ELVIS PRESLEY : OH HOW I LOVE JESUS

Several home recordings of Elvis and friends singing at his house have emerged on YouTube in recent months, and this is one of them.  Because this blog focus isn't on Gospel Music, though you can pull up the Gospel Music Association in a previous post, we haven't written much about Elvis and Gospel music, but he loved Gospel music, and I have memories of those times when he sang Gospel - even at parties.  He could bring tears to your eyes.

CHRISTMAS : HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU

 
 
WISHING ALL OUR FRIENDS HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

ELVIS PRESLEY : SILENT NIGHT

DARLENE LOVE : BABY PLEASE COME HOME (CHRISTMAS)

H. JACKSON BROWN, JR. ON FRIENDSHIP

"Remember that the most valuable antiques are dear old friends."
- H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

THE LETTERMEN - LITTLE DRUMMER BOY

A LITTLE HARP AND SOME VOCALS

MUSIC FOR A CURE and MUSIC TO HEAL BRING MUSIC THERAPY TO CHILDREN IN HOSPITALS

MUSIC FOR A CURE brings musicians together with children who are in the hospital.  (This is a small, growing non profit that sends musicians and musical therapists out to hospitals.)

BE COOL BE POSITIVE on MUSIC FOR A CURE link here!

An excerpt:

Music For A Cure was founded on the belief that THERE IS LIFE IN MUSIC! .  Our mission is a simple one:  to unleash the healing power of music in order to uplift critically ill and mentally or emotionally-challenged children.   We accomplish our mission through the financial support of music therapy programs at children’s hospitals and shelters as well as through our partnership with the non-profit organization, Music to Heal.

Through the tremendous financial support of our donors and the unconditional support of some of the most recognized names in music who have opened not only their wallets, but their schedules and their hearts to interact directly with the children we service, Music For A Cure has profoundly impacted the lives of over 3,000 children and their families by funding music therapy programs at Children’s Hospital Orange County, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Miller’s Children’s Hospital Long Beach, and UCI Children’s Hospital, as well as various shelters around Southern California.

A Note:  The charity is mentioned on numerous fund raising sites.  We chose the one that seemed most informative.

ANGEL BRINGS THE CHRISTMAS TREE

MUSIC MAKER RELIEF FOUNDATION FOCUSES ON DEEP SOUTH FOLK MUSICIANS OVER THE AGE OF 55

MUSIC MAKER RELIEF ORG

Official Statement : "Music Maker Relief Foundation preserves and promotes the musical traditions of the American South. Since 1994 we have partnered with traditional artists over 55 years old who survive on a yearly income of less than $18,000, sustaining their day-to-day needs while building their careers. Through Music Maker, our rich heritage of folk music will not be lost with the passing of time.

SAVE THE MUSIC FOUNDATION HAS PROVIDED $51 MILLION IN NEW MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS and HELPED MILLIONS OF CHILDREN

VHI SAVE THE MUSIC ORG  link here!

Official Statement of VH1 - SAVE THE MUSIC FOUNDATION : We are a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring instrumental music education in America's public schools, and raising awareness about the importance of music as part of each child's complete education... Through strategic partnerships with school districts, the Foundation provides $30,000 worth of brand-new musical instruments to public elementary and middle schools, jump-starting dormant music programs across the country..."

 

 

CHARITY MUSIC ORG CAN LOAN YOUR OLD TUBA TO SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO EXPLORE THEIR TALENTS

CHARITYMUSIC.ORG -PROVIDING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

Their official statement: "Charity Music Inc., is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit public service organization, whose mission is to help cultivate the next upcoming crop of young artists by providing Musical Instruments, on loan, to individuals wishing to explore their hidden Musical talents.

In addition, our Freedom Hill Foundation provides Musical Instruments to Veteran Hospitals nationwide."

ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH

FENDER MUSIC FOUNDATION SUPPORTS MUSIC EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS

FENDER MUSIC FOUNDATION link here!

Official statement:

"The Fender Music Foundation is a music charity funded by people who want to strengthen the state of music education, people who believe music is an integral part of society and want to make music more accessible to everyone.    

The donations we receive allow us to provide instruments to school music classrooms, after school programs and music therapy programs. We select programs that are in-need, ongoing, sustainable and give more people the opportunity to make music.    

Our overhead expenses are covered by sales revenue, including authentic celebrity music memorabilia.

Our program expenses are covered by donations large and small.    

The Foundation was founded in 2005 by Larry Thomas when he retired as CEO of Guitar Center, now as CEO of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, we continue to give more people of all ages the chance to create, experience, and enjoy everything music has to offer."

THE BEACH BOYS - LITTLE SAINT NICK

We've posted on the Beach Boys a few times now and you can find those posts using the Google Search feature on the blog!

MUSICARES : A NONPROFIT FOR MUSICIANS TO TURN TO WHEN THERE'S A FINANCIAL EMERGENCY

GRAMMY ORG - MUSICARES link for information.

 

MUSICARES WAS FOUNDED IN 1989 to address the needs of musicians who need help with medical care, housing, and emergency financial help.

 

(There's an old, not very funny joke, that goes like this, "What do you call a musician without a girlfriend?'  "Homeless.")

 

For every singer, songwriter, guitar player, band, that makes a fortune there are thousands of talented people who've been in the business, who've been true to their art, but who have lost or are now in their senior hood and struggling because back in the 1950's and early 1960's they didn't the get good deals. 

So when I meet someone who once had a Gold Record, or was in a band that got ripped off by a manager or agent, and is now in need, I mention MUSICARES.

 

Now united with Grammy Org, here is their official statement:

 

"MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. MusiCares' services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies, and each case is treated with integrity and confidentiality. MusiCares also focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community."

Christine

 

 

MUSIC CHARITIES : A FOCUS THIS MONTH AS WE END 2013 WITH THE HOLIDAYS

Had this idea a while, but decided it was time...

Music education has been cut in so many schools.  There are a lot of students who would just love to try to play the guitar or the saxophone or the drums who can't afford the instrument.  Dedicated performers who never got a good deal, or who got ripped off, live in poverty in old age.  Others can't afford medical care or are homeless.

These are the realities in our time. 

BUT WE LOVE MUSIC - Don't we?

This holiday season we present to you some MUSIC ASSOCIATED CHARITIES.  We heard about some and researched to find others.  These are national and local.

If you're interested, if you love music, contact them, check them out...

You can donate money, time, old musical instruments... and yes, make a difference!

(While we're at it, we'll be posting Christmas Music from the mid 1960's.)

THE NEW CHRISTY MINSTRELS : WE NEED A LITTLE CHRISTMAS

To those of you who stayed home yesterday to have family holiday and waited till today for the hustle bustle of shopping.

The New Christy Minstrels circa 1966 - a project of Lou Christy, who we've blogged about before!

THANKSGIVING

Meez has provided us free Avatars for years and
we take this Thanksgiving moment to thank them!

PETER PAUL AND MARY : LIGHT ONE CANDLE

NATIONAL INVENTORS HALL OF FAME INFO LINK - ARE YOU AN INVENTOR?

USPTO GOV : NATIONAL INVENTORS HALL OF FAME


WHAT IS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY?

It is imagination made real. It is the ownership of dream, an idea, an improvement, an emotion that we can touch, see, hear, and feel. It is an asset just like your home, your car, or your bank account.

Just like other kinds of property, intellectual property needs to be protected from unauthorized use.

(486) LES PAUL CHASING SOUND : AMERICAN MASTERS DVD : DOCUMENTARY : LES PAUL AND MARY FORD

"Musician. Inventor. Architect of Rock N Roll... NOT JUST THE INVENTOR OF THE HARD BODIED ELECTRIC GUITAR BUT, a pioneer in RECORDING TECHNIQUES..."



LES PAUL CHASING SOUND - An American Masters CD, presents an impressive line up of music stars give their thumbs up to Les Paul... Including Bonnie Raitt, Tony Bennett, Jeff Beck, Merle Haggard, ... Waukesha Wisconsin, Chicago, New York, Hollywood.... NATIONAL INVENTORS HALL OF FAME!

LINK TO NATIONAL INVENTORS HALL OF FAME

and the LES PAUL FOUNDATION ORG

(485) DION : ABRAHAM MARTIN AND JOHN (DICK HOLLER SONGWRITER) ON THE SMOTHER'S BROTHERS TV SHOW

So proud of Dion, known for his early Rock and Roll hit "Run Around Sue," when he hit the charts in 1968 with this song, "Abraham, Martin, and John," a song written by Dick Holler.  It's become a classic tribute to Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, and President John F. Kennedy.


Link to DION DI MUCCI : OFFICIAL

 "Music Critics say he is the only first-generation rock and roll artist who  has remained creative and relevant through the decades. In 1958 He had three top-forty hits. In 2007 He was nominated for a Grammy. His last three albums have some of his best work.

Dion and his music represent a special time and place . . .  a moment when a song could mean so much and a singer could sum up what it means to be young, in love and on top of the world.

A street poet and singer of extraordinary versatility, range and resonance, Dion defined Rock 'n' Roll for a generation."

Use the Google Search feature embedded in this blog to pull up past posts on Dion as well as the Smothers Brothers!

HERE IS THE SONGWRITERS VERSION:

FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ASSASSINATON OF JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY

FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ASSASSINATION OF JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY

LINK TO JFK PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY here! if you're interested in what the library has to say about it.

(484) MERLE TRAVIS : A FIXTURE AT AMERICAN MUSIC AND SONGWRITER FOR TENNESSEE ERNIE FORD

I met Merle Travis, the country western singer who they called a "guitar picker" and who came from the South - Kentucky,  when he came into American Music, the big song publishing house I worked for as a staff writer for several years when I first moved to Los Angeles!  I grew up in North Carolina and Oregon listening to Country music and never lost my enthusiasm for it.  Merle wrote songs and played on sessions for demos and became a fixture there.  Great man!

So many artists who went into performance careers have worked making demos, Bobby Darin, as I recently mentioned, made demos in the recording studios in the Brill Building, in New York City.  Glen Campbell made demos in Los Angeles, some for American Music.  I made demos while at American Music and also I made demo's for Pat Boone's company, Cooga- Mooga! 

Demo records of songs with hit potential were send out - sometimes hand delivered by people like me - to the recording artists that the writer had in mind for their listen.  Sometimes they piled up in a corner and months went by before one got a listen, so that personal connection was important.

 

DISCOGS PAGE FOR MERLE TRAVIS link

SIXTEEN TONS : A CLASSIC SONG WRITTEN BY MERLE TRAVIS : WHICH DO YOU PREFER?

TENNESSEE ERNIE FORD
BOBBY DARIN
ERIC BURDEN(OF THE ANIMALS)
THE PLATTERS

or maybe LEANN RIMES  ?

VETERANS DAY

(483) BOBBY DARIN : FROM MOTOWN TO FOLK SONGS

Back in July of this year, we posted on Bobby Darin on Motown Records, where he tried on the popular Motown Sound.  Well, Bobby was challenged to find his niche in music by the mid sixties. He was challenged by changing times and the influence of Bob Dylan to cover songs that were more folk or political.  It was particularly difficult to pick and choose because he was so diverse in his talent.

I first met an ambitious Bobby in New York City in the Brill Building, introduced by Neil Sendaka, where he was making his rent by singing on demo records for song writers.  He was also writing songs of his own.  He was in the perfect spot to discover or write a hit song, and he did soon after we me with his recording of  Splish Splash.

Bobby was able to change his singing style enough to be hired to make a good many of those demos and I suspect that somewhere there is a treasure trove of them that he made - and some of them maybe you wouldn't know right away you were listening to Bobby. 

This challenge of being true to yourself, or what you're really good at, and being out of sync with the changing times, it's happened to the best of us. It happens in the music business every few, maybe every several years that music changes enough that you might get left behind, and 1966 is right about when you found the British Invasion with the Rolling Stones making the Beatles look tame - and in San Francisco, a new sound, the beginning of a Psychedelic drug fueled sound, typified by the Grateful Dead - and Peter Paul and Mary who are sticking to their folk music - while Bob Dylan is identified as a protest singer but doesn't want to be identified that way - and Bobby Darin - out of a whole group of young men who had vibrant carriers beginning in the 1950's, trying to figure out which way to go. 

Give it enough time though, and you become known as a CLASSIC.
Linking to his official site:  BOBBY DARIN NET - OFFICIAL - INCLUDING LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Bobby gets the most airplay over time for Mac The Knife, with Splish Splash clearly thought of as the 1950's.

(482) PLACES TO GO THINGS TO DO : BEN FRANKS DINER

CHARLES PHOENIX ON BEN FRANKS DINER link

IN OUR PLACES TO GO THINGS TO DO posts, we wrote about the Palamino for  mostly Country Music (post 335 on Marty Robins and Jerry Lee Lewis), the Red Velvet - one of the few clubs Elvis used to go to and where P.J. Proby performed (post 334), and the dinner club, Ciro's, known for the Rat Pack, but also Johnny Rivers before The Whisky.  Post 333 was about Trino Lopez.  Post 336 Ciros.  We've recently updated the videos and links for these posts from 2010.

All of these  clubs were performance spaces.

One of my hangouts for just having coffee, talking, hanging out, was Ben Franks Diner.  It was a good place to meet with friends, co-workers, and people I wanted to do business with, on the Sunset Strip, which has been active with entertainment for more than half a century.

Here's a link with a good picture. 

EXCERPT: "Today, forty five years later the classic coffee shop structure still stands. But about decade or so ago Ben became Mel when Ben Frank’s quietly closed and morphed into a trendy retro diner called Mel’s Diner. I wonder if they have Liver and Onions on the menu."

EVOLUTION OF DANCE BY JUDSON LAIPLLY STARTS WITH ELVIS PRESLEY AND CHUCK BERRY

WES BRYAN - MY LIFE IN MUSIC: RIGHTS INFORMATION

Though it most often goes without saying, and we post a notice like this one in our Pages, once in a while we post a notice like this one in our posts.  We want to reminds readers that the original content of this blog is Copyright Wes Bryan and Christine Trzyna with all rights reserved including Internet and International Rights.

We are linking to a good many web sites, favoring the official web sites of various famous and important musical artists as well as reference sites and music videos. If we link to your site or a video you uploaded and you don't want us to reference it, please let us know and we'll take down the link. The content of other people's sites remains their own.

We also appreciate hearing about any link that is down or video that has been removed from its source, such as YouTube!

Thank you for your consideration and courtesy!

Christine Trzyna  and Wes Bryan

WILMA ASKINAS Quote on Friendship

“A friend is someone who sees through you and still enjoys the view.”  - Wilma Askinas 

TO ALL YOU SPOOKS OUT THERE!

MITCH RYDER AND THE DETROIT WHEELS "DEVIL WITH A BLUE DRESS ON and GOLLY MISS MOLLY"

How many dress colors does the Devil wear?  There's the Devil with the Red Dress and then the Devil with the Blue... Does it have anything to do with being a Devil from Detroit, the Motor City?  Christine

Does Mitch Ryder have an official site?  You bet!  MITCH RYDER NET

FRANK SINATRA Quote on Friendship

"A friend is never an imposition." - Frank Sinatra

FRANK SINATRA : FROM CAPITOL RECORDS TO WARNER AND HIS OWN LABLE : REPRISE :FROM OUR ARCHIVES

Post (416) FRANK SINATRA : FROM CAPITOL RECORDS TO WARNER AND HIS OWN LABLE : REPRISE

Capitol Records was probably the hottest big record label by 1965 other than RCA, Elvis' label. Capitol had the Beatles and Glen Campbell, but they lost Frank Sinatra to Warner Records where he got his own label and distributor which he called Reprise Records.

Jimmy Bowen produced the record "STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT" which was a hit for Frank, got him HIS FIRST GOLD RECORD, and is known today as "classic Frank Sinatra" though it was recorded years past his early days of performance and stardom.

We're linking to the official Frank Sinatra site so you can read about Frank his way!



Frank was on the same charts as his daughter Nancy!

(481) NANCY SINATRA'S BOOTS WERE MADE FOR WALKIN'

A while back we posted on Nancy Sinatra when she was one of the guests on the TV program that featured Elvis Presley and her father, Frank Sinatra, The Welcome Back Special. Elvis had just returned to the United States from Germany and the United States Army.

  

"Are you ready boots?  Start Walkin!"  These words are so associated with Nancy, who chose to record songs on Frank's Reprise label (where my friend Jimmy Bowen became a producer) that portrayed her as a take-charge, in control, and liberated woman.  The song was written for her by Lee Hazelwood and it became a number one hit in the United States and the United Kingdom, making Nancy one more American who Invaded Britain.

No doubt initially aided by her loving dad, Nancy, who appeared on the Welcome Back Special in what was a prim prom-gown kind of dress, had moved with the times, the early 1960's and the dancing Go Go Girls.

Now Nancy has her own site, but we found it down, and we think it may be bombarded because of the news recently that a son of Mia Farrow's may be Franks.  We proceeded to the Sinatra Family site and same thing. 

So we're going to post the links for you here and hopefully when you try them, they'll be up!

NANCY SINATRA OFFICAL link

SINATRA FAMILY OFFICIAL link

Lee Hazelwood passed away in 2007.  Here's a link to some good career information for the man who was known to be a rugged individualist!

CBENJAMIN WORDPRESS ON LEE HAZELWOOD link

Church Benjamin is a Blogger on Word Press!  His theme is SONGS YOU SHOULD HAVE HEARD, and he's a good writer.

BOB DYLAN and NEIL YOUNG ? AN ALBUM COVER and RECORD LABEL PRINTER

Christine here!  Taking my dog for a long walk one very early morning, we found the doors of a business wide open.  Inside were machines.  Strange looking machines.   Couldn't figure them out, unless maybe Dr. Suess had done some manufacturing here!

There were some people around and so my friendly dog went in nose first and I followed.  We spoke to a man named Bruce.  He explained that Impressions LA Printing Services and Dorado Music Publishing over at Burbank Boulevard in NoHo were in the business of printing album covers, the innards of the covers, and the center labels.  We're talking for VINYL records here.

Those machines - one from the late 1950's, another from the mid 1970's - others a history of album cover and record label printing! I felt like a secret shopper when Bruce told me that they'd received recent orders from Bob Dylan and Neil Young.  See people are buying Dylan and Young record albums in vinyl even when the same music is available in CD.  (As you may know from Neil's memoir which I covered here a while back, Neil is involved in getting better quality sound recording onto those CD.s)  The records that were recorded originally and pressed on vinyl are being ordered in and for that, an artist needs more album covers printed too.  Bruce said Neil reminded them that he wanted his covers to look as old as the originals do today.  A small run is about 1000.

I'm posting this because they were friendly people and because they give TOURS TO THE SCHOOL CHILDREN.  So while we don't do advertising on this Google Blogger, we thought you might want to give them a call about the little tour.  When I was there those strange machines weren't running.  I hope to go back someday when they are!

Their number is 818-761-9295

A FRIEND IS SOMEONE...

Who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.  - anonymous

JOHN FOGERTY WROTE A SONG FOR EVERYONE AT THE GRAMMY MUSEUM and OFFICIAL SITE LINK - AN EXCELLENT SITE!

JOHN FOGERTY OFFICIAL SITE  - It's excellent!

John explains he was drafted for Viet Nam in 1965 but went into the Reserves. His site explains the Viet Nam War and the Protests that began about 1967 and  the upset he felt about politician's sons being able to avoid the draft.  That's what's behind his song "Fortunate Son."  He wrote the song in 20 minutes, but after a lot of thought about these issues.

Here's a version with Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters.



Christine here!  At the Grammy Museum exhibit, I learned that Creedence Clearwater Revival was considered a  FOLK REVIVAL MOVEMENT, a revival of AMERICANA, with a kind of anti-hippie movement with roots in the American South.  The influence of Pete Seeger and Duane Eddy on John Fogerty is explored. 

Here's the link to the exhibit! GRAMMY MUSEUM : JOHN FOGERTY WROTE A SONG FOR EVERYONE

We first mentioned John Fogerty on this blog in 2008, due to his pre-Creedence work with the Blue Velvets.

HELLO TO AUSTRALIA, ISRAEL, VIET NAM, and HUNGARY

Welcoming Early Rock and Roll Fans from all over the world! Thanks for reading WES BRYAN- MY LIFE IN MUSIC. Friends, check out that long long list of links! There is so much energy and talent in the sites that we link to and this blog wouldn't be what it is without them!

GRAMMY MUSEUM - THE RINGO PEACE AND LOVE SHOW

Christine here!

Recently went to the GRAMMY MUSEUM, lured by the Ringo show.  The Museum has had shows focusing on John Lennon and George Harrison in the past, which I missed.  This video shows some of the exhibits that include clothing and costumes worn my Ringo, a replica of the Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band drum, various drum kits Ringo played, and lots of memorabilia, including a wall of Ringo Albums and a wall of Beatles Albums (I think I have them all!)

There is an old early 1960's television console playing black and white Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show with a early 1960's sofa in front of it. I lingered in the area and I have to say, all around the exhibit people were smiling.  There was a happiness in the air.  I was reminded that the Beatles and maybe especially Ringo had a great sense of humor in their day, and I kept thinking "Ringo is the one who kept a friendship going with all of them, even when the others were not getting along."

At the same time the Museum has a JOHN FOGERTY and CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL SHOW.  Wes is a John Fogerty fan!  The emphasis here was on roots music, and the American South.

GRAMMY MUSEUM ORG SITE link here.

The museum was crowded.  It was full of people from all races  various ethnicities, young and old.  It's very hands-on and very much about SOUND as well as the visuals.

This visit, I spent time in the ARCHIVE.  That's where there are videos to watch of special Interviews and Performances that were featured at the Grammy Museum.  I watched some of Gordon Lightfoot (one of my favorites) and some of Michelle Phillips.

The Grammy Museum is a great place to visit and as things are in Los Angeles, with music appreciation classes and classes in the arts in public schools unfunded, field trips to this museum may be it for the school children!

STRAY CATS RACE WITH THE DEVIL : DEDICATED TO JAMES DEAN

STRAY CATS OFFICIAL SITE! link here!  One of the most successful Rock-A-Billy revival groups going!

JAMES DEAN PUBLICITY PHOTO from DOVER PUBLISHING

JAMES DEAN  Warner Brothers Publicity Photo from Dover Publishing. 

Dover allows the use of this photo for NON-PROFIT use and under FAIR USE.  That means that if you credit Dover and use it on a blog or web-site or other place which is not a business (no advertising) and it's about James Dean for educational or personal purposes it's OK.  If you want to use if on a site for profit/gain, contact Dover and pay up!  (There's more than one reason we do not do advertising on this blog!)

JAMES DEAN : THE EAGLES : LINK TO THEIR OFFICIAL SITE

EAGLESBAND ; OFFICIAL SITE OF THE EAGLES link here!

JAMES DEAN BORN COOL : DOCUMENTARY : JAMES DEAN FESTIVAL 2013 LINK!

The film-makers have decided to post this on YOUTUBE and that is VERY COOL!  Featuring family and friends, made originally in 2002!
JAMES DEAN COMMUNITY FESTIVAL 2013 LINK

(480) POUT LIKE JIMMY

Back when Buddy Knox and me had our photos done by Bruno of Hollywood, I was still thinking about acting too, as many of my peers did  - like Elvis Presley and Bobby Darin were doing.  I had been promoted as a "singing - acting" sensation while with United Artists. I had traveled for years on the road as a singer, but I hadn't given up on acting.

Christine White, James Dean's friend and girlfriend before he was famous, was also in Hollywood and, as a successful working (early) television actress, she advised me to get another manager and agent for acting.  I'd first met Christine as a tourist, one who read fan magazines, during a brief Hollywood vacation before I even lived in Akron. 

She was sweet enough to make some introductions once we were both back in Southern California.

Dean was a country boy who went to the Big Apple and took up jazz and playing the bongos - a Beat. Then he went West, to California, to make movies and race cars.

I was a country boy who also went to the Big Apple and then West, to California, but though I owned some sports cars in my time, which I bought from music residuals, I didn't have what some say Jimmy did, the death wish. 

I grew up in Murphy, North Carolina, and then Cottage Grove, Oregon.  I remained a Southern boy.  I might have been a Renaissance man but I wasn't Beat.

Dean was supposed to be moody.  His family would say that too was just part of his promotion. 

I was shy, but when they asked me to pose for pictures they expected me to "do" Jimmy, pouting.  I was an actor who was supposed to live out of character! I never saw the facial resemblance between me and James Dean myself. I thought I looked like him from some angles. His family said I moved like Jimmy.
By the early to mid 1960's I was maybe the first person to give up on "The Next James Dean" promos. I wanted to be myself. I was a happy guy, out for fun.

THE HOLLYWOOD BUG CONTINUES TO BITE ME : FROM OUR ARCHIVES POST (150)

(150) THE HOLLYWOOD BUG CONTINUES TO BITE ME

In New York acting was respected as a dramatic art and the stage was the place to be.

I studied at Actors Studio in New York with Lee Strasberg, who is now legendary.

The Studio System of Hollywood put actors on contract. The amount of money to be made was quite limited in those years compared to what successful actors demand and get today - very limited.

Even when an actor made millions for the studios on a picture, or a top agent like Henry Wilson was going to negotiate for you, the actors take was limited. Of course some stars managed to get their contracts rewritten for more money. Wealth for many didn't come outright from pay or overnight but from investing what they earned in real estate - land especially - in Southern California, which had experienced a first surge of the building boom after World War II.

So you had to love acting and love it enough to do it knowing you might never make a lot of money. You had to appreciate the many perks that came with being a famous actor, including meeting people and making connections that could do you some good, but you had to earn it all the time. You had to do things their way.

Just as James Dean had moved to Hollywood and making films, many of my peers, including of course Bobby Darin, looked forward to a movie acting career. It was one thing to make grueling promotional tours around the country, one radio or television station after another, and another to be known almost instantly around the whole country because you were seen in the movies. So long as the move from stage to screen included musicals, it made sense to the viewing public that an actor would launch into song.

MIDNIGHT EARL WILSON : HE ANNOUNCED THAT I LOOKED A LOT LIKE JAMES DEAN : FROM OUR ARCHIVES POST (401)

An Evening News copy of an Earl Wilson Column that mentioned me! (We couldn't get it to enlarge so you could read it, but you can try!)

EARL WILSON was the syndicated columnist who announced that I'd been signed to United Artists and that I looked a lot like James Dean. One of the hardest working journalists that ever lived, Earl didn't just rely on contacts to give him information, he continued to interview even as the years went by. Being mentioned by Earl ever so briefly was a dream come true for the up and coming actor - singer - songwriter I was back in New York.

We learned that Earl's son, Earl Junior, gave his father's papers to Ohio State college, the school he had graduated from.

WES BRYAN IN CENTRAL PARK "TRICK PHOTO" TAKEN BY MY MANAGER IN NEW YORK

  I had to really look at this fun photo to recognize it as Wes Bryan, but it is, and probably because he is not so recognizable it was barely used.  His manager at the time took the photos which played up his James Dean-ess and they were distributed in publicity packages to the press by what Wes calls the "United Artists Publicity Machine."   The clue here is the overcoat, as James Dean was famously photographed in one walking around New York City.

 

A copy of this photo has been on sale at e-Bay (and thus the vintage image distortions) for about $25.00 and is rarer than some of the other publicity photos out there.  

 

How'd they do that? 

 

Christine Trzyna

WES BRYAN ON THE COVER OF THE AKRON BEACON JOURNAL'S ROTO MAGAZINE 1957

Local Akron, Ohio photographers and journalists and DJ's, as well as Southern Boys like Jimmy Bowen, Buddy Knox, and even Elvis Presley, were influential in my career - and this 1957 cover was my lucky break.  It makes me wonder about the role of Fate in a life.

(479) JAMES DEAN THE ICONIC ACTOR and WHAT THAT HAS TO DO WITH ME and MY DAD

People say to me, especially when they see this blog, Wes, you met so many interesting people!

I have.

I've also lived my life as a private citizen and private person for many years since those days when I was part of a scene in New York, on the road, or in Los Angeles.

Today I'm a retired senior citizen, and so many of my friends and associates, one's I've written about, have passed.

You know, I did meet and have friendships with many people who became famous - more famous than me - Elvis Presley being the most famous of them all, but it's funny because the person I wanted to meet and never could, besides Marilyn Monroe, was James Dean.

My dad was initially not for my having a career in entertainment.

Dad was teaching me the home building and remodeling trade and we were in Akron, Ohio working when my picture hit the Akron Beacon Journal Roto Magazine cover, and it was a photographer on staff there who saw the resemblance and did that cover.

I always credited him with "discovering" me but I also had to my credit Jimmy Bowen, who was in Akron and liked a demo I did in a kitchen, and a local DJ who played my demo, too.

Soon Hollywood was sending telegrams and calling me as was New York - United Artists.

I went visiting my dad, and remember being in a movie theatre in the South with him where we'd gone to watch a James Dean movie together. Dad got the full picture of whose shoes I was supposed to fill then, especially because early on I was "discovered" and promoted to be "The Next James Dean," after the real James Dean's death, on September 30, 1955.

Since beginning this blog, we've focused on music, because there was a fork in the road for me early in life, and that was acting or music and I took music,  but  this month we're taking a detour to focus a bit on Jimmy.

MARTIN SHEEN QUOTE on ELVIS PRESLEY and JAMES DEAN

"Jim Dean and Elvis were the spokesmen for an entire generation. When I was in acting school in New York, years ago, there was a saying that if Marlon Brando changed the way people acted, then James Dean changed the way people lived. He was the greatest actor who ever lived. He was simply a genius."      - Martin Sheen

LABOR DAY

FROM OUR ARCHIVES : ELVIS PAPER DOLL VEGAS STAR

There are so very many Elvis products for purchase out there, many owned by die-hard fans. (I have a few items myself, given to me by Elvis, which I will never sell!)

Once Elvis started performing in Vegas and later at big stadium shows, he had all his costumes custom made. Off stage he wore fashionable but ordinary clothing.

People seem to think he walked around in his show clothes.



This paper doll comes from Dover - the publishing people - from a book of Vegas Star paper dolls. Dover has their own web site and you can purchase this book and so many other interesting titles, many art oriented. We get to use this image for free because ours is a noncommercial site.

ELVIS PRESLEY : ROCKA A HULA BABY FROM HIS MOVIE BLUE HAWAII - 1961

FROM OUR ARCHIVES : ELVIS PAPER DOLL GOLD SUIT

This image comes from Dover Publishing, and comes from a book of Rock and Roll star paper dolls. We thank Dover for allowing us to use this image for noncommercial sites.

FROM OUR ARCHIVES : (24) HOW I MET THE FAMOUS YOUNG ELVIS PRESLEY & WINK MARTINDALE

(24) HOW I MET THE FAMOUS YOUNG ELVIS PRESLEY and WINK MARTINDALE
 from September 11, 2007

United Artists had me touring around the country, playing live on television, radio, and at record hops on a promotional tour for my launch with "Lonesome Love," and "Tiny Spaceman." On my first tour of the Mid South in 1957, I went to Memphis, Tennessee to perform on a couple shows.

One of them was Wink Martindale's version of a dance party show.

At this point I was beginning to become used to the adoration of my fans. I was a teen idol. My name was mentioned in the columns and pictures of me and magazine articles about me were out there. The girls chased me around and even tried to tear my clothes off. Wink had the kids in the audience ready to give me a hearty welcome, but as I sang, I realized I had never caused so much commotion before... HA!

Elvis Presley and his early entourage had burst into the station to see me!

That's what all the commotion was about! Even Elvis wanted to see what "The Next James Dean" really looked like. I was so excited that Mr. Elvis Presley was out there in the audience. Elvis Presley had achieved stardom and had become a millionaire. I was a fan of his and he was an inspiration! But I never dreamed Elvis would be coming round to see me!

After my performance, Elvis asked me to come back to Graceland TM with him to meet his parents, Gladys and Vernon Presley. He had just purchased his own stretch limo and, after I piled in with the guys, Elvis drove us home in it himself. His family was much like mine because of our southern upbringing, and his father Vernon and especially his mother Gladys were welcoming. Gladys had the table spread with food and asked about my family. She said they had relatives in the Smokey Mountains.

That night I met Elvis's best friend from Humes High School in Memphis, George Klein, and funny-man ex-DJ, and recording artist Cliff Gleaves too.

That evening was the beginning of a friendship with Elvis Presley that lasted the 20 years until his death.

(478) ELVIS! ELVIS! ELVIS! AND THE MOVIES!

Elvis Week is a celebration at Graceland TM and though it takes place at this time because Elvis died on this day, it has become a celebration of the man's life and his music.

The mid-1960's were ones of intense movie making for Elvis and his music was recorded on albums which were soundtracks of those movies.  I visited Elvis on a few different sets over time but because of my own career commitments I wasn't free to travel with him, so I missed out on a lot of fun.  But since his home during these years was still Los Angeles, I was able to keep up with him between films. He would make 31 films in his lifetime, other wise known as "film career."

In 1965, "Tickle Me " for Allied Artists and also in 1965, "Harum Scarum" for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

In 1966, "Frankie And Johnny" for United Artists and also in 1966, "Paradise, Hawaiian Style" for Paramount (and Produced by Hal B. Wallis who Elvis had worked with before on films including "Blue Hawaii," and who has been quoted as saying, "An Elvis Presley picture is the only sure thing in Hollywood."  Deborah Walley, one of the actresses in this film was a friend married to a friend.)

Like most Elvis movies - musicals, the script was written so that Elvis could sing and further the plot that way.

Elvis' management by Colonel Parker has come under scrutiny and criticism over the years, and I know that looking back Elvis wished he'd had more dramatic roles, that he'd done more with his talent, but the Colonel was satisfied with the income Elvis and he made making the movies and sound track albums.  Colonel was making about 25%.

Over time Elvis made movies for Twentieth Century Fox, Paramount, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, United Artists (the company that once signed me for both acting and record making), Allied Artists,  National General, and Universal, spanning the years 1956 - 1969.

ELVIS! ELVIS! ELVIS! MOVIES!

DEPERATE GENERATION : A CLASSIC DOCUMENTARY FILM ABOUT 1990's ROCKABILY CULTURE AND CARS

This documentary film by Emily Dutton is about a Rock-a- Billy revival in Southern Claifornia during the 1990's, a sub-culture surrounding classic car clubs. It's about STYLE, as interpreted 40 years after the Rock-a-Billy era, as expressed in hair ("greasers"), clothing, interior design, and body art - tatoos. It's about hot rod events, musicians - stand up base! - and a then-younger generation of the handsome and the beautiful. 

Watching it, I thought the artists that Wes has talked to me about over the years, including Elvis Presley, and their roots in Rock-a-Billy!  My sense is that the not-famous stars of this DVD also found retro values of comfort to them and that they played out those values in their friendships.

Christine Trzyna

(477) BUDDY KNOX "THE ROCKABILLY GOLD RECORD LEGEND" AND PARTY DOLL : COVERED BY STEVE LAWRENCE, RICKY "BONGO" JAMES, JOHNNY MAESTRO and THE CRESTS, and THE HULLABALOOS

LINK TO OFFICIAL BUDDY KNOX SITE : BUDDY KNOX OFFICIAL

In the end, I don't think Buddy Knox himself made much money on his hit "Party Doll," a song that was covered all over the United States by local bands and covered in many recordings which illustrate the role of the music arranger and music producer in a record, not considering the song's popularity and endurance. 

The song became a standard at local dance party type shows. It always got people up and jumping.  Buddy wrote the song when he was a teenager and it was one of the first he recorded while with Jimmy Bowen and their group The Rhythm Orchids.

We were checking out the videos of  Buddy and Jimmy on YouTube and found a lot of covers of "Party Doll," some which illustrate that American Invasion of Britain!

You'll find some excellent renditions of the song that go from Rock-A-Billy to Jazz to Mod Beatlesque circa 1966.  Take a few moments to listen to the variety of these recordings of Buddy's song.

This first video is from the Ed Sullivan show, I believe. 
The song was over quick. That's Jimmy Bowen on the bass.  

As Recorded on Roulette and Columbia and...

Steve Lawrence didn't hesitate. His recording came out in 1957, not long after Buddy's.

Same year the song was recorded in Britain by Ricky "Bongo" James and his group. Jazzy Cool.



Johnny Maestro of The Crests recorded it in 1960!  - looking for a hit four years after the became a hit for Buddy. 

 
1966 in Great Britain - The  HULLABALLOOS!               
Recorded on Roulette... Roulette wasn't giving up those residuals!

Rock-a-billy cover bands like Sha-na-na and The Jets cover the song in their live performances.

(476) BUDDY KNOX BY BRUNO OF HOLLYWOOD

HERE'S BUDDY in HOLLYWOOD

I went on tour with Buddy for a couple years and he made the introductions that got me onto Roulette Records where he was signed. Eventually we made our way to Hollywood, after playing in in the lower 48 states... or was that 47? Well, we didn't play in Utah though I got some press in Utah, and we didn't play in Hawaii, though we wanted to. Elvis loved Hawaii and we all wrote or sang songs with the Hawaiian theme.

Sometimes while on tour Buddy would go off and play with Jimmy Bowen, who he'd had the Rhythm Orchids with, and sometimes I went off to play with Jimmy, who was instrumental in my early career.

I also had my photo taken by Bruno of Hollywood. He was the photographer to go see when you came to Hollywood. So far that picture hasn't made the e-Bay auctions like some of the pictures that my manager took of me when I was at United Artists have. Most of the pictures that hit e-Bay of me were sent out in press kits.

(Want to know more about Buddy or Jimmy?  Check out that Google Search feature embedded in this blog!) 

QUESTION FROM READER WHO BOUGHT A SIGNED COPY OF MELODIE D'AMOUR

We recieved a question from a reader who bought a signed copy of Wes Bryan - "Melodie D'Amour", wanting to know what it's worth.  We don't know the answer!

Here are some considerations.  From time to time we check the e-Bay auctions and we see that overall the price of Wes Bryan records has steadily climbed up by a dollar or two over the years, with a recent mint  quality copy of "Lonesome Love" starting at around $65.  Two years ago it was at about $45. There was a lot of United Artists promotions of that record, I and it went GOLD quickly.  It's rare but not so rare.

So first consideration would be the condition and playability of the record itself, next would be the rarity of the record.  Disc Jockey and Promo copies come up more than pressed copies on e-Bay, especially of my song "Freeze" which did well because the Freeze Dance was invented for it, and the record not only got bought up for parties but went into a lot of juke boxes which pay the hell out of a record so "Freeze" is rarer. 

As for the signature, figuring that it's an authentic Wes Bryan signature that should ad value.  But it's not George Washington's so -

We figure the collectors know more than we do.  OUR SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO JOIN e-Bay so that you can communicate with some of the collectors and oldies record shops and see what they would be willing to pay you for it!

ERNIE BANKS Quotation on Friendship

"Loyalty and friendship, which is to me the same, created all the wealth that I've ever thought I'd have." - Ernie Banks 

PBS SPECIAL CLIP : HULLABALOO TELEVISION SHOW

We've written about the television show called Shindig.  Hullabaloo was Shindig's competitor. This YouTube Contributor video starts with a lot of artists who we cover here at WES BRYAN - MY LIFE IN MUSIC and then some. The Byrds, Loving Spoonful, Sonny and Cher, Four Seasons, Trini Lopez,The Bobby Fuller Four, Mamas and the Papa's, Nancy Sinatra, The Righteous Brothers, and so very many groups from Britain that invaded America.

(475) LOVIN SPOONFUL : COOL CATS HEATING UP THE SUMMER OF 66

LOVIN SPOONFUL OFFICIAL  touring with some of the  original band members (sans John Sebastian) this link gives a good history of the band as well as current tour information.

FANTASTIC! JOHNNY RIVERS : POOR SIDE OF TOWN : MARTY STUART SHOW NASHVILLE

VIDEO TAKEN DOWN DUE TO YOUTUBE NOTIFICATION
The show aired on May 18 2013... WOW!  As I've said JOHNNY RIVERS WOULD NOT QUIT!
FULL SHOW...

KEEP ON HANGING ON WITH US AS WE CHANGE THE DESIGN OF OUR BLOG

Hello Loyal Fans!  We had a technology glitch the other day that wiped out one of our Pages, and now we're trying to make some design changes. Keep on Hanging on with us!  Thanks!

PS: We'd love some feedback...  The design is set for MEDIUM text and Zoom at 100%.  Changing either factor may result in seeing the blog a different way.  If your settings are on MEDIUM text and Zoom at 100% and it still looks odd, please leave a comment and LET US KNOW WHAT BROWSER YOU'RE USING!  
Thanks!

KEEP ME HANGING ON! DO YOU LIKE THE SUPREMES, VANILLA FUDGE, or KIM WILDE'S VERSION BETTER?

KIM WILDE HIT in 1987 with her version.

ERSEL HICKEY : TRYING TO GET TO YOU

Can You Help? ERSEL HICKEY ESTATE HEIRS?

In November 2012 we got a message from someone identifying themselves as ROYALTY PHOENIX who said that BMI is looking for heirs to the ERSEL HICKEY ESTATE.

Since we've posted a lot on Ersel, who was a friend of Wes's from his New York City days, it made sense that someone would contact us but ROYALTYPHOENIX didn't say how she knew or how to get in touch with her.  I called BMI in Los Angeles over the holidays and talked to a nice person or two, but was told I should call New York. 

What I wanted to tell New York was that I remember reading a YOUTUBE comment on an Ersel Hickey music video from a woman who called Ersel "UNCLE ERSEL." If this woman was really his niece then she could be the link to his estate, or maybe even an heir.  Now I can't find that particular comment/video.  I decided to post on many of the current Ersel Hickey YouTube videos to put the word out.  On one of them someone also claimed to be a great nephew - four years ago!

So I'm trying to track down a person in Ersel's family with your help.  I'm doing so because I know that Wes thinks so highly of Ersel and I wouldn't want anyone who is deserving of Ersel's royalty/intellectual property money to loose out! 

We have our Comments turned on and Information you leave will not appear on the Internet for the world to see.  If you know something about this you can feel secure that we will not publish your phone number, e-mail, or identifying information.  If you think you may be an heir please call BMI New York.

(474) BOBBY DARIN RECORDED ON MOTOWN!

We think the writers at REISSUE THEORY did a great job of telling about Bobby Darin on MOTOWN, the label he was signed to at the time of his death (years later) that some of the recordings.

THE SECOND DISK : BOBBY DARIN THE MOTOWN YEARS link here!

EXCERPT: "At the time of his untimely death in 1973, Bobby Darin was signed to Motown Records, where he recorded one solo LP and enough material for a posthumous second LP. Despite their high quality, Darin’s Motown recordings have long been unavailable. Today’s Reissue Theory takes us back to 1970 and the final chapter in the life of the great Bobby Darin." 





LINKING TO A REALLY COOL SITE CALLED "THE OFFICIAL 60's SITE : SUPREMES PAGE!
DIANA ROSS AND THE SUPREMES !

JOSH DULANEY OF THE LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS REPORTS THAT VINYL RECORDS SALES ARE "BACK IN THE GROOVE"

Josh Dulaney, in the July 10 2013, Los Angeles Daily News, says that vinyl records are making a comeback as sales hit their highest point in 15 years. Turntables are expected to sell 40% better next year. 4.6 million vinyl records including some new releases sold last year, an increase of more than 17%. The article focuses on some of the more popular vinyl record stores in the Los Angeles region.

(473) HOLLAND -DOZIER - HOLLAND COMPOSERS OF OVER 200 SONGS

We wrote about some famous rock and roll classics songwriters like David Gates a while back, but you may not know about the three sonwriters so associated with Motown.  Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland and Eddie Holland are the men.  Songs they wrote are still being placed with artists today and that's the way to keep those royalties coming in for years!

HOLLANDDOZIERHOLLAND OFFICIAL link

and their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ROCKHALL BIO OF HOLLAND DOZIER and HOLLAND

(472) MOTOWN HITS THE SUNSET STRIP : THE FOUR TOPS : JOHNNY RIVERS

Released by the Four Tops in 1964, and a Motown hit for them, Johnny recorded the song and brought it to the West Coast in 1966. It was one of a few Motown songs Johnny covered, making the songs his own. Motown had an in-house song writing team and BABY I NEED YOUR LOVIN was written by the team called Holland-Dozier-Holland. This single put Motown into the Top 20 for the first time, in '64, and was a million seller.  It's been recorded by several other artists, including a British group.



THE BBC RUNS A FOUR TOPS BIO PIC! BBC RADIO DOCUMENTARY SOUL SATISFACTION in OCTOBER!

FOURTH OF JULY

OPRAH WINFREY ON FRIENDSHIP

"Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down." - Oprah Winfrey

(471) MOTOWN HITS THE SUNSET STRIP : STEVIE WONDER : JOHNNY RIVERS

This Motown hit was the first  song co-writing credit the now famous and legendary Stevie Wonder ever got.  The song was written by the team of Sylvia Moy and Henry Cosby and the lyrics were put into Braille for Stevie.  A hit for him in 1966, Johnny's version soon followed.

MOTOWN HITS THE SUNSET STRIP

Link here to STEVIE WONDER'S OFFICIAL SITE! STEVIE WONDER.NET

(470) THE SUPREMES : MOTOWN GIRL GROUP THAT HIT THE BIG TIME!

ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME SUPREMES INDUCTEES BIO link

As you may know, Diana Ross and The Supremes had some personnel changes, and then Diana went solo.  They were Mod.  They were Glamour! They spelled Motown.  Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this bio is comprehensive.

Motown, the word, comes from Detroit's nickname "MOTOR CITY." Musically the sound put Detroit on the music map like it had never been.  (Years later Madonna put Detroit on the map again but she had to go to THE BIG APPLE to do it!)

MOTOWN MUSEUM FOUNDED BY ESTHER GORDY EDWARDS

MOTOWN MUSEUM LINK  Learning more about Motown with our readers!

"Despite the passage of time since Motown Records’ establishment in 1959 by Berry Gordy, tens of thousands of visitors pass through Hitsville U.S.A., home to the Motown Museum, each year. Their presence is a testimony to Motown’s legacy and to the charisma, talent and staying power of the music and those who made it.


The Motown Museum, which was founded by Esther Gordy Edwards in 1985, is one of Southeast Michigan’s most popular tourist destinations. Visitors come from across America and throughout the world to stand in Studio A, where their favorite artists and groups recorded much-loved music, and to view the restored upper flat where Berry Gordy lived with his young family during the company’s earliest days.

Home to an extensive array of Motown artifacts, photographs and other memorabilia, the Museum’s mission, which is presented below, is to preserve the legacy of Motown Record Company and to educate and motivate people, especially youth..."