1959

 Sat Aug 31, 2024

 Dolly

 Larry Daniels, Baketown radio DJ and PD and leader of his Buckshots band (wonder where he came up with that band name?)

 

The last band at the Bakersfield Blackboard Club/1975 back row-Eugene Moles, Ed Hill, Ron Trammel. Front row-John Davis, Sandy Jean Henshaw, Blu Funderburke.

 1963

1966

 The Last Outpost

Soon enough I'll be a ghost

My spirit resting with the host

I've squeezed from life more than most

And now is the last outpost

It's been good most all the time

Summer breezes, hills to climb

For every dream gone astray

Arose a new, brighter day

There were all those fields to roam

Passion felt deep down in the bones

A wonderland of hope to revere

To the children I leave it here

Sometimes it was just tea and toast

Other times the trimmings and the roast

Evenings with friends, times of cheer

Empty nights with no one near

(alternate verse)

Meals from the cafe of life

Plates no two alike

Tastes to savor or scorn

Served cold or served warm

 © W and M by Bryce Martin (BMI) 2024

 

Wontcha let me take you on a sea cruise...

 

A Faded Star is What I Are

                                         MERLE HAGGARD BOXCAR GUITAR

-- Chief” guitar is completed. This guitar is one of two we built using wood from Merle Haggard’s childhood boxcar home. We left the original Santa Fe yellow paint and markings on the wood, also inlayed Merle’s famous “Hag” logo in the ebony fingerboard. A vintage porcelain Santa Fe “The Chief” badge from the 1950’s is inlayed in the body under the strings.

Tony Brown and Theresa Spanke build T&T Customs guitars in Bakersfield, Calif.

T&T is rounding all the bases. Eugene Moles demos a Molesrite, a takeoff on Mosrite, where his dad, Gene, was a quality inspector. A Mosrite didn't hit the door unless Gene okayed its departure.

 

                 Praise to all thee who enter in

 

Eugene Moles to right of Archie Campbell (red shirt), below Eugene and to his right is Buddy Alan, in front of Buddy is Doyle Singer, then Jerry Wiggins, th--en Jim Shaw.

 

Ridgecrest, Calif., codger Wild Bill Reynolds on right at Death Valley 49er Encampment annual shitaroo, showing off flour brand for the Burro Flapjack Race. Wild Bill reached his height of glory with a bit part on TV's popular Wild Wild West series.

 

DAVE"S DELI

Boy! Do I really miss this place. Dave opened a second location in the Padre Holel. I never tried that one. Hot pastrami and sometimes a corned beef. Came with a dill spear and a small, round paper cup of pot sal. 

 

ROCKY TOPP

By Bryce Martin

Robert John Jones was born in Los Angeles, February 28, 1948. As a U.S. Navy corpsman assigned to a U.S, Marine unit he regularly faced enemy fire on the front lines in Viet Nam. At age 20 he was discharged from the Navy with a 100 percent disability. "My job was to get in there, get them patched up and on a helicopter. If they made it that far they had a good chance of surviving." In aiding another, he took a mortar hit to the thigh and was sent home for good.

"I went to Bakersfield in 1973. It was a wonderful time. The clubs were everywhere with country music. I was interested in songwriting, not so much being a singer. Buck liked some of my songs and he recorded some."

Jones did have four singles released on Capitol, as Rocky Topp.

In 1974 Don Rich was killed. "Buck said to come by and visit with me anytime. He was lonely, missed Don and was depressed. He hadn't shaved. He was wearing a pith helmet. He looked awful. His eyes were bloodshot a lot of the time. He told me his spirit was gone. He recalled the past. 'I was on fire,' is how he worded it. He said he took the money from Hee Haw and now people only know the cornfield and Roy, and it didn't relate to him or who he had been at all. He was depressed much of the time"

In a conversation with Jim Shaw, a few days previous, regarding the sudden news of The Crystal Palace now on the sales block, Shaw, the operations manager for the nightclub-restaurant, spoke in a measured rhythm. "It's business as usual," he said. "I expect to be here and the place open for a long time. The Owens boys will listen to offers and eventually make their decision. We're open for business."

Jones, said, "There's a time...me and Jim talk regularly, and we realize the memory of Buck is not a memory many share any longer; the era for Buck and those Bakersfield days, that memory for Buck and that era has ended."

The spacious Crystal Palace is largely filled with what constitutes as a museum of photographs and mementoes chronicling Owens' illustrious career as a bandleader, singer, songwriter, showman, and his place in country music history. Newer generations keep coming and Owens is no longer a draw. New favorites are being made and old ones tossed aside. There's a time, like Jones said.

Jones said he did not know who came up with the album title Buck 'Em, or if it was the record company's idea and convincing back was difficult. "Heck, it may have been Buck's idea. He had his ways.". 

 

 

 

Tally man, tally me bananas

 

 Teddy J. Phillips Obituary Oct. 24, 2020

Teddy J. Phillips was born to Lester and Irene Phillips in Welch, Oklahoma on February 15, 1941. He is survived by his wife, Thelma and a son Tedd. Also surviving are his brother, Jack and Bill Phillips and a sister Charlene Webb. He has several beloved nieces and nephews and 1 uncle, Joe Miller. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Darlene Cooper his brothers, Bob Phillips, Tom Phillips and Jerry Phillips. Also preceded are his in-laws, Tom & Hazel Burke a special nephew, Sam May, 2 brothers-in-law, Charles Cooper and Wayne Webb, and special sister-in-law Tommye Johnson. Ted attended high school in Commerce, Oklahoma. After graduation he attended Joplin Jr. College and then attended Northeastern State University where he graduated with a master’s degree in education. He taught school and coached football and baseball at several schools in Oklahoma. He retired from teaching at Wyandotte, Oklahoma and then worked as a social worker for Grand Lake Mental Health for a few years. Ted was an Army Veteran. He served during the Vietnam Era and was stationed in Alabama and then in Germany. In Germany he served as the Army Youth Association Director for the Rhineland District. Ted loved his family he loved his country, and he loved OU football. When he could get tickets to the games, he’d invite his friend, Larry Booth or his son or father-in-law or one of his brother’s, just which ever one was free to go. His favorite person to go with him was his sister, because she loved OU football as much as he did. It didn’t matter if the weather was terrible, Ted & Charlene would go if they had tickets. Ted had a good life. He loved and was loved by many. He was very kind and helpful & always thought of others. He will be deeply missed. There will be private services held.

Dear old friend, my pal Ted

 

Country music singer Ronnie Sessions spends up to eight hours a day telephoning radio stations across the country, asking them to play his up-tempo country song, "Wiggle Wiggle."Photo measures 7 x 9.5inches. Photo is dated 02-11-1977.  

PHOTO FRONT

Associated Press Photo

..

 

                            America's Band

 

As a tad living at the old homeplace at Short Creek. not pork brains but cow brains (not from cans) were often served up by Grandma mixed in with scrambled eggs. As a grown adult I never longed for them as a nostalgic treat...bye bye cow brains.

 

Singing my Heart Out b/w More Wine More Women More Song

         The B-side is sans commas, but that is the stated title as is

...

Buddy seems to have hijacked the Audan label and moved it to Tinsel Town.

XL Temblor Brewing Co. T-shirt

 

Chubby Checker at Pioneer Village Park in Bakersfield, May 23, 2015

 Class of GHS

'61, old pal Charlie Messer... Miss you, Charlie

 

Attached to motel beds, a machine like this took a quarter from me more than once in the early 1960s. It caused the bed to vibrate as an aid to sleepfulness. Did it work? I couldn't say, I went to sleep and don't remember. Buck Owens mentioned it (the machine) in his song "World Famous Paradise Inn."

 All Buck All The Time

We'll leave the light on for you

Rich, Wiggins, Owens, Holly, Brumley

1967

.

   Bryce Martin is an author, singer-songwriter, and graphic artist based in the Nashville area, who possesses a deep appreciation for the gifts of nature. Notably, he does not utilize computers for his artistic endeavors, has not owned a television for several years, and does not support any sports teams. Additionally, he is a seasoned beekeeper and actively engages with five community cats that he has taken in, which were abandoned by previous owners.