HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM WES BRYAN and FAMILY

I don't know about you, but I love cats.

We've had a few over time and my favorites like to sleep at my feet.

Friends, have a good one!

MONSTER MASH - BOBBY PICKETT

My friend Bobby Pickett had a real hit with this now classic novelty Halloween song and this is a real innovative video.

We considered posting a Haunted Hollywood video this year, but I thought I'd stay on-topic here (singer-songwriters) and post Bobby's hit, and if you don't know how to do the "Monster Mash dance" you will now!




video replaced October 2012

(336) PLACES TO GO THINGS TO DO : HOLLYWOOD: CIROS RESTAURANT

One of the places that I went to with my music friends in the early 1960's was Ciro's, a Hollywood restaurant with quite a history. It opened in the 1940's and was an immediate success, on the map with some of the biggest stars who used it as the background to their lives. You could feel that in the air even then that the times were a changin'... The Byrds were playing there.

By the time I moved to Los Angeles the place had been converted into a rock and roll club. I have memories of Johnny Rivers and me meeting up over there - and bringing our dates with us.

We're linking to the SERVING HISTORY site so you can read a bit about Ciro's ...

(335) PLACES TO GO THINGS TO DO : SAN FERNANDO VALLEY : THE PALOMINO : MARTY ROBBINS

Another club that I frequented along with songwriter friends and my friends who played there was the PALAMINO, in the San Fernando Valley neighborhood of North Hollywood. The place evolved over the years and was open until the mid 1980's. It seated a lot of people but had an intimate feel.

It was the first place people played when they came through town. It was once considered one of the most important Country Music clubs in the country so Johnny Cash came through, as well as so many others - Jerry Lee Lewis, Marty Robbins.

Here's a video of Jerry Lee Lewis recorded at the Palamino... Jerry is said to hold the record for performances at the Palamino!

BILLBOARD MAGAZINE OCTOBER 3 1960 MELODIE D'AMOUR

A bit of Wes Bryan history here. In October 1960 my song Melodie D'Amour was reviewed by Billboard Magazine, which we've linked to here (though you're probably going to have to use the magnifier!) They called it "Snappy!"

I promoted this song on live performances including Wink Martindale's TV show in Los Angeles. (I also performed on his Memphis show in 1957, which is when I met Elvis and his guys.)

BEATLES COVER CARL PERKINS' GLAD ALL OVER

The Beatles were covering their favorite artists, those who came before them. That's because American Rock-a-Billy and Rock and Roll went to England first, and influenced the British rockers. ) VIDEO REPLACED MARCH 2014

VACATION TIME!

We take a pause here to catch up on the upkeep of our blog, and invite your comments.

If you find any links or videos that need updated, please let us know!

Please also check out our Youtube station CTNWB! We want you to read us, but you can also use this station to listen to early rock and roll and rockabilly music for over an hour per playlist!

COMMENT ON (73) SYLVESTER CROSS - CREST RECORDS and AMERICAN Q and A

Question left on comments :

Hey Wes,
Do you know what happened to Crest's catalogue? I'm trying to track the master license for the song "Primitive Love" by Tom Reeves.

Thanks,

Jullianne

Our Reply:

I have no idea where the whole Crest Catalogue is at this point. Sylvester Cross died about 1965 and his widow sold the catalogue to, I believe, Hill and Range in New York City. Crest was an in house label of American Music where I worked. Some things were, I believe, sold to Lawrence Welk's Vogue Music.

Jullianne, I think the thing to do is look for the copyright including Publishing Rights in the online BMI and ASCAP databases. These databases are not perfect and there is misinformation at times because Rights can be sold (people who were never songwriters but inherited songwriters rights are listed as songwriters). Also since song titles are not copyrightable, be aware that the song you want must be proven to have been performed by Tom Reeves.

Let us know what happens!

Wes Bryan and Christine Trzyna

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