Club Mary - The Winston’s - Pink Floyd - Bums Rush - The Black Page

1973

315### Spend It All – 1972/ Inspired by Tommy Thomas to become a better musician, I invested in my first collection of percussion instruments. I ordered 2 Rogers Timpani Drums, Zildjian Gong and Roto Toms. I also purchased a used Jenco Vibraphone. The “Great Gretsch Sound” drummers were also on my radar. I traded in my Merging Traffic, 60’s Rogers drumset towards a Gretsch 4 piece, 70s, Stop Sign Badge, Walnut Drumset.

316### 1972 - Jim Pintoran – Jim Chapin – Joe Morello – Don Ellis – Time Signatures/ 1972 was the window of time I began my launch to become a more skilled musician. I met Tommy Thomas. (1901-1995) He lit the fire. I had a difficult time learning to read and understand drum music. Those skills are better in 2024, but I’m not ready to sight-read Frank Zappa’s, The Black Page.

After my initial meeting with Tommy Thomas, I had several lessons with different drum and percussion teachers.

In Orlando there was a music store called Steeps Music. The percussion teacher was Jim Pintoran (1946-2020) He was (Principle Percussionist with the Florida Symphony Orchestra)

I had discovered and acquired several drum books authored by notable drummers. Two of them were by Joe Morello and Jim Chapin.

Those titles are: “New Directions in Rhythm: Studies in 3/4 and 5/4 Time” (1963) - Joe Morello Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer – Jim Chapin. Both of those books are still two of the most popular and useful tools in a drummer’s library.

I had a couple lessons with Jim Pintoran. I was impressed that he could rip though both books. He was a great reader and easily demonstrated how to play those difficult lessons and exercises.

#52 $$$ Gig - 1973 Club Mary Bradenton, Florida/ I was still residing in the Geneva Hippy House when my buddy Rakestraw paid me a visit. Since my spiritual revival I was under the radar. Rake was curious about my music plans. Was I still interested in playing gigs? He told me about an upcoming gig in Bradenton, Florida. I accepted.

The band at the Club Mary included John, Joe Dunlap on Reeds, C. E. Stubblefield on Hammond B3. The Club Mary had a lounge where topless dancers performed. We played in the larger show and dance room. Club Mary also featured exotic strippers. The band was playing music behind the stripper when her enormous snake took a dump. That was a showstopper.

Maybe or maybe not a crowd pleaser) Club Mary was on 301. Across the road from the Club was a Go-Cart track. John, Joe and myself were banned because of our aggressive driving habits.

317### 1973 - Recording Session Tampa, FL/ I was contacted about a recording session in Tampa and accepted. Produced by Dennis Belew. I played with Dennis in Donnie Gregory’s bands. Dennis was also a former entertainer with Vic Waters. Playing bass and Hammond B3 was Sonny Pekrol and Phil Talotta.

They were veterans from the group The Winston’s. The Winston’s had the 1969 Grammy winning record ‘Color Him Father’ I did my best to play and give Dennis an acceptable drum track. I remember locking in with bass player Sonny. He had a great feel and sound. Sonny was from DC and worked in early Roy Buchanan groups. When the session ended I returned to my Club Mary gig.

#53 $$$ Gig - 1973 - The Club Alibi Donnie Gregory Tampa, FL/ In February of 1973, I received a call from Donnie Gregory to come work with him again. I arrived in Clearwater to find Donnie had rented a nice house, one block from the gulf on Clearwater Beach. I shared the rent and turned my bedroom into a personal 4-track recording studio. My time during that period was interesting and unique. Donnie and many of the bandleaders I worked with were very conservative.

They lived in the 60s and never accepted changes or new ideas.

The 1973 me that showed up to play music again with Donnie was different. My drum sound and spiritual attitude presented a surprise. Zac The Dog also stayed with me until he wore out his welcome. Most of our gigs were on Dale Mabry, a place called Club Alibi. When I was driving to Tampa 3 days a week in 2017-2020 the building was still there. It eventually got bulldozed down.

The Alibi was a crazy joint. I enjoyed playing on the bandstand. Dennis Bellew played guitar and sang. Vic Waters was our occasional featured vocalist. There was a poolroom where prostitutes hung out looking for customers. I was propositioned several times from a very attractive young black prostitute. I wasn’t sure if it was a love offering or if her pimp was waiting in the wings.

317### Avant-Garde Dark Side of The Moon ECM 1973/ Music sound waves streaming from the turntable in my Clearwater House bedroom included Art Ensemble of Chicago, Sun Ra, The Revolutionary Ensemble. I bought Pink Floyd’s much anticipated March/1973 record, Dark Side of the Moon. I purchased my first ECM album. My listening playlist was very confusing to Donnie. What happened to my old drummer?

My turntable played Tony Williams, The Bums Rush, Herbie’s Mwandishi, Crossings and Sextant. Paul Bley with Barry Altschul on drums. In St. Pete I heard a great drummer Majid Shabazz. He moved from NYC and opened a music loft. Majid can be heard on several Pharoah Sanders records. I write about Majid in my book ‘130 Drummers’