E-MAIL MEMORIES, PAGE 7
J. MICHAEL TUCKER, Middleburg, VA:
Dear Mr. Walker, I recently had an attack of homesickness up here in Middleburg,
Virginia and decided to research on what became of WTIX and the original
history of the station. I was absolutely delighted to find your synopsis
of what 'TIX was all about and the great contribution the station and staff
gave to New Orleans and the world. It was also a relief that this great
tradition continues and brings joy to people through the power and reach
of the Internet. Please keep up the good work. Both you and the station
were a big part of my life in the late 1970's at LSU. My fraternity brothers
and I regularly tuned to the station as we cruised sorority row in my 1970
LeMans convertible. What great and cherished memories. In addition, I called
the station and you recommended Jim Russell's Rare Records as the source
for my own great oldies. Mr. Russell was quite a character. I hope and pray
that he is doing well and continues to inspire young people and the young
at heart. Once again, thank you for all the joy and happiness that you and
the station have brought into this world. God Bless you all. I sure would
like to hear those special oldies up here. These (corporate radio) a-holts
up here do not have a clue about what good music is about.
BOB:
Hey, glad to make another Tiger smile. Bet you even parked with one of those
sorority gals by the LSU lake once or twice. Save that 1970 LeMans. It'll
be worth money one day!
JIM CHANDLER SR., Member of the ESQUIRES
Fellow Inductee into the LA Music & Entertainment Hall Of Fame
with the Esquires, group inducted April 2000:
Hi Bob,
I absolutely love this site. If anyone could find a way to keep the
music and memories alive, I knew you would. I have been so fortunate in
my lifetime to be associated with these artists and performers. When the
Sparks entered the Hall of Fame, JV and Don asked me to be the bass player
on the trip. Two years later, the Esquires were inducted, and that was my
day as well as all my band buddies, and Tijonne, and Skip and others. But,
the lasting memories are the brothers and sisters we lost. Henri, Dave,
Jackel, Joe West, Barry five (5) gone, from the Jokers Roland, my mentor
and sponser Gerry Laborde, now Don from the Sparks.
On my web site, I list all that
I can remember that I played backed up or sat in with. In conversation it
always surfaces, that music united every color and gender and origin, a
long time before courts and street wars. I would back Bobby Mitchell at
Club Pimlico on S Broad, then one night he took all 6 of us white boys to
Whitney Barconies Club 57 on N Claiborne to sit in with him. When we entered,
a pin could have been heard to drop, but it was OK by Bobby, so it was a
temporary stay of being asked to leave. Then we played, and Bobby sang and
we were a part of the moment and no one was different.
Billy Bell and I were so drained when Roland and Frank Mollere were
buried the same day, that we tried to get one more "Stay in Touch Party
(Picnic) going, and a lot of the oldies came, but for reasons we can't control,
will never be what it was at one time.
SOOO, we have you. You are a Diamond in My Necklace of Love and Care.
Keep it going. It's like listening to Jack the Cat and Jackie the Kitten
all over again, and Poppa Stoppa too.
The radio corporate power can try to shut it down, but can NEVER silence
the greatest era in the history of music.
BOB:
How fortunate you were to be a musician in the greatest era. The music and
our friends will live on through us forever!
JIM CHANDLER SR., later that same night while surfing the site
and listening to our NEW ORLEANS
JUKEBOX GOLD Internet Radio Shows:
Hey Again Bob, It's 4:00 AM, and you got me hooked. But it's OUR music again!!!!"
Since 12:30 AM wow!!!!!
I have been reliving all the places in the Nostalga site, and the emails
as well. It's very refreshing and inspiring. I must be old. I remember being
at most of the places either playing music, eating, hanging out or making
out.
What a trip...thanks. Did you remember Whitney Barcony's club 57 on
Claiborne?? That was a first and and experience. Remind me to tell you what
Little Richard said when he walked into Cosimo's Studio and heard Escarita
doing Tutti Frutti...
BOB:
Jim, I'm honored that you enjoyed the site. The Esquires have always been
a local treasure themselves. Thanks for sharing...and I'm sure Little Richard
uttered a memorable comment! Too bad I bet we can't post it! Escarita (or
"Eskew Reeder") and Little Richard...definitely two birds of a
feather!
PAT WELSH:
Hi Bob, it's great to find your wonderful web site. Thanks for being out
there. I'm trying to collect a list of all of those oldie line dance songs
that you've been playing for New Orleanians for so long. I know that you
could recite them with gracious ease, but living here in Houston the recall
fades. Do you have, or would you send, a list of the songs you played on
the radio every Sunday night at Good Time Charlie's? Can you fill in the
other line dance songs we all like so much? I don't even need the artist
names, just the titles. Thanks so much!
BOB:
Hi Pat. Hope you had a chance to enjoy our offerings at Good Time Charlie's
in person. Here are the line dances I used to do, as they sequenced directly
off the cassette tape I used, and dedicated to our line dances King and
Queen, Preston & Nina:
Harlem Shuffle - Bob & Earl (Harlem Shuffle)
Hully Gully Baby - Dovells (Hully Gully)
Cocaine - Eric Clapton (Freeze)
Gimme Some Lovin' - Spencer Davis Group (Fast Freeze)
Strokin' - Clarence Carter (Strokin')
Bop - Dan Seals (Tush Push)
Boogie Shoes - KC & The Sunshine Band (Bus Stop)
Pink Cadillac - Aretha Franklin (Pink Cadillac)
Others that popped up now and then:
Oak Tree - Morris Day & The Time (Oak Tree)
If You Don't Want Me To - Ronnie Milsap (Freeze)
Takin' Care Of Business - Bachman-Turner Overdrive (Fast Freeze)
The Letter - Box Tops (Faster Freeze)
Surfin' Bird - Trashmen (Fastest Freeze...nobody could keep up!)
Boot Scootin' Boogie - Brooks & Dunn (Boot Scoot)
Electric Slide - Marcia Griffiths ? (Electric Slide)
Achy Breaky Heart - Whatsisname (Achy Breaky)
Friends In Low Places - Garth Brooks (Two Step)
Cotton Eyed Joe / Schottsie (Cotton Eyed Joe)
Jole Blon (Cajun Two Step)
The Macarena - Whatstheirnames (Macarena)
ROY MEHRTENS:
I am particularly fond of my experiences at "the Beach." My family
won a new 1958 Ford Fairlane at the Beach in the summer of 1958. I remember
the experience very well, even today. I also worked at the Beach in the
summers of '65 and '66. It was a grand experience that continues to provide
good memories!
BOB:
Congrats to you all on winning the Fairlane. I KNOW it wasn't attached to
the string pulls!!