Something Different

Last Saturday, we carpooled with friends up the back road to Hatch, New Mexico to hear a mini-blues festival at Sparky's.  We heard C.W. Ayon's One Man Blues Band, then C.W. joined with Albuquerque's Back Porch Blues Band for some jamming with Harmonica Slim and a sax player named Larry Blevins.

Looking through the audience toward the stage. That's C.W. in the gray hat; Harmonica Slim with the vest, and Larry the sax guy. The rest were part of the Back Porch Blues Band

We were surprised at the number of older folks (like us) in the audience, but then, Las Cruces is quite a retirement destination. The crowd quickly thinned out when the lively music started, and the oldsters rushed out of the room, madly adjusting their hearing aids.

The music was wonderful. I felt a little sorry that we weren't more demonstrative, but we were enjoying everything about the afternoon in our quiet and conservative way.

I really do love southern blues and southern novels, which seems odd for a desert-dwelling ex-New Englander. Maybe it's time for a little road trip down south. Or, maybe it's just time for me to read another Pat Conroy book while gazing across the desert and up to the mountains.

Rocking in Clovis: Watch For Us on TV Tomorrow

The New Mexico Music Commission has produced a documentary film on the Norman Petty Studio in Clovis and its historical significance. The studio is where Buddy Holly recorded "Peggy Sue" and other hits. Other musicians who recorded there include Waylon Jennings, Roy Orbison, and Buddy Knox. Although no longer in use, the studio is still open for tours by appointment. 

You can watch the film on PBS stations across New Mexico on Thursday June 4, 2009 at 7PM.

Article in the Clovis News Journal

Norman Petty Studio website

After you've seen the documentary on Thursday, you'll probably want to come and visit the studio itself. The best time is during the Clovis Music Festival. Quotes below are from the Festival website:

The Clovis Music Festival will take place at Marshall Auditorium on September 10-13, 2009. We are excited to have the following artists performing at this year's festival, they are: The Nelson Brothers, The Originators of Rock & Roll featuring Johnny Rogers as Buddy Holly, Darell Croy as Jerry Lee Lewis, Pete Peterkin as Little Richard, Johnny Tillotson, Shirley Alston Reeves of The Shirelles, Dave Somerville of The Diamonds, The Fireballs, Tommy Allsup, Kevin Montgomery and more.

In September of last year, Clovis opened the Norman and Vi Petty Rock & Roll Museum, which is another place to visit. Another quote: [The museum] celebrates the achievements of record producer Norman Petty. The museum features unique items from his life and times. The museum is located at the Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce, 105 E. Grand Ave. The museum hours are 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Admission to the museum is $5 per person. Check back for information about festival hours.

Homegrown Talent

I'm a sap for little kids performing on a stage, so when my sister and I recently went to the spring musical about insects performed at the James Bickley School by the first and second grades, I was ready to enjoy myself. I laughed, I cried, I clapped, I giggled, and I even learned a little about "bugs." I got hugs from my students in the HOSTS program, where I mentor students learning to read. My sister agreed that it was a wonderful experience; she spent some time meeting and congratulating several of the performers after the show, and she honestly had a hard time believing that they were only in the first and second grades.

If you have a chance to attend a performance at a local school, don't miss out! You will see what the kids have been learning, and you will be amazed at the wonderful talents displayed by both students and teachers. I promise you, you'll come away feeling pretty good about our schools.

Music in Clovis

Clovis is observing Music in Our Schools Week. I'm not sure if it is part of a current national "week" or if Clovis just does their own. It's wonderful to see the recognition given to music teachers here--that doesn't always happen in other school districts. Last week the editor of the paper sent out the question "Which music teacher had the greatest influence on you and why/how?"--something like that. As the week goes on, there are guest columnists every day on page 2 of the newspaper providing an essay on the topic. There was a big double page spread in the paper the other day with the photos of every single music teacher and music assistant (Music assistants? What a luxury!) in the city, along with the name of the teacher/mentor who was their greatest influence. There is a big city-wide concert tomorrow tonight, with the elementary school select chorus, the high school band and orchestra, etc.

Clovis supports a Community Band, which plays for special events throughout the year.

The city hosts an annual Music Festival. This year's celebration takes place from September 4-6, 2008. You can check out the entertainment line up here. The Norman and Vi Petty Rock 'N' Roll Museum will have its grand opening during the Festival. The Norman Petty Studio on 7th Street is known as the home of the "Clovis Sound. " It is where Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison recorded their music.

Twice a week at the community center (okay, it's a Senior Center, but I just don't like to call it that) nearest us there either a jam session or a performance by local musicians--folks who just like to get together and play. We went to the Sweetheart Banquet there (9 couples married more than 50 years attended; the champs of the group were married 67 years!). There was wonderful toe-tapping musical entertainment provided by The Triple L Band from nearby Portales. They are my new favorite group.

We're planning to go to The Friends of Oasis Bluegrass Night on May 31st. It's a fund raiser for Oasis State Park featuring The Triple L Band. Can't wait to hear that great music out under the stars!