JIM
HERMEL &
THE HOT CHIX
1950's Rock 'n' Roll Dance Party
| JIM
HERMEL &
THE HOT CHIX
1950's Rock 'n' Roll Dance Party |
|
News... 2012... JULY 2011 NEWS Wow!!! What a trip we just completed in the USA!!! Unbelievable!! As can only happen in America, as they say!!! We followed the "Blues Highway" in Mississippi, and the Country Music Experience of Tennessee, because, as we know, it was mainly the combination of these two musical genres which created our great Rock'n'Roll!!! Even managed to include our passion for the Old West with visits to Tombstone, (site of the Gunfight at the OK Corral,) the ruins of Fort Bowie, (headquarters in the Apache Wars,) The Alamo, (where Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie were killed in battle,) and Billy the Kid's grave in the badlands of New Mexico.., but that's another story!!! Let's get back to the music!! Thrilled to perform at the famous "Dragoon Saloon," in Tombstone, and also for the American Veterans of Foreign Wars in Sierra Vista.., then travelling east to vist the grave of Jimmie Rodgers, Meridian, Mississippi, Jimmie being recognized as the Father of Country Music. Onto the Hank Williams Museum, and Hank's grave, in Montgomery, Ala. Very moving.., seeing the actual car Hank died in. Remember, Hank was only 29 when he died in 1953.., and some say, with good reason, that, had he lived, Hank could've well been our first "rock'n'roller." His up-tempo country honky tonk songs paved the way for Elvis who began his recording career at Sun Studios just 18 months after Hank's death. Up to the state of Virginia to visit the graves and museum of the famous Carter Family, some of whose songs have crossed the border of country to be re-arranged into rock'n'roll.., ("Wild Side of Life" comes to mind!!) The Hot Chix were invited to perform at the Carter Family Theatre Saturday Night Concert, and did Australia proud!!! Our biggest perfoming thrill came at The Smith Brothers Family Theatre, the biggest show in east Tennessee. We opened for the Smith Brothers Show.., and, boy.!!!., what a fantastic venue and a marvellous experience!!! Still can't believe that one!!! On to Nashville for a one hour live radio interview, another great experience. A meeting with Bob Wootton, Johnny Cash's lead guitarist for almost 40 years, and his vocalist wife,Vicki, was unbelievable. Fantastic people.., with wonderful stories of the music business, and Johnny Cash and the tours they did. On to visit Johnny Cash and June Carter-Cash's graves in Hendersonville, with the added bonus of seeing the great Joe Maphis's grave.., a guitarist I idolized when I was a kid. He used to play that double-necked Mosrite guitar on the old B&W TV show,"Ranch Party." Then, of course, the ultimate Rock'n'roll experience. Memphis, Tennessee!!! Graceland, famous Beale Street where Elvis started his career, and Sun Studios where all those great rock'n'roll songs of Elvis, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, etc., were recorded. From Memphis an unforgettable journey down the "Blues Highway" in Mississippi where the famous blues players, (Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Ike Turner, Howlin' Wolf, etc., etc.,) who also paved the way for rock'n'roll, performed back in the 1920's, 30's, 40's, and 50's. The Blues Museum at Clarksdale was an incredible experience in itself, and seeing the famous Blue Diamond Lounge blues venue, passing through the location where the "blues" movie "Crossroads" was filmed, the old hospital, (now a hotel,) where Bessie Smith died after a car accident, and many other highlights of the blues era.., so very moving. Our final rock'n'roll destination was Lubbock, Texas, former home of Buddy Holly. An emotional visit to Buddy's grave, then a tour of the Buddy Holly Museum. I'd read many years ago how the person commissioned to restore Buddy's famous Stratocaster guitar was struck with emotion when he took the pickguard off, and out dropped a guitar pick, the very last one that Buddy used. Well.., there.., in it's glass case.., was that famous Stratocaster.., and.., right next to it.., that very same guitar pick!!! "Oh, Boy," (as Buddy once sang!!!) what a special thrill!! Buddy's mother kept Buddy's bedroom exactly as it was when he died, for over thirty years, until she herself died. All Buddy's furniture from the bedroom, (bed, wardrobe, chest-of-drawers, etc.,) and his socks, jumpers, etc, have been set up in the museum exactly as they were when Buddy was killed. Buddy's very famous black-rimmed glasses, retrieved from the site of that infamous plane crash, are also on display. Lubbock is a "must visit" for any rock'n'roll fan if the opportunity arises. On our way back we stopped at a motel in Grants, a little town in New Mexico. The next room to ours had "Elvis Room" in brass letters on the door. On asking the Manager what it meant he informed us that that was the room where Elvis and Priscilla stayed on their honeymoon on their trip from Las Vegas back to Graceland!!! It can only happen in America!!!! (I couldn't resist holding that door-knob!!!) Well, folks, hope you enjoyed sharing just some of the highlights of a wonderful trip to America.., Rock'n'Roll Heaven!!!! Jim Hermel. Check the TOUR DATES link to print out any upcoming shows in your area. Queries? Please contact Jim Hermel |