| |
From
what I've read I believe that you
grew up in a house where music
was present?
Yes that is true. My mom and dad
were both musicians and raised us
kids in the world of music. My
mom was very talented and wrote
plays and songs for us kids to
sing and act out for the
community we lived in. Our family
was very well known as
entertainers and were asked to
perform on most all city events
that took place over many years.
I had two brothers, Skippy and
Mickey and one sister, Bea. We
all played instruments and took
part in the singing.
How did you decide to be
a musician yourself?
It really was not a decision
process. All I can remember as a
child is that music was a big
part of me and came easy for me
to do. I didn't have big plans
until I was a teenager in high
school and figured out that you
could make a living in the music
business.
What did appeal you in
rockabilly music?
My music background was first
influenced by my mom and dad. I
grew up playing and singing songs
of the 1930's and 40's. Then came
along Elvis Presley when I was in
my teens. The style of music
Elvis began doing just hit me at
a time I was looking for
something new to explore in the
music world. At that time I
decided that the sound and style
was what excited me and made
performing music fresh. Young
people of that time were also
looking for something different.
I believe you actually
met Elvis. Tell us about that...
Yes, Elvis, Scotty and Bill came
into my life by accident. A
friend of mine had introduced me
to Elvis' music and he could
mimic Elvis, but, could not play
guitar. He and I teamed up. I
played the guitar while he did
his impersonation of Elvis. I
also knew the songs of the "Platters"
and would sing them as my part of
our entertainment . We became
well known by the teenagers in
our town. The local Radio
Station, KOSY, were the promoters
that brought Elvis and his band
to our city, Texarkana, Arkansas.
Of course, my friend and I, along
with most of the local teenagers
went to see him perform. A lot of
these teenagers knew of our (my
friend and me) before they saw
Elvis.
On one occasion, Elvis and his
band were on their way to
Texarkana and had a car accident
about 12 miles south of Texarkana.
Scotty notified the booking agent
that they would be late getting
into Texarkana for their show.
The booking agent knew about my
friend and me and contacted us to
come to the show and keep the
crowd happy until Elvis could get
there. We were into our act when
Elvis got to the show. Of course,
he took over and my friend and I
left the stage. However, we were
asked to hang around until
intermission so Elvis could talk
to us and thank us. We were
invited to his dressing room and
spent about 30 minutes discussing
music and just teenage stuff.
I met Elvis on another occasion
at KOSY Radio Station in
Texarkana. He and his band were
doing a promotion for their show
with a local disjocky. The
disjocky was my manager and I
spent a lot of time at the Radio
Station helping him with his
Radio Show. I talked with Elvis,
Scotty and Bill for a while about
his show and things to do around
our city. Things happened pretty
fast after that visit. I never
saw any of them again in person.
All this took place in just a
couple of months beginning late
1954 and early 1955.
I'm sure our readers
would be thrilled to hear a story
or two of you touring with Carl
Perkins and Johnny Cash.
First let me say that the word
"touring" is not really
what happened. I never toured
with these guys. However, after
Elvis left the area of Texarkana,
Carl and Johnny took his place on
the Friday night shows that were
booked each month in Texarkana. I
had begun writing songs and
trying to get noticed by the
local music fans that were coming
to these shows. The shows that I
performed on with Carl and Johnny
were always in Texarkana at the
time they were touring through
this part of the country. My
manager was the booking agent
that booked Elvis, Carl, Johnny
and many others into Texarkana.
This is how I got to be on the
shows with them. After I formed
my band, "The Flying Saucers"
and was recording for RPM
Records, I wanted to tour with
them to other cities.
I guess the most memorable story
I can tell concerns Carl Perkins.
Before I formed my band, I was on
some shows as a single. I just
walked out on stage by myself and
did my songs with my guitar. One
night when Carl and Johnny were
in Texarkana doing a show, I was
again going out on stage by
myself. Some how, Carl learned
that I was going to do a single
act. He came to me and asked if
it would be OK if he went on
stage with me. He thought I would
sound better with some kind of
band backing me. I was thrilled
by the thought but couldn't
believe that one of the
headlinners of the show would do
such a favor. Well, Carl did go
out with me as well as Johnny's
bass man, Marshall Grant. We did
my songs as if we had been
together for ever. I always
remembered this act of kindness
that Carl Perkins and Marshall
Grant showed me. I always tried
to help others as my music career
grew.
After sending demos, you
eventually got a contract with
Joe Bihari, but I guess that like
many young rock'n'roller your
dream was Sun...
Yes, I wanted to record for Sun
Records in the beginning. Part of
the reason was to be included in
the bookings with Carl, Johnny
and other Sun artist. Sun Records
put these "Booking Packages"
together and did not include
other artist that were recording
for other companies. At least not
the "new artist". Sam
Philips had a lock on this type
of touring at the time I was just
getting started. I had sent a
demo to Sun, but never heard from
them. When RPM Records and Joe
Bihari came along I was eager and
ready to get my music out on
Records.
Strangely, contrary to
the excellent demos you made
previously that were straight
rockabilly, the songs were
rearranged in a more
rhythm'n'blues vein. How did you
feel about that?
Well, history has recorded that I
was not happy about the change in
music style. Again, I wanted to
be a part of the shows with the
Sun Touring Group and doing the
music I felt was best for me. RPM
had other ideas and my manager
with along with them. I had a
Rockabilly Band and could not
reproduce the R&B sound with
this band. Shows would have been
a disaster. I was very unhappy!!
Did your band played on
this sides or was it session
players?
My band played on all the early
Rockabilly versions of my music.
The R&B versions were
recorded with a band out of New
Orleans, Louisiana. I in fact
recorded the R&B stuff in New
Orleans. This band was the same
band that had recorded with
Little Richard and Fats Domino
when they recorded in the New
Orleans area. I had nothing
against the band; they were very
good at the R&B style music.
This was not what I wanted to do
and felt I was being forced to
change due to my Recording
Contract. The shows I did after
the R&B versions were
released, did not go well for me.
Fans expected to hear the same
music on stage that the radio
stations were playing. My band
was pure Rockabilly and could not
reproduce the R&B sound.
After that, you quickly
stopped your musical career, even
before the end of your contract,
and joined the Air Force. Why?
The answer to this question is in
the above answer. I was very
unhappy about the change in style.
My manager and I were at odds
about this change and the only
way I could get away from my
contract with him as well as RPM
Records was to join one of the
Military Services; I choose the U.S.
Air Force.
Were you playing music
while in the army?
While in the U.S. Air Force, I
did get with a "Top 40"
style bands as a guitar player
and vocalist. These bands were
available at the bases where I
was stationed. I worked my
Military job during the day hours
and played music at night mostly
on the Military Bases where I was
stationed. It was during this
time frame I became interest in
Jazz Guitar music.
Tell us about the
Variables?
When I was discharged from the
Military, I went back to my home
town of Texakana. Rockabilly
Music was a thing of the past and
I had married and was raising
children with my high school
sweetheart. I had
responsibilities that a music
career, that included touring,
was out of the question. I had
experienced the music world as a
young teenager and did not think
I would like that kind of life
for my family. My music style had
also changed to a Jazz type music
which had taken me back to my
roots of the 1930 and 40's type
songs that the Jazz music field
likes to explore. I had a friend
that played this type of music
that was older than I. He invited
me to play a gig with his band.
The guys in the band liked my
guitar playing and also my vocal
work. I had been raised on the
type of music they played and
knew most of the songs. It was a
good fit for me. This band became
popular in the area. When I was
added to the band I also gave the
band the versatility of County
and Rock music. This is why and
how the name "Variables"
got tagged as the name of the
band. I played with these guys
for over 35 years.
In the late 70's/early 80's,
a whole new generation
rediscovered rockabilly and your
music, which led you to play
festivals in Europe. How did you
feel about that?
In the 70's and 80's, I was
contacted by agents concerning
this new found Rockabilly area by
Europe. At the time, I really
thought it was just a small fad
that had happened. I really
didn't give it much thought and
turned down their offers. But,
finally in 1995, a booking agent
contacted me and talked me into
coming to England for a show. I
took the booking because I was
curious as to how much the story
was true. I still could not
believe that a generation of fans
would want to hear the old
Rockabilly Music by and old
musician. Boy!!!! was I in shock!!!!
My wife and I came away form
England in a dream. I then
allowed myself to get back
involved in the Rockabilly Music,
but this time it was on my terms.
I wanted to do my music my way or
not do it at all. As it turned
out, I got my wish and have been
able to get a taste of what it
might have been like if things
had gone my way as a teenager.
I'm very thankful to the
Rockabilly Fans that gave me a
second chance late in life.
What do you think about
this new bands that continue to
make of this genre a living
music?
Of course, I really think it's
great that we have young folks
wanting to keep this Rockabilly
Music alive. I wish them all the
best. I really think that
Rockabilly Music should have it's
place in the music world as a
transition Music to the now Rock
& Roll Music and Country Rock
Music. I lived the transition
faze and I see the results of
todays popular music that have
the same basis that formed
Rockabilly Music in the 50's. It
should be recognized by todays
Music World.
That leads me to Wild
Hare. You cut an album with them.
How did you get in touch with
Dave Moore ?
After doing the Show in England,
in 1995, I felt my hearing
problems would not let me perform
up to the expectations of myself
or Rockabilly Fans. I turned down
other booking due to this reason.
I did, however, feel I could
write songs for the young bands
to record. This would keep me
involved. I had been contacted by
a couple of fans that had a band.
They had sent me one of their
recordings which was on Wildhare
Records Label. I liked there
sound and decided to send them
some of my songs for them to
record. I made a tape of the
songs and sent it to them by way
of Wildhare Records. I then was
contacted by Dave Moore who
suggested that I come to West
Virginia and record the songs
myself. I really didn't know what
to think, but meanwhile had
accepted a one time booking in
Green Bay, Wisconsin. I thought
it would be nice if I had a CD to
present at Green Bay. I accepted
Dave's offer and recorded the
songs I had sent him. I really
had no plans to do any more
performances, but as a result of
the new CD, I was in demand again
and hated to disappoint the Fans
that liked my music. I began to
take some bookings.
You recently announced on
your myspace page you were
definitely retiring from playing
music on stage...
Yes, I really think it is time
for me to hang it up. My hearing
is getting much worse and I'm
beginning to get tone deaf. This
really presents a problem with
music. I did my last performance
in France at the "Crazy Cats
Club". It was a tough
performance for me to do. I
realized then it was time to quit.
My wife and I are now taking time
to travel in the USA and see some
things we always wanted to stop
and see. We have traveled some in
the past, but didn't take the
time to really see the things
cities have to offer a tourist. I
hope we have may year of it ahead
of us.
Do you want to add
something for your fans all over
the world?
Well, I really think I should
thank all the Rockabilly Fans
support all these years. Their
support allowed me to live a
dream I had as a teenager. I
really think it came in the best
years of my life. Being older
made me appreciate the music and
the opportunity to bring it to a
new generation of fans. It's been
a great ride and I am very
grateful
Don't
forget to visit Pat's myspace and
Pat's fanclub.
|
