The Word - Vol 85

Blue Suede Shoes

It’s hard to know where to start with this, but how about we start back in the early to mid 1970’s. In those days serving liquor in clubs and bars was forbidden on Sundays in British Columbia, so to find a watering hole, one had to look south. It was legal in Washington State to serve booze on a Sunday and many British Columbians, especially those close to the American/Canadian border made the trip to either Blaine or Port Roberts, Washington to enjoy a glass or two.

My cousin, Peter, and his friends introduced me to the friendly confines of a little bar called Shanty Town, just outside Blaine. It was a cozy little tavern with a bar, a dance floor, and a great band named Four on the Floor. They were a cover band and played hits of the 60’s and current hits of the 70’s and for some unknown reason allowed patrons of the bar to come up on the bandstand and sing with the band. In our group, there were some standout performers, especially after a pitcher or two of beer. Skippy was a big crowd favourite crooning the Bobby Darin classic “Mack the Knife.” And Bubba brought down the house with his version of “Sweet Home Alabama!” He would show up every Sunday ready to sing, with a crazy fedora hat that was tipped just slightly to the right. And sad to say, I rounded out the evening’s amateur card with a stirring rendition of Carl Perkins/Elvis Presley’s classic, “Blue Suede Shoes.” How the band ever put up with us is anybody’s guess, but it kept the crowds coming back Sunday after Sunday. This little Amateur Hour, or 15 minutes, was the highlight of our week, but probably not the band’s. 

Now, I tell you this only to set up a story that hails from the good old days at television station CKVU. I have probably told you in past “Words” that the TV station owned by Daryl Duke was the home of The Vancouver Show, and seemed to always produce shows that were at least 1 hour long, and mostly 2 hours in length. 

The one special that is dear to my heart was an R&B special featuring the finest musicians in Vancouver, put together by Prism drummer, the late Rocket Norton. It was an amazing show, with a full horn section that included Wayne Kozak, Gabriel Mark Hasselback, Hugh Fraser, there was George Chapalis on bass, Olaf de Shield, on lead guitar, Mike Kalanj on Hammond organ, and Doug Cuthbert, on drums. I was the host/MC of the show and all I had to do was introduce the band and they took over with lead vocalists, Kenny McColl and Denise McCann along with backup singers taking over the show. And It was great! 
 
We had a hundred studio audience members who loved the show and were screaming for more at the end, but of course, with a show that could only be one hour long, we had to watch the clock for an encore. When the show was over the director asked everyone, the band and audience, if they wouldn’t mind staying for just a few more minutes while the technical people checked the tape for any problems or glitches. These were the days when shows were recorded on videotape. 

As the MC, I jumped up to ask the audience to remain in their seats while we checked the tape. This could take 5 to 10 minutes, so as I was trying to think of some lame stories to tell the crowd, one of my “Blaine friends” in the audience shouted out, “Hey, how about Blue Suede Shoes.” That request turned into a crowd chant of Blue Suede Shoes, Blue Suede Shoes! So, I figured it could kill some time, and I had a band behind me, so like an idiot, I turned to the best musicians in the city and asked, “Do you know Blue Suede Shoes?” They collectively rolled their eyes, and Wayne Kozak said, “What key?” Key? I had never considered a key. I sang a few notes, and he picked a key for the band, and away we went. “One for the money, two for the show, three to get ready…etc.” I was doing pretty good (I think?) and I realized I needed more than a 2-minute song for the tape editors to check the tape, so between verses and choruses, I turned and gave solos to members of the band. Wayne Kozak! He gave a huge saxophone solo, George Chapalis! for a big bass solo, then I spotted Rocket Norton who had a guitar hanging around his neck all night long, Rocket Norton! Well, the expression on his face was of total shock! He strummed a few chords and then threw to lead guitarist Olaf de Shield for the solo. For the big finish, I thought I’d do the classic jump up and down to accentuate the final notes of the song. It worked, I jumped up and when I landed on the stage the band went Blam, and the more I jumped up and down the more the band went Blam, Blam, finally one last jump and one last Blam and it was over.  

I have to tell you what a power trip that was! A 12-piece band, full volume and I was in control. When it was all done, I asked the guys in the band why they did the Blam Blam thing for me, we hadn’t rehearsed it, and I wasn’t in the band, and their answer was, “You were the leader of the band, and we follow the leader!” And as for Seeds of Time and Prism drummer, Rocket Norton? I asked him why he hadn’t taken the solo I threw to him, he said “I’m a drummer, I can do a little rhythm guitar but I can’t do solos. I gave the drum kit to Doug Cuthbert of the Night Train Revue for the show. I don’t really play guitar!” 

Well, there’s a coincidence, Rocket wasn’t a guitar player, and I’m not a singer! 

Till next week…
Wayne

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