'60s Baltimore R&B Jam 2
June
14 - Stingers Bar & Restaurant
June
15 - Overlea Hall (Overlea Catering)
This second reunion jam was just
like last year, only different.
Last year the goal of the "'60s R&B Reunion Jam" was no more lofty than
to find each other and play music together. This 2nd year, with many
more musicians involved, bands were formed around original names and
players to perform classic tunes. Amazingly enough, it had all the spirit
of last year, with a bigger crowd and even better music.
Approximately 51 players and 249 of their guests payed
$25 to be there for an afternoon of great fun and great music, with
excellent catering (pizzas and subs, open bar) provided by Overlea Hall.
With shirt and cap sales much lower then projected, the event produced
a deficit of -$1,400.
The deficit was funded by a generous contributor in exchange for the
unsold merchandise. Those shirts and caps were then donated to Chi Sigma
Sorority, Inc.—a Baltimore registered non-profit—to be distributed
to local school music programs in White Oak Elementary-Baltimore County,
Logan Elementary-Dundalk, and Glendale Elementary-Glen Burnie.
BANDS
Acknowledgements
It takes the generous efforts of many people to make an
event like this happen. It is called a jam session because, like any
jam session it is all about who shows up. If you're there you are a
part of it; if you're not, you're not--there are no empty chairs.
- Gene Orth and The Epics - It was the energy of these guys
that drove Jam2. Without them there might not have been one.
- John Armstrong & John Gerard - John G. built the stage
and provided the PA, drums and other equipment; John A. provided
sound equipment and made sure everything worked and kept working.
Everybody knows what a huge contribution this is.
- The Charmed Times Reunion Band - While they came aboard
later than the Epics, their spirit and professionalism was unmatched.
- Joe Vaccarino - Our resident "Historian" of Baltimore
Sounds (and an above average pool shooter). A true believer.
- Dianne Sappington, Marsha Crawford and Ramona Peterson - They handled shirt sales and did whatever needed to be done...
these guys were always there.
- The Leaders - Each band coordinated their participation
through a designated leader who made it happen for their group,
both players and guests. The Leaders were:Marty Mettee-Charmed Times
Reunion Band; Al Crawford & Dave Peterson-Dynamics; Randy Fillmore
& Rick Prowell-Mello Men; Gene Orth-Epics; Mike Foreman-Majestics;
Don Lehnhoff-Freelancers.
- The Mello Men - Their "reunion within a reunion"
and recognition of Charlie Freitag was a GREAT treat and a heartfelt
musical blast.
- The VOSA Committee - our defacto organizing committee whose
members generously contribute their efforts with no compensation
and no choice. This year's committee members were Al Crawford, Don
Barto, Don Lehnhoff, Mike Foreman, John Armstrong, John Gerard,
Randy Fillmore. (Inactive members Duke Gore and Sam Towers were
both unable to attend this year.)
- Stingers Sports Bar & Restaurant - Owners Jim and Joan
Boyer have supported us from the very beginning. This is our official
unofficial home base.
- Overlea Hall - They did a great job and we wrote them a thank you letter.
We call these musical get-togethers a Jam Session for a reason. In a jam session it doesn't matter who is who, who knows
who, who did what, who is doing what or who plans to do what. All that
matters is who shows up. It's not a performance and not a show. Everybody
buys a ticket and comes to play. There are no rankings, no preferences
and no priviliges. This is what makes it happen and gives it life. So
as a final acknowledgement...
Here's to everybody who showed up!
(You know who you are.) |
