The Blenders – Jimmy Head and The HeadLyters – The Fiesta – Biloxi, Mississippi

130 drummers

The first 3 months of 1968…I experienced life as a traveling “On The Road” musician. I was in a group called [The Blenders] Bandleader [Jim Anderson] had established a connection with The Bill Lowery Agency…out of Atlanta. They were a reputable booking agency. Bill Lowery was having success as agent-record producer.  Some of his acts in the agency included Joe South, Billy Joe Royal and Ray Stevens. When we joined the agency… Dennis Yost & Classics IV ---- had a run of hits with Spooky, Stormy and Traces.

Before joining The Blenders…I purchased a new set of Ludwig. A black diamond pearl Hollywood…five - piece kit with matching wood snare drum. I also had real…Zildjian cymbals. My Japanese set of ZimGar --were stolen because of my casual stupidity. I had them in my Mom’s 65 Ford---convertible while [club hopping] searching for a gig. Someone sliced the top and stole everything.

The Blenders were strictly a lounge lizard…Top 40 group for Bill Lowery to book in his string of Southeastern nightclubs. The Blenders played in Atlanta, Pensacola, Daytona Beach and Key West. “WE”… The Blenders were in our first week at a club in Jacksonville, North Carolina when Martin Luther King was assassinated, April 4, 1968. The club was closed and the band returned to Orlando. I write about this in more detail: Notes of a Young Drummer 1966-1969.

John Rakestraw and myself would immediately join a well establish group called, Jimmy Head and The HeadLyters. “It was an offer we couldn’t refuse”

Something happened with his old band? Jimmy had a future booking in Biloxi, Mississippi at The Fiesta…He needed a replacement group. The Fiesta was a house gig… The HeadLyters had played there before. This band would first play in Albany, New York for 2-weeks… then go to Biloxi. Jimmy was certainly---in a bind. Rake and me…were at the right place…at the right time. Jimmy needed a drummer and guitar player…Jimmy offered us $200 a week.  We were in (let’s go)

In Albany−the band rehearsed everyday in preparation for the Biloxi gig. Jimmy’s song-list included popular Top-40 hits… he had an attraction for Motown RnB material. Jimmy sang in the style of Smokey Robinson. Jimmy was from Kalamazoo, Michigan. There are several___1965___HeadLyters records on Youtube. 

He covers “Shop Around” by Smokey Robinson. It doesn’t have the Motown production. It sounds like a nightclub band…but Jimmy sings really well. He was a Blue Eyed Soul Brother. I never heard any of these recordings. He talked about having a couple 45 records. There was never any conversation to be [recording artist] His 45 record “Girl Down The Street” is interesting. You can hear his strong singing voice. It sounds like a young 60s garage band with a mature singer. Jimmy was older married in his 20s in 1968.

I recognize Jimmy playing his Vox Continental organ on Girl Down The Street. The drummer plays what was called the [boo-ga-loo beat] It’s very good. “Girl Down The Street” reminds me of “For Your Love” by The Yardbirds.

The drums are recorded well. There’s a classic break---I refer to as the “Down In The Boon Docks” break. You’ll know it - when you hear it. It was a popular 60s drum thing. Hal Blaine plays it on “Be My Baby” by The Ronettes.

Another – Youtube - HeadLyters track from 1965 is “I Need You” on The Wand Label. It has more of “The Motown Sound” Jimmy sounds great. His voice really recorded well. It’s a mature track. The---Wand Label---had big success with The Kingsmen record - Louie Louie−in 1963. With the exception of The Kingsmen, the Wand Labels roster were reputable RnB artist-including Chuck Jackson − Bobby Bland − Dee Clark − Isley Brothers – Johnny Copeland − Maxine Brown – Shirelles − Dionne Warwick.

Hearing this version of  “I Need You” I understand their production style to compete in the “Motown” market. It’s a well-produced B-Side track with background voices. (Wish I knew what the {A-side} was) There’s an alternative (remix) instrumental version of “Girl Down The Street’ without vocals. It sounds like it could be the soundtrack for Austin Powers. (Groovy Baby) I had no idea about these 45 records in 1968. Thanks again---Youtube.

Biloxi, Mississippi was one of my most memorable experiences in music. Biloxi’s character was similar to Daytona or Myrtle Beach. The Biloxi “strip” was a tourist spot with motels, restaurants and souvenir shops. Kessler Air Force Base has been there since 1941. The Tuskegee Airman trained at Keesler.

There were a variety of nightclubs, lounges…piano bars…cabarets and exotic dance spots on the Biloxi strip. There was a famous show lounge restaurant called Gus Stevens. They brought in ––comedians––singers––groups and musicians. 

It opened in 1946 and closed in 1975. A few of the entertainers that performed there include Andy Griffith, Mel Torme, Martha Raye, Rudy Vallee, Mamie Van Doren and Jerry Lee Lewis. It was Jane Mansfield’s last gig…before her tragic automobile accident.

The Fiesta was the gem of music gigs on the Biloxi strip. The Fiesta was owned by an old money Mississippi family. The Fiesta complex included a motel and restaurant. It was a well-operated business. The physical building of The Fiesta was a Gambling Casino in the 40s and 50s.

The HeadLyters played in the large back room. The front room was a tropical themed lounge and bar. (Fiesta at the Fiesta) There were (two) 6-night a-week house bands. The HeadLyters played Tuesday through Sunday. Ken Harder’s band played Monday through Saturday. The 2 groups played alternating sets.

The Go-Go Girl attraction was still an entertainment offering. Go-go girls danced on platforms in the front lounge − while The HeadLyters played music in the main room.

Ken Harder’s band included female vocals-acoustic piano-Drums and Ken. Ken sang---played clarinet and Tenor saxophone. They were seasoned professionals, in mid-life. I enjoyed hearing and watching the drummer. At age 18, I could have formally taken some lessons from him. He could play Swing-Dixieland – Standards - Ballads, Cha-Cha’s. The classic professional drummer grooves - I’d eventually learn to play.

Watching him on a bandstand as an 18-year-old---I wasn’t thinking about playing drums when I was his age (Old) I was playing popular music of the period.  Looking back, 50+ years later…I consider-how was I-in that position? Earning $200 a-week. (Age 18 - With only a few months of “On The Road” dues paying, under my belt) I didn’t think about that at all − in 1968.

I didn’t own a George Stone Stick Control book––I couldn’t read–– I knew zero rudiments––I never played in the school band. In fact, my Junior High School’s “band director” rejected me completely. Because I couldn’t read or play from “The Haskell Harr Book” He basically gave me the left foot of fellowship–––after my 2-minute audition.