Fred Burke from St. Petersburg, Fla., reached out to me recently and sent me this snap of his band, the Fabulous Cinners, playing in 1966 at a place for which I’ve seen ads but never before photos – the Boom Boom Room, 3736 Main St. Fred says the Cinners also played such clubs as King Arthur’s Lounge, 1115 E. Armour Blvd., Lakeside Ballroom and the Olathe Naval Air Station “during the Vietnam era every Sunday night for returning troops.” That’s Fred on vocals with Les Bogal (bass), Rich Bronson … [Read more...] about Fabulous Cinners@Boom Boom Room
Billie Organ, the backbeat of early KC rock
By Darby Anderson Drummer Billie Organ, a.k.a. “Billie O,” is a local legend, a rock ’n’ roll pioneer and a master of many musical styles. Together with his brother Danny on bass guitar, they formed the rhythm section of several of Kansas City’s best and earliest rock bands, touring throughout the country. In 1959 Billie traded a 1937 Ford to Ray “Bags” Bagby for his first set of drums and never looked back. By the age of 19 he was pulling down $60 a week at the Rainbow Club in downtown … [Read more...] about Billie Organ, the backbeat of early KC rock
The Soc Hop(s) rocked
If it was not the Kansas City area’s earliest and most consequential rock club, The Soc Hop was certainly one of them. Created in 1960 in an old cattle barn near the northwest corner of 95th Street and Metcalf Avenue, The Soc Hop was part of the transformation of Johnson County, Kan., from rural to suburban. (Click on map/business card below right and all thumbnail photos on this page to enlarge.) It was the creation of brothers-in-law Mike Weaver and Ed Bowers, who saw it as both a … [Read more...] about The Soc Hop(s) rocked
Paul and Paula and Ray
If Kansas Citians know him at all, they likely know Ray Hildebrand from his 14 years as an executive of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the evangelistic enterprise whose headquarters looms over the outfield wall at Kauffman Stadium. But Hildebrand will take the stage Friday, March 2, at the Midland Theater as part of the Ultimate Doo Wop Show. He and his original partner, Jill Jackson, will perform their #1 hit song, “Hey, Paula,” for the first time in Kansas City as Paul and … [Read more...] about Paul and Paula and Ray
A punk progenitor
The birthplace of punk rock in Kansas City is coming down. Well, maybe not the birthplace, but the site of one of the earliest clubs to feature punk and new wave music, mainly by local bands, in a big way has an imminent date with the wrecking ball. According to a story at kshb.com, the orange brick building on the southeast corner of 47th and Troost is coming down to make way for a new Ollie Gates shopping center. Lately, it housed a payday loan operation. But in 1981 it was the Music Box, … [Read more...] about A punk progenitor
An epitaph for Epitaph
Epitaph, 11 E. 31st St., was the apotheosis of punk in Kansas City. Shabby-chic, tragically hip and infused with art-student sensibilities, the bar was a stone’s throw from VFW Post #18 but miles from that scene’s hardcore aesthetic. Black lights made the blue martinis served by bartender Rubber Robbin glow even more devilishly. No doubt, though, it was Epitaph’s blood red and evil black color scheme and its gothic iconography of crosses and crowns that drew Christian picketers to the … [Read more...] about An epitaph for Epitaph