Clay Gatton – Red White and Blue – Gatton Gang – Pandemonium
My first gig was at Mar - Lou’s Lounge in Sanford Florida. (1966) That was my first gig − first paid gig. There wasn’t a real rehearsal or warm - up. I never played in a garage band or with my teenage buddy band. My mom bought me a ZimGar drumset for my sixteenth birthday from Jimmy Head’s Discount Music, in Sanford.
I became a 9th Grade Drop Out. I got a call from Jimmy Head to play at Mar Lou’s. I made $12 a night for the Friday and Saturday. My mom drove me - and my drumset to the gig. I was scared crap-less to be there in front of people. I got request to play Wipe Out several times. My mom and others would tell me to SMILE when I played. I played that gig several times.
The first drummer I ever saw Play live in person − that close − at a club − was Clay Gatton. How I ended up at Mar Lou’s with my Mom − is a mystery. She also loved music − somehow we migrated there on a weekend. This may have been after my first gig. I can’t remember everything at 73+. I think − I’m doing a pretty good job just typing.
We may have been checking in to see what was happening there. Just scouting the joint out − so to speak. She wasn’t my agent. I had a Restricted Drivers License−but could only drive in daylight hours. That’s what I remember. I may have been 15. Now I’m old−it’s been decades.
(Back to Clay Gatton) I sat with my Mom − in the Lounge − in front of the drumset. There was a slightly elevated bandstand. It was about 10 inches above the floor − large enough for a 60s 4-piece drumset and 3 musicians. Clay sat behind the drums and a microphone. I’m imagining a classic Shure 55SH of some type.
I remember − Clay singing − You’ve Lost That Lovin Feeling, Poor Side of Town, Good Lovin, Louie Louie. Most of those tunes were recorded in 1964 and 1965. Nightclub musicians were behind in playing popular Top-40 songs. Kids bands played the latest hit. That’s the first time I saw and heard Clay Gatton. I enjoyed the experience. We never spoke.
In 1967, I became a professional musician and started my journey. After traveling on the road and house gigs in Mississippi, Arkansas and South Florida − I returned in 1971. A couple of musicians I started playing with had been in various groups with Clay.
In the early 70s − I frequented a club in Winter Park. Clay and the band had a house gig. (Gatton Gang) (1972) Clay played drums − Doug Farwig-bass − Rick Warsing -guitar and Kibbee Gary-Keyboards. Louie Gold may have been on that gig. Clay had a beautiful Red White and Blue set of Rogers drums. Everyone sang − they were a very popular Top-40 group.
Continuing in the 70s − there was a club called Sportsmen Den. That group featured Clay and Lloyd Hanson on drums − Louie Gold on Keyboards. Both had Red White and Blue Rogers, Kapp Pierce played bass.
The next time I saw and heard Clay Gatton was in Atlanta. I was playing a gig− “On The Road” − passing through. Clay was leading a band that included a trumpet player I had worked with, Terry Stubblefield. The bands name was Pandemonium.
In the 80s − Clay Gatton had a house band at a club called Cheek to Cheek. It was very popular. He was the front man − vocalist at that time. Clay was well known in Central Florida. I saw him occasionally on TV commercials. This flash back has really brought back memories.