More Ledbetter's Spotlights...

Writing the previous missive made me realize there is more to tell about the early 60's, so settle down around your Auntie M and prepare to be (hopefully) entertained.

To begin, I need to explain something. When people talk about THE SIXTIES, they usually mean the latter portion of the decade. The "moon is in Aquarius, tie dyed, marijuana, Woodstock, hippies, free loving" sixties were just beginning to be a glimmer in the eye of the birth parents of a chaotically delightful time.

I'm talking about the early 60's, which were the end times of the "Mad Men" 50's. All that was going to happen in the next 10 years was being born in the music and personalities of the not as crazy early times.

Ledbetter's introduced me to the wonderful world of Folk Music. I first heard about the club's promise when a small group formed with me, a neighbor and friend. We were hoping, of course, to be the next Peter Paul and Mary...

not so lucky (or talented, it seems).

I only remember the man who interviewed us as Jack, his last name has been lost along the years. He mentioned the club in passing and, sure enough, later that year it opened. I spent all my extra time there. Randy Sparks was shocked when I graduated from college, as I'm sure he saw me as some little groupie.

The club provided not only a succession of really great music, but also a collection of little folk singers who entertained me on a more.... um... er... PERSONAL level.

sigh...

nothing better than a folk singer. They wouldn't say for long, and sometimes they sang to me...

and made me sing in reply...

One of the other spotlight moments involves a story. One of Randy's groups played at the Miss America pageant in Florida one year. The soon to be Miss America fell for one of the group, and as one of her stops after she won, she came to Southern California. I was in Randy's office, painting one of the huge baffling chambers in the recording studio with flowers... yeah.. I know, but flowers were beginning to be cool... Remember those huge simple flowers? Anyway, I was perched in one of the baffles at the top of the studio, painting it so it reflected sound better when Randy came in and told me to go and pick up Miss America at the New Century Plaza Hotel.

Off i went in my '62 Buick Le Sabre, to pick up Miss America. I arrived with all my usual panache, and was told I couldn't park my wreck in front of the hotel. "I'm here to pick up MISS AMERICA" I announced.

and I did..

She attended the show that evening and everything would have been jussst wonderful..

except..

someone told the wife..

None of Randy's groups ever played at another pageant. I mean, here you have your new, expensive Miss America and she's got a broken heart!

not good...

I found an old picture of one of the groups. These groups changed members often, and the pictures on the singles resembled the singing group not one bit.

This picture is interesting though.


In it you might recognize Mike Nesmith (later of the Monkees and the father of the music video). Bill Chadwick (I lived behind his mother's house-my first apartment ever and you won't know him, but he was on the list that tried out for the Monkees). The blond boy and the one on the far left with the guitar in hand billed themselves as Boomer and Travis. The dark haired gentleman (with the guitar.. (Travis, I think) grew up to be Michael Martin Murphy, the country western singer..

ya never know...

There are so many stories it would take another blog to tell them all..

Suffice it to say, it was a wonderful time in my life...

but just one of many...