I was in charge of Budweiser Music for many years, and worked with many legendary artists, but these videos are from my side projects as a small-time concert and studio musician, producer and arranger. This first one is with my sons on their original song, for which I provided the horn arrangement and helped produce the recording.
I can't think of a greater joy than playing music with your kids, but as a sax player, I was thrilled when the boys suggested I join them to cover this Rolling Stone's saxophone classic on stage in a great venue like Plush/St. Louis. It was Feb. in 2014.
The Dogtown Horns had been a part of Atlantic recording artists Mamas Pride since 1990 and when Danny and Dickie helped Steve Porcaro form The Brothers - an Allman Brothers Tribute Band - and they wanted horns .....
The closest I've come to a hit record - This band was an off-shoot from the Benders as our piano and trombone player, David Lee, wanted his own band and we supported it, by loaning out our Bassist, Bob Walther, guitarist, Ted Dickey (R.I.P.) and I played sax and produced this record which got national airplay on over 1100 radio stations. It appeared in the movie "White Palace" starring Susan Sarandon, from a novel written by my ad agency friend, Glen Savan (R.I.P.)
My friend, jingle su and Ozark Mountain Daredevil, Nick Sibley, referred me to this big Branson theater star, wanting a sax player for a live TV appearance. We rehearsed the song for about an hour the night before at a church where we had to be quiet. I was scared to death and totally faking it. My agency art partner/president didn't tell me he would gather the whole agency to watch it on our big screen. When I got back to the office I was surprised and touched by the company's standing ovation.
I had played with the keyboard player, Harold Draper, in The Brothers (Allman Bros) Tribute Band at The Pageant and House of Blues in Chicago among other big rooms. When Silver Bullet needed a substitute sax player for about a dozen shows from 2021-24, Harold called me. This band always draws huge audiences and plays only the biggest venues including The St. Charles Family Arena. This was at The Chesterfield Amphitheater. Yes, dancing girls!
All I have is this TV news story that ran the first night we played Mississippi Nights. The show featured Fontella Bass ("Rescue Me,") Bobby McClure ("Don't You Mess Up a Good Thing,") Stacy Johnson, legendary Ike Turner on guitar and the Ike-ettes backup singers/dancers. That's "David Lee" Caputo and John Wolf from Roomful of Blues on trombones. Oliver wanted The House Rockers to open for his next tour of Europe and then Dave and I would double as Olivers R&B horns. I had no trot didn't happen.
Kingdom Brothers, a new blues band formed by my best Benders bandmates, Tom Wilson and Bob Walther, got this huge gig and asked me to join them. The song is "Rockin at Midnight" by Robert Plant's The Honeydrippers. After this show I joined them on all their big shows for several years.
Son Graham, threw this band together when the venue said they needed an opening act for a famous bass guitar master, Stu Hamm, who was touring thru St. Louis. But it couldn't be the usual punks and rockers that play FUBAR. So Graham and his friends created a band and a set of progressive jazz tunes, and asked me to join, too.
This historic old whorehouse has always been one of our favorite clubs and I've played there with several different bands over the years. This reunion was The Benders last gig as a band though we all have been together for other stuff around town. And Liz joined us for this show. Huh. Like Yoko did when the Beatles ended.
All time favorite venue, we played a lot of shows here with Mamas Pride and The Brothers and played Johnnie Johnson's Memorial and Benefit Show. This is my horn arrangement on "The Christmas Song,' the only actual Christmas song we played that night. All these Mamas Pride Reunions were sold out shows and The Pageant often added more nights.
Our Wedding Reception. Look at that dress! This was in the late eighties I think. I can't remember when exactly. We had the Gateway Big Band Swing Orchestra followed by The Benders. This is slightly drunk, completely cute LIZ singing her signature song. CLASSIC.
The video is just a still frame from a concert we did at Plush. The music track was from a jam session we recorded in our keyboard player's excellent home basement studio. He's a doctor and a talented musician and singer and a fun guy to play with. The guitar solos are from Charlie Nicastro and played on the same guitar though it sounds like two different players. I was unsure when to do any soloing so I just stuck stuff in when the sticking stuff felt right.
I recorded Grammy Award winners Asleep at the Wheel several times for Budweiser and we became friends. They invited me to sit in at The Palomino and some other LA, Austin and New York venues when our paths crossed. The second time we opened for them in St. Louis, Ray Benson asked me where I thought they should play. I suggested the classic old Casa Loma Ballroom and he invited Kevin and me to join their whole show! Liz's folks were there, which helped my image some. Luckily we found this video.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.