Plastic Musik: Boomwhackers

New Remo Tattoo Skyns Drum Heads: Design by Corey Miller of LA Ink

http://www.flickr.com/photos/remopercussion/sets/72157623045373673/show/

Beauregard Ajax: Happy Brontosaurus

Found this silly song from my 60's rock group, Beauregard Ajax, on youtube today.

Surf Rocker Richard Delvy Dead at 67 - Spinner

Surf Rocker Richard Delvy Dead at 67 - Spinner

Drummer Joke

One day Gene Krupa goes to his mailbox. Inside he finds a letter addressed to "The World's Greatest Drummer." He says to himself, "Well, I'm not the world's greatest drummer," so he sends the letter to Louis Bellson. Bellson gets the letter and decides that it's not meant for him, so he sends it to Shelly Manne. Shelly decides it's not meant for him, so he sends it to Buddy Rich. Buddy Rich just assumes that it's for him, so he tears it open and reads the first line: "Dear Ringo....."

Third US Army Soldier Show: Hello Dolly (1971)

This 1971 production of Hello Dolly was the first performance of the Broadway musical by a military company. The show included all the music with band accompaniment, the play, stage, changing scenery, lighting, and choreography. The production was unique also in the fact the cast was integrated with all the major couples being interracial. And to think that this was performed in the South in 1971! Pretty progressive for an army unit.

By the time we got to doing this production I had already played drums for a number of Broadway Show tunes from the previous Soldier Shows. So, for a former Rock/Blues drummer to play for a complete Broadway musical was a special experience. I consider myself priveleged to have been able to play and tour with around 6 Soldier Shows, and particularly for this big production of Hello Dolly at the age of 22.

Third US Army Soldier Show: Good Time Summer Time (1971)

This show was made up mostly of popular music on the radio in 1971. I can still hear the deep baritone voice of Anthony Burke singing the Robert Goulet's "It's Impossible." His amazing voice sounded like Goulet. I wonder where he is today? Still singing? This show did include the 1971 Broadway show tune, Purlie, from the musical of the same name. We had done "Walk Him Up the Stairs" from Purlie in our show "Getting It Together, Now." The show concluded with "Open a New Window" from the Broadway musical "Mame."

Third US Army Soldier Show: Turned On, Tuned In, Out A Sight (1970)

This was my second show with the Third US Army Soldier Show. I'm sorry I don't have any photos from this production. It started off with the overture from the Who's "Tommy" and went right into songs from "The Me Nobody Knows," an off-Broadway musical that opened in 1970 and later went to Broadway. The popular songs were interspersed with occasional short jokes, kinda like vaudeville.

The shows final act was a tribute to George M. Cohan and Funny Girl, Fanny Brice featuring Debbie McWhirter. The Finale was a a patriotic fanfare with Yankee Doodle Dandy and You're a Grand Old Flag. This got the troops on their feet! (As an Anabaptist, I now cringe at my role in promoting such nationalistic fervor!)

Third US Army Soldier Show (1970): Getting It Together, Now

Over the past few years I have reconnected with a number of former members of the Third US Army Soldier Show that I played drums for from 1970-71 (40 years ago!) at the ages of 21 and 22. Some members from earlier years recently put up a website and contacted me about adding info from the years I was a member (see the website at http://www.tusa-showmobile.com/).

I have written some stories about my experiences in the Third US Army Soldier Show for Youth Peace Resources at: http://peace.mennolink.org/cgi-bin/blog/6.cgi?about. My basic story is that I was drafted at the age of 20 into the Army during the Vietnam War. Since I did not believe in killing other human beings, I went as a conscientious objector and was trained as an Army medic. I ended up working in an Army base pharmacy in Augusta, Georgia. While working there Terry Moretti, trumpet player for the Third US Army Soldier Show just happened to come in the back of the pharmacy for some cough syrup he needed before a show that evening. Having been a drummer since grade school and having played and recorded with the group Beauregarde Ajax, I asked him about auditioning for the show. After the show that evening I auditioned for a 4 month temporary assignment to the Soldier Show, based in Atlanta, Georgia. A month or so after the audition I received notice that I had been accepted into the show. I was transfered to Third Army Headquarters in Atlanta.

"Getting It Together, Now" was my first of 4-5 different shows with the Third US Army. The show included pop songs on the radio and usually a section of Broadway show tunes. We rehearsed for 2 months and toured the South for 2 months playing at Army bases, similar to a USO show. The troup traveled with a tour bus and truck that hauled instruments, stage, lighting and sound equipment. Soldiers in the show received, if I remember correctly, $3 extra dollars a day while on the road. Wow! The show was run by civilians (director, band conductor, choreographer, sound technician) with an Army officer over our company to make sure we kept ourselves in line.

I remember letting my mustache grow longer than regulation on this first tour (I was a long haired musician living in LA when I was drafted in 1969). When we returned to base I tried to keep it long, but was commanded to cut my long mustache back to regulation standard (Mustaches could not grow past the corners of your mouth). I didn't like the Army and particularly being told what to do. So next morning I show up with it cut into a Hitler mustache! It was not appreciated.

Since I was the pit band drummer I was responsible for many of the cues and regulating the tempos of the music for the show, which were much too fast for my musical tastes. At times the tempos sounded carnivalesque! It took a lot of memorization and many times rehearsals on the weekends.

After the first show, which was to be a temporary assignment, I and a few others in the show were kept on as permanent members to provide some continuity as new members were added each show from the auditions held at the various bases where we performed.

My 18 months in the Third US Army Soldier Show not only built up my drumming chops, but provided an enjoyable and memorable expoerience during my time in the US Army.

My next few post will be photos and playbills from other Third US Army Soldier Show productions.