David Dunkley, following the rhythm of his heart.

If you know Dave, you that he's got the bluest eyes, and nearly the blondest hair; but let me tell you it's all a crock...David Dunkley is the blackest man I know, in every sense of the word. He is a true brotha.

I seems like I've known Dave forever, but I really got to know him during a short spell on his couch for a few months back in the early 90's (one of my nomad periods...).
Dave was living in the swinging bachelor pad on the Westside of Charleston, playing music everywhere with everyone, and trying hard to make it in the music biz.
At the point that he and I started hanging out in earnest he was playing with a band called Sleeper, a groove machine of a group. During our Sternwheel Regatta, they enlisted me to sit in on the saxophone for the night and it was too much fun.
Dave was their drummer at the time and he would keep the band in stitches with his crazy humor (just somthin' about them drummers, and being hilarious).
Over the years it seemed that David was just everywhere at once, and luckily for me whenever I would show up he would personally see to it that everyone was aware of my presence. I can still hear him..." Tee, don't be tryin' ta hide in the doggone corner, where's that saxophone? (...in my car Dave !!), well just march yourself out there and get it !!! "
You can't be anonymous with him, but that's the spirit of Dave Dunkley.
He and I spent countless hours talking about the music business and the things that Charleston needed to do for our fellow musicians here. One of the cool things about David is that he didn't limit himself to just being a drummer, he'd break out and play some pretty mean percussion once in awhile, if he needed to, he didn't have the kind of ego that said I must be the drummer at all times, he would just go with flow.
At a certain point, like most folks in this town, he started to get really restless. It's really difficult to make music your life's work in this area, for a number of reasons which I won't get into now ( stay tuned for a blog post on the pitfalls of Charleston music, in Standing In The Shadows Of Music), but like alot of folks Dave had to leave for greener pastures. Well, our loss, was the tremendous gain for Nashville and legendary country singer Tim McGraw. As being blessed would have it, they soon found each other, and I am happy to report that David Dunkley is one of Tim's Dancehall Doctors ( Tim McGraw's serious alter ego band.).
I cannot begin to tell you how absolutely proud and happy I am for a man who followed the rhythm of his heart and came up a winner.
Another thing that makes me love him even more is he's now found solace in the arms of the God, and he and his beautiful wife and family are a part of Gods' everlasting family, and Dave still is one of us, he didn't go Hollywood and forget about us, his love has increased 10 fold.

It's my pleasure to tell you that you can catch Dave Dunkley with Tim McGraw in the upcoming Live 8 concert being broadcast live throughout the world.
This is a concert to help end poverty throughout Africa and the Third World.
Also check the internet and you local library for Tim McGraw's music which features our Dave.

This post is also dedicated to David's mother Pat, who did one helluva job raising her son by herself, and turning him into a decent, caring and "COOL" man.

Support Live Music today, tomorrow, and always...

Spurgie Hankins, I'm really sure

A line from one his songs instructs us to "only believe in half of what you see, and none of what you hear," I say, all of that may be true but as you read on, the one thing that you'll realize about Spurgie Hankins is, that with music this honest he's got alot of playing yet to do.

Spurgie Hankins is truly that one of a kind musician, a combination of powerful lyrics, the most ethereal melodies, and heart pounding rhythms. He is the West Virginia version of Maurice White (of Earth Wind and Fire). His music is as deep as the ocean and just as beautiful.

I've known Spurgie dating back to 1972, I've listened to the roots of his music in earnest since before then. By that, I mean that as you listen to the entire package which is Spurgie you'll find that his music stems from a biblical sense of being. A sense that is rooted in dealing with the pain and pleasures of life.
He can make you feel the deep pain of love gone bad, and the simple honest joy of loving your children without abandon.
I spent 2 years playing saxophone with Spurgie's band and during that time the love and respect that I garnered for that man transcends time...his music just moves me that way.
As one of West Virginia's hidden treasures I want to turn the spotlight on a man who like the other great West Virginian, Bill Withers gives voice to everyman.
Spurgie Hankins is writer without peer in my opinion, with the possible exception of Todd Burge, Spurgie's lyrics talk not only about living in the Mountain state, but also about living in life, and in this country and the unexpected trials that go along with it, and the things that we can do to change those things that are bad to things for the better. His music will engage you to trust and have faith, and if you close your eyes for just a minute, you can actually see the world as he paints it.
One of the joys in my life were the years that I spent playing in that band and getting to hear, and see first hand every week Spurgie use his music to heal and empower us.
The first year that I was in the band, we had a regular Saturday gig at Bentley's here in Charleston, a Thursday and Sunday gig at JT's Corner in Dunbar WV, and not one day of rehearsal. Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking that, because it taught me something about listening closely. Spurgie would bring his songs to the gigs and those gigs were the rehearsal, but it was great because, every time we played them, we did something just a little different than before, and that kept it fresh and new.
A solid family man, who can throw a mean horseshoe, and can play a rhythm guitar to death, Spurgie and his beautiful wife Marti have a family that is reflected in his music...strong and beautiful. This may sound corny, but when Spurgie performs, oftentimes his children come to the shows and get just as dreamy eyed as some of the fans who Spurgie thrills with his music.
I can think back on times when we sent an entire nightclub into a frenzied dance, like the Whirling Dervishes of Sufi Islam, people would just lose their ego-centered selves and submit to the magnetism and light of his music.
One slightly crazy but beautiful thing about Spurgie's music is that people so identify with it that when I first starting sitting in with the band they would come to the stage and almost threaten me if I didn't play something right, or if they didn't think that the sax part or flute part fit with a particular song...they take their Spurgie love that seriously.
I have the honor to call him one of my truest friends, he is a person who always is encouraging and always real.
One of the nicest things that he ever did for me was to hire my good friend Kevin Kidd as his bassist. It was just a hunch on my part, but I really felt like they would be a good fit, and I think that I was right; but it took Spurgie to make it click.
Over the last few years I've been slightly saddened because I haven't been able to get time to come and play with them for awhile now, and I miss it. The great thing about it though is that Spurgie always welcomes me with open arms.
There are quite a few people in Charleston whose songs I know by heart; lock stock and barrell, and his is among that group.
I'm inspired by the love that eminates from his music, I'm empowered by the beauty of his melodies, and I'm enthralled by the spirit of his friendship.
Spurgie Hankins is a survivor, whose music "sounds like Africa, it sounds like Spain, it sounds like India, it sounds like rain, it sounds like thunder, it sounds like pain, it sounds like everything...I just can't explain the sound."
One thing that I hope for you, my readers is that his music will never be forever gone. his music is life, and this much I can tell you...I'm really sure.

Catch Spurgie Hankins and friends at the Empty Glass Tuesdays at 10 pm.
Support Live Music today, tomorrow and always.

The Bolland Brothers, taking music to the Heights

Say what you want, and truthfully many of us have a Bolland story or two, but we also have to remember that while both of them may be crazy and outrageous sometimes, Stanley and Lamont Bolland have infected us with some serious music over a 30 year period.

When I came to West Virginia in 1971, my first week in college there was an outdoor campus party held in front of the dormitory. The band that was playing was Ebony and the Greek, a funky power packed band that for all intents and purposes should have been on Soul Train (the hippest trip in America in the 70's).
On guitar completely setting the place on fire was one Stanley Von Bolland. Until that time I had heard some pretty fair guitarists over the years, but Stanley almost made you forget about Jimi Hendrix. He could groove like no one I had ever seen before or since.
Fast forward to 1973; Ebony and the Greek decided to move on without Stanley, so he sets out to start another band, and while deciding which style of music to play he decides to enlist his brother Lamont to play keyboards. Lamont had been studying piano pretty seriously for about 12 years ( if my memory serves me correctly). The Bolland Boys set out and just played here and there for a few months doing more jamming than anything else. Somewhere along the way their Father asked them "how come you guys don't have a name yet?" Stanley retorts that they don't really have a band yet, but we're workin' on it. Another 2 months go by and Stanley is piecing together some of Charleston's finest Black musicians, the band is starting to come together, his Dad again asks the question; what's the name gonna be? Mr. Bolland decides to take the bull by the horns, he takes Stanley to the front door of their house and asks him to look up and tell me what you see... a puzzled Stanley replies: clouds! What kind of clouds? Still not certain, Mr. Bolland jumps the gun and says they're Stratus clouds, thus giving birth to the name that is now going on thirty two years ( coincidentally that same month drummer Billy Cobham, released an album called "Spectrum," and the single from that album is entitled Stratus, and it was huge hit in the jazz fusion era!!).
Stanley and Lamont build the band, and they start playing around town, and in short order everybody in town who were fans of Ebony and the Greek all but abandon them for the new Funky groovemeisters.
Lamont would lay down some killer licks on the Fender Rhodes electric piano, he was also the first person in Charleston to have a Moog synthesizer and an Arp Odyssey, and Stanley could program that thing to do all kinds of stuff (well, I was impressed at least !).
It's 1974, Johnny "Redd" Booker joins the band as the lead vocalist, they get a gig in Detroit next, Jo Loyd as the drummer, Michael "Stoney" Burks on trumpet, back in Charleston, they now pick up Ernie Alexander on bass one more co-lead vocalist Alethia Helm and Dugan Carter on the tenor sax, Jimmy McLaughlin on percussion and Stratus is on their way to Charleston music history.
This band could kick any pro band out there in the butt, and they had the stuff to do it. Killer vocals, the rhythm section of life and a horn section that only Earth Wind and Fire could match.
Now it's 1976, they're playing an ongoing regular gig at the Gentleman's Club, and Johnny Redd decides one night to play "Stump the Band," someone calls out "Sara Smile," the Hall and Oates megahit, but no one knew it until a kid from the Bronx says that he knows it. They get him up to sing and the next thing you know Charlie Tee the singer is born. Stanley hounded me for the next year and when Johnny Redd leaves the band around Christmas of 1977, I get the call to become the next Stratus lead vocalist and I stayed there until 1980.
Of course I too left, over irreconcilable differences, but Stratus is still going strong.
As I said earlier, the Bolland Boys have done much to give everyone a headache now and again, but they remain Charleston musical stalwarts and because of them many of us are reaching the heights in music and for that much at least, we must be grateful

I once saw a business card for Ebony and the Greek, and since they're no longer together, I'll apply what the card said to Stratus and the Bolland Brothers, they are "foremost in funky music."

This isn't the complete history of Stratus, or the Bolland Brothers, but it's an abridged version.

Catch Stanley and Lamont Bolland with Stratus right here in the Charleston area.
Also, catch Lamont with his other group Full Flavor, featuring Dugan Carter on sax and Warren Pope on drums.
Check for local listings.

Ted Harrison, bottom line quiet dignity.

There are people who walk into your life and immediately cause things to change; your life takes on a better tone, and without realizing it you are uplifted...Ted Harrison is that kind of person.
Long before Ted and I played in the Carpenter Ants together, we attended the same college, and although I'd seen him in school, I didn't know him per se'. Now that I do let me tell you about a man that can make me smile with the mere mention of his name.
James T. Harrison II is one of those people who can astound you with his memory, abilities and his attention to detail, he's a good listener, and a great musician.
Ted is the bassist for my band, the Carpenter Ants, he's a native of St.Albans WV, and gainfully employed for 24+ years for Verizon, the telephone conglomerate.
I never had the joy or pleasure of having a baby brother in real life and so Ted has fit that bill for me just nicely thank you. He is the kind of brother that I always wished that I had as we share alot of the same interests in quite a few things. He is also one of the most decent people that I've ever known, and can be a very quick wit if you give him room.
One of the things that fascinates me about his musical abilities are his ears, Teddy can pick up a melody in nothing flat, and in our musical realm in the Carpenter Ants, that is a necessary entity. Generally speaking, when we learn our material more often than not it's Ted who sets the pace for us to learn it, for me as a saxophonist and as a vocalist that is a Godsend.
As a saxophonist I tend to play a little sharp ( that sound just appeals to me) and playing against a good bass line makes that standpoint very easy, and Ted makes it effortless.
Very often during the course of my day, I think alot about the songs that we do, and I find myself constantly humming the basslines that Ted lays down...they're just fun, PERIOD !!
I truly consider myself a very lucky man in my quest for playing music fulltime, and having friends like Ted has made my journey a palatable one because his abilities, musicianship and more than anything his friendship have illuminated my road ahead.
As most bassists do, in any melody they hold down the bottom of that melody, and in the case of Ted Harrison, the bottom line is quiet dignity, and even more...just a wonderful sound.

You can catch Ted playing with the Carpenter Ants most every Wednesday night at the Empty Glass, 410 Elizabeth St. Charleston WV 25301

Also check him, and us out on our CD's:
"Long Live the Queen."
"Picnic With the Lord."
"The Insect Ball." (EP)

Winston Walls, the baddest of the bad.

When you think of the organ, generally you think of Church on Sunday, baseball games, or really old movies.These days when I think of the organ, I've got blinders on for man only...
Winston Walls.
"Dad," is truly one of the greatest musicians of my life, he is a force that even Darth Vader couldn't deal with. Winston makes an organ scream to life, and roar with the kind of excitement that makes you think that he's making serious love to this instrument.
I first met my "other Dad" in 1971 when I came to the Charleston area as a student at West Virginia State College. He was holding everybody's attention at the Athletic Club. My real Dad and I had come to Charleston after I got settled in at my dormitory. He and I were going to celebrate my going to college.
Arriving at the club there was a line of people who looked as though if they weren't admitted some terror would seriously arise. One guy even told the doorman "man you better let me in this place, I ain't BS'in." After we got in all we could see were women dressed to the nines sitting by the stage with their legs crossed and looking very wantonly at the man on stage.
Winston didn't waste a minute of their time either, he mowed them down with some incredible music and even more incredible musicianship. It was like being at the circus and watching the trapeze artist mesmerize everyone.
Well, I jumped up out my seat on his break and went right up to him and introduced myself, and told him that I played the saxophone and that I also am a singer, so he invited me up to sing. "Ode to Billy Joe" was the song and we took Billy Joe uptown baby. Winston and I have been "Dad and Son" friends ever since.
Over the years Winston has been a mainstay in my life. There have been a number of times when I was ready to quit playing music, as well as a number of reasons, but I can still hear Winston in my ears telling me "Cholly (as he calls me...) don't ever give this music up, you're too good at what you do ( I'm actually sitting here right now crying, at the thought of how much he has inspired me...I'm so lucky to know this man) ."
Here's a funny story and a testament to how much we value anything that Winston has to say:
When the Carpenter Ants were in the studio recording our 2nd CD "Picnic With The Lord," we decided that we wanted Winston to play on the CD, so we got him to town ( he lives in Florida during the Winter months). For more than a few years Michael Lipton and I argued and argued over a standpoint in one of the songs that we do called "Workin' On a Building." Mike argued that when we sang the song, that the "harmonies didn't sound right."I argued that it was right because it was dissonant, although, I never elaborated on why that dissonance was good. Fast forward back to the recording session...here we are in the familiar argument again only this time Winston is there, so we turn to him for advice, which at first he was reluctant to give. "I'm just here to play what you want." After some considerable badgering from Michael, Winston says "goddammit, if you want to play some Nigger music, this is how you play it," and proceeds to play it the very way that I've sung it for years. He says dissonance, goddammit, is how you play Black music. Only a person that brilliant would bother to show you your shortcomings, and really make you take notice.

"Dad," you are forever my musical hero, as well as one of my dearest friends, I thank you for all of your gifts to me as a musician, and as a man. Thank you for all that you've taught me.

Be sure to pick up a copy of Winston's great CD entitled "Boss Of the B-3." It's available at most music stores and online.

Standing In The Shadows Of Music Too

Welcome to Standing In The Shadows Of Music Too. On this blogsite I am going to talk about some of the musicians that I've been fortunate enough to be around, as well as some of the people that I've actually worked with. This site is really about people who are trying to do the same thing that I'm doing...trying to make it in music.
Why this? Well in the area that I live in and travel around there are some great characters, some great musicians and singers, and alot of their music has affected me, and/ or coincided with mine in many ways...it's almost like six degrees of separation.
I'll try not to be too critical of the ones that I'm not necessarily fond of ( I mean no malice toward anyone); mainly because I really understand what it's like to have this dream. What I wish to do is to try and empower people in some way, so if I don't paint the best picture, it's only because I really want all of us to succeed. My sincere hope is that just as in my regular blogsite I want to create a dialogue among musicians and those who are fans of music.
So again, welcome and thanks for being musicians and / or fans of music...enjoy these postings