World Famous Palomino Club - Hello, I'm A Truck

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 22 Dec 2008 12:29 pm

I worked at the Pal in 1981 with Snyder, Eugene Moles, Jack Sargent, Doug Atwell, Larry David and a few others. We had a weekend off for some reason one time and took a Fri & Sat gig at a gay bar called the Leather Cowboy, or some such, in LA. It was a hoot. Thumbs Carlille worked that one with us, and if you knew Thumbs and his sense of humor you'll get my drift. Snyder and I still laugh about it when we see each other. Video clips here: http://www.calsharp.com/music/movies.html

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 22 Dec 2008 1:42 pm

Don't forget Greg Humphries, Cal.

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 22 Dec 2008 1:53 pm

I got a traffic ticket a couple years ago and went to traffic class and who did I see there but Greg. LOL. I see him once in a while on Broadway.

Chuck Cusimano · Post by **Chuck Cusimano** » 22 Dec 2008 2:18 pm

I didn't read every post on this thread, so I could have missed it, but do you remember the "HOLLYWOOD ON THE PIKE" I bet most of you do. For a while, it was the only club I could get into. I never drank, I just hung out with the musicians.
I was wanting to become a musician so bad, I stood outside quite a few of the clubs in Long Beach just to hear live country music. (until I turned 21) Another one was the Panama club (maybe it was called "Evelyn's Panama Room) I practacly lived there as soon as I got liberty off the ship, till it was time to go back to the ship. I bet I never spent $20.00 in beer money from 1969 to 1972.......In the states. I bought a lot of San Miguel in the Phillipines.

Skeeter Stultz · Post by **Skeeter Stultz** » 22 Dec 2008 3:43 pm

Leo, Yes I got some of the union dues as well as the work tax back by claiming them on my income tax returns. Once in a while I'll find a pay stub from the Foot'.

LJ Eiffert · Post by **LJ Eiffert** » 22 Dec 2008 4:29 pm

Skeeter,So that means you don't get any retirerment from the Union that you paid into? We all get money off from the IRS if you paid into it for your tax return in them days. But,wasn't you a Union Musician at the foothill like all of us? are were we? I was a memeber of local 47.I'm just wondering what big dogs got our money that Bonnie Took to pay them for us to play our Music we love.Leo

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 23 Dec 2008 11:59 am

Hey Cal,That gay bar in North Hollyweed was the "Rawhide"I once sent in my neighbor to sub for me on guitar because I double booked myself....his name is Vince Gill Ha!.Another time I played there with George Green"Drummer"He's Brian Austin Green's Dad ,While we were packing up at the end of the night two rather large woman with short hair yelled at George "Hey!! where were you when I was straight...you're a good looking S.O.B."sacred the crap out of George.

Stephen Silver · Post by **Stephen Silver** » 23 Dec 2008 4:37 pm

Oh man, what a bunch of memories you guys bring up. In my early 20's, I'd take an empty guitar case to the Pal and hustle my way in as having something for Ray Benson or Doug Kershaw or whoever was playing. And then the opportunity to play there...it meant something good was probably gonna happen musically.

And Stu, The Rawhide....all i can do is laugh!!!! Played there a couple of times.

Skip, Greg Humphries was a great guy, good player.

I had a week or two with Danny Michaels as well at Georges Roundup. And Jerry, not only did I spend that year there at the Swizzle Stick but I did an extended with Rod Culpepper and Butch Hendrix. I consider working with you and Rod and Butch to have been my baptism in country music. Rod and Butch made a bet once as to which of them could go the longest without repeating a song. Now this was a 5 night a week gig, 4 or 5 sets. Rods girlfriend Debbie came every night (mostly to keep an eye on Rod, bless his heart!)and kept track. It was a night or two past four weeks before Rod repeated a song and Butch won the bet. They figured they well knew over 1000 songs between them. And this was in 1977 I believe, maybe 76, so it was all the 40's, 50's, and 60's stuff mingled with some newer tunes. Great training for a guy 3 or 4 years in on playing pedal steel.

I recently got to play a gig with some old compadres from the late 70's and it was pretty doggone good. Rhys Clark, Paul Marshall, Jim Shirey, and Danny Ott. What a great group of players! It would be equally as fun to play with any or all of you that I had a chance to play with and learn from over past years.

SS

Life is mostly Attitude and Timing

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 23 Dec 2008 5:44 pm

Let's really go back in time to the "Mother Church" of Country Honkytonks in So. Calif. The "Chit Chat" on Eastern Ave. in Bell Gardens (AKA: Billy Goat Acres) was one of the first and roughest clubs around during and after WW2. I beleive this was one of the first clubs Ralph Mooney played at. I only subbed there a couple of times when I was under-age in the 40's but that was enough for me. Most of you forumites might not be old enough to remember it but it really had a bad reputation.

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 23 Dec 2008 5:53 pm

Hey Stephen...
Yes, he was a great bass player, and still is.
Funny thing...I did a session for him awhile back - Garland Frady was the artist - and the first thing he had me do was replace his bass part with a sampled bass. Go figure.

Played the Rawhide a few times, myself. Hey, work is work.

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 23 Dec 2008 7:47 pm

Oh yeah, Stu, the Rawhide. There weren't even any tables or chairs, just empty cardboard beer cases stacked along the walls for the customers to lean on while they had a drink and found a dancing partner. Nobody stayed very long.

I worked with another band in LA named Brian Marks and the Marksmen, too. And a bass player named Billy Graham. On the break at the Pal I used to go down the street to the Baked Potato (?) and listen to jazz. All in all it was a fun time.

LJ Eiffert · Post by **LJ Eiffert** » 23 Dec 2008 10:12 pm

Here is some more of our neighborhood musicians friends. Let's see if you remembers any of them. Bobby & Tony Bee,Teddy Bear & Iner,Dave Barfield,Roger Berman,Sam Bass,Mike Belkin,John Clarke,Dean Cooper,Bobby Clayton,Ron Finn,Bobby Fugo,Harry Hess,Reagan Greenwood,Cord Laird,Jay Leach,Frank James,Gary Pribble,Ben Snyder,Mike Stone,Mike Paul & John Paul Jones. Some good Musicians here. Leo

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 24 Dec 2008 12:57 am

Ahh - The Rawhide.........We all played there a few times whether we'll admit it or not - after all it was just another $50 country gig in the valley. They seemed to like real mediocre bands with chick "sangers" who mangled Patsy Cline tunes and I played there a few times with bands like that including one that had a chick singer who shall go un-named who looked and sounded like the Bride of Chucky - but they loved her. I played there a couple times with the Jim Leslie Band and our drummer Gene Gunnels who was with The Strawberry Alarm Clock and later with the Everly Bros and was a great country and americana rock drummer,didn't realize he was playing in a gay bar till he saw two cowboys slow dancing. At that point,being a religous type - he jumped up and started rebuking the devil right there in the middle of "Love Hurts". Gene finished the gig out of professionalism but vowed never to play there again. Rock Hudson was a regular patron there in those days. That was one gig I never invited friends to. It was hard to turn down jobs there cause it was only a couple miles from my house but I was glad when that club kinda petered out.

Jerry Hayes R.I.P. · Post by **Jerry Hayes R.I.P.** » 24 Dec 2008 7:45 am

Cal, Billy Graham? A very fine bass player to say the least. When I was at the "King of the Bass" club in Ventura in the mid sixties, I was working the Club Vegas in Oxnard on Monday nights with a very young Clark Rohn and Billy was our bass man. A very impressive talent to say the least......

Billy T. The Chit Chat AKA "Leonard's Chit Chat Club" in Bell Gardens. That place was literally a bucket of blood if there ever was one. I worked there a very short time as I was married to my first wife and she was the type who just had to be at every gig, no matter where or when. That was OK except at the Chit Chat, you didn't want your woman sitting alone as it wasn't safe in that place. Some of the pickers I met there were Carl Walden, Roy Hunt, J. W. De(something), Bozo Darnell, Buzz Rabin, and others. One in particular was a steel player named Johnny Redd, anyone remember him? At that place the music was continous, we'd all take a break at different times so the band would never stop so you'd have to double on something else, I'd play guitar and bass. Also, they had jam sessions on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons......JH in Va.

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 24 Dec 2008 10:32 am

The only time in my life when I showed up late was when I rode to work with Greg Humprhies,Jimmy Snyder took me aside and said let me guess you had dinner at Humphries house?and then he tore into Greg...Jimmy found out that I played bass and asked me to keep it in the trunk of my car because Greg was always late.Greg hired me to play guitar originally for some gigs with his X wife Rosalie North,and that's where I met Dan Tyack he was playing steel.Jerry,Johhny Redd lived in Anchorage for years the last I heard was that he moved to Georgia.I played a few gigs with Billy Graham I don't think he ever understood my obnoxious Ex New Yawker personality,I very nice guy though.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 24 Dec 2008 4:21 pm

Great memories, though I moved to TX in 1972, but I worked so many of those same joints!!

What about Eddie's Playtime, on Sherman Way west of Lankershim? Anybody spend time in that sh*thole?

Two clubs nobody has mentioned: The Cajun Country on Sherman Way just east of Lankershim. I worked there with both Jimmy Lawton and Jimmy Bryant. It pissed Tommy Thomas off so bad that I was 86'd from the Palomino until I quit working the CC. I don't think Billy T. ever forgave me. Sherry and Rosie (Tony Booth's German wife) used to sneak me in the back door.

Also, on Lankershim in between the Rag Doll and the Pal, close to Nudie's store, was The Checkers... a little dive but fun to play. I played there a lot with Dave and Lu Spencer, with the EXCELLENT Robert Hardy (from San Antonio) on lead guitar - the first guy who told me I should move to Texas!

Ed Black used to come see us all the time.

Here's a shot of me with Monte Paul at the Holiday #2 in El Monte, around 1972... dig the hair, dudes!

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 24 Dec 2008 6:16 pm

Herbster.. banned from the Pal!!!

Herb, you're the first cat who ever mentioned Robert Hardy to me, I later found out that Mike Nesmith first chose Robert to be the guitarist in the Countryside Band with Marvin Caves and J.G. O'Rafferty, this was when Red Rhodes swore off the road and wanted to concentrate on the Royal Repair biz.
It ended up Bob Warford and Jay Lacy on guitars with Red Rhodes on steel, a succession of solid bass players, and the only ones who did the whole run, David Barry on piano and the late Danny Lane on drums. The Countryside Band had a regular gig at the Playtime for a good chunk of '73.

I also heard that Robert Hardy played with deejay Jimmy Rabbit's band (bunch of Texas transplants) who got a deal with Atlantic and cut most of an album.
The sessions included James Booker (New Orleans piano legend) and Dr. John's bass player.. the deal fell through and Jimmy later re-recorded most of the material for Capitol a few years later.

..don't know much about Robert Hardy though...

Bob Warford has a story about playing the Checkers, playing with Dave & Lu.. with Clarence White and James Burton onstage as well!

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 24 Dec 2008 6:35 pm

Oddy
Robert Hardy was a tall, lanky Texan with very long hair. He played a thin body Gibson like an ES335, and trust me, he could play ANYTHING Jr. Brown can play, including "bluegrass banjo" on electric guitar. Dave and Lu were divorced but amicably shared band leadership at the Checkers. It was a really small club on the west side of Lankershim, right up the block from Nudie's. Nudie would occasionally come in, but spent most of his time at the Pal.

He was a friend of all the Sir Douglas Quintet, who at that time were mostly living in San Francisco, though Doug spent a lot of time in LA. I first met Doug in Greenblatt's Delicatessen on Sunset and Crescent Heights at 3am one night and mentioned Robert. Doug allowed as how RH was a total monster.

I moved to TX in 72 and quickly became friends with drummer Ernie Durawa and trumpet player Charlie McBurney. Both were old pals of Robert from San Antonio and asked me how he was doing. A couple years later, around 1974, I heard that Robert had moved back to Corpus Christi and died from a drug overdose. I played with Doug quite a bit when he was living in Austin and we spoke of Robert fondly and frequently.

Danny Lane has passed away? Oh well, I guess I won't get the 20 bucks he owes me for a... well, never mind.

LJ Eiffert · Post by **LJ Eiffert** » 24 Dec 2008 10:40 pm

The good ole " Rag Doll Club " becames Hag's Place for a while. That was Troy Walker's home Club for a while also. Cajun Country I played with Yar Kamor & his wife on Bass Guitar. Old Nudie would come in and pick with us. Fun days. What Merry Christmas this is to talk about this History of ourselfs. Leo

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 25 Dec 2008 6:05 pm

Hiya Herb thanks for the info.
The Sir Doug Quintet made LA their home base for a while after Doug left, I have one of the early 70s albums that they cut as The Quintet. Of course they spent most of their time in LA for a good chunk of the 60s, I think Doug (as well as the then reclusive)Gene Clark was living in Mendocino in '69, but the Quintet and Doug had a studio set-up in LA. Not much has surfaced besides Louie & the Lovers and the Quintet albums, but I hear that studio ran nigth and day.

I have got to find out more about Robert, thanks for the help.

Hey, backing up a little, Billy T. mentioned the infamous Chit Chat, aka the bucket of blood, I hear it was a teeth on the floor and chicken wire protecting the band.. type of joint. The venue is now a Casino known as The Bicycle Casino.

Leo, so it was the Rag Doll that turned into Hag's Place, I was wondering what happened to it. It was a total rock and roll joint by the late 60s, and if you had a good look around online you can find a few references to the venue, my fave below:

"Rag Doll Night Club Owner Arrested on Prostitution Charge".
Henry Brooks, co-owner of the Seven Seas restaurant at 6904 Hollywood Blvd., and the Rag Doll night club, on Victory Blvd. in North Hollywood, was arrested by the vice squad in his home at 141 S. Detroit St. in November, 1968, and charged with one count of conspiracy to commit prostitution.

Whoops!

In 1969 the house Band was, for as time, Night Shift, an R&B outfit backing singer Deacon Jones. When Eric Burdon and Lee Oskar stopped in to hear them play, Jones moved on and the group joined with Burdon and Oskar as War.

Anyone know when the Cajun Country opened, the earliest reference I have seen is from 1971.

Hey Cal, Brian Marks and the Marksmen had the Pal' house band gig in 1976-77, they took over from Jerry Inman who I suppose split to concentrate on his deal with Elektra Records. (signed around the same time as Vern Gosdin)

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 25 Dec 2008 6:27 pm

Jason
Cajun Country opened in 1971. Jimmy Lawton and the Lawmen were the original house band, with yours truly on steel guitar, Richard Trees on bass, and Ed Ponder on drums. Jimmy, of course, on guitar and vocals.

Henry Brooks busted for pimping?! I never knew him, but he lived 4 blocks from me in 1968! I lived at 344 N. Formosa Ave., and he lived one block east and 3 blocks south of my house! There goes the neighborhood!!

LJ Eiffert · Post by **LJ Eiffert** » 27 Dec 2008 7:36 am

Hello Herb,around that time Jimmy Lawton's Wife Clair was singing with him. Then he (Jimmy) moved to Norway or Holland did well for himself. I always liked pickin with jimmy what few times I did.California was the school for learning how to work a gig as a musician.Them days we were family and fun in the spirit of music. Leo

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 27 Dec 2008 9:46 am

Clare Courtney... she used to sit in with us, but by that time she and Jimmy and split up. When I was on his band, about a year +/-, Jimmy was dating a honky-tonk special that was a big as he was!

LJ Eiffert · Post by **LJ Eiffert** » 28 Dec 2008 10:08 am

Hello Jason, I giged at the " Rag Doll Club " with " Johnny Angel " who was on Liberty Records. I also giged with " Joe Houston " & Jerry Cole on Guitar there. Giged at the Factory with The St.George Wardhouse Band. I was in Rock N Roll & R&B before I got into Country Music from my back round of Dixieland & Jazz from New Orleans in the 9th ward where My neighbor Mr. Fats Domino showed me how to play piano when I was 9 years old. I also was with the New Orleans Tokens with the true Lion Sleeps tonight cut at Cosmos Recording Studio in the Quarters. Leo J.Eiffert,Jr.

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 28 Dec 2008 2:01 pm

A big part of the neighborhoods So. Calif Clubs were located in have had complete ethnic changes in the population to mostly latinos. When these neighborhoods were primarily populated with customers with roots coming from the South and mid-west there were good crowds all week long and we played what they wanted to hear. A lot of these neighborhoods now are not even safe to drive through.

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World Famous Palomino Club - Hello, I'm A Truck

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The "Chit Chat"