The Riddler Band - Don Lamond - Stones - BTO - Fibes - ZZ Top - Stevie Wonder
1974
#55 $$$ Gig - 1974 - The Riddler Band Orlando, FL. (Possible Riddler Band excerpt from 1975 via live cassette recording/
The majority of Discounts employees were Christians. The business was managed with a faith based credo formula. Craig Caldwell, Jay Quinn and Greg Nichols were fellow employees. I knew Craig from his past as a guitar player in several popular bands. They had been rehearsing at the store to form a band and ask me to play. They heard me for the first time during our rehearsal. They were surprised. They didn’t know anything about my past. I was told later they thought I was a hippie far out. The Riddler Band’s vocalist was Al Walker
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Al was originally from California. He was one of the best front-men-vocalist I’ve worked with. His style combined Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Mick Jagger and Lenny Williams from Tower of Power.
Al was great. Immediately our little part-time “Riddler Band” group started working every weekend. It was a very convenient situation to practice at the music store utilizing anything we needed. We even used the stores Discount Music van to haul our gear from gig to gig. The Riddler Band never played clubs or weeknights.
All of our jobs were High Schools, University of Florida fraternities and sororities, Apartment complex parties and special events.
We were very professional. There was never a dream to be rock stars or recording artist. It was a unique group and situation. Greg Nichols played keyboards, Craig Caldwell played lead guitar, Al Walker was the vocalist and Jay Quinn played electric bass. Jay was also the business leader and worked with booking agents to handle our jobs. He was very good at it.
With my hourly wage and sales commission paycheck, plus 2 or 3 gig paychecks each week, I was saving some money. My affordable garage apartment was 3 blocks from Discount Music Center.
326### Al Walker / Dick Maddox/ The Riddler Band added Dick Maddox. Al and Dick out front combined was fantastic. The first time I saw and heard Dick he was in a band called Heaven. Floyd Radford was playing guitar. They opened for Dion. The event was in the auditorium at Winter Park High School.
Before Al Walker came to Orlando he worked at Casablanca Records in California. Anyone have information on Al please forward.
327### Basic 4/4 Music – Popular Song list/ The Riddler Band pulled me back into being a basic 4/4 Groove Drummer. The bands song list included Stones, Beatles, Tower of Power, ZZ Top, BTO, Ohio Players, Stevie Wonder, Bob Seeger, Edgar Winter, Chaka Khan, Foghat, Doobie Brothers.
We were very commercial. Agents, buyers, listeners, dancers all loved the group. We were one of the most requested bands on the booking agencies roster. I played several different drumsets during those years. I sold my Gretsch drumset to a student. Because of my position at the store, I could have got an employee discount on anything.
328### Goodbye Gretsch Hello Hayman & Fibes 1974/ Discount Drum World was an authorized dealer for Slingerland, Ludwig, Rogers, CB 700 and North. My first purchase was a set of Hayman. They were very nice. After the Hayman I bought a set of Fibes. Hayman drums were distributed through a company called Dallas-Arbiter)
An English company with a catalog of high quality audio boards accessories and more. Discount Music was a dealer of their pro audio gear. I became friends with the sale rep. He gave me a great price on the kit. I wish I still had them. I played them on early Riddler Band gigs. My next purchase was the Fibes. When I bought them they were distributed through C.F. Martin. Ron Hefner “turned me on” to them via seeing and hearing him play. Ron bought his kit from Bob Grauso when Ron was on the road, in Ohio. (I also saw Billy Cobham play his clear Fibes kit with Mahavishnu Orchestra) My initial Fibes kit was 18” 12” 14” floor and snare drum.
(Buddy Rich played a Fibes snare drum. There are a few Youtube videos) my drums were chrome wrap over fiberglass. I eventually added 22” 14” 18” drums, turning it into an odd double bass drum set. (Audio excerpts)
21*** My Drum Sets/ one was from Japan one was from England three were German the rest American each had unique qualities I loved them all in a different way but they’re gone I beat them and grew tired of them always looking for a change to fit my moods, where are they now I’d like to have them back.
22*** The Search/ - my drumset from 1974 is still my best friend. I’ve had others but they couldn’t take its place. I had one from 1986 one from 1998 all of the rest are gone.
I see the correlation of passing discontent dissatisfaction with my relationships. The kit was there from the beginning. The girls, women and affairs came from it. They’re all gone. Some had a connection. Many didn’t. They were the wisest.
329### Don Lamond – Joey Kramer Egos – 1974/
With the opening of Walt Disney World, many WDW staff drummers, stage managers and company employees came into Discount Music and Drum World. Discount’s store manager was Neil Richard, a former trumpet player. Neil was giving a tour to a gentleman and introduced me to him. He told me his name was Don Lamond. I had zero-clue about Don at the time. I think I’d seen his face, name and a photo of Don endorsing Sonor Drums.
Don was recently hired to be the drummer for the Top Of The World Band. Years later I would hear Don on several occasions. He was a great drummer. I regret not studying with him. (A missed opportunity) I write about Don in my book ‘130 Drummers’ Joey Kramer from Aerosmith came in and bought some sticks. He was a big Ludwig endorser at the time. We weren’t that big into Ludwig. We had zero conversation. Then there was the “Big Ego” drummer that graced the hallowed walls of Drum World. I’m sure my ego at the time could have been deflated a few pounds.
I usually approached a potential sale with an open attitude. But, so many were arrogant and rude.
On the other hand, I had a few older regular customers that came in looking for deals. They got all of the “Specials” tucked away in the back. They got the super extra discount for being friendly. BaDaboom
330### (1974) Sun Amplification Arp String Ensemble U-Haul/ Riddler Band guitarist Craig Caldwell and bassist Jay Quinn were both general managers of Discount Music.
Because of our mutual ties we had access to any inventory we were interested in borrowing and trying out. Discount Music was a Sun Amplifier dealer that we used exclusively. The Sun sales representative and company were very happy with that relationship. Greg Nichols was conservative in his keyboard package. He would borrow a Rhodes Piano and Arp String Ensemble for most gigs. There was one gig that almost ended our “free ride” of equipment. While traveling back from a UF Gainesville gig the rented U-Haul trailer detached from the van. My drums were not inside but the borrowed Arp String Ensemble was destroyed.
331### Sales Representatives (Reps)- 1974/ As an employee at Discount Music, my skills grew as manager of Discount Drum World. I was responsible for sales, inventory and ordering. I met and became friends with most of my product representatives. In 10 years I would be a sales representative with my own business.
The popularity of drum brands in 1974 was changing. Discount Music became a Yamaha dealer. Discount Drum World became the local authorized Yamaha drum dealer. Those early series of drums and hardware quickly became very popular. I still own a boom cymbal stand from that period.
It still functions after 50 years. Walt Disney World became a major customer of Discount Music Center. Yamaha, Shure, JBL, EV, Zildjian, Fender were all popular product lines. WDW was always buying or renting gear. The WDW account became so big and profitable that Discount hired staff to oversee outside sales, mainly WDW. (Sea World was also a client, but smaller)