Don't bother knockin'-- this town's a rockin'
Subtitle: a history of traditional rhythm and blues & early rock 'n' roll in Buffalo, New York
By: Patti Meyer Lee & Gary Lee
Contributors: Lee, Gary
Edition: 1st ed
Publisher: Buffalo Sounds Press
Published: 2001
Place of publication: Buffalo, NY
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 211
Subjects: Rhythm and blues music -- New York -- Buffalo; Rock music -- New York -- Buffalo
Table of contents: title: Preface. The authors’ early musical influences in Buffalo. Gary’s story -- Patti’s story -- Venturing out -- A memorable night when “the house rocked” -- Our perceptions -- Learning the art of gathering -- The Raven reunion -- A Historical Overview of Music in Buffalo. The 1900s: The first half -- Canal Street -- Vaudeville -- The 40’s and the big bands -- The Dellwood -- Town Casino and The Glen -- Summertime -- African American clubs and venues -- Musicians of national status -- The national scene : the evolution of rhythm and blues and the birth of rock ‘n’ roll. From big bands to combos -- Post World War II and the business of making records -- The emergence of rhythm and blues -- A melting pot -- Boogie woogie -- Blues -- Country -- Bluegrass -- Gospel -- The birth of rock ‘n’ roll -- Early rock ‘n’ roll in Buffalo. Buffalo versus Cleveland -- Radio in the Queen City of the late 1950’s and early 1960’s -- George “Hound Dog” Lorenz -- The WKBW deejays -- “Wild weekend” -- Record hops -- “Bluebirds over the mountain” -- The Galla family -- Early rock ‘n’ roll groups -- A conversation with the Tunerockers -- The Quarter Notes and “Record Hop Blues” -- The Rebels and “The Wild Weekend” Song -- The Jesters -- Neil Darrow -- The Vibratos -- Other bands -- Kubera’s Music Store -- The Early R&B days in Buffalo. Traditional rhythm and blues -- “The Count” -- The Hammond B3 -- “Groove” Madison -- “The Flying W“ -- The Shuffler Denny Fox -- Donnie Elbert -- Other groups -- Looking ahead -- Early Influences on Local R&B : the 1960’s. The club & chitlin’ circuit -- The Pine Grill -- The Governor’s Inn -- Local players -- The gospel vocal sound -- Jesse Butler -- Johnny Soul -- Barbara St. Clair -- The fruition of rock ‘n’ rhythm bands. Stan and The Ravens -- Creative conflicts -- Buffalo shuffles off to Toronto -- The Rising Sons -- Raven -- Other bands -- Good times, hard times and the blues explosion. The 1970’s -- The Houserockers -- Shakin Smith -- Clubs and the bands that played them -- Vocalists -- Disco strikes -- Show bands -- Retro bands -- Country -- Cocktail music -- Disco backlash -- Stan and The Ravens reform -- The blues explosion -- Buffalo’s rhythm and blues scene as seen from the East Side -- Integration of musicians -- Ends and beginnings -- Stan’s death -- Raven reunion -- Connectedness -- Keeping the groove going -- The “Buffalo sound”. Key ingredients -- Mentors and other influences -- Sam Scamacca discusses his early experiences -- Formal Instruction -- Sedolas -- Kubera’s and the city’s high school music teachers -- Influences from the East Side -- Big Mac and The Houserockers -- Elmore Weatherspoon -- The next generation: the great Stan Szelest -- Tom Calandra -- Sandy Konikoff and the “Buffalo Shuffle” -- The other “Buffalo Shuffle” -- Passing down the “Buffalo sound” to future musicians -- Buffalo blues bands -- Other bands with the “Buffalo sound” -- Taking the music out to the world. Gary Mallaber -- Jim Calire -- Richard Kermode -- The great Stan Szelest -- Sandy Konikoff -- Ernie Corallo -- Arlester “Dyke Christian” -- Darrell Banks -- Donnie Elbert -- Other players take the sound out -- Experiences of the interviewers -- Sources.