hear, why don’t
you come home and sit on my
face? Shelley and her friends
exploded into laughter,
Pinetop was gob smacked and
she was able to turn away and
escape! You also mentioned
that you procured some pot for
Muddy during that week but I
remember being in his guitar
player’s room later that same
night and you went to light up
a joint and he said no, not in
here, take it outside. I also
recall Brad being really
excited about having a big
piano to play on stage but
after you all played the first
night he said he wouldn’t play
it again because it was so out
of tune!
Other
memories...painting the bus
behind that big apartment
building, going to Olathe to
see Count Basie and a couple
of girls who sang for a few
gigs that we named the
Penetrettes. Who were they?
If
you’re still in touch with
Bud, give him my regards. He
and I hung out a lot
together back then, playing
pool and being stupid. I
remember the Woody Herman
story, too! Shelley did give
me a few photos of myself
from then but I’ll have to
scrounge around and find
them. I’ll scan one and send
it later.
Me?
I actually went to school
after leaving Lawrence and
proceeded to be a
professional student for a
spell...BS in Wildlife
Biology, MS in Biology and a
Ph.D in Wildlife
Parasitology. I worked for
the USDA and then at
Colorado State before I got
sick of Science and killing
animals. I ended up in
Hopkinsville, KY, and took
care of my parents in their
old age. They’re both gone
now but I stayed on, though
I was out in CO this Summer
and realised I need to go
back for the remainder of my
days. I’ve maintained close
friendships with people
there and they all want me
to come back, too.
I
saw a note in your Guest
Book from Susie Creamcheeze
(sp. ?). That wouldn’t be
Susie Weber, would it? If
so, she and I went to Junior
High together! A beautiful
woman, father Hispanic and
mother Chinese, if I
remember correctly. I recall
she had a clothing store in
Lawrence with that name.
I’ll
send a photo later. It is
great to hear you all play
again and Becky sing...man,
she had a voice! Damn easy
on the eyes, too.
Thanks
for getting back to me,
Andy! I appreciate it.
Take
care,
And
it was Emporia, not Olathe.
You had mentioned Becky’s
tiny bladder in your
writings and there was a
memory of that with her and
Shelley on our way back that
night. They both had to pee
and we had stopped the bus
along whatever road we were
on but Shelley didn’t want
to go pee in the field and
it took us all to persuade
her it was better than going
in her pants. When she and
Becky were out there,
squatted and going, one of
us had a flashlight on them
and we all got quite the
laugh out of it, Becky
included, though Shelley
wasn’t laughing!
Have
a good day, Andy! Thanks
again for the reply.
This
will be my last Andy, I
assure you! I've spent more
time perusing the site and
have loved the music,
memories and photos. The
photo of you and Becky in
the snow on Tennessee was
right where I first lived
when I moved to Lawrence,
1321 TN. We lived in the
upstairs apartment there and
it was us who put that tire
swing out. I moved there in
1970 and lived there well
into 71. Shelley and Sarah
lived two houses toward
14th, I guess that would
have been 1325. A woman
named Liz may have have
lived there, too, and she
was the woman that Darrel
had a thing for. I don't
remember if it ever
happened, but he was more
than interested in her. You
also wrote that Becky lived
in an apartment on 11th,
right down near Mass, and
that was with Shelley! Maybe
you remember her big, hairy
dog named Pooh? That's my
memory but you'll have to
corroborate that with Becky.
And I enjoyed the
songs with just the two of
you. You've a lot of songs
to listen to on the site.
Really fine job, man.
But
back to Tennessee... Later,
Bud lived at the house right
next door with Sue, who was
on the Oklahoma trip, and a
couple who were Anton LaVay
followers, satanists. Aleta
Schoolmaster was her
name...a tall, black haired,
very attractive woman. I
forget his. But one
afternoon, Bud, Sue and I
were smoking hash on the
front porch when a cop
walked up on the porch and
said, you, you and you are
under arrest. He had us walk
out to the little grassy
area in front of the houses
back then and told Bud to
hand over the pipe. Bud
tossed it to him and the
hash within came flying out
and landed right near where
I was standing. The cop
didn't see this and I
casually sidled over and put
my foot down on it and very
slowly crushed it into the
ground, thus obliterating
it. That happened to be the
last of the hash we actually
had on us. Of course they
asked if we lived there and
we lied, knowing there was a
quarter ounce inside on the
coffee table, which would
have busted us all big time.
They believed us...go
figure. It ended up that all
they had was an empty pipe,
so they went away and we
were free. They kept the
pipe...
Great
site and great job, Andy. I
will now leave you alone.
But I got to meet and shake
hands with Muddy Waters due
to you and the Penetrations.
That was big. I was and
still am a huge Blues fan
and that was a big deal.
Pleas forgive the previous
crude story...why in the
hell I came out with that
I've never understood. It
was unlike me and it made no
sense but that was what came
out of my mouth! But it
worked...
May
you always have peace and
love.
Marc
10/25/2016
--------------------
Hey Andy: The shop boys
at Richard’s asked me if I had
seen the pic of me (and
Richmen Express) on the
internet. It’s the one
from your website.
Michael, Rerun and I have all
have written something on our
shirts. Like signing the
pic for someone. Mine
says “let get naked” which the
shop boys thought was
funny. Got any idea why
we signed that photo? I
also note that the photo
predates our Sears western
shirts (which I still
have).
My first gig with Dwane was at
Charlie Hall’s in
Topeka. Not sure of the
year. Also not sure of
who I might have replaced on
guitar. Maybe we were
signing that photo for one of
the girls dancing out
front.
You mention your collection of
tapes. Larry Shortt
taped us at the Country
Playhouse? (the place at 23 rd
and Haskell) for a whole
night. I have four 10”
reels of tape from that
night. I need to get it
digitized so I can distribute
to you and anyone else that
might have an interest.
I also have a box of 7” reels
of tape which include one or
two that say Used Parts on
them. The Larry Shortt
recording has all of the
banter among us between
songs. I always wanted
to record the funniest
comments from between songs
and call it “the worst of the
Richmen Express”. That’s
a retirement project. Of
all the Richmen songs you
posted, Trouble in Mind is the
best in my view. Your
kickass vocal and some hot
guitar playing! As I
listened to those songs I
didn’t play badly (most of the
time J) just too many notes. I’m
way more laid back now.
Hope this finds you well, best
regards, -jb PS:
you were the best bass player
I ever played with.
Thanks! And I should have
mentioned it more back then J
John "Corky" Bell
8/9/2017
----------------------
Thanks again for posting stuff
about the Billy Spears
band. Still revisit it
and love to remember happy
times. I don't think you
remember me. I met Jim
Law in Venice CA. I was
in Lawrence for a few months
but I was kinda messed up back
then. But Jim Law played
a huge part in life. I
am a better person for knowing
him and loving your music.
Ellen Ross
9/29/2017
----------------------
Andy:
I
saw the Penetrations play as
the opening act for Muddy
Waters at the Red Baron in
Lawrence in 1972. On
Marshall Barber's Thursday
night radio program there
was talk about Darrell Katz,
so my online search led to
your website.
I've
spent a couple hours reading
all the pages on your
site. I intend to come
back and listen to the music
posted there.
There
are so many places, events,
and names I am familiar
with, having spent several
evenings in Lawrence at the
Opera House/Liberty Hall,
Off-the-Wall-Hall/Bottleneck,
Paul Grey's Jazz
House/Jazzhaus, the
Cornucopia restaurant, and
all the record stores in
Lawrence. Lawrence has
always been such a cool
town.
Thank
you for sharing all of these
photos, recordings, and
recollections of Lawrence.
Mark
Dillman
"Daddy-o
Dilly"
12/28/2017
--------------------------
Mr. Curry,
A while ago, I was indulging
in some nostalgia and happened
upon your website. I was
hunting for information on the
band Mud Creek as I had
briefly lived in Lawrence in
the summer of '73 and made the
acquaintance of some of its
members. (Their names are lost
in what passes for my memory,
though I do remember other
names - James Grauerholz,
Sally Detlor come to mind.) At
any rate, your enjoyable
website popped up and not too
long afterward so here did
you.
Lawrence was (and probably
still is, I'd reckon) the sort
of place that served as an
oasis for Kansans who found
the rest of the state too
stultifying. I recall telling
my pals that it seemed to have
a higher concentration of
crazy than either Madison, WI,
or Eugene, OR, both places I
knew pretty well (and both
places well acquainted with
crazy!). I felt at home in all
three.
My folks met there in the
mid-40s, my mom seemingly
unable to leave Council Grove
quickly enough and my dad
leaving Hays for the Navy and
then KU.
It's been many, many years
since I've been in the state.
It's probably time to visit
and show my East Coaster of a
wife that Kansas really does
exist.
Please allow me an
observation.
To me, the most interesting
thing outside of your ability
to chronicle your life is your
seeming switch from hard
charging rock 'n' roller to
thoughtful sacred music maker.
As a blog reader, I would find
how and why that change (if in
fact that is a change) took
place to be a great addition.
I also realize that sort of
thing can be incredibly
personal, so if I've intruded,
my apologies.
Thanks for furnishing me a
window on that summer.
Harold
Persing
8/6/2019
---------------------------------------
Hi Andy
Hope you’re still
here.
I stumbled across
your website while trying to
find a recording of Billy
doing Janets Tune. Sure
enough, it’s there! Thanks
so much.
I’m a lifelong
fiddle player, but I was
still on the learning curve
when I met Billy in
Albuquerque, must have been
’77 or ’78. You may have
been playing at the Caravan
East or Ned’s on Central.
Anyway, I went over to the
motel room with Billy and my
old cassette recorder. We
played some, and he recorded
some tunes for me. This is
one of them….the best
version of Wednesday Night
Waltz I ever heard! I
still play it this way and
think of Billy every time.
Me and my fiddle playing
buddy, Grey Howell, really
loved seeing the band and
listening to Billy. Plus we
both had a major crush on
Carol:)
Best
Don Cooke
Durango CO
10/3/2022
____________________________________
Apparently
there’s some sort of 80th birday
celebration in Lawrence
(so facebook tells me) for
the Tan Man!
Darrell Katz, 01/06/2023
___________________________
Thank you for your info site
Andy. Alot of
time and love went into
it. I deeply
appreciate the memories and
recordings. I believe
this band was on the brink
of breaking through.
You all were not just
the best in music, but in
people. Your
site is a work of art!
Thanks for this gift.
-- Michigan Marg.
Living in Kalamazoo now,
South Haven back then.
01/07/2023
---------------------------------------
Hey Andy,
You
probably
wont remember me. My
name is Bart
Kreutzer, I use to
live across the hall from
you in Lawrence from about
1970, I was an art student
at KU. I lived
across the hall from
your bands studio
above Burk's Awning on
Massachusetts Street.
I knew your band manager
better even though now I
forget his name.
I took
some photographs of your
band at various locations
in Lawrence. I see some of
my photos on your web
page. That's great, I
enjoy seeing them. I
also enjoy listening to
the recordings you
have posted on your
page. They bring
back fond memories.
After
getting run out of
the job market at age 60,
(11 years ago), I decided
I would spend my time in
retirement learning to
play music. Your band The
Penetrations and others in
Lawrence at the time
inspired me so I have
spent the time over the
last 11 years taking some
drum, piano and bass
guitar lessons.
I am currently
in a band with three other
old farts. We
havent really played
any gigs yet, just a
couple of outdoor parties
but we are looking for
more gigs. We get together
and practice 3 or 4 times
a month.
I record our
songs and upload them to
youtube. I hope you
check out our channel, I
would appreciate your
feedback. I hope this
message finds you in good
health.
Best
Regards
Bart Kreutzer
YouTube channel
link below
https://www.youtube.com/@bartkreutzer5155/videos
WOW!
Another surprise.
I figured that email
address might have been
outdated.
Yeah Duby,
I remember now. Yeah he
was a character, that is
the kinda guy you need
to promote a
band.... Do you
remember the old
man and women that lived
in that apartment next
to mine? One night
like way past midnight
my brother came looking
for me while he was
tripping on acid. He
went to the wrong door
and that old man opened
the door to greet him
and the old man was
naked. Nobody wants to
see anything like that
while tripping. I was
considering taking my
brother to HEADQUARTERS
after that to bring him
down. Anyway I got
some old street photos
of downtown Lawrence of
that time. A lot of
storefront photos of
businesses on Mass.
St. someday I might have
to dig those out.
Regards,
Bart
03/14/2023
|
