Hi Everyone. I moved to Bakersfield 4 years ago after living in L.A. 42 years. I love L.A. and here are a few pictures of a few of the legends of the world famous "Bakersfield Sound" that I had the good fortune to work with over the coarse of several decades in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, all the Bakersfield greats in these pictures have passed on to "Hillbilly Heaven".I have posted 2 photos with Rose Maddox and 2 photos with Red Simpson to show the decades apart that I played with each. One with Rose, my drummer at the time, Alan Bush, and myself, goes back to about 1984 at a club we played called "The Baltic Sea" in Culver City. The other pic with Rose has me presenting a "Congratulations" cake on the Barn Dance in 1997 at Jack's Sugar Shack to Rose for having been nominated for a Grammy for "Best Bluegrass Album". The Grammy Awards were the very next night and Rose attended. She passed away in 1998.
There are also 2 photos with another of the legends of "The Bakersfield Sound", the great singer, songwriter, musician, Red Simpson. The one photo is from about 1989 at the Palomino Club. You see Red here on stage, I am on the left in the pic, and the late, great singer/guitarist Jeannie King in the background. This was a benefit for Red, set up by the California Country Music Association to help with medical expenses for the skin cancer that Red had surgery for in 1988. I was asked to MC the show and help book some of the musical acts and Red was there with a happy smile, looking and sounding wonderful. The other photo with Red has me introducing him many , many years later at Viva Cantina in Burbank in March of 2015. I brought Red down to Burbank to play on one of my monthly "Salute to the Music of America's Legends" shows. Red came down to help honor the late Cliffie Stone that night and we also paid tribute to Red by presenting him with a cake on stage and I lead the audience in the singing of Happy Birthday. It was Red's 80'th. He passed away 10 months later on Jan.8, 2016.
Also, the SUPER wonderful late great Sue Smart was also on that same show and is pictured here with my introducing her. Sue and her husband Del Smart were also pioneers and legends of the "Bakersfield Sound" in the 1960's and 70's. Though Sue was approaching 90 years old on this show, she sounded and looked as wonderful as ever and her happy upbeat, winning personality had the crowd cheering. She has also since passed on to "Hillbilly Heaven".
The other photo here is of me and the Barn Dance Band back stage at The Palomino Club around 1990 with one of the all time legends, not only of the "Bakersfield Sound", but in the whole history of Country Music, Buck Owens. We did a one hour mini Barn Dance to open for Buck. Some of the celebrity's at the show were Brooke Shields, Del Shannon, and Al Kooper. In the picture, left to right, are: Steve Van Gelder, Marty Rifkin, Billy Block, Me, Buck Owen's, Dale Watson, and James Intveld. 2 members of the Barn Dance Band in this pic, Steve Van Gelder and Billy Block are also now in "Hillbilly Heaven". I am bummed that I can't find the picture of me introducing the nicest, sweetest person, and great Country singer, Bonnie Owen's who came along with our long time mutual friend, Traditional Country singer Kathy Robertson, to a Hank Williams Birthday Tribute on The Barn Dance. Bonnie sang and the crowd was in awe that they unexpectedly got to see and here this incredible vocalist singing a couple of Hank Williams songs on his birthday. Bonnie of course has also gone onto " Hillbilly Heaven". I WILL find that picture with Bonnie and post it another time.
Bakersfield will never forget the legends and pioneers of the world famous "Bakersfield Sound". They have a lot to be proud of.
Thank you folks. Stay safe. Sending lots of love, hugs, and Best Wishes to you all.