Billy Hancock, Part II: This White Guy Cansing the Blues

Gigs & Digs| by Sky Shaw & Spencer Hill

Billy Hancock, Part II: This White Guy Can Sing The Blues

or all who have ever been curious about the notion what title, as we did, while playing the stage of El Boqueron II in outer binds large numbers of humans together, there is an Rockville on one sweltering night in 2002. obvious answer. Language and speech. Now let’s think Here’s the real deal, good friends. Billy and the authors of this of a less obvious link between people of various types. column, who proudly wear the epithet “Musician” on our right What could be more compelling, more entrancing, sleeve, without a shadow of a doubt solidly affirm more loyalty F than music? Sure, to the hits of 1962 than those of our time (with the concomitant poetry is cool, electronica that seems to be a given nowadays) – is there really a painting profound, choice? Here’s the amazing thing. From his windowless, but lofty, sculpture sexy – not ‘nerve center,’ lined with stacks of books on Elvis, Bowie, Jerry Lee, to mention business, Broadway show tunes, Wanda Jackson and the women of rockabilly, medicine and law – and one of Billy’s personal faves of all – jazz guitarist/singer Eddie but think a moment, Condon’s lavishly illustrated autobiography, Hancock prevails. dear reader. What manner of effulgence issues forth from this tiny kingdom Have you ever in Barcroft, one may ask? Well, as Billy likes to start out, “we’ll stopped to consider tell ya.” Turkey Mountain, Hancock’s beautifully produced and the utter enthralled meticulously researched homegrown record label lives in this gaze of the American crowded little room. Not content to give the listener the acme of Idol contestant, his own output, that is, releases like “Passions,” and the more recent be they boy or girl, “Out of the Darkness,” Billy Hancock, since 2009 has embarked on as they pour their a mission of mercy. With the help of his ebullient and full-throated very souls out before Simon, Kara, Randy confrere Bobbie Howard, the Turkey Mountain team is ripping out and the other more-or-less glazed over judges a seemingly endless series of archival CD’s. of this very raw but oh so heart felt talent. And If their debut offering, “The Kid,” is any indication, the lid on make no mistake about it, in the final elimination the “DC Scene” of the 1960's will really blow wide open and let rounds, baby, you’re gonna see and hear far more out a veritable Pandora’s box of simple, easy-to-sing along titles like oomph and chutzpah from those ‘kids’ than their Howard’s ground breaking cut from early ‘64, “Girl Can’t Help It”! scowling evaluators could ever lay down. Take Going back further into (or out of) the ‘box’, when you encounter DAT to the Bank, baby. Our intrepid guide weird, slinky cuts like “Stupid Pony,” with a weaving bass throb through the galaxies of real Rock and Roll, namely coupled with floaty organ and crackling sax, why it’s no different Billy Hancock, intruded upon the columnists’ than a real ‘gone’ time warp of the late Joe Stanley and Link Wray, musings on the meaning of all this, in the following his brothers and Shorty Horton, wailing wild in some forgotten fashion. but classic dump like Vinnie’s or the Boondocks behind the old “Did you notice how the real good ones always, Downtown bus station or the Sea Shell out in South East DC. and I mean always do those great Just as of the ‘Ides of March’ 2010, Bill got on the horn with us to old covers?” Hancock, whom this announce he’s expanding the series to include the Chartbuster’s column last month aptly dubbed and the Hangmen, and he’s jockeying for the opportunity to wax the “Baron of Boogie,” (Is that afresh the best work of the now sadly forgotten Jimmy Eller and the the first time that phrase has Little People. “I played in that band,” Bill proclaims, and “Arlington been employed to describe AM band WEAM always announced their shows every weekend!” Bill’s polymath attributes to his As we pen this piece, the background noise du jour is a particularly mastery of rock knowledge?) loud and frantic live show of Bill Haley and his remaining Comets spurted out how any unknown, as played in some anonymous venue deep in Sweden, circa 1975. A with even half a voice and quarter century into their schtick, Mr. Spitcurl and company were some real eye control to the still wowing lots of screaming fans with largely Country and Little crowd, can knock ‘em out of Richard covers, interspersed with a smattering of their old “Rock-a- their chairs with a good solid Beatin’” originals. We have our retro-loving friend Derek Lynn from round of “It’s Only A Matter Birtley, Durham, England to thank for this tidal wave of sound. Of Time,” or “Piece Of My In fact Mr. Lynn is largely responsible for the outpouring of Elvis Heart,”, or how ‘bout “That’s and Scotty Moore obscurities which helped to fuel our smoldering the Story of, That’s the Glory love note to Elvis in the February GIGS & DIGS. Point is, as with of Love.” Wow, if you want another Derek, a blind and challenged Savant in England who was a genuine audial treat, try recently featured on 60 Minutes and who can literally conjure listening to Billy Hancock’s any piece, any style at all on the piano before throngs of tens of own version of that last thousands, Mr. Lynn, Mr. Hancock and Messrs. Shaw and Hill all

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basically mastered the art of possess a unique tidal wave of Chicago, this Tax day, April selling a taste of New Orleans musical knowledge that can, and fifteenth, but wait... It wasn’t out of a crate in a car trunk on will– yes, MUST be plumbed. but 34 or 35 years ago that Billy the streets of Los Angeles, were Especially at this peaking era of Hancock brought a dream into looking to get out of the business total know-nothingness. a breathless reality. As he and for a relatively small golden That is so, esteemed Readers, Danny Gatton, Dick Heintze, parachute. The big labels like Why kill the golden goose for Dave Elliott, and horn man Sony and Warner Elektra were a single batch of eggs, when Ralph McDuffie breathed gobbling up the old catalogs, instead, it is possible to cosset life into the first major-league and who wanted to hear the and cajole the bearer of the showcase of Gatton’s guitar likes of Amos Milburn and Fats Torch of True Knowledge virtuosity (the “Fat Boys”), Domino anymore? Okay. Billy endlessly? And has it not been Hancock had a vision of putting did a little research, made some proven, time and again, that out singles of the band on a true phone calls (no Internet back continuous practicing of the classic vinyl label. In 1975, that then), and got the rights to lease Terpsichorean art (more than a was most possible, since among the Aladdin name. Out came street in New Orleans’ Garden others, Specialty Records’ Art the Fat Boys releases “American District) creates longevity Rupe, Imperial’s Lew Chudd, beyond belief? Forget David, and Eddie Mesner of Aladdin, who plucked on his harp long all aging gentlemen who had GIGS & DIGS > PAGE 26 past slaying bad old Goliath. Pablo Casals and Segovia performed on world stages well into their 90's, as did guitarist Les Paul. Ray Price and George Jones are still two-stepping Big Joe & across America, one dance hall The Dynaflows at a time, BB King, 85, bends string over 100 times per year “An Old Town despite the slowing down of Favorite” his relentless tempos. Chuck Berry, 84, is duck-walking his Live Music blond Gibson somewhere even Friday, April 30 as you read this. Not to mention Billy Hancock, who at 63 has no 9 pm - 1 pm plans to retire from his chosen No cover charge calling. Call for reservations And the once “Wild Bill” Hancock is preparing a fresh 112 North Saint Asaph St. • Old Town Alexandria photo: western tour, set to open in kingstreetblues.com • 703-836-8800 Steven Ainsworth

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Old Town Music,” Harlem Nocturne, and Memphis (yes, that Memphis). Soon to follow were a re-dub as “Memphis Disco Funk”, with Waiting for You the beloved Clovers as backup, Fredericksburg a single by Bobby Radcliff, Working for You and the apocryphal two-sided wonder “Brand New Man With It’s Gone… A Master Plan,” by Prince Geno the Snow, That Is! and the Tailor-Mades. Geno, Sky reminded Bill, worked in Spring Has Sprung! a Northwest DC valet shop, Enjoy Downtown hence the band name. Bill Fredericksburg for countered by adding in a mint Your Shopping and copy of that 45' goes for a Dining Desires! clean half-grand on eBay. Sky is digging his stacks to see where the copy might be hiding. Meantime, the bittersweet anecdotes roll on fast and furious. Hancock recalled that his office suites in Old Town’s Doniphan Building (at King & Columbus) was the site of a fatal 1928 fire. “The only fatality was up on the fourth floor.” We inquired, “Any ghostly activity while you were there?” Featured Business “Not hardly,” quipped The Silver Spider Hancock. Sky felt the heebie 822 Caroline Street jeebies while there at a record 540-899-2100 release party in 1976, however. thesilverspider.com Having layered three high- decker Screwdrivers atop two big Gibson martinis and six Budweiser tall- boys, he oldtownfredericksburgva.com now recollects Billy having to shepherd him back to Maryland early, but not before jettisoning a full load over his checkered DO YOU and cuffed wool hustler pants. Meanwhile, we’ve run outta time and space, but Billy swears KNOW YOUR up and down that relatively sleepy Hopewell, Virginia was LIFE PURPOSE? considered seriously as a site for the Rock’nRoll Hall of Would you like to know Fame museum, largely due to the meaning of your life? its significance as the home of Once you’ve figured out the “Sticks” McGhee, whose 1949 ‘race’ hit “Drinking Wine Spo- meaning of your life, the fun Dee-Odee,” supposedly carried begins. You get to laugh more, the first true “Rock” downbeat breathe deeper and create in the rhythm. “And you know balance for everything that is this was two full years before the important to you. Your life more famous Rocket 88 song out purpose is the cornerstone of of Memphis [by Ike Turner and Jackie Brenston]!” Wish we had balance and peace in your life. Our Sister Bed & Breakfast, time to recount the full breadth The 1890 Caroline House, Is Now Open! The good news is that everything of Billy’s pet 1976-77 Art Deco you need to get started is literally in for your ears project RADIO Together with the Richard Johnston Inn, we now CITY, but he went to Rock-a- offer 9 rooms and 3 suites in the heart of historic the palm of your hands. Billy,” and the rest is definitely Fredericksburg, Virginia His Story. (Note: Friends are praying fervently for the The 1890 Caroline House, recovery of Hancock’s longtime the most luxurious bed & breakfast in Fredericksburg, lead player Bob “Newscaster” offers two king size rooms and a king size suite with Jacuzzi tubs, Email Peggie at fireplaces and all the comforts of an exquisite home. [email protected] Swenson, but a September 11, 2010 reunion of the Fat Boys – Located at 528 Caroline St., one block from the Amtrak and VRE station. and explore whether a life Available for extended stays. For reservations and inquiries, honoring Mr. Gatton, of course– please call The Richard Johnston Inn at 540-899-7606. purpose identification reading will feature another fabulously is right for you. accomplished ‘Tele-Master,’ Dave Chappel.) Our May issue will cover the vast universe of 711 Caroline St. • Historic Fredericksburg, Virginia 703-577-4759 or Richard Johnston Inn [email protected] Broto Roy and Ganga, his East 877-557-0770 • 540-899-7606 Indian family ensemble. Thanks therichardjohnstoninn.com • [email protected] for listening!

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