Our Monthly Club Meeting will be Sunday, September 13th at the Homewood Public Library. 2:00 PM

*****Next club meeting will be October 11th, 2009, the second Sunday******

THANKS FOR HELPING PUT ON ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL RECORD & CD SHOW. SO MANY PEOPLE WERE THERE TO PITCH IN AND GET THE JOB DONE. AND OF COURSE IT DIDN’T HURT THAT THERE WERE OVER 250,000 RECORDS AND CD’S TO LOOK THROUGH ALSO. HERE ARE SOME EMAILS AND COMMENTS I’LL SHARE WITH YOU CONCERNING THE SHOW. SOME FROM CLUB MEMBERS, SOME FROM DEALERS, AND SOME FROM HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES.

“The good reputation of BRC continues to grow year by year on the solid foundation built by Ben and the founders of the club. We need to capitalize on the growing prestige of our club, our show and our Hall Of Fame Event and have an open dialogue about how we can market our success and take it to the next level…….I am particularly encouraged about the cooperation between members of our club as we help one another make purchases and sales over the weekend and throughout the entire year as well. This sort of thing is not driven by money at all. It comes from the kind of friendship that money can't buy. Again thanks to everyone for your hard work and your friendship.”

“I am ready whenever you are to talk about our 10th anniversary BRC Hall Of Fame event that is coming up next year! I have lots of ambitious ideas about what we can accomplish in the name of Birmingham Record Collectors if we all work together again.”

“It was a great success! Everything seemed to run like clockwork. The induction ceremony went well--great crowd…”

“You guys put on another good show. Thanks to all of you for your efforts. The only downside this year was the heat in the room (and that wasn't your fault).
“Just a quick note to tell you how much I enjoyed the BRC Record Show and the warm and gracious hospitality. I look forward to having 2 tables next year! Thanks again!”

“I just wanted to thank you again for all the planning and work that went into the weekend event. I was so honored to be acknowledged in this way and got to see many old friends and make some new ones. I am sure I will come over every year to visit your show. The BRC is not only keeping the music alive but keeping old friends in touch sharing their love and interest in music.”

You guys were very gracious host. That made it easy to be a part of the whole thing. I only wish we had had more time to spend at the BRC event. There were so many friends and fans to chat with. Thanks for an unforgettable memory……..

We had a blast! …..the whole thing was a lot of fun and would not have happened had the BRC not invited us to be a part of the induction, which already included 2 B’ham greats in the Tikis and TC. It was an honor to be a part of this…... I thank you, Jo and the rest of the BRC for setting the stage for this rare opportunity, and I consider it a privilege to be a part of the great entertainers who have been so honored. We had a great time, Charlie, and I speak for all of us in saying that.

Good show -- Everybody raved about it.

THE EXCITEMENT OF RECORD & CD COLLECTING CONTINUES TO KEEP MUSIC LOVERS SEARCHING FOR THOSE GOLDEN OLDIES AND THE NEW HITS. MUSIC HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF OUR LIVES AND HAS BROUGHT SO MANY PEOPLE TOGETHER FOR FUN AND ENJOYMENT. THE BRC MEMBERS LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR’S SHOW AND HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE AGAIN. RAVE ON!!!!

AT THIS MONTH’S MEETING

ONE OF THE EARLIEST ROCK ‘N ROLL BANDS IN THIS AREA HAD TO BE BAKER KNIGHT AND THE KNIGHTMARES. AT THE SEPTEMBER MEETING WE WILL BE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE 2 OF THE KNIGHTMARES AS OUR GUEST SPEAKERS. D. A. DARBY AND NAT TORERICE, PIANO AND SAX PLAYERS RESPECTIVELY, WERE THERE AT THE BEGINNING OF ROCK ‘N ROLL AND HAVE MANY MEMORIES OF THOSE DAYS THEY WILL BE SHARING WITH US. BE SURE TO BE IN ATTENDANCE AND BRING A FRIEND TO HEAR FROM D. A. AND NAT. HERE IS A SUMMARY OF BAKER KNIGHT AND THE KNIGHTMARES THAT WILL HELP PUT THINGS IN PRESEPCTIVE. TOM SPITZLEY RECENTLY MET BAKER’S STEP-BROTHER, BOB REDUS, AND INVITED HIM TO THE MEETING. BOB PLANS ON ATTENDING AND SAID HE WOULD BRING SOME OF HIS MEMORABILIA OF THE KNIGHTMARES.

In 1956, Birmingham native Baker Knight and a couple of other guys were interested in the new rock and roll sound, so they formed a band – “Baker Knight and the Knightmares”. The members were Nat Toderice on alto and tenor sax, A. D. Darby on piano, Shuler Brown on standup bass, Bill 'Mousie' Weinstein on drums, and Baker on electric guitar and doing the lead vocals.
They didn't play any concerts. Rock and roll was young and concerts were few. They only played in clubs. But they did play one big show here in Birmingham at the main auditorium that had a couple of famous country singers as headliners. The Knightmares tore the place up! Really! The reason was that they played the new rock and roll while the headliner guys played country. The crowd roared so loud that it scared Baker – who had never heard anything like that before.

The Knightmares did not play country at all. The played rock and roll and old standards. They played dance music. Songs like “Blue Moon”, “Out Of Nowhere”, “I Only Have Eyes For You”, and “Stardust”. They just played their own improvised versions of slow songs that people wanted to dance to – and that was rock and roll. This was before Baker’s song-writing days – the band was more into doing the hits of the day.
The Knightmares only recorded two records that were released – both on the Kit label out of Nashville. Their first record deal was arranged by a record promoter from Nashville, Al Bubis, who came to Birmingham to hear the Knightmares and liked them. Their first release in June of 1956 was “Bop Boogie to the Blues”/”Poor Little Heart” on Kit 889, which got very little response. But their second release in August of that year, penned by Baker, on Kit 900 – “Bring My Cadillac Back”/”I Cried” – with A.D.’s opening background piano riff, Baker’s super lyrics, and an extended killer sax break by Nat - took the radio air waves by storm – selling 40,000 copies in just 2 weeks with really only regional exposure. Decca Records loved it and bought the recording rights – ready to take it nationwide. But as soon as it took off, it was doomed because numerous stations banned it from air play deeming it a free commercial for General Motors promoting their Cadillac model. Today this record is regarded as a true collectible icon in the world of rockabilly music.
Due to simply circumstances of life, the Knightmares dissolved about this time. Nat was drafted into the Armed Forces, another went to Nashville, and Baker, actually seeking fame in acting, headed to Los Angeles. As Baker himself said, “I didn’t get the part, but he got the songs”. His new career as a prolific songwriter had begun. Unfortunately, only a few lucky people ever got to see and hear the short-lived Knightmares in person. What a rare treat that must have been!

“BRING MY CADILLAC BACK”…. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpnIVt2Z4I4

UPCOMING MEETINGS
OCT…….ANOTHER IN-HOUSE RECORD SHOW. BRING WHAT YOU HAVE FOR SALE OR TRADE. INVITE OTHERS. WE WILL ALSO SEND OUT INVITATIONS TO NON-MEMBERS AND A LOCAL DEALER OR 2.

NOV……A GUEST SPEAKER THAT WE ARE STILL WORKING ON. MORE LATER.

DEC…..OUR ANNUAL DIRTY SANTA GAME AND ANOTHER FREE-FOR-ALL WHICH IS WHERE YOU CAN BRING THOSE 45’S AND/OR LP’S THAT ARE IN THE WAY AND LET MEMBERS HAVE THEM FOR FREE.

THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING EXCITING GOING ON AT THE MEETINGS SO BE SURE TO MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND DROP BY FOR FOOD, FUN, MUSIC AND FELLOWSHIP.

Check out this info about a new concert hall in Rainbow City, AL. It was started by Dana Loconto, a former member of the Gadsden, Alabama group, The Bleus.

http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20090908/NEWS/909089997/1017/NEWS?Ti...

www.centerstagegadsden.com.

See ya,
Charlie