Musicians we Respect here at Jaded Bum Music

(7/9/06 - After countless nagging phone calls from ThumperFoos, we've decided to move the pic of me, Thump, and BigHen, up to the tippety top of the page, along with TFoos's listing...temporarily! When the time is right, and the calls stop coming, we'll return MarkyWarky to his Place of Honor at the "end" of our Musicians' listings)

Mark Edwards...okay, okay, so Thumper Foos feels shortchanged that he doesn't appear on this page. EVEN THOUGH he WAS listed on the old SPM miscellaneous music credits page as my favorite musician in the world...OH NO...that's not enough for the mighty Thump, shown above in the middle, the one with the Cheshire Cat grin, you know, back when he had hair...he is probably the finest overall drummer, timing wise, innovation wise, listening wise, high hat wise, natural groove wise, and generally a huge wiseass...guess that's why I love him so much. He's recorded and played with Lee Greenwood, Joe Sun, and countless others. NOW, are ya happy Thump?...oops, almost forgot...there we go...Dave & Carolyn are up above ol' Foos...Thump always goes at the very "end" of the list...hmmm...now that I think about it, with recent developments, perhaps Michael Henry deserves this "home permanent" status...NAW!

Michael Henry Martin..Update, November, 2005: Seems Michael Henry, his signature instrumental "Prom," and some more SloMotion Monkey songs are getting a looksee from Sony/BMG Select. We'll keep ya posted..much more than a superb musician, songwriter, and recording studio owner, many of you cut your teeth at Castle Sound Productions in Abilene, Texas. Although Michael Henry is mentioned here and throughout the old SPM website, and in order to keep his studio web presence as independent as possible, you little old web riders are a gonna hafta type in the Castle web address with your very own talented little digits at: http://jadedbum.com/Castle.html, or you lazy, no good, and yet somehow wonderful, heroic, and pressed for time surfers can click here...JW

Ron "Woody" Wood...we were among the very first of the original Abilene Garage Bandmates, and I'm a gonna have to say this here Ron is one authentic Old Hippie, Certified by Mr. small potatoes!...more on this power trio bass player later...JW

Robert Oliveira...fluid, natural guitarist from Abilene, TX, currently working for Lockheed, Taiwan. Robert was the first real musician I ever met. FLASH, APRIL, 2002...I once was lost, but now he's found! Robert e mailed me, and the boy with those effortless fingers is working for Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, AND building custom Strats and Teles...how'd ya like to git yer hands on one of them hot little numbers?...Contact Jaded Bum Music if you wanna get in touch with Robert--be sure to put Robert's name in the subject line, okay? It's not like I'm living for your e mail, well maybe just a little bit...JW

Early Abilene Rock & Roll Bands...Wonder whatever happened to The Chevelle V, The Livin' End, The Continentals and more of Abilene's historic rock scene during the mid-1960's? Well, wonder no more! Just click the link and take a trip back the daze of "Come Back Bird!" (old link now gone, looking for another AbiFanatic)

Steve Barber..Update, November, 2005: With one young child, and another on the way, Steve-Oh is currently working on the music for an upcoming PBS documentary on World War II..STEVE & CO. PLAYED PARAMOUNT IN ABILENE, SEPTEMBER 11, 2003... Click Here...(searchin' every which way at AbiReporterNews)..twisted, Juliard graduate, OH, PARDON THE HELL OUTTA ME...this stringbean genius did NOT graduate from Juliard...he only used the Dean in order to get to his teacher and composer John Corigliano. The above-mentioned pianist and guitarist is of course a former member of the ElectroMagnets, and was recently in town to record and/or arrange for Eric Johnson, Tusca, and 2Below during April, 98. Can you say Bulgaria? UPDATE, FEBRUARY, 2002. Seems the wiry little genius is working with T Bone Burnett on the music for an upcoming Warner Bros. film set in 1940's Louisiana...ya know...25 piece A Team orchestration etc., then it's off to Rio with some fine Brooklyn Boyz and a Brazilian composer. Ho hum, work, work, work. UPDATE, NOVEMBER, 2002...Steve sez "GET TO KNOW ME!" and Andy Langer from the Austin Chronicle answers the call in this blushingly gushingly good article from October of this year. Matt and Beatnik, by the way, are doing a bang-up job evolving Steve's site. Jus' click the skinny sumbitch's name above to find yer way there...UPDATE, AUGUST 7, 2003...Well, you'd think a new baby boy and a mountain of work without end would be enough for "The Wiry One" but noooooooooo! Talked to the BarBear today, and it turns out that movie he was arranging and conducting for (mentioned above) is "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" starring Sandra Bullock, Ellen Burstyn, and a fine ensemble cast including James Garner and Ashley Judd...could Steve BE more of a snot, I ask ya? That's Steve's arrangement and Steve conducting the music you hear during the last Ya Ya scene when Sandra's inititiated into the Sisterhood and all (you'll see Stephen Barber listed during the music credits at the end of the movie--STEVE, lemme know if I got any of the facts, just the fact ma'am, wrong)...the full-blown version of the song with Steve arranging and conducting is available on the film's soundtrack. I got yer Ya-Ya's right here, buddy, you ol' showoff--but That's my Boy!...JW

Rick Jackson...former arranger, keyboardist for Andy Williams, now working with Larry Carlton and Leroy Parnell, and ...ahem...a graduate of the University of Houston, holding a Masters Degree in Organ. UPDATE, MARCH, 2002. Well, I'd tell ya myself, but I think Rick's words pretty much speak for themselves...

"Larry Carlton and Steve Lukather did a live album in Japan called "No Substitutions", released on
Steve Vai's Favored Nations label. It was recorded live at the Blue Note in
Osaka and included Greg Bissonette (drums), Chris Kent (bass), and yours
truly on keyboards. I am very happy to report that this album won the
Grammy for "Best Pop Instrumental Album". This is actually the first time
that I've played on a Grammy winner."

Update, 2006...In case I forgot to mention it,, Rick has been playing with Johnny Rivers as well as Larry Carlton and others on recent gigs - MR. BigShot, huh? UPDATE, JULY, 2003. ...Seems Rick is back in Japan, my guess is he's not there for his health in particular, but to let his fingers do the walking...more later.

LISTEN to Rick's keyboard work behind Larry Carlton and Steve Lukather on "The Pump" by going here, click and pull down the "please choose" bar, scroll down to "sound clips" and choose "the pump." Could I BE more proud of this wizard from Lincoln Junior High?...well...we'll see...JW

David & Carolyn Martin...what do ya get when you combine a sweet-spirited singer with impeccable taste as an acoustic guitarist, not to mention legendary status among musicians for her culinary prowess...with an A-team bassist, known for inserting his notes come session time, not to mention an encyclopedic memory and the multitasking talents of a dual G4? Well, you'd think you'd get a couple of real snots, but NOOOOOO...you get yerself a real marriage, and two of Abilene's, now Nashville's, Finest...JW

Sam Mendales...sweet spirit from the old Austin Daze...much more on Sam to follow..JW...Update, Feb, 2004...Rumor has it Sam is about to play live at a coffee house in Boston. Stay tuned for a link and a wink...UPDATE, EASTER, 2006...Sam I Yam is still goin' strong! Seems he's got a concert coming up in May of this year ~ Here's the info:

"Saturday, May 6, 8 p.m., Jerry’s House Concerts features Sam Mendales. BCA Member and friend, Sam Mendales is well known in town and to the BCA having performed at our 2005 Annual Meeting. Sam also took the stage at Bedford's 375th Talent Competition and earlier at the B2K New Year's Eve Celebration. You may also have heard him on the stage at A New Song Coffeehouse. Sam is an accomplished singer songwriter who is equally adept at inserting humor and sentiment into his lyrics. Suggested donation is $10.00 per person per show. For more information go to charc39@comcast.net or lj.christen@comcast.net or call 781-275-0334."

NOT ONLY THAT, KIDZ ~ Sam's got a brand new CD, "Everybody Knows," which I'll be listening to just as soon as I finish watching the DVD of "Good Night & Good Luck." You GO girl!

Dave Keown...he's, ya know, yer basic legit and R&B bass player, author of "39 Days," but more importantly, like every good bass player should, Dave is there to fix the P.A. equipment and keep the damn van running while the rest of you party all night.

Ronnie Warner...world class vocalist along the lines of the late Jackie Wilson and Wilson Picket, who passed away from colon cancer a few years back. My favorite all-time singer.

Robert Alvis...the late guitar player/singer, and former bandmate from The Cole Younger Band. I've uploaded Robert's memorial page as well as the Cole Younger single page...JW

The Cole Younger Band...along with Robert Alvis, look here soon for my old band's original "board sleeve" of our regional hit "Arizona Lady/SilverMoon." Band members included Randy Russell Rigney (later joined Canyon), Steve Gallaway (wrote & sang "Arizona Lady"),Vinny Losasso (drums, "calming" presence in the band), and Robert, of course (signature lead guitar, sang "Silver Moon")...JW

Lee Pence...Another world-class guitarist from Abilene and former lead guitarist for Sundance. In his prime, Lee scared Eric Clapton and others to death.

Shelton Castle...dedicated, passionate guitarist and co-owner of the Brass Nail, Big Spring, TX, who passed away from natural causes in 1997.

Len McDermott...former bandmate from the "starving artists" days of Boston and Haverhill, Mass. during 1969, 1970, and 1971, now a lawyer whose clients include the Connecticut State Police Union...but Officer, please, my buddy Len sez I have this medical condition, ya see?

Angelo Zappala...former bandmate with Len McDermott and yours truly, and a dedicated drummer, now living in Haverhill, Mass.

J.R Hayes...extree special bass player, guitarist, and unique vocalist you may have seen on some of the original Best of the Opry black and white clips, playing behind many Country stars. He's also the featured bass player on several SPM, small potatoes multimedia upcoming releases...oh, did I mention he has a heart of gold, and would take a bullet for his best friend?

Pepper & Little Joe Martin...oh, the stories I could tell...a "sanitized for your protection" bio coming up when the next update magically appears on your screens, yew lil' Web riders yew...JW

Tim Bosley...former bandmate with both the "Darling Brothers" and the "Martin Brothers Band," Tim displayed a natural talent both as a world-class vocalist, writer, and astute commercial bass player. Besides the aforementioned groups, Tim played for L.C. Agnew, and the late Brad Busby, displaying his wide range of musical styles. Tim has not thrown in the towel, and continues to play every chance he can. His persistence is inspiring to all of us, and his stable home has served him well in the last few years (course he still has them "James Coburn teeth"...quote from Little Joe Martin). Hats off to my old buddy, and here's hoping he records his new material as soon as possible...UPDATE, March, 2003...during a recent conversation with this "boy wonder" we decided that the next time I'm in the studio, we will INDEED record new songs from Tim...I can't wait!...JW

(more musicians to be added as they are remembered and time permits to list them...JW)

February 20th, 2004: Ron Williams, former keyboardist/vocalist at the Ponderosa Ballroom, Abilene, TX, passed away at home. Ron's funeral service was held at North's Funeral Home at 1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 23rd (325-677-6246) for more info.