Ain't Nothin' but the Blues!

2011-12-06T17:08:00.000-08:00

Hubert Sumlin Dies At 80

By Rolling Stone
December 4, 2011 7:09 PM ET
Hubert Sumlin, the longtime collaborator with Howlin' Wolf whose unique playing on such songs as "Wang Dang Doodle," "Spoonful" and "Back Door Man" influenced generations of guitarists, died Sunday of heart failure in New Jersey. He was 80.
Sumlin, a mainstay of the Chicago blues scene, was ranked number 43 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. He was nominated for four Grammy awards and was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 2008.
"He always played the right thing at the right time," Jimmy Page, one of Sumlin's many admirers, once said. Sumlin, who played his beloved 1955 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop guitar without a pick, was a key inspiration for Keith Richards (who reportedly helped Sumlin with his medical bills in recent years), Jimi Hendrix and Frank Zappa, among others. Inspired by Sumlin's piercing lead guitar on Wolf's "Killing Floor," Hendrix sat in with fellow guitar icon Eric Clapton in 1967, the only time the two performed together.

2011-11-06T17:10:00.000-08:00

Fred Jarmon Passes

Click on pic for larger image
Fred Jarmon died this week after a tough battle with a liver disease. Fred was one of the best and most talented musicians I have ever known. His loss is a huge one for his friends, family and the music community.
Vaya con Dios amigo!

2011-08-10T07:57:00.000-07:00

Playing The Blues At The Progressive Center

Click on pic for larger image

2010-04-16T20:15:00.000-07:00

Briefcase Full O' Blues

Click on pics for larger image

2010-03-08T16:59:00.000-08:00

Fred Jarmon Looks Like Jeff Bridges!

My friend and many times musical partner Fred Jarmon sure has a resemblance to Jeff Bridges, oscar winner in Crazy Heart.

Click on pic for larger image

2009-11-06T19:32:00.000-08:00

Norton Buffalo Passes At 58
I just heard about the death of Norton Buffalo.
Below is an obit from the San Francicisco Chronicle:
Harmonica maestro Norton Buffalo dies at 58 Joel Selvin, Chronicle Senior Pop Music Correspondent
Monday, November 2, 2009
Norton Buffalo, harmonica virtuoso, one-of-a-kind performer and consummate
accompanist to the stars, died Friday night from cancer in Feather River Hospital, near his home in Paradise (Butte County). He was 58.
Mr. Buffalo, who appeared on more than 180 albums and spent 33 years as a member of the Steve Miller Band, was diagnosed with cancer in September.
His life will be celebrated Jan. 23 at the Fox Theater in Oakland in a benefit concert starring the Steve Miller Band and the Doobie Brothers, with special guests Huey Lewis, George Thorogood, Charlie Musselwhite and Bonnie Raitt.
"He was the antithesis of East Coast cynical," said Raitt, who spent Sunday morning
watching Buffalo videos on YouTube. "He was always in funny mode without being too
gooey about it. He's been that guy all this time. In one guy, you got all the hope and optimism of the '70s."
Mr. Buffalo played on the Grammy-winning Doobie Brothers album "Minute by Minute,"
and the recent children's music CD by Kenny Loggins. With Bette Midler, he played in
the band and acted in the film "The Rose." He collaborated on tours and a series of
recordings for more than 20 years with blues guitarist Roy Rogers. One of their songs, "Ain't No Bread in the Breadbox," was a cornerstone in the '90s live repertoire of the Jerry Garcia Band.
"Norton Buffalo was a character and a half," Rogers said. "He had a sense of humor. He liked to have a good time, and the joy of his playing came out."
Miller said: "He was a complete original. He worked with all kinds of people. He did tons and tons of projects. Everybody who worked with him loved him, really enjoyed working with him."
Mr. Buffalo joined the Steve Miller Band in 1976 at the beginning of the "Fly Like an Eagle" tour and has remained a constant presence in Miller's music ever since. Miller invariably introduced Mr. Buffalo to concert audiences as "my partner in harmony."
"He had way more music in him than I could use," Miller said. "I just had more work for him than everybody else."
Mr. Buffalo's own recordings include his 1977 Capitol Records release, "Lovin' in the Valley of the Moon," an album that maintains a strong cult following, and a 2000 blues-based release, "King of the Highway." He recently released a joint CD with Hawaiian slack key guitarist George Kahumoku Jr. He was a virtuosic and technically accomplished chromatic harmonica player who could play anything - blues, rock, pop, country, folk, show tunes.
Born in Oakland and raised in Richmond, Mr. Buffalo was raised in a musical family. His father played harmonica, and his mother sang in '40s San Francisco nightclubs. His great-uncle, Herbert Stothart, was a Hollywood soundtrack composer who won an Academy Award for his work on "The Wizard of Oz."
"His harp could become the valley of the moon, Krakatoa, a storm out at sea, then the sweetest sound this side of heaven," said Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart, who
played with Mr. Buffalo in a project called High Noon in the '70s and '80s.
Mr. Buffalo joined one of the final editions of Commander Cody and his Lost Planet
Airmen on a 1976 European tour, before returning to the Bay Area and forming the
Norton Buffalo Stampede, a band that headlined Bay Area clubs for several years. In
between tours with Miller and Rogers, Mr. Buffalo had been appearing recently with the Norton Buffalo Trio with his third wife, Lisa Flores.
He is survived by his wife; children, Aisah of Lake Tahoe and Elias of Sonoma;
stepchildren, Sierra Ruelas of Sonoma and Bo Winterburn of San Diego; father, Ken
Jackson of Paradise; and five brothers and sisters.
Roy Rogers and the Delta Rhythm Kings, Tom Rigney and Flambeau and the Carlos
Reyes Band will appear Nov. 22 in a benefit and memorial at the Paradise Performing Arts Center in Paradise.

2009-11-04T08:38:00.000-08:00

Fall Back Fabulous!

Photos: Eddy Lee Skipwith, Dicky Neely, Cody Angel, Antone Perez, Franz Schlievert
Click on pics for larger image. Video and photos by Jack Gant
For videos, go to :http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.channel&contributorid=7445664

2009-10-03T08:55:00.000-07:00

Fall Back '09 Posters

2009-09-24T08:54:00.000-07:00

Dicky Neely Blues Band, Deadbeats
Fall Back Fest October 31, 2009, Port Aransas

This year’s Fall Back Fest at Pelicans Landing, in the courtyard between the restaurant and Port A USA, in Port Aransas, will be on Saturday, October 31. The event will run from 7 till 10 PM.
The music will, as usual, focus on blues.
Opening the show will be The Deadbeats, a longtime popular area band once led by the late Judge Carl Lewis. The Deadbeats have made many appearances in the Fall Back over the years. The Deadbeats include David Bright and Tyner Little on guitars, Rey Martinez, sax, Mike Ser, keys, Doug Adams, bass. Kristine Stevenson, vocals and either Mike Gilmore or David Marroquin, drums.
The Dicky Neely Blues Band, (Dicky Neely on harmonica, Eddy Lee Skipwith on guitar, Antone Perez on drums and Franz Schlievert, on bass,) will close the evening.

Pelicans Landing is at 337 Alister in Port Aransas, Texas.
The annual event marks the last night before the official time reverts to standard time.
This year’s show will be dedicated to the memory of Rocky Benton, the great harmonica player and blues singer, who passed away earlier this year. Carl Lewis and Drywall Dave Schlabach will also be remembered.
The event is a fundraiser for the Port Aransas Community Theater.
Port Aransas restaurants will have examples from their menus available and there will be wine for tasting, included in the ticket price.
Ticket prices are $35. There will be a raffle for nice prizes and a Halloween costume contest.

For more info call 361-749-6405

2009-05-06T16:16:00.001-07:00

Rocky Benton Passed Today

Rocky Benton passed away this morning. It was a shock. I first met Rocky in 1981 here in Corpus Christi and over the years I knew him as a great guy with a great sense of humour. He will be greatly missed.
The blind, black harmonica player was a great singer as well as a great harp player. Rocky was the real deal. I think he was the most well known and liked local musician of any I have known.
May he rest in peace.

Today They Laid Old Rocky Down
Monday, May 11, 2009

Today they laid old Rocky down
They put a good man in the ground.
Now Rocky was a wonderful soul
Playing his blues just never got old.

Rocky would pick up his harp and wail
And sing the blues as if he were in jail.
And you knew he was the real thing,
He was blind, black and how he could sing.

Rocky played ‘bout everywhere around.
Folks would come to see him from out of town.
He sang about women, drinkin’ and automobiles
And most anything else that had that blues feel.

Now Rocky wasn’t that old, he was only 57
But if there is such a place he’s in blues heaven.
I bet that the blues angels are havin’ a hell of a jam
And Rocky is out front and really layin it down.

Everybody loved Rocky, he was a great blues man.
He’s left it for us to carry on as well as we can.
But I know some night I will hear a cryin’ blues harp
And it will be Rocky Benton playin’ out in the dark.

He will be singing the blues cause they can’t go away
And I’ll have the blues then like I have ‘em today.
I’ll think about Rocky and the good times we had
And those harmonica blues never made me feel bad!

2009-03-18T08:29:00.000-07:00

Corey Jackson Passes Away

Last week Corey Jackson died. Corey was a nice guy and he was a real guitar talent. He was only 25 years old.
It is always sad to see friends and loved ones die.
Musicians seem to die off at a faster rate than many others, if you like some of your local musicans let them know it. Give them encouragement because they help to enrich peoples' lives.
Travel well Corey.

2008-10-26T12:42:00.001-07:00

Carl Lewis Died Yesterday

Yesterday came the news that local Juvenile Court Judge Carl Lewis had died of a heart attack. This was shocking news.
Carl was a good judge in a difficult job and he handled it very well.
I knew him in quite a different light. He was also a blues man, a singer and a harp player. He and his band, Carl Lewis and the Dead Beats, have entertained around here for years. Accompanied by lawyer buddies David Bright and Tyner Little on guitars, they were always crowd favorites.
Carl had a fabulous voice and probably would have had a future in the music business should he have dropped his day job!
Condolences to his family and his many friends and to all he had offered a helping hand or who loved his music. Rest in peace.

2008-07-19T15:12:00.000-07:00

Drywall Dave Schlabach Passes

I just found out today that one of my best friends died yesterday. Dave Schlabach, who I always called Cheecho, but was more well known as Dry Wall Dave, died in Panama of a heart attack.
Dave and I played music together, surfed together and many other things together for many years and many of my best memories have him in 'em!
He was like a brother and I miss him. Travel well brother!

2008-02-27T16:58:00.001-08:00

Rest In Peace Big Daddy

Yesterday I received some sad news. My old friend Gary Ingber, "Big Daddy," passed away this past Saturday in his home of Cocoa Beach, Florida.
Gary was a great guy, loved to play and he was a hell of a guitarist! I loved to play with him and always hoped we would do it again some day. Maybe in the next life...

2006-10-15T16:53:00.000-07:00

Freddy Fender Passes
Freddy Fender passed away yesterday. He had been suffering from lung cancer and oher afflictions.
He was a tremendous figure locally and internationally.
He was a multi Grammy winner and had a string of country hits.
Once known as "The Bee Bop Kid" he come out of San Benito in the Rio Grande Valley along the Texas-Mexico border. Freddy Fender had a string of hits and a legion of fans.
May he rest in peace.

In this pic Freddy stands in front of my old Merc Bobcat with my guitar.

2006-08-09T08:11:00.000-07:00

Workingman’s Dead: A Review
By Dicky Neely
Note: I recently purchased a CD version of this classic rock album on Ebay. I have bought a lot of music there and they asked me to write a customer review. The following is the piece I sent them.

Released by Warner Brothers Records in June of 1970, Workingman’s Dead was the fifth Grateful Dead album.
It marked a bit of a change of direction for the iconic Bay Area jam band. This eight cut album was more of a studio product with arrangements closely akin to pop, rock and country songs.
It worked well. For the sake of disclosure, I am not a Dead Head. I liked them but this is the only Dead album I ever owned, and is my favorite Dead work.
It may not have the spontaneous energy of most of their albums but the songs are good and one, “Casey Jones,” is my all time favorite Dead song.
Jerry Garcia had this to say about Working Man’s Dead:
"Workingman's Dead was our first true studio album, insofar as we went in there to say 'These are the limitations of the studio for us as performers; let's play inside those limitations.' That is we decided to play more or less straight-ahead songs and not get hung up with effects and weirdness. For me, the models were music that I'd liked before that was basically simply constructed but terribly effective - like the old Buck Owens records from Bakersfield. Those records were basic rock & roll: nice, raw, simple, straight-ahead music, with good vocals and substantial instrumentation but nothing flashy. Workingman's Dead was our attempt to say, 'We can play this kind of music - we can play music that's heartland music. It's something we do as well as we do anything.' "
Cuts: Uncle John’s Band, High Time, Dire Wolf, New Speedway Boogie, Cumberland Blues, Black Peter, Easy Wind, Casey Jones
The Dead were a cultural phenomenon. They developed a huge following of ‘Dead Heads’ and toured continuously during their heyday. Their shows often would go on for hours and their fans, which included a mix ranging from bikers, hippies, blue collar workers, Yuppies and others never seemed to get enough.

Workingman’s Dead;
Jerry Garcia - lead guitar, pedal steel guitar, vocals
Bob Weir - guitar, vocals
Phil Lesh - bass, vocals
Pigpen (Ron McKernan) - keyboards, vocals
Bill Kreutzmann - drums
Mickey Hart - drums
David Nelson - acoustic guitar on Cumberland Blues

2006-07-21T13:35:00.000-07:00

Sam Neely Passes,
July 19, 2006
Sam Neely died Wednesday evening at his home on Padre Island. Sam was well known and loved by thousands of music lovers here in Corpus Christi and literally all over the world.
He had a fantastic career and wrote some of the great hits known by fans of popular music and country music too.
Some of his songs:
Rosalie
Blue Time
Long Road To Texas
You Can Have Her
Loving You Just Crossed My Mind

Rest in peace Sam.

2006-07-19T08:50:00.000-07:00

Sam Meyers Passes Away
The great harmonica player, singer and long time front man for Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets died on Monday, July 17, of throat cancer in his home town, Dallas, Texas.
Meyers had been unable to speak or perform for the past two years.
Meyers was a nine time W.C. Handy Award winner and last February received the Blues Ambasssador award in his former home state of Mississippi.
Meyers career reaches back into the fifties when he was a drummer with Ellmore James.

2006-06-16T16:33:00.000-07:00

New CD From Dicky Neely and Fred Jarmon!

Dicky Neely and Fred Jarmon have just released a new CD, Don't Mess With Texas Beaches!
The CD has three original eco blues songs and is targeted at the recent controversy now taking place over development on Padre Island and around the Laguna Madre. Specifically the song "Don't Close The Beach" is a plea to stop big money, out of town developers from taking over the beaches and ending traditional beach access as it has been for decades.
"The Laguna Madre Blues" is an attempt to call attention to the importance of bays, estuaries and coastal areas to the local environment and the general ecological health of the area. These are both originals by Dicky Neely and Fred Jarmon. Dicky Neely sings and plays harmonica on all three songs. Fred Jarmon plays guitar and all other instruments, sings background vocals on "Don't Close The Beach" and did the recording, engineering, editing and mixing.
"Don't Trash Those Texas Beaches" dates back to 1986 and was a contest winner in the songwriting contest for the first state GLO Texas Beach Trash Off. The song is an original by Dicky Neely and Mike Cross, who plays guitar and sings on the tune. The song was recorded at Hacienda Records.

Dennis Gilley took the cover and inside front photos and put together the jewel case package and made the copies at Gilley's Recording Studio,Corpus Christi. The photo of the old International and the Mercury Cougar with Yo Yo the dog were taken by Dicky Neely. These are some of his old beach rides!
The first run of copies are by now gone. More shoud be made soon. To obtain a copy contact Dicky Neely, Muddyboy3@aol.com or call 361-937-3768

2006-05-26T17:48:00.000-07:00

Pic: Dicky at Bayfest 80's something!

There's A New "Hoss" In Town

The following is an email from a friend of mine who recently started up an online radio station dedicated to playing primarily local musicians. What a great idea! I am on a number of sides playing there as well as two cuts from the new CD Fred Jarmon and I have just completed dedicated to saving our traditional beach access and the environment.

Hey Dicky,
Your new song "Don't Close the Beach" is now available for your fans to download for just $1.50 on HossTheBoss.com.To get to it, people just need to go to http://www.hosstheboss.com/ and
click the link to the site's store and then visit the "download Mp3" section. (For the next week or so at least, the link directly to your song will be on the main page.) The store also, of course, has two other songs from you: Room to Move and Laguna Madre Blues.Tell anyone who wants to support local beaches to head to the site and support you, the song, and the cause! (They'll also be supporting all the other independent Corpus Christi music that plays on my site.)
See you, Hoss
P.S. -- Don't forget that your fans can also VOTE for the song on the
site, too. It's among the most popular songs in the voting so far this
week!

2006-05-09T13:51:00.000-07:00

Sand Fest Pics: Top, Kit Gutherz, Dicky,Guy LeRoux, Fred Jarmon, Franz Schlievert in back, Dicky Neely Blues Band, with Antone Perez on drums.

2006-03-14T07:29:00.000-08:00

A recent picture of an old friend, Gary Ingber, and his bike in Florida.
Gary plays a mean guitar.

2006-03-09T22:29:00.000-08:00

Dicky Neely, Gary Ingber, Freddy Fender, jammin' at the Coast Club in Port Aransas, around 1995.

2006-02-15T17:17:00.000-08:00

Dicky Neely Blues Band

361-937-3768

Muddyboy3@aol.com

2006 Schedule
It’s another year and Dicky Neely is still playing the Blues! Here is the schedule for 2006!

January:

28, (Sat.) The Alibi, 948 Waldron, Benefit for Ed Gillespie, Rich Kinney, sax, vocals, Fred Jarmon, guitar, vocals, Bobby Donaho, drums, Jim Stephens, bass, Dicky Neely, harmonica, vocals, Emily, guitar, vocals, Rocky Benton, harmonica, vocals

April:

8, The Old Porch Bar 3909 Laguna Shores Road,939-9525, Flour Bluff, 7:00-11:00 pm. Dicky Neely Blues Band, Dicky Neely, harmonica, vocals, Fred Jarmon, guitar, vocals, Franz Schlievert, bass, vocals, Ervin "Preecher" Williams, drums

9, (Sun.) Sand Fest, from 1:00 to 1:45 and then back at about 2:30 til 3:00 p.m. On beach in Port Aransas, Dicky Neely Blues Band, Guy Leroux, guitar, vocals, Fred Jarmon, guitar, vocals, Bryan Cummings, bass, Dicky Neely, harmonica, vocals, Antone Perez, drums, vocals

22, (Sat.) Earth Day, Cole Park, 1:00-1:45, 2:30-3:00 pm. Dicky Neely Blues Band, Ray Summy, guitar, Franz Schlievert. bass, vocals, Antone Perez, drums, vocals, Dicky Neely, harmonica, vocals

May:

6, (Sat.) The Old Porch Bar, 3909 Laguna Shores Road, 939-9525, Flour Bluff, 7:00-11:00 pm. Dicky Neely Blues Band, Dicky Neely Blues Band, Dicky Neely, harmonica, vocals, Fred Jarmon, guitar, vocals, Franz Schlievert, bass, vocals, Walt Rosseau, drums

11, (Thurs.) Art Center, on Shoreline, clay show, 5:00-7:00 pm. Guy Leroux, guitar,voclals and Dicky Neely, harmonica, vocals

June:

24,(Sat.) Pelicans Landing 337 Alister, Port Aransas, 361-749-6495, 7-10 pm. Dicky Neely, Fred Jarmon duo

July:
4, (Tues.) Pelicans Landing 337 Alister, Port Aransas, 361-749-6405, 7-10 pm., Dicky Neely, Fred Jarmon duo

8, (Sat.) Wedding party, Dicky Neely Blues Band. Fred Jarmon, guitar, vocals, Dicky Neely, harmonica, vocals, Walt Rosseau, drums
14, (Fri.) Sunset Sounds (Gary Mysorski, parks and rec. 749-4158) 7 - 9 pm at the Patsy Jones Amphitheater in Roberts Point Park in Port Aransas. Dicky Neely Blues Band, Fred Jarmon, guitar, vocals, Bryan Cummings, bass, Dicky Neely, harmonica, vocals, Antone Perez, drums, vocals
15, (Sat.) Pelicans Landing 337 Alister, Port Aransas, 361-749-6405, 7-10 pm., Dicky Neely, Fred Jarmon duo, opening for Eli Young Band,

22, (Sat.) The Old Porch Bar, 3909 Laguna Shores Road, 939-9525, 7-11 pm, Dicky Neely Blues Band, Dicky Neely, harmonica, vocals, Fred Jarmon, guitar, vocals, Antone Perez, drums, vocals, Eddy Lee Skipwith, bass, vocals

29, (Sat.) Pelicans Landing 337 Alister, Port Aransas, 361-749-6405, 6-8 pm., Dicky Neely, Fred Jarmon duo, opening for Ryan Turner

August:
5, (Sat.) Pelicans Landing 337 Alister, Port Aransas, 361-749-6405, 7-10 pm., Dicky Neely, Fred Jarmon duo
11, (Fri.) Pelicans Landing 337 Alister, Port Aransas, 361-749-6405, 6:45-7:45 pm., Dicky Neely, Fred Jarmon, opening for Cory Morrow
12, (Sat.) Pelican’s Landing 337 Alister, Port Aransas, 361-749-6405, 7-10 pm., Dicky Neely, Fred Jarmon duo Pelicans Landing 337 Alister, Port Aransas, 361-749-6405, 7-10 pm.,
29, (Tues.) Executive Surf Club, N. Chapparral, Corpus Christi, Benefit for the Wenholz House, a tribute to Sam Neely, 5:30-11:00 pm. Rocky Benton, Remix, Dicky Neely...more TBA...
September:
1, (Fri.) Pelicans Landing 337 Alister, Port Aransas, 361-749-6405, 6:45-7:45 pm., Dicky Neely, Fred Jarmon, Opening for Leon Russell

October:

14, (Sat.) Old Porch Bar, 3909 Laguna Shores Rd. Corpus Christi, 939-9525, 7-11, Dicky Neely Blues Band
28, (Sat.) Pelicans Landing 337 Alister, Port Aransas, 361-749-6405, 7:00-10:00 pm., Ain’t Nothin’ but the Blues, Fall Back Festival, Dicky Neely Blues Band, Rocky Benton

2006-02-12T05:02:00.000-08:00

Jimmy Trout

Jimmy Trout at the Surf Club. Jimmy died about two years ago. It was sudden and a shock. We played as a duo and occasionally in a band, many times over the years.
He was a fiercely independent singer, songwriter.

2006-02-12T04:56:00.000-08:00

Tommy "The Horn" Hern
Tommy Hern at the Holiday Inn on
Padre Island with Silent Slim and the Locomotives.
This is probably 1990. That's sax player Rich Kinney in the background.

2006-02-12T04:50:00.000-08:00

John Santos

This is John Santos on harmonica, Franz Schlievert on bass, at the Holiday Inn on Padre Island back in, oh I would say 1989 or so? I am getting a little fuzzy on the years! We, Silent Slim and the Locomotives, played at the Holiday Inn here for many years.

2006-02-12T04:43:00.000-08:00

Oscar Martinez y los Matachinches!

OK, they're not exactly blues players but I played with these guys a few times and they humored me and did play some blues and a couple of rock tunes!
Normally they play Tejano and traditional Mexican corridos and other things.
Oscar was a very accomplished trumpet player and a born performer, with a lot of humor!

2006-02-01T15:10:00.000-08:00

Benefit Jam For Andy Gillespie A Success!
(pics: Left, Rocky Benton, Bottom, Rich Kinney with sax, Michael O'Connor playing harp! An old pic from the Holiday Inn, P.I.
1992?)
Cookin' Jam!
The benefit held at the Alibi in Flour Bluff Saturday night, Jan. 28, was a great success.

This was held to help out Andy Gillespie, a friend of Rich Kinney's. Andy is suffering from cancer.

Rich is a former Silent Slim and the Locomotives sax player. Rich tore it up!

Fred Jarmon ran sound and played guitar and, as always, did a great job on both!

Rocky Benton performed his blues magic! Bobby Donaho played drums and Jim Stephens played bass. They were a solid rhythym section.
Folk singer Emily played between band sets.
It was a lot of fun.

2006-01-30T14:23:00.000-08:00

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.

2006-01-27T18:05:00.000-08:00

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

2006-01-25T20:15:00.000-08:00

Franz Schlievert and Brian McKay

(Click on pic for larger image)

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

2006-01-25T20:11:00.000-08:00

Silent Slim and the Locomotives, Austin, Texas, 1987

(Click on pic for larger image)

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

2006-01-25T20:03:00.000-08:00

Silent Slim and the Locomotives

(Click on pic for larger image)

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

2006-01-23T15:45:00.000-08:00

GIANTS OF THE BLUES!

(Click on pic for larger image)

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

2006-01-17T15:20:00.000-08:00

Full Strut
(Click on pic for larger image)

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.

2006-01-10T17:34:00.000-08:00

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.

2006-01-10T17:21:00.000-08:00

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.

2006-01-08T12:19:00.000-08:00

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.

2005-12-12T18:51:00.000-08:00

Rocky Benton and Dicky Neely, Ain't Nothin' but the Blues!

(Click on pic for larger image, photo by Murray Judson,
South Jetty)

Rocky Benton and Dicky Neely at
11th Annual Ain't Nothin' But The Blues,
Fall Back Festival,
October 29, 2005.

This year's event was a great success with good weather and a large turnout. Rocky Benton and Dicky Neely closed out the show with a dual harmonica rendition of John Mayall's "Room To Move."
The annual fall event was held, as usual, in the courtyard between Pelicans Landing restaurant and the shops of the Port A USA center in Port Aransas, Texas.
The Corpus Christi Veterans Band opened the show with big band patriotic music and swing. Guy Leroux and Dicky Neely did a duo while the band set up.
The Dicky Neely Blues Band played traditional and Chicago style blues. Rocky Benton performed the last set. Rocky is the Main Man! His singing and harmonica playing make Rocky one of the best known and most respected performers in South Texas.
H.B. "Hollywood Bob" Hinckley was the drummer and performed some soulful vocals. Roy Cox held down the bass.

2005-11-09T18:52:00.000-08:00

Dicky Neely Blues Band
361-937-3768
Muddyboy3@aol.com
(Top pic; Dicky at Bayfest in '87
with Silent Slim and the Locomotives)

2005-11-03T07:18:00.000-08:00

Rocky Benton (top picture)

Carl Lewis (bottom picture)

(Click on pics for larger image)

2005-10-08T16:44:00.000-07:00

"Drywall" Dave (top),Dicky Neely (below)
Ain't nothin' but the Blues, Fall Back Festival 2002

2005-10-04T14:03:00.000-07:00

Dicky Neely Blues Band
Earth Day, Cole Park
2005 withRocky Benton,
Fred Jarmon, Dave Ward,
"Preecher" Williams

Freddy Fender with my
guitar, in front of my
Bobcat wagon. 1993(?)

2005-10-04T11:36:00.000-07:00

Dicky Neely, Christine Zaputo and "Drywall" Dave Schlabach
(Click on pictures for larger image.)

Annual Ain't Nothin' but the Blues, Fall Back Festival

October 29, 2005, Port Aransas, Texas

Once again it's time for the Ain't Nothin' but the Blues, Fall Back Festival. As usual it will be in the courtyard behind Pelicans Landing Restaurant, 337 Alister, Port Aransas, Texas.

The event is a benefit for the Port Aransas Community Theater. Local restaurants will have food available. Tickets are $30.00. For info call 361-749-6405 or 937-3768.

Music will once again be a big part of the event and will begin at 7:00 and go till 10:00 p.m.

Music will be provided by: The Corpus Christi, Veterans Band, Carl Lewis and the Dead Beats, The Dicky Neely Blues Band and Rocky Benton.

There will be a costume contest and a restaurant table decorating contest. 14 restaurants will participate.

2005-10-03T18:52:00.000-07:00

Freddy Fender and Dicky Neely, Toys for Tots
(Click on picture for larger image.)
This is a picture from a Toys For Tots show at what was then called the Sturgis Campground and was owned by Brownie of Brownie's Harley Davidson. This was a good show and a lot of fun, obviously it was perfect weather for December!