Bobby Vinton

One day while walking to a class, a sophomore stopped me and said, You play guitar right? I said yes but I knew he really wanted my drummer friend from first grade. He had been playing for some time. He had trophy’s in his room from competitions and it seemed everyone knew about him. He asked if I could get him and come up to his house to practice. It wasn’t called jamming yet but my drummers Dad drove us to his house to “practice”. While there, this sophomore showed me how to play seven songs. I was so excited and the three of us started a band. We found a bass player and began playing back yard graduations for free. During one of these gigs our bass player, who was trying to be cool sitting on his amp cabinet, fell off and tipped the whole amp over backwards. There happened to be a spring reverb in it and with our bass player wedged between the hedges and his amp the reverb howled like 50 police cars. We were embarassed and decided that it was time to get another bass player. This was no easy task so I eventually volunteered. After all Paul McCartney made the change and he was the coolest Beatle so why not give it a try. I signed up for a paper route and saved every cent to buy a bass. I found a used Hagstrom bass and I began the journey as a bassist. We added three horn players and an organ player and started playing frat parties and dances at the local schools as The Movin Violations. During one of our gigs and for some unknown reason at the time an older gentleman approached us and said, “Do you have a manager?” We said “no what did you need?” He said “I used to manage Bobby Vinton until he got so popular that he had to get people to handle his TV appearances and concerts and I would love for Bobby to hear you guys”. This was the first of many strange things that would follow. We had no original material and were quite green as actual artists. Bobby is from Cannonsburg, Pa. which wasn’t to far from Steubenville. He was coming home, to his Moms house for Christmas and this manager, who’s name was Joe had contacted him and asked if we could come up and play some songs for him. He said yes so we packed up our amps and drums and set up in his Moms living room. We met Bobby, which was a thrill and played a few songs for him. His 1962 hit “Roses Are Red” had charted #1 in the US and #15 in the UK so this was a big seal for us and also the first time I had the thought, “What am I doing here?” I would have this thought many times in the future but only saw them as a very cool thing but nothing spiritual, even though it inspired me to continue on.

Zeppelin/ZZ Top/Witkowski

The Zeppelin/ZZ Top/Witkowski experience

So Rick and I were watching bands from our area at the 4th of July celebration. I mentioned that I recently shared my Stanley Clarke experience. That led to more stories and one that I had forgotten. There's a lot of road stories, however this is not about CTS, it's a band called East which Rick and I, Don Schloss and the late Bob DiCiccio were in. Don and Chic were in the early rendition of CTS.

We got on the road and we're playing in Raleigh, NC at a concert type bar. It was a real nice place and for some reason packed. Our bag back then was The Allman Brothers, Johnny and Edgar Winter, Zeppelin, Dave Mason, Chicago and Beatles.

During our first break of three sets some of Zeppelins roadies showed up and invited us to the arena the next day for their soundcheck. This was like 1971 and Zeppelin was THE concert to see, so it was huge for us. We went back up and played about half of the second set when a bearded guy in boots came up to the stage and whispered Hi, I'm Billy Gibbons do ya mind if we sit in? Now their first album had been out for only six months so most of the folks didn't know who ZZ Top was but we sure did. The three of them came up and took over. They actually finished the night with us all on stage. Another of those what am I doing here moments.

The next day it was soundcheck day at the arena. When we arrived, the stage was just about done with the instruments and amps ready to go. They greeted us and asked Ricky if he would help them out. He said sure so they led him up to the stage and gave him Jimmy’s Les Paul. I think it was a quad Marshall stack and it sounded awesome. We were hooping and hollering and he was playing his butt off. So they asked where the drummer was and Rick said I play drums. So they put him behind Bonhams kit and there was a certain triplet that John had made famous which was Snare, Tom and kick very fast, over and over. Some of you know the lick that's in the Moby Dick solo. Anyway, Ricky killed it! We all kind of looked at Rick differently after that.

Thanks for tuning in!

Stanley Clarke

When I got on Facebook in 2009, you know when it was fun, I used to post memories from the road. The focus of most of these stories were from the perspective of, what am Idoing here?!

Anyway, after seeing so many posts wishing Stanley Clarke a Happy Birthday an odd event came to mind.

In 1975 and 76 we C.T.S. spent rehearsal and showcase time at SIR in Manhattan, where we were living while not on the road. Their were about six rooms with sound and lights. There were about 12 to 15 seats for family, friends and potential agents. Anvil road cases were all along the walls.

Now I had been a huge Stanley fan since the School Days record. One day we were rehearsing and I went out to the lobby and sat next to one of these cases. As soon as I looked up, Stanley came by and set some charts on the case next to me. He said Hi! I was like Ralph Kramden and couldn't speak, just Hamina, Hamina..Hamina... Finally I said Stanley I'm a student of yours!

You're the greatest! When I was done gushing he said why don't you come in? We're working on a tune of Lenny's. I accepted and now I'm in their rehearsal ALONE! What am I doing here? This is Return to Forever! I may have run out and got JP or Jimmy but I watched them work on this song which the drummer charted for Chick, Al and Stanley. The first time they read and played it, it was good to release in my opinion.

I had a couple other weird encounters there which I'll share sometime.