“My Favorite Singers?”Dr. Rox Remember When?Article #161 August 2024By: RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0
So earlier this month I was lucky enough to perform at the 30th Annual Tommy Bolin Music Festival in Sioux City, I was asked to perform with Johnnie Bolin’s Tommy Bolin Tribute Band featuring Dean Christopher and Jesse Christian. They let me sing “Gettin Tighter” and “Dealer” (Deep Purple 1975) and “Teaser” (Tommy Bolin 1975 and DVC 1981). The reason they let me do this is, after 30 years of practice I can pull off Glenn Hughes after all these years, and at my age.
As I have covered many times I was born in Sioux City, in the very same hospital that Tommy Bolin was, and I lived there two different times over 10 years. I was living in (Brandon) Mississippi when Tommy died, but Tommy’s family moved in across the street from my family in 1979, that’s when I met Johnnie for the 1st time. Now while living in Sioux City, I was aware of Tommy’s music as my Cousin John, Uncle Jeff and Aunt Cindy were friends of Tommy’s before he took off to Cincinnati in 1967. I knew of his stints in Zephyr, James and Deep Purple, however it seemed everyone I ever met had “Teaser” (1975) and “Private Eyes” (1976) they were played everywhere I went.
But, back then records weren’t as plentiful as they later came to be, and you couldn’t just walk into any record store and buy whatever you wanted anytime you wanted. As records went “Cut Out Of Print” and no longer made or sometimes the Record Label they were released on went out of business, and consequently were no longer made. And there was just not that many “Used Record Stores” until the mid- 80s. And so I did not score a copy of “Come Taste The Band” 1975 Deep Purple until I was living in Phoenix (Mesa) in 1981. I bought a copy on 8-Track From Walgreens in Tri City Mall as my Uncle Mike had a 8-Track player in my bedroom. I raced home to put it in … well, it certainly was not “Machine Head” or “In Rock” or even “Burn” the songs and guitar were totally different in every way, except Coverdale’s voice and Lord’s keyboards. But Then! I heard track #3 “Gettin Tighter” and I was blown away. Glenn Huges voice just moved me and Bolin’s guitar work was fabulous. I couldn’t get enough of that song. And to a lesser extent “This Time Around” and “You Keep On Movin” it was then Summer of 1981, I started practicing to sing and imitate the vocal stylings of Glenn Hughes. It only took 20 years or so to get there, but I came close enough to get to sing In Johnnie Bolin’s band.
It was about this time in 1982 or so I started trying to find everything Hughes had sung on, little did I know what a chore this would become. Glenn had recorded a mountain of work.
Born on 21 August 1950 (as told by Hughes himself, incorrectly listed on wiki) in Cannock Staffordshire, England. He has released over 25 Solo albums from 1977 to 2016. 8 albums with Trapeze, 14 albus with Deep Purple Mk3 & 4. Black Sabbath, Phenomena. Hughes/ Thrall, Hughes/Turner, Hughes/ Johnnie Bolin, Gary Moore, John Norum, Tony Iommi, Roger Glover and many more and 85 guest- session appearances on others albums.
I just loved the way he sings and his tonality and phrasing. In 1992 in Ames, Iowa I met his ex-wife Karen U. (I have copies of their wedding photos) through Eric Singer of KISS, Hughes had been in Black Sabbath with Singer in 1985- 86. At the moment of the meeting it did not occur to me that the same Karen had been engaged to Tommy Bolin, they were together from 1968 to 1976.
I suppose I should mention my other favorite singers not by my choice but when they released material.
George Harrison: Born on 25 Feb 1943 in Liverpool, England – 29 Nov 2001. He was involved with and a member of the Beatles from 1958 to 1970. While in The Beatles he released 2 solo albums. After The Beatles he released 17 solo albums and 28 singles. With 15 songs on the BillBoard Charts. Some of my favorite vocals by George “Wah-Wah” “What Is Life” “Wake Up My Love” “Beware Of Darkness” “Hear Me Lord” “Faster” “Soft Touch” “Not Guilty”I discovered The Beatles/ George HArrison from my Uncle Jeff S.
Micky Dolenz: Born on 8 Mar 1945 in Los Angeles, CA. He was a member of The Monkees from 1965 to 1971, releasing 17 albums and 14 singles with 21 songs on the BillBoard Charts. He did release 14 solo albums (I am credited on the release “Live In Japan”) and 13 singles. My favorite vocals by Micky. “Words” “Saturday’s Child” “Sometime In The Morning” “Porpoise Song” “Tell Me Love” I will be seeing Micky In Concert on Fri 13 Sep 2024 In Clear Lake, Iowa at The Surf Ballroom, and hopefully getting my Monkees guitar signed. I discovered The Monkees on my own by watching the TV show as a toddler.
Ozzy Osbourne: Born on 3 Dec 1948 in Birmingham, England. He was a member of Black Sabbath form 1968 to 1979 releasing 11 albums and 12 singles with 2 songs on the BillBoard Charts. In 1980 he began a solo career releasing 20 albums and over 40 singles with 4 songs on the BillBoard Charts as well as 12 other appearances with other artists. Some of my favorite solo vocals by Ozzy: “Gets Me Through” “Rock And Roll Rebel” “Don’t Blame Me” “Waiting For Darkness” “Thunder Underground” “Hellraiser” “Miracle Man” “Hero”. My favorites from his Black Sabbath years: “Supernaut” “Hand Of Doom” “After Forever” “Junior’s Eyes” “A National Acrobat”. I was introduced to Black Sabbath through my Uncle John U.
Gene Simmons: Born on 25 Aug 1949 in Haifa, Israel. He was a member of KISS for 50 years releasing over 33 albums and over 50 singles with 26 songs on the BillBoard Charts. In his solo career he has released 3 solo albums. Some of my favorite vocals from Gene in KISS: “Sweet Pain” “See You In Your Dreams” “Got Love For Sale” “Charisma” “Great Expectations”. And Gene solo vocal favorites “Tunnel Of Love” “Feel Like Heaven” “Fire Starter” It was my neighbor Jimmy S. that turned me onto KISS.
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And there you have fans, another installment from MrZerr0, tune in next month.
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