Steve and I met in the 5th grade at the talent show in the school auditorium of L.K.Hall Elementary School in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas, Texas. In the audience, sitting on the first row, was Stevie Ray. We didn't call him that back then...he was just Steve. After I played, Steve came up to me and said "Hey, I saw you playing guitar and I play guitar, too." It was an innocent, simple moment that formed the friendship that was fueled by endless talk of guitars and Jimi Hendrix and the newest album at the record store. It was really nice to have someone like-minded, as we were, in those early days of our childhood. To this day, I still love talking about guitars and Hendrix. Wow...what cool days those were. Happy Birthday, Steve! Miss you, brother.
Music Extra - Listen very closely to the end of the song and you will hear how I voiced my guitar with my wah wah to say "Stevie Ray, Where have you gone?"
This video is just so cool because it shows how Steve was “one” with his guitar. I love it! His confidence and style developed from years of playing every night, wherever he could. Enjoy his showmanship! This is #TexasStyle!
Rocky and Jimmie at the Wildflower Music Festival talking about their Oak Cliff days.
Buddy Miles was an amazing musician with many historic music experiences that he joyfully shared. The collaboration with Buddy Miles on The Bluesberries album with Double Trouble in 2002 produced many timeless tracks but on this track, Rock and Roll the Blues, Buddy tells a biographical story the way only the Buddy Miles could do it. Play it LOUD while you enjoy watching rock history and smile! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BUDDY! Thank you for sharing your gift!
The Bluesberries Album was Rocky's introduction to Jim Gaines, the Grammy Award winning producer for Santana, Steve Miller, Stevie Ray Vaughan and many others. After this meeting, Rocky and Jim became life long friends and Jim produced Rocky's solo albums.
At home with Jim Gaines and his wife, Sandy Carroll.
Texas Cannonball was written by Rocky Athas and Buddy Miles for the Bluesberries album, to honor the master, Freddie King, who was a fellow Texan that inspired Rocky. The Bluesberries album was recorded with Buddy Miles and Double Trouble in 2002 with Jim Gaines producing the magic. Happy Birthday, Freddie King! Play it LOUD!
Time for a little guitar history lesson. In the 70's, Joe Walsh recommended a phenomenal guitar player named Tommy Bolin to replace him in The James Gang. A year later, Tommy moved on to replace Ritchie Blackmore in Deep Purple and his legacy grew. After his death, I met his brother Johnnie when we both played with Black Oak Arkansas. That friendship led to playing with Johnnie and Glenn Hughes for the Tommy Bolin Tribute tours and a great musical performance was released from that experience! We had such a rockin' good time working together that Johnnie offered me one of Tommy's acoustic songs that had never been released for my upcoming Miracle album and Johnnie played drums on it! Slow Driver is that song and as they say...the rest is history! Happy Birthday, Tommy!
YES! That is Tommy Bolin jamming with Lynyrd Skynyrd on his Explorer.
Experiencing The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show changed my life and an entire generation of musicians were born. Their influence was immediate and long lasting. This recording of PAPERBACK WRITER is a tribute created by myself on guitar and bass with Walter Watson adding all the vocal tracks and drums. I recording the track using my 1966 Epiphone casino photographed below which includes my personal collection of Beatle dolls because I am just that kind of Beatle nerd! Enjoy!
Most of you know that I am a Beatle collector and I went so far as to record this tribute using my 1966 Epiphone Casino for rhythm work and 1965 Gibson SG for the lead and my vintage Hofner Beatle Bass! I had a blast recording this!
