Ten Questions with Dewey Bunnell – Founding Member of the Band America

Tuesday, November 26, 2013 10:37am

Interview and photos by Isaac Rodriguez
Rock Legends Photographers

Q: What music or musician inspired you to be an artist?
A: When I was young in the 50’s my dad would play Elvis, Bill Haley, and the Everly Brothers, those were the early years, but I think once I picked up a guitar in the early 60’s I would have to say immediately The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and the surf instrumental music. Then I quickly got inspired by the Beatles, like everyone else I suppose, also the singer and songwriters of the 60’s. But if I would have to pick one band I would say it’s a tie between the Beatles and The Beach Boys.

Q: When did the band America originate?
A: Technically we started as the band America in 1970. We were a band in high school in London England. We went to an American school in England.… Continue reading

Ten Questions with Charlie Daniels

Thursday, November 21, 2013 7:27am

By Rock Legends Photographer Isaac Rodriguez
Photos by Isaac Rodriguez

(These are edited excerpts from the interview)

Q: The fans from the Rock Legends Cruise have been asking to see you play. Is that something you would consider?
A: We did a cruise one time, and (laughs) we had kind of a bad experience due to weather. It was a rough cruise. I just don’t know, we have to see about that.

Q: What artist past or present that you never played with would you just to get on stage and jam with?
A: BB King, hands down. I’d love to get up and jam with BB.

Q: The inspirational postings that appear on Facebook, do you do that personally?
A: Actually I do it on twitter, it comes up on Facebook. I do one every day, usually some bible scripture and I hope it’s something inspirational that will be encouraging to the people.… Continue reading

Interview with Firefall

Wednesday, November 20, 2013 12:59pm

By Isaac Rodriguez
Rock Legends Photographers

I had the pleasure today of meeting and watching the band Firefall perform. Firefall delivered an awesome concert which had the crowd cheering and singing along. This performance was at The Mardi Gras Casino in Hallandale, Florida on November 12th. This is an awesome venue with very reasonable prices for their events, and a very friendly and helpful staff. I also had the privilege of interviewing Mr. Jock Bartley, one of the founding members of the band. A special thank you to Michelle and Lisa for making this possible.

Q: What music or musician did you listen to that inspired you as an artist?
A: The main group of course was the Beatles when they came out, and they changed the world. Beatlemania took over! They were great song writers and
singers, but when I heard Eric Clapton play for the first time the heavens opened up and I said “I want to do that”.… Continue reading

Review: ZZ Top at Tulsa Hard Rock, Catoosa, OK

Monday, October 21, 2013 3:19pm

Photos & Story by Scott A. Smith

Lengthy, fuzzy beards? Check.

Sequined, south-of-the-border jackets? Check.

Cool-as-the-breeze sunglasses? Check.

Loud, purple-colored guitars? Yep, ZZ Top still has these and quite a bit more.

ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons (guitar, vocals), Dusty Hill (bass,vocals) and Frank Beard (drums, vocals) remain rock music’s sharp-dressed men, and more importantly, they continue to be a sonic force to be reckoned with under the stage lights.

The “Little Ol’ Band from Texas” fired up a hit-single-friendly set list for a capacity audience on Oct. 18 at The Joint inside the Tulsa Hard Rock in Catoosa, Okla., proving to be a willing-and-able unit bent on delivering the musical goods.

Within seconds of the house lights darkening, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band infused grit into the night-opener, “Got Me Under Pressure,” with Gibbons’ six-string picking staking claim to the sound system’s mid-range frequencies.

The song’s bouncy rhythms and side-stepping arrangement immediately put band and spectators in an easy-going mood.… Continue reading

Interview with Jay and the Americans

Sunday, October 20, 2013 6:55am

By Isaac Rodriguez
Rock Legends Photographers
 
Q: What music or musician did you listen to that inspired you as an artist?
A: [Sandy] He and I (referring to Howie) — we saw a television show called the Frankie Lane show and a group called Frankie Lymon and the teenagers came on and played “Why Do Fools Fall in Love.” We got impressed with that and then we saw the Everly Brothers on television and we decided we wanted to do that too.
[Sandy] Howie you tell him who inspired you?
[Howie] To be a singer?
[RLP] Just to be an artist in general.
[Howie] Honestly, Mario Lanza. He was a star in the movies in the 50′s, he was like an opera singer. Mario Lanza was an operatic singer. When I went to Radio City Music Hall and see whatever movie was there, there he was. So I would say WOW!… Continue reading