I produced a lot of the broadcast music for D'Arcy Advertifor over 20 years and I was in charge of Budweiser Music Artist Radio for most of it. I worked with many legendary artists, and some of them, like Bo Diddley and Asleep at the Wheel, asked me play with them in concert at The Limelight in NYC and the Palomino Club in LA. The following videos are from my projects as a small-time musician, producer and arranger in St. Louis. Here I'm with my 3 sons' all original band: Smooth Talkin Perverts.
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. 2014.
The Dogtown Horns had been a part of Atlantic recording artists Mamas Pride since 1990 and when Danny Liston (vocals) and Dickie Steltenpohl (bass) helped guitar monster, Steve Pecaro 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 my long running R&B band, the Benders. 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.)
In 2015, was working at Noble & Assoc. ad agency in Springfield, MO. My friend, "Jingle King of the Ozarks" and Ozark Mountain Daredevil , Nick Sibley, referred me to this big Branson theater star, Kelly Smith. She wanted a sax player for a live TV appearance on Channel 10 KOLR. We had a quick run-thru the night before, but I was totally faking it. And scared to death. Turns out my Springfield, MO ad agency staff was watching it and I got a nice surprise ovation when I got back to the office.
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 drew huge audiences and played only big venues including The St. Charles Family Arena. This was at The Chesterfield Amphitheater. Yes, dancing girls!
Oliver Sain was a St. Louis musical institution, and producer of several national soul music hit songs. All I have from my time with him is this TV news story. These annual shows at Mississippi Nights featured Fontella Bass ("Rescue Me,") Bobby McClure ("Don't You Mess Up a Good Thing,") Stacy Johnson, the legendary Ike Turner on guitar and the Ike-ettes backup singers/dancers. John Wolf from Roomful of Blues was on trombone. There was talk of us joining Oliver's European Tour. Just talk.
Kingdom Brothers, a blues band formed by my long time 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 concert, I joined them on a lot their big shows for about eight years.
My son, Graham, threw this band together when the venue said they needed an opening act for famous bass guitar master, Stu Hamm, who was touring thru St. Louis. But it couldn't be the usual punks and rockers that play at FUBAR. So Graham and his friends created an instrumental band and a set of progressive jazz tunes, and they asked me to join, too. Graham on guitar, Chris Whited, Drums - Jacob Mreen - bass - Jake Vi on keys. Chris and Jacob are touring and recording now with Anthony Gomes.
This historic old whorehouse has always been one of our favorite clubs and I've played there many times 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. 'Cept Liz sings better than Yoko. My opinion.
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 Reunion/Xmas shows were sold out. Dogtown Horns here include old Bender and D'Arcy ad buddy, Ray McAnallen, trombone - Charlie Cerpa on tenor sax and RZ tenor and bari saxes.
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 City 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.
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