My cross country driving trip....fun, music, & old frien

[Jerry Hayes R.I.P.]

My wife and I took off early morning on Sept. 7th to drive across the country and see some old friends and play a little music here and there. Mission accomplished in all areas. We left Va. Beach and headed toward New Orleans, then on the Dallas, and out to the west coast. On Friday night the 11th we went to the VFW in Riverside to see the "Pidgeons" with Leo Eiffert on guitar, Tommie Gobel on Bass, Ron Epperson on pedal steel & Mike Torrence on drums. We had a surprise visitor in the person on old friend Johnny McKnight who I'd worked for in several clubs in the old days. I played guitar for a set or two and Johnny got up on bass for some of his signature Johnny Cash things......Here's a couple of shots.........JH in Va.

[Jerry Hayes R.I.P.]

On Sunday the 13th we went to the Bellflower Eagles Lodge to see old Clark Rohn. Clark and I first worked Monday nights at the old Club Vegas in Oxnard in 1966. We last worked together at the DJ Ranch in North Long Beach in 1985 before I moved to Virginia. Here's a shot of Clark and his latest guitarist who's name is Tom Dixon I believe....JH in Va.

[Jerry Hayes R.I.P.]

On Monday the 14th we drove to Bakersfield to see some old friends. That evening we went to Trout's to see some of the good old boys of Bakersfield. Larry Petree was on pedal steel and what a delight he was I'd known of Larry for many years but had never heard him play. He's a monster picker so say the least and gets one of the sweetest tones around.

Larry was working a duo with old Bakersfield stalwart Red Simpson. I hadn't seen Red for over 25 years. The last time I saw him he was a guest star with us when I was playing steel for Eddie Drake at the Next Time Country in Covina. Ol' Red ain't lost a bit! He was in good voice and played a pretty good keyboard as well......Here's a couple of shots of that night........JH in Va.

[Jerry Hayes R.I.P.]

We were staying at a hotel in San Pedro which just happened to be about five blocks from Forumite John McClung's house. On Wednesday the 16th, John and I got together in his music room to jam a little and swap some licks. I think I got more of his than he did of mine. He still looks like a young boy but we know better! He wrote the interview of Jay Dee Maness in Bradshaw's Steel Guitarist magazine over thirty years ago. John has one of the best techniques on steel guitar I've ever seen. He's clean as a whistle and very tasty. He plays a double twelve Mullen which is loaded. Here's a couple of shots of 'Ol John. The first is him on his Mullen and then a shot of him playing a "real steel" (my old BMI S-12). I'm still trying to find the licks he left on there........JH in Va.

[Jerry Hayes R.I.P.]

The next stop was Salt Lake City to see some family and since I-15 goes right through Las Vegas we stopped by to see old friend and personal guitar hero Al Bruno & his lovely wife Sue Ellen. We had dinner with the Brunos and caught up on a lot of things. Al's got to be one of the nicest persons in the universe and a friend for about 45 years!


Here's a couple of shots of them....JH in Va.

[Jerry Hayes R.I.P.]

The last stop before heading back east to Virginia was Salt Lake City to see my stepson & his family. He's a rabid lover of classic country music and told me about this little trio who played a small club on Sunday nights. We were supposed to leave on Sunday morning but they asked me to come down and play steel with them and I'm glad I did. The lead vocalist and guitarist was a guy name Jerry something who could sing like Haggard and pick like Roy Nichols! The Bass player was great and the drummer was good but unfortunately he'd just lost his girlfriend and was pretty soused before the gig started. He passed out on the last break so they played a duo for the last hour. If you're ever in the Salt Lake City area, go by a little dive called "The Republican Bar" and you won't be disapointed. These guys do Ray Price, Buck Owens, Bob Will, Hank Williams, and whatever you wanted. My wife got up to sing Satin Sheets and You Ain't Woman Enough to Take my Man and Jerry the guitarist nailed the intros and played 'em like they were on his regular set list.....The guy's only 31 years old which is cool! I love to see young people into our kind of music........JH in Va.

[LJ Eiffert]

Hello Jerry & Kay,That was a whole lot of fun with you both.And,to think," Jerry ",you said you would never come back to California again.Thanks for these memories too!The pictures are super.It was great to pick with you again & Johnny McKnight from Oklahoma.Take care & God Bless you both. Your friend forever,Leo J.Eiffert,Jr. & the PIGEONS boys.Tommy,Mike & Ron.

[Joachim Kettner]

I like the pictures, and it's the first time I saw somebody wearing the Clarence White t-shirt.

[Ben Lawson]

Jerry we just got back form Va. Beach. My wife and her sister like to go to the Neptune Festival on the last week end in Sept. We camped at the Holiday Travel Park on Gen. Booth. Next time we come down I'll let you know so we can get together. My son is at the Naval base.
Great pic's of your trip. When my wife retires we plan on motorhoming across the country.

[Paul Norman (RIP)]

Jerry and Kay
I envy you, wish I could have been with you.
Am glad you had a good trip.

[Clyde Mattocks]

Thanks for sharing those, Jerry. Looks like a great trip!

[Jerry Hayes R.I.P.]

Hey Ben, next time you're in the area be sure to give me a call and we can get together for sure!

Leo, it was really a blast pickin' with you guys as we go back so far. Tommie Goble and I did our first gig together when he was only 17 or 18. Here's a shot of you with that red Strat. You get a great "bluesy" tone with that thing for sure, I'm glad you got up on drums when McKnight did his thing, I'd forgotten what a good drummer you were/are! Also here's a shot of T.G. Maybe you can print it out and give it to him.........JH in Va.

[LJ Eiffert]

Hello Jerry,Thanks for the kind words.As for playing the country drums I always give credit to the two great friends - Musicians who showed me how to play Country music on drums. My late friend " Buck Owens " & Danny Baker. As for the rock n roll,r&b,dixieland and jazz,I did that stuff on my own. I printed a copy of the picture for Tommy. Take care my friend and God Bless you & Kay and your Family.Sincerely your brother in music,Leo J.Eiffert,jr.

[Ron Epperson]

hey jerry thanks for the pics. it was good to pick with you and see you again tell kay it was nice to meet here iam glad you guys had a good time till we see eachother again mooney is still the man your friend ron

[Jerry Hayes R.I.P.]

Ron, it was great getting to pick some with you after all these years! Do you have any old pictures of when you were with Eddie D.? I'd like to see some of those........JH in Va.