The "When Music was Really Music!"Story

It was an ordinary day. We had just dropped Pat and Dale off at their house. We went to a oldies concert at Mt. Gretna's Cicada Festival to hear "Phil Dirt and the Dozers." This is a band that helps you recapture those wonderful days of poodle skirts, '57 Chevys, bobby socks and when surfing didn't involve a computer! This came right from their web page. They also claim to be America's premier "Rock 'N R'oldies" review and the most popular vintage rock and roll show in the nation. And ... they probably are. This group of six fabulous musicians and vocalists had been together for years. We have heard them perform the last four years at Mt. Gretna. Always a sellout crowd. They play songs from the the 50's, 60's and 70's. Songs Carol and I love from the Beach Boys, Roy Orbison, Four Seasons, Righteous Brothers, The Platters, Jan and Dean, and the list goes on and on. Always entertaining. The keyboard/sax/flute/guitar player, Mark is a two-time Emmy winner. Easy to see why when you hear him. We also got to hear "Flamin' Dick and the Hot Rods" a few weeks ago. They are a Rock-n-Roll party Band, playing a variety of music from the years of 1955 to 1968 - "The Golden Years of Rock-n-Roll. Chuck Berry, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Eddie Cochran, Bill Haley, Dion and you get the idea. I'm sure some of my readers have never heard some of these names before. Well, the only thing I can write for you is ....... You missed some of the best songs ever! This is a group of five musicians that is more a regional band than Phil Dirt is. They claim to take you down Memory Lane with poodle skirts, '57 Chevys, but also add the 10 cent Coke to the list. (Hey, I wanted to type the symbol for "cent", but didn't see it on my keyboard. What happened to it?) This was a thoroughly enjoyable evening also and what made it great was it was FREE. Held at Lititz Spring Park and the sound and lighting was done by world famous Clair Brothers Audio from Lititz, PA. We also have enjoyed a group called the "Fabulous Flashbacks" which sing songs that take you back in time to the days of black and white saddle shoes, jukeboxes, drive-in movies, flattops, etc. Hey, every group we like is from an era when rock and roll first started. We first heard this group of six musicians and singers at the State College Art and Craft Show. They were so good that we went on their web site to find where else they might be playing in our area. Got to hear them at Nissley's Vineyard a year later. We have traveled to the American Music Theatre in Lancaster for shows by "The Golden Boys" which featured Bobby Rydell, Fabian and Frankie Avalon. Also saw The Everly Brothers and the Beach Boys shows at the AMT. Not many of the original Beach Boys left. We do enjoy the music of Jimmy Buffett and got to see him in Philadelphia a few years ago, but have found another performer who calls himself "The Buffettman." His name is Tom Watt and we heard him perform one afternoon near State College at a Harley Davidson store. Only about 30 people in the crowd so we got to hear him close-up. Does sound like Jimmy and naturally plays all his songs. He has performed for more that 10 years now and we hope to catch him again sometime. As you see, music is a big part of my life. Sang in the church choir for years and would love to be in an oldies rock band. Yeah, go ahead and laugh! I did make make meeting and singing with Jimmy Buffett one of the items on my bucket list. I still have a shot at it. I guess I better buy a guitar and start learning how to play it. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - Photos from the top are Phil Dirt and the Dozers, Flamin' Dick and the Hot Rods, The Fabulous Flashbacks and Tom Watt as "The Buffettman"