{"id":14680,"date":"2026-04-13T07:38:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T13:38:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.birminghamrecord.com\/brc\/?p=14680"},"modified":"2026-04-13T07:38:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T13:38:09","slug":"newsletter-for-april-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.birminghamrecord.com\/brc\/newsletter-for-april-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Newsletter For April 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

BIRMINGHAM RECORD COLLECTORS<\/strong><\/p>\n

DEDICATED TO THE COLLECTING OF MUSIC, ITS PRESERVATION AND LASTING FRIENDSHIP<\/strong><\/p>\n

THIS MONTH’S MEETING WILL BE THE SECOND SUNDAY, APRIL 12TH\u00a0<\/strong>2:00 PM<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

HOMEWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY 1721 OXMOOR RD BIRMINGHAM, AL 35209<\/strong><\/p>\n

NEXT MONTH’S MEETING WILL BE HELD THE\u00a0<\/strong>FIRST<\/strong>\u00a0SUNDAY, MAY 3RD AT\u00a0<\/strong>2:00 PM<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

HOMEWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY 1721 OXMOOR RD BIRMINGHAM, AL 35209<\/strong><\/p>\n

THIS MONTH’S MEETING<\/strong><\/p>\n

At our April meeting will will be having one of our BRC Music Hall Of Fame members join us and share his career in the music business. Bunky Anderson, band member, record producer, concert promoter and much more has played for, met and been friends with some of the music greats and I know you will want to hear what he has to share. Be there or be square!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our May meeting will be held on the\u00a0<\/strong>FIRST<\/strong>\u00a0Sunday, May 3rd. It will be a dual purpose meeting. Part business and part music. Decisions about our upcoming August record show will be discussed and then we will spend some time enjoying music, its history and its artists.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

GET YOUR KICKS ON ROUTE 66<\/strong><\/p>\n

My wife and I recently took a trip out west and wanted to include in the trip driving on and checking out the history of Route 66. The ‘Mother Road’ spans eight states running from Chicago, IL to Santa Monica, CA passing through eight states including IL, MO, KA, OK, TX, NM, AZ and CA. To get to our starting point on Route 66 our trip went through Mississippi, Tennessee and into Arkansas. From there we went to Oklahoma City, OK and found parts of the old highway there and headed west on I-40 taking some of the exits along the way that would lead us to Route 66 and some of the smaller towns it originally went through.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our purpose was to check out some of the old buildings including service stations, motels, restaurants and gift shops that were part of the original route. We drove out to Arizona staying in Winslow, yes, that Winslow, Arizona where we stood on ‘the corner’. Parts of the original Route 66 goes through Winslow. After we visited the Grand Canyon and stayed in Winslow another night we headed back. But when we arrived in Arcadia, OK we heard of an interesting marker we needed to go see. Below is an article about the event that led to the marker being placed along Old Route 66 in 2020. It comes from a website called The Historical Marker Database.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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What’s a fun way to celebrate your 66th birthday? If you’re Sir Paul McCartney, born June 18, 1942, you take your girlfriend Nancy Shevell, 47, on a Route 66 road trip in a green 1989 Ford Bronco.<\/p>\n

Their trip began July 31, 2008 from Paul’s holiday home in The Hamptons, New York. They joined Route 66 in Illinois, hoping to stay incognito, but that lasted only a couple of days. On August 5, their journey brought them here, to this road: Old Highway 66, just east of Arcadia, Oklahoma.<\/p>\n

Resident Toby Thompson was working outside when a Ford Bronco stopped and the driver asked him if this was Old 66. After a few seconds he realized who he was talking to. He had no pen, camera or phone with him, so he simply verified that yes, this was Old 66, and told McCartney he was honored to meet him. They thanked him kindly and went on their way, staying overnight at the Skirvin Hotel downtown. Sightings of Sir Paul and his future bride Nancy Shevell continued throughout their tour, allowing everyone involved to “Get Their Kicks on Route 66!”<\/strong><\/p>\n

—————————<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another article that was about McCartney’s travels along Route 66 is from the New York Post dated August 18, 2008. Here it is.<\/strong><\/p>\n

————————–<\/strong><\/p>\n

When Paul McCartney strode into Nonna\u2019s restaurant in Oklahoma City two weeks ago, manager John Burras went out of his way not to \u201cmeat\u201d the Beatle. McCartney had Nonna\u2019s menu faxed to the hotel where he was staying with gal pal Nancy Shevell as the two followed what was left of Route 66, and called beforehand to inquire whether the quiche Lorraine could be modified to fit his vegetarian diet. \u201cThe person who took the call actually said no,\u201d Burras recalled. \u201cI immediately called back and said yes. I was damn sure I was going to make it, and I did.\u201dBurras personally prepared the meal. \u201cI guess now the only person bigger to cook for is the pope,\u201d he said.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Touring Route 66 and its decaying relics of a bygone age may seem an odd way for a billionaire rock icon to celebrate his 66th birthday, but the Beatle said he had always wanted to make the 2,448-mile trip from Illinois to California on the primordial highway. He and his MTA board-member girlfriend left the Hamptons in a green 1989 Ford Bronco on Aug. 1, picked up the long and winding \u201cMother Road\u201d in Illinois and made it to California last week, cutting the trip short slightly to make it back to London to meet his sixth grandchild.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Post followed their trail and found they left behind miles of smiles and took with them piles of postcards and souvenirs. The couple was more than happy to chat with everyone they met, as long as no cameras were involved, locals said. They camped for much of the trip, and their most expensive hotel room was the $149-a-night executive suite at the Ambassador Hotel in Amarillo, Texas. \u201cHe was the most gracious, warm gentleman you could meet. We were just thrilled to have him,\u201d manager Phyllis Payne said. \u201cHe was endearing and left a spot in our hearts.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

The couple could not get enough of Things, a zany souvenir shop in Tucumcari, NM, where the inventory includes cigar holders, wigs, mannequins, fake plants, old dresses and antique irons.\u201cI was talking to him and then I looked at him and said, \u2018Does anyone ever say you look like Paul McCartney?\u2019 \u201d said owner Ruth Daniel, 76. McCartney laughed, telling Daniel, \u201cThey do, because I am!\u201d The pair asked Daniel to snap a couple of pictures of them next to a mannequin named Jos\u00e9.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Of all the people who met McCartney, the one who seemed to take the greatest relish in telling his tale was Don Dunavin, owner of the Record Rack in Amarillo. Dunavin introduced his son, Jude \u2013 named after the Beatles\u2019 classic \u201cHey Jude\u201d \u2013 to McCartney, and the pleased star gave an impromptu harmonica concert for them. \u201cJude was smiling. It was such an incredible moment,\u201d Dunavin said.<\/strong><\/p>\n

———————————<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another town my wife and I visited was the town mentioned in the article above, Tucumcari, NM. Being a fan of the group, Little Feat I always enjoyed their song, ‘Willin’. I would sing along with the chorus when they sang, ‘I’ve been from Tuscon to Tucumcari, and\u00a0<\/strong>Tehachapi to Tonopah’. Tucumcari has always interested me so on this trip I got to stop there, take some pictures, buy a t-shirt and ball cap and check out some original buildings drivers would visit in the 1940’s, 50’s and into the 60’s as they traveled along ‘The Mother Road’. One last thing of musical interest. The Bruce Springsteen song, ‘Cadillac Ranch’ was inspired by 10 Cadillacs that are buried nose-down and sticking up about 8 feet high. It is in Amarillo, TX. Do your research before going but if possible drive the ‘The Mother Road’ also known as The Will Rogers Highway:\u00a0 Route 66.<\/strong><\/p>\n

SAD ANNOUNCEMENT<\/strong><\/p>\n

BRC Music Hall Of Fame member Wayne Perkins passed away March 16. With the help of local documentary maker Tom Wier, BRC was fortunate to get to know Wayne and have the pleasure of inducting him into our HOF in 2024.\u00a0 For Wayne’s complete HOF bio click here: \u00a0http:\/\/www.birminghamrecord.com\/brc\/hall_of_fame\/wayne-perkins\/<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

BRC RADIO<\/strong><\/p>\n

And don’t forget that BRC radio is still on the BRC website. Our 3 hosts play all kinds of music including hit songs from the 1950’s \u2013 present. You will hear LP cuts, charted songs and songs that received little or no air-play, and all genres. Just go the birminghamrecord.com and click on the ‘RADIO’ icon and chose a show.\u00a0 Here are the latest from the guys.\u00a0 Click to play.<\/strong><\/p>\n

4-5-26 The Jazz Experience With Tom Faison<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

3-29-26\u00a0 Charlie<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

3-15-26\u00a0 Joe<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

See ya,<\/strong><\/p>\n

Charlie<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BIRMINGHAM RECORD COLLECTORS DEDICATED TO THE COLLECTING OF MUSIC, ITS PRESERVATION AND LASTING FRIENDSHIP THIS MONTH’S MEETING WILL BE THE SECOND SUNDAY, APRIL 12TH\u00a02:00 PM HOMEWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY 1721 OXMOOR RD BIRMINGHAM, AL 35209 NEXT MONTH’S MEETING WILL BE HELD THE\u00a0FIRST\u00a0SUNDAY, MAY 3RD AT\u00a02:00 PM HOMEWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY 1721 OXMOOR RD BIRMINGHAM, AL 35209 THIS […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14680","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-newletters","comments-open"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p46vzC-3OM","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.birminghamrecord.com\/brc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14680","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.birminghamrecord.com\/brc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.birminghamrecord.com\/brc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.birminghamrecord.com\/brc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.birminghamrecord.com\/brc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14680"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.birminghamrecord.com\/brc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14680\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14681,"href":"http:\/\/www.birminghamrecord.com\/brc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14680\/revisions\/14681"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.birminghamrecord.com\/brc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14680"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.birminghamrecord.com\/brc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14680"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.birminghamrecord.com\/brc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14680"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}