Jim Allison Passes

Local harmonica player Jim Allison died last week. I never met the man or saw him play. I did see him on TV and heard him on the radio. He was very good.
A lot of guys I know and have played with Jim and all spoke very highly of him.
He played at Driscolls' Children's Hospital for several years when he was in town to play the State Jazz Festival. That's all I need to know. He was a good man.

Promo Shot, Silent Slim and the Locomotives

This is a promo
shot of Silent Slim
and the Locomotives
from around 1988 or
so. We never dresed
like this any other
time!
Left to right:
Bobby Medina,
Franz Schlievert,
Marty Martinez,
Antone Perez, (in
front)
Michael O'Connor,
Dicky Neely

Franz Schlievert and Brian McKay

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Franz and Bryan getting down. Bryan passed away a few years ago.  

Silent Slim and the Locomotives, Austin, Texas, 1987

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Silent Slim and the Locomotives in Austin at a private party. 

Silent Slim and the Locomotives

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Silent Slim in 1987 getting ready to go to Austin.
Left to right:
Bryan McKay, Michael O'Connor, Marty Martinez, Dicky Neely, "Hollywood" Bob Hinckley, Franz Schlievert 

GIANTS OF THE BLUES!

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These four American Blues artists have had an immeasurable influence on music.
They each represent different facets of the blues and together, they and all the other great blues artists, have made the world the richer because of their artistry.
Top: B.B. King, John Lee Hooker
Bottom: Lightnin' Hopkins, Muddy Waters

Full Strut
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Full Strut was a rock and blues outfit I was with in Santa Barbara, California in 1973-74. This was the first professional band I played in.
We played in Santa Barbara, El Capitan, Morro Bay, Isla Vista, Goleta, and Hanford. This is the front page of a promo brochure. We backed up Pee Wee Crayton, Luther Tucker and Bob Hite, of Canned Heat on occasion
Members, left to right:
Allen Drettler, bass, Dicky Neely, harmonica, (kneeling) Joe Carillo, guitar, John Chaney, guitar and Mike Goldberg, drums.

Mike Cross


I played with Mike Cross for many years in the early to mid 80's. He is a great guy, musician, singer and songwriter.
He has been up in Austin for quite a while now.
These pics were taken poolside at the Holiday Inn on Padre Island.

Some Of My Old Music Buddies!

Michael O'Connor
This was in San Antonio at a park on the SW side of town. Two years in a row we played here at a party for the Methodist Hospital. The Band was Silent Slim and the Locomotives, this was in the late 80's. Seems like yesterday!
Mike moved to the Hill Country a while back and is doing great.

Rocky Benton And A Few Of His Buddies!


Here is Rocky Benton "reading" the paper with some of his buddies looking on.
Left to right, Ernie Ruiz, drums, Rocky, Eddy Lee Skipwith, guitar, and Tom Engle, bass.
Rocky is "Corpus Christi's Main Man" The blind blues singer and harmonica player is one of the area's most popular entertainers.
These guys are all long time veteran players, no young "whipper snappers here!"
They have been doing some gigs with Rocky lately. I have played with all these guys too and they are a fine bunch and are very talented musicians.