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• 2 • Action Magazine, December 2014 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the staff at Action Magazine

• DEPARTMENTS • Sam Kindrick...... 6 Editor & Publisher...... Sam Kindrick Everybody’s Somebody...... 9 Sales...... Action Staff Photography...... Action Staff Scatter Shots...... 10 Distribution...... Ronnie Reed Composition...... Elise Taquino Volume 39 • Number 12

• FEATURES •

George Chambers ...... 4

Action Magazine, December 2014 • 3 • George Chambers has played behind Country’s top stars By Sam Kindrick includes everyone from dance music,” Chambers George Chambers got to Loretta said. “In the early days, his first at age 8. Lynn, from when Willie was breaking “I wanted to be a to Charlie Walker and out nationally with record - singing cowboy star like George Hamilton IV, to ings like Mister Record Roy Rogers,” Chambers Charlie Pride, Johnny Man, a lot of people had said. “I have been a Roy Bush to Little Jimmy Dick - the idea that they couldn’t Rogers fan since I was a ens, and ad infinitum. He dance to Willie’s music. little kid.” still works with his band, Willie would call me up The 76-year-old Cham - but most of his gigs today from Nashville to join him bers never made it to the are solo appearances, at a lot of his gigs. He silver screen, but he did many of which feature would have his regular wind up playing backup Chambers dressed in musicians with him on music for his cowboy cowboy boots, fancy west - stage, but he would also movie star hero at a camp ern shirts and bandanas, have us up there to do the ground near Medina Lake and singing such cowboy traditional dance stuff. We in 1986. classics as Tumbling Tum - did alternate shows. That “Roy was great, a bleweeds, Home on the was before the world re - prince of a guy and a real Range, and Streets of ally started recognizing gentleman,” Chambers Laredo. Nelson’s genius. He was said. “And I guess he set a “If anyone wants to the most over-looked and standard that I sort of ad - know who George Cham - under- rated musician of mired from the very start.” bers is, they can ask me that time. Chambers, of course, or Willie Nelson,” says was playing drums for has lived up to his own Bush. “George has Willie during that time towering standard of ex - worked from to the frame. He was starting to cellence, and with his Golden Nugget in Las break Paul English in for band George Chambers Vegas. He has been my the job.” and the Country Gentle - good friend and neighbor When he asked Nelson men, he has been the for 60 years, and I can’t recently if he could put humble and unobtrusive say enough good things Willie’s song Bloody Mary George Chambers is not only an iconic musician. He is face of the live music in - about him.” Morning on his new dustry in and Chambers does, in - album, Chambers was re - also an accomplished sound engineer who records South Texas for more than deed, hold both the atten - warded with more than a much of his material in the studio he built in his home 40 years. tion and respect of the simple green light. Playing more than 140 music industry giants. “Willie told me I could dates a year to this very In the old days, George record anything of his that day, Chambers and his and his band worked with I wanted to,” George said, band have backed up al - Willie Nelson on many of “and then he sang a most every major country his shows. Bloody Mary Morning duet Frank Mumme’s star in the nation, and this “We provided the with me on the record. I’ll r Continued on pg. 7 The Othe ge cktanil Loun WomCoa Karaoke on Fridays & Saturdays Happy Holidays from everyone at The Other Woman

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Action Magazine, December 2014 • 5 • I don’t know District Attorney-elect Nicholas newly-elected district attorney of Bexar County was The rest is history, and I am left now with (Nico) LaHood, the Democrat. busted for selling the drug Ecstasy to an undercover mixed emotions following LaHood’s victory over I do know Susan Reed, the sitting Republican agent. The bust came in a titty bar where LaHood had Susan Reed. LaHood talked of redemption and re - DA who LaHood defeated in the recent election. worked as a bouncer, and he was also in possession of pentance. He attacked DA Reed’s conviction record Nico and I have one thing in common: We have a firearm when the arrest was made. for sex offenders, even accusing her of going easy both been busted on felony drug charges, and both of There is little doubt that Nico LaHood’s fa - on some of these creeps. And he was quick to re - us received huge breaks from authorities who could ther, esteemed attorney and family man Michael La - ceive $1.2 million in campaign contributions from have socked us away in prison for a long time. Hood Sr., and his family connections with law injury lawyer Thomas J. Henry, a staggering amount Maybe LaHood and I are both miracles. There enforcement and the judiciary had a lot to do with of advertising dollars which proved to be the crown - are people who believe as much. him getting deferred adjudication which resulted in ing blow for Reed. LaHood received deferred adjudication after the drug charge being erased from his record . Reed, on the other hand, hammered LaHood trying to sell dope to an undercover agent. He was By the same token, I know that I had some mercilessly over his 20-year-old drug bust, painting him also in possession of a pistol at the time of his ar - very influential and credible people in my corner when as a tattooed thug not fit to hold the office of district at - rest. then Judge Susan Reed rendered a verdict in my behalf torney. And by accepting Henry’s gigantic campaign My big break, believe it or not, came from which stunned and flabbergasted her fellow judges and contribution, Reed suggested that Democrat Nico would Susan Reed. all of the lawyers familiar with my case. sell his soul in an attempt to buy the office. And Reed Reed and I go way back to 1989. At my probation revocation hearing, Reed predictably got an endorsement from the Express and In 1989, Reed was judge of the 144th District shocked everyone by granting me yet another 10 years News, which said LaHood’s case “is not the type inci - Court in San Antonio, and I was the disgraced former of probation. dent that fits comfortably on the résumé of anyone daily newspaper columnist who was facing prison after “It was a God deal,” attorney Alan Brown said. seeking the top prosecutor job.” The paper called multiple drug arrests. She wasn’t elected DA until 1998. “The Miracle of 144th District Court, and there is no Henry’s involvement “deeply disturbing.” My final fall was a drug task force bust which other way to explain it.” The newspaper editorial comes as no sur - came when I was on 10 years probation for aggravated After my final drug bust, a phenomenon tran - prise. There are sanctimonious green eyeshade possession of methamphetamine. I received the pro - spired which nobody has ever been able to explain. phonies in those ink-stained ivory towers who bated term in a court other than Reed’s, but after I got Somehow, my paper work got sidetracked and delayed would condemn LaHood and I both to the fiery pit busted that final time my fate fell squarely in the hands in the judicial shuffle, and I managed to run free for an for ever having anything to do with street dope. of Bexar County’s most feared judge. entire year until my case landed on Susan Reed’s desk. These are the narrow-minded jelly bellies who don’t Susan Reed was known by the criminal ele - During that period, I had managed to join a count, and I have never lost a wink worrying about ment as a cold-hearted, merciless magistrate who recovery program, and when Reed had me arrested what any of them think. would mete out no clemency to a probation violator and jailed without bond, I was a year sober and drug But Reed’s anti-drug bust rhetoric got me to such as myself. free. thinking. I didn’t want any cheese when I landed in her She was Bexar County’s hanging judge, and The night before my revocation hearing, there court those many years ago. I just wanted out of the everybody knew it, including my longtime friend and at - were forces at work that neither me nor my attorney trap. And I have afforded myself the luxury at times of torney Alan Brown. could have even dreamed of, and these forces mate - believing that Susan Reed might have been touched in Those were the blackest and bleakest days of rialized in Susan Reed’s courtroom that morning in the some human way by my efforts to turn my life around. my life, a period of loss and hopelessness which seems form of character witnesses from the recovery program I guess I’ll never know for sure what Reed’s mo - almost surreal today. I was a full-blown alcoholic who where I had kicked alcohol and drugs for the last time. tives were in placing me back on the streets. I will al - thought cocaine and meth might be an answer for my My impromptu and unexpected witnesses in - ways remain grateful to her for giving me freedom and drinking problem. cluded a prominent restaurant owner, a stock broker a chance for what I now call my kick-ass fairytale life. Like Nico LaHood, I had fallen from the top of the heap from one of San Antonio’s largest firms, an ambulance I want to wish newly-elected District Attorney into an abyss of frustration, despair, and terror which company owner, a writer from People Magazine, and a Nico LaHood nothing but the very best, Redemption seemed to be swallowing my very soul. successful corporate lawyer who had practiced in and repentance will always be available to those willing Five years after my last drug bust, in 1994, the Susan Reed’s court. to turn their lives around.

• 6 • Action Magazine, December 2014 Retired teacher mixed love of kids and music George Chambers continued from page 4 tell you right now, it don’t Spears. Drummer Larry contacts is like question - at the stock show and rolled backwards off his Chambers a singer and get much better than that.” Roberson and bassist ing Noah about the flood. rodeo for a calf scramble rear and hit the ground , he is also a Fiddle master and Terry Yarborough left the There is seemingly no with some of his students dead drunk. He was fired sound engineer who now songwriter Ron Knuth George Chambers band beginning and no ending, when he walked up on on the spot.” owns a 24-track recording says Chambers has to work with Darrell Mc - and Chambers can shift Autry and Davis at the Like Roy Rogers, Gene studio which he built in his trained half of the musi - Call, and bass player Pre - gears in one fluid motion water trough. Autry was another early home. cians in South Texas, and ston Buchanan was with from a recording session “That incident immedi - influence on Chambers, “I learned to do sound it is a fact that Willie Nel - Charlie Pride for 30 years in pigeon Spanish at ZAZ ately preceded the famed but George said Roy was engineering from Joey son has hired away two of after leaving the Cham - Studios on San Antonio’s scene that got Gene Autry his favorite. Lopez at ZAZ Studios on George’s bass players in bers band. Alan Chap - West Side to the stock fired from the “I understand Gene got the West Side,” Chambers the past, first David man, a former student of barns at the Houston rodeo,” Chambers laughs. himself sober and straight - recalled. “Augie Meyers Zettner and then Bee Chambers and onetime Rodeo where he watched “That’s when Gene rode ened out after that Hous - first took me to ZAZ. He member of the Country a drunken Gene Autry get - his horse Champion to the ton incident,” Chambers and and Gentlemen band, left ting his head submerged center of the arena and said. “And he was a multi- Denny Ezba had been George to play bass for in a horse trough by none reared him up on his hind millionaire when he died, recording there, and I had . other than Gayle Davis, legs in his classic rodeo so he must have been a song called Ding Dong A retired San Antonio Hollywood’s version of introduction. Champ doing something right.” Howdy that eventually did school science and biol - Annie Oakley. reared up, and Gene Not only is George Continued on pg. 8 Let us cater ogy teacher who also “Gayle was shoving old your holiday numbers Senator John Gene’s head under water Cornyn and Americana in the horse trough,” party or bring singing and songwriting George recalls. “She had your party to phenom Steve Earle him by the hair and was Texas Pride. among his former stu - saying, ‘You drunken dents, Chambers is a sonofabitch, you’ve got a 210-649-3730 walking encyclopedia on show coming up, and by www.texaspridebbq.net the Texas music industry damn you are going to get landscape, and trying to on that horse and do what interview him about his you are getting paid for.’ ” experiences and music Chambers said he was

The 1957 Flexible Starliner bus that carried George Chambers and his Country Gentle - men Band for thousands of miles is a rust - Chambers’ new album titled The Journey ing monument to the past which still sits Continues is probably his best. It includes proudly behind George’s San Antonio home. George and Willie Nelson singing Nelson’s Dog Buster pictured at left Bloody Mary Morning

Action Magazine, December 2014 • 7 • Tourists love cowboy show Chambers continued from page 7 pretty good, and that’s “My dad was George where I first recorded it.” Washington Chambers,” Chambers said he en - George said. “My name is gineered his own records, George Warner Cham - and worked a trade-out bers. We moved here from with Lopez that saw him Arlington, Virginia where do ZAZ studio work for my dad worked for some - other musicians in ex - thing called The War Pro - change for studio time on duction Board.” his own material. Chambers was married “I even engineered an once and divorced, but album from some guys that was a number of from Mexico,” Chambers years ago. He lives today laughed. “I didn’t know in the Chambers original Spanish, but Joey told me family home in northwest I only needed to know San Antonio with his two three words to complete dogs, Chance and Buster, the job-- otra vez ( another and occasionally walks time), con huevos ( with the one-mile distance to balls), and es todo ( that’s visit with old friend and fel - it).” low musician Johnny Chambers said key - Bush. board specialist R.B. “When we first moved Blackstone and Marius out here it was raw coun - (Bubba) Perron were also try,” Chambers recalls. “I working the ZAZ sound left for a while, but eventu - boards. ally came back to occupy George said: the place for good. My “Bubba had a degree in nearest neighbor rents a electrical engineering, so small house I have on the he was ahead of the rest property. She is Janet An - George Chambers leader does a lot of solo entertaining these of us, but Joey Lopez re - derson, a former student ally taught us a lot. Every - of mine who sometimes days for convention tourists who frequent San Antonio hotels. With only body was recording out plays bass when I work an accoustic guitar and the dusty old cowboy garb displayed in this pho - there at the time. Roy my regular weekly gig at tograph, George sings such cowboy classics as Streets of Laredo, Home Head, Bubba Littrell, Texas Star Inn (now con - Doug, Augie. I told Joey nected with Grady’s Bar- on the Range, and Tumblin’ Tumbleweeds. And the visitors eat it up Lopez I wanted to learn B-Q).” sound engineering, and Chambers attended made a name for himself what I’m doing.” The next exodus after the greatest fiddlers of all he said, ‘Okay, then I will North Side High School in the music industry.” George said his first all of this was when drum - time, and I had the privi - teach you.’ And that he (now John Marshal), and In 1974, Earle handed band was a kid group mer Larry Roberson and lege of watching him grow did. What a truly wonderful eventually graduated from Chambers the tape of a formed when he was a bass player Terry Yarbor - and mature into the great guy.” Southwest Texas State song titled Drinking freshman in high school. ough left Chambers to talent that he is today.” Chambers came to (now Texas State), with a Tequila and Singing Them “We had all sorts of work with Darrell McCall. Back during the , San Antonio with his fam - degree in agriculture. He Songs About Mexico. cornball names. We were “That’s when I hired and even into the , a ily in the early 1940s. taught at Southwest High “It’s a great song, and I even the Tumbleweed David Dennis to play number of the Nashville School, Holmes High intend to record it soon Ramblers for a while,” drums and LeRoy stars of School, and Zachry Mid - with Bush,” Chambers Chambers said. “Our band McGeehe to play bass,” were booked into venues dle School before retiring said. “Steve Earle now really got started in the Chambers said, noting that furnished the backup in 1993 with more than 30 lives in , but 1950s with Burt Mund on that there was never a re - musicians. years as a teacher. he stays in touch with me guitar. Everybody sang. In sentment over the job “This is how I started “I taught science for 22 by phone.” the 1960s we had Joe switches. backing up the best in the “The Great Texas Experience” of those years at Holmes,” Many were the nights, McAllister on drums and “To the contrary,” he business,” Chambers said. Catering Chambers said. “I picked Chambers recalls, that he David Zettner on upright said. “I considered it a “I was booked weekly to Party Room Rental science over ag because it played a Houston gig with bass and steel guitar. great honor every time a play behind what ever star Pavilion Rental left me with summers free his Country Gentlemen, David went with Willie and nationally-known star the Cabaret Club in Ban - Fundraiser to do what I wanted. The then drove back home stayed with him until he hired one of my musi - dera might have on the Hosting teaching job provided me with little time to shower was drafted. We had Bee cians. If people like Willie bill. Most of the top musi - and shave before arriving Spears who then replaced Nelson and Ray Price cians carry bands with Oilfield Crew Catering with a sustainable income, and I truly loved the kids. I at his school classroom. Zettner with Willie, and we want your musicians, it is them today, but in the old 210-263-3805 “I loved the kids and lost bassist Preston a good sign that you are days the nightclubs pro - www.texaspridebbq.net taught some good ones, too. John Cornyn who is a the teaching,” Chambers Buchanan to Charlie Pride on the right track. And I vided the backup. At the senator today, and Steve said. “But the music had a and another bass player, have always taken pride in Cabaret alone I can recall Earle ( Copperhead grip on me that endures Alan Chapman, went with my earlier work with working with George Road) , who has really today. Obviously, I love Ray Price.” Bobby Flores. He is one of Continued on pg. 13 • 8 • Action Magazine, December 2014 Action Magazine, December 2014 • 9 • december BAND SCHEDULE Votted 12/2 Open mic with Cody Coggins 12/17 Prime Time Jazz Orchestra 7:30 p.m. 8 p.m. RESTAURANT HOURS 11-9 Mon-Sat Closed Sunday Bestt 12/5 Niss Neesie and the Earfood 1218 ReBeca and friends 8:30 p.m. SALOON OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Liive Orchestra 9 p.m. 12/19 The Lavens 6:30 p.m. 11-2AM MONDAY - SATURDAY Musiic 12/6 ReBeca and friends 6:30 p.m. 9 p.m. TBA Los #3 Dinners 9 p.m. 12/20 9 p.m. TBA Mon-Fri Specials Happy Hourr 12/7 San Antonio Blues Society 12/21 Miss Neesie and Earfood 1 p.m. See our bartenders Lisa, Jaimie, Crystal & Susan Wednesday - Steak Night Tues--Frrii jam 3:30 p.m. 12/23 Open mic with 12/9 Open mic with Lestie Huff Jeff Reinsfelder 7:30 p.m. 12oz ribeye, baked potato and salad 2pm--7pm 7:30 p.m. 12/24 Closing early ursday - Open Mic with Joseph Slagel of Made in Texas Band 12/10 Prime Time Five 8 p.m. 12/25 Closed for Christmas Pattiio Friday - DJ 12/11 Beale Brothers 7:30 p.m. 12/26 The Lavens 9 p.m. Pllaygrround Saturday - Karaoke 12/12 The New Vagabonds 6:30 p.m. 12/27 TBA 6:30 p.m. Sunday - Bloody Mary bar PiingPong The Lavens 9 p.m. Altered Natives 9 p.m. noon til we are out Tablle 12/13 Onel 6:30 p.m. 12/28 Ashley Rose 1 p.m. New Year’s Eve Party 9pm-1am Ruben V 9 p.m. 12/30 TBA Music by the Toman Brothers 606 12/14 Swindles 4 p.m. 12/31 TBA W Cypress 12/16 Open mic with Niko Laven W Cypress 7:30 p.m. 227--2683 www.thecove.us

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The Split Second Band on the first saturday of every month, beginning at Now that you’ve found Luckenbach, 2 p.m. and served with a full course meal where the heck is Bracken? • 10 • Action Magazine, December 2014 San Antonio Radio Hall play that will include infor - Bill Allert, Stan Cox, Big of Fame inductees were mation on the Hall of Daddy Glenn Dean, and honored last month with Fame, the inductees, and Jerry Franklin. dedication ceremonies TexPop.” Still others inducted be - and a special wall unveil - The 2014 induction tween 2010 and 2014 in - ing at the South Texas ceremony was held in clude Skinny Don Green, Popular Culture Center, September at Beethoven Ron Houston, Ray Hunt, located at Mulberry at Maennerchor Halle in the Bob Jenkins, George Jen - Broadway. King William area. While nings, Bill Laurie, Ben It is basically a wall in presiding over that func - Laurie, Herb Carl, Doug the center which will be a tion, Patranella said: China, Don Couser, Tom permanent exhibit for “All of us who were East, Bruce Hathaway, broadcast industry per - ever a part of the radio Don Keys, George Lester, sonalities who have been broadcasting industry in Herb Mason, Harry voted into the San Antonio San Antonio are proud of (Mushmouth) O’Connor, Radio Hall of Fame. the legacy our efforts cre - Ed Shook, and Bill Stan - Michael Ann Coker, a ated. Anyone who grew up ley. co-founder of the South in this part of Texas since Some of the inductees Texas Popular Culture the 1950s remembers the were honored posthu - Center (more widely impact that radio had on mously, although a goodly known as the TexPop Mu - our lives.It is a pleasure to number are still alive and seum) was there to pre - be able to recognize the kicking. And we are grate - side over the official people who made that era ful to note that Action edi - dedication. possible.” tor-publisher and former A number of the in - She added: “Following KEXL broadcaster Sam ductees from the past nominations from our Kindrick did not have to be 2014 crop were on hand members, selections were helped on and off the for the wall unveiling, as made by a 5-person in - 2014 induction stage. were hall of fame in - duction committee and Our special place on This photo by Neka Scarbrough Jenkins shows Bruce Hathaway ductees from the earlier were based on career in - the San Antonio Radio years beginning with year formation provided for Hall of Fame wall includes (left) and Sam Kindrick at theSan Antonio Radio Hall of Fame 2010. each nominee.” a 1970s vintage Sam Kin - dedication last month. The TexPop Museum has designated a Also on hand to partici - The 2014 list included drick photograph with the special wall to showcase hall of fame inductees pate in the ceremonies Mateo Carmargo, Randy following identification at - nominated for a Pulitzer Music and madness in the ing of James Franklin was Liz Patranella, who Carroll, Ken Carter, David tached: Prize, and won numerous mornings. Nice guy Nick Chivers Sr. was Liz Houston when Foster, Henry Guerra, Bill Sam Kindrick is proba - Associated Press writing and the other one. Jim, as most of us she worked an air shift at Kiley, Sam Kindrick, Jerry bly best known as the con - awards. But more impor - That says it all. knew him back during the KONO Radio back during King, Dick Porter, Bubba troversial writer, editor, tant than all of that was Jim Chivers R.I.P. 1960s and 1970s, booked the day. Redding, Bobby Reyes, and publisher of Action Sam’s work on legendary everyone from Willie Nel - Each inductee has a Bob Sinclair, Logan Stew - Magazine, which he has rock station KEXL...from son to at plaque on the TexPop wall, art, Tom Turner, and Ricci been creating and distrib - 1975 until the station went his old Melody Ranch which is complete with a Ware. uting in and around San off the air in 1977. Club on Roosevelt Av - photo and brief back - Names like Ricci Ware, Antonio since 1975. Sam describes his job enue. ground Jerry King, Bob Sinclai When he was fired at KEXL this way...”They Chivers died Nov. 15 at introduction. r, and Henry Guerra be - from the San Antonio Ex - called me an alternative age 87. Prior to the ceremonies came household words in press-News for “associat - news director to satisfy He owned nightclubs last month, Patranella San Antonio and South ing with undesirable FCC regulations that call from San Antonio to Port said, “I am pleased to an - Texas, as did many of the characters (one of whom for a certain amount of Aransas, and featured live nounce that the South inductees from prior years was identified as Willie news each day. Basically, music in many of them. Texas Popular Culture who include Nelson), Sam launched I was a paid bullshxxxer In addition to Nelson Center has generously of - Joe Anthony, B. Bailey Action with the blessings who yapped with real Jim Chivers and Haggard, Chivers fered wall space in the Brown, George (Super) and advertising dollars of radio legends like Ron also booked , TexPop Museum for a per - Cooper, Allan Dale, Lone Star Beer owner Houston and Nick St. A major player on the Johnny Rodriguez, Augie manent exhibit on the San Manuel Davila, Howard Harry Jersig...a staunch John. San Antonio and Texas Meyers, , Antonio Radio Hall of Edwards, Max Gardner, supporter of outlaws and A 1977 KEXL ad shows Gulf Coast nightclub and The Inspirations, Slim Fame inductees. I will be Allen Grimm, George Ing, beer drinkers. a photo and Sam and Nick live music scene left us Roberts, and many more working with Michael Ann Gordon McLendon, Papa Over the years, Sam St. John with the caption: last month with the pass - Continued on pg. 14 Coker for this in-depth dis - Gene Roth, Joe Simpson, has written a book, been Action Magazine, December 2014 • 11 • It doesn’t take a rocket The best of Sam Kindrick scientist mentality to know The secret life and hard times of a cedar chopper that print advertising, coupled A true Texas treasure and 21st Century antique with full internet coverage, is Now back on the (Book printed in 1973) the best deal in town. market through special offer! So what are you waiting for? For 41 consecutive years, this book by Action Magazine editor-publisher Sam Kindrick Put your business out there has narrowly escaped the where people can see it New York Times best seller list

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3) O.K. LADIES - YOU BUY A BRA TO MAKE YOU LOOK BIGGER. YOU WANT TO SHOW the trap MORE CLEAVAGE,YOU WANT MORE UP - 4711 Pecan Valley LIFT AND YOU WANT TO BE NOTICED. SO I 533-3060 • I.D. Required SAY “NICE TITS” AND YOU GET ALL UPSET. WHAT’S WITH THAT SHIT! 4) I’M ALL FOR THE BAN ON CELL PHONES A “ROCK N ROLL” TRADITION SINCE 1975 AND TEXTING WHILE DRIVING. BUT WHAT NEXT, NO SEX WHILE DRIVING? I’LL HAVE TO TAKE THE BUS. NO, WAIT, I CAN’T DO LIVE MUSIC IN december THAT ON THE BUS EITHER. AND I CAN’T WALK WITH AN ERECTION. DAMN, I’M 5 SOUNDWAVE 19 GBR STUCK AT HOME. CAN SOMEONE COME 6 THE BOWTIES 20 CHARLIE BRAVO BY AND GIVE ME A HAND WITH MY PROB - 12 UNIT 57 26 CROCK LEM. PLEASE! 13 IRON 60 27 SPITFIRE 5) WELL CHRISTMAS IS HERE. I REMEM - BER WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG AND MY FRANKLY SPEAKING PARENTS ASKED ME WHAT I 1) PRESIDENT OBAMA LEAVES THE WHITE WANTED. I SAID, I WANNA HOUSE TO PLAY GOLF WHILE 3 PEOPLE HAVE WATCH - BUT THEY WOULDN’T THEIR HEADS CUT OFF BY ISIS. BUT HE HAS LET ME! SO I GOT A BLOW-UP TIME TO GO TO THE WHITE HOUSE, SIGN A PAR - DOLL INSTEAD. DON FOR TWO THANKSGIVING TURKEYS, TO 6) THIS IS THE TIME TO PARTY - KEEP THEM FROM GETTING THEIR HEADS CUT SO REMEMBER - TWO’S COM - OFF. WHAT THE FUCK? PANY, THREE’S A SANDWICH, 2) MY SECOND WIFE CALLED TO TELL ME SHE AND SEVEN IS A WAS MOVING. I TOLD HER THAT IF SHE HAD PARTY! MOVED A LITTLE WHILE WE WERE IN BED WE erry Christmas MIGHT STILL BE MARRIED! M ng! Frank and the ga • 12 • Action Magazine, December 2014 George says he’s had the best of two worlds Chambers continued from page 8 Jones, , Farmer’s Daughter, Shady backup band for the Willie Bobby Helms, Loretta Acres near New Braun - Nelson/Darrell Royal golf Lynn, George Hamilton IV, fels, and at Big G in tournaments which fea - , Stonewall Round Rock. tured some of the biggest Jackson, and many, many “Willie, Jones, Don Gib - names in the country more.” son, and Warren Smith, all music business. Chambers remembers played Shady Acres with “Coach Royal was a the warmup ceremonies us behind them,” Cham - dyed-in-the-wool country at the Cabaret for a bers said. “Warren Smith music fan,” Chambers George Jones show which had a beautiful voice, and said. “He would sit silently was also attended by he hired us for a run at the and without making a sin - Arkey Blue, the iconic Golden Nugget in Las gle sound when someone Bandera fixture who also Vegas.” was playing, and the owns the Silver Dollar Sa - Charlie Pride didn’t coach never tolerated dis - loon. even have his own band tractions. In the recording “Arkey had a song that when promoter Billy studios, a red light goes I considered a real treas - Deaton hired Chambers to on when someone is lay - ure and a future hit,” back Pride at the old Junc - ing down a track, and George recalls. “It’s called tion Club on Blanco Road. Coach Royal alluded to The Queen of Broken “And I’ll never forget the the practice when he was Hearts, and I asked him to job we got with Little trying to silence fellow lis - sing it that night before Jimmy Dickens,” Cham - teners. When Royal said Jones went on. Arkey bers recalls. ”It was at Red Light everyone knew sang his song, and then I’ll Cherry Springs Tavern be - he meant shut up and stay be danged if he didn’t tween Mason and Freder - quiet.” launch right into the icksburg, and I found Regulars at the golf George Jones signature myself short of a drummer shows with Chambers song White Lightning.” at the time. I hired Bush were such music stalwarts Chambers is quite for the gig. At that time he as fiddler Ron Knuth and clear on George Jones’ re - was working with Easy Randy Reinhardt, the action as he took the Adams and the Texas Top piano and steel guitar ace stage: Hands.” who also worked with George Chambers said he never drank alcohol or got into “Who the fuck was For more than 20 Charlie Pride, and who drugs. And he says he has been blessed with friends who are that?” years, George Chambers was married to Barbara incomparable and irreplaceable, some of them being the great - Chambers also worked and the Country Gentle - Fairchild when she was with Jones at The men were the standard est musicians who ever lived Continued on pg. 14

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Action Magazine, December 2014 • 13 • Scatter Shots Continued from page 11 Jr., is the son we have their luck,” said James Jr. Stebbins, “but we had a steady Wednesday night at the Melody Ranch of In Port Aransas, known personally for “And he made sure no - good run out here for a gig at the Raffles Club on the late 1960s and early Chivers owned The Sail years, and it was James body ever left his club or number of years, and I re - Loop 410. 1970s. Club, Newport Inn, and Jr., who helped round up his home hungry. He was ally treasure the many “I’m feeling a whole lot Many of his other San the Blue Moon. his father’s nightclub hold - feeding people back as far friendships that have better than I have in a long Antonio nightclubs which We recall Chivers as a ings for this article. as I can remember.” come my way through the time, and the band is really featured local live music man who got along with “This is the best I could Last blast restaurant and bar.” starting to sound great. talent included such wa - just about anyone, and on do,” said James Jr. “As you Gary Stebbins closed Stebbins is listing both Laurabell showcased tering holes as The a personal basis, we recall know, my dad bought and his Texas 46 Bar and Grill building and the land it sits here new album, Laurabell Cloverleaf, Paul’s Court, Jim as the savior who sold clubs all the time. He for good last month, but on for sale, and he said and the Blue Aces, at Country On The Rocks, talked a Port Aransas po - would take one that was not before hosting a free there are already some Texas 46 Bar and Grill in Texas Armadillo Club liceman out of jailing a struggling, build it up, sell party with suds and live serious inquiries. Bulverde shortly before the (which featured the first drunk newspaper reporter it, and then go on to the music for the many faithful The restaurant and bar restaurant and club closed mud wrestling in San An - by the name of Sam Kin - next one.” who patronized the Spring sits on Highway 46 at Sun for good. tonio), Jim’s Someplace drick. The elder Chivers was Branch roadhouse over Valley Drive. The album is Laura - Else, Rangers Outpost, Chivers is survived by also an expert cook. the past quarter of a cen - Blues show bell’s finest work, and one Pour House, and The four sons and a daughter. “He helped a lot of peo - tury. Blues belter Laurabell is of the best blues records Other Place. James Franklin Chivers ple who were down on “It was a sad day,” said back in action with a we have ever heard.

George Chambers Continued from page 13 tion is excellent, and I got year. Now he plays a days, he usually surrounds at hand and the true atti - topping the charts with equipment in.” a honk out of the key celebrity golf tournament himself with fiddler Ron tude of gratitude which has hits such as Teddy Bear When the talk turns to switch George and Willie every October at the Blue - Knuth, his longtime friend always propelled his motor. and others. songwriting, George did in the middle of Bloody bonnet Youth Ranch at and steel guitar player and “I have never even “I recall when Randy Chambers is a self-depre - Mary Morning. There was Victoria, along with other booking agent Jerry Blan - dreamed of getting rich,” and Barbara Fairchild cating study in humility a time when slick stuff like local luminaries such as ton, drummer Larry Rober - George Chambers said. “I helped us get to a gig at who says: this might have gotten Bobby Flores and Geron - son, and Harvey Kagan on have spent my life enter - the Wagon Wheel at “I have never had the them kicked out of a imo Trevino. bass. taining people and being Canyon Lake when our big urge to write songs Nashville recording studio. George said he plans to Many of the single jobs damn glad to have the gigs bus had broken down,” with such great writers sur - Other George Cham - sell his new album on George refers to consist of I have managed to land. Chambers said. “They rounding me. I don’t have bers albums include stage and through the in - oldtimey cowboy singing The singing cowboy parts pulled up in this big old the imagination of a Willie Dance Time In Texas, a ternet. He also hopes for and story-telling gigs, are plenty good, and I re - M.C.I. bus, loaded up all of or a Steve Earle, and I compilation of dance tunes some recognition by a mostly for hotel guests and ally enjoy them. I love to our gear, and hauled us to have always been fairly such as Jole Blon, Put local or area radio station. convention tourists. play the guitar and sing the gig. Barbara even got happy trying to do a good Your Little Foot, Jesse “I know that KNBT in “The hotels hire me, and interact up and sang a few num - job with cover material I Polka, Chicken Dance, New Braunfels probably and it is usually when the with people. bers with us. It is just an - consider really good. But I and Cotton Eyed Joe; receives about 80 cds a hotel hosts a convention “You see a lot of musi - other really cool memory.” have written three tunes, Feelings, and Privileged day,” George said, “but I do that I am brought in to work cians who get hot and run The bus Chambers and a couple of them are Audience. intend to take a copy of my the lobby or maybe out on down that road for three or refers to is a 1957 Flexible on my albums-- These George has also done record to music director the road as they haul the four or five years, making a Starliner he purchased Things You’ll Never Know, recording work with Jim Matson Rainer in a self- convention guests to a lot of money before they from the Kerrville Bus For The Last Time, and Try Chesnut, another talented addressed stamped enve - neighboring guest ranch suddenly disappear. I have Company, a rusting relic Not To Go Home Alone.” writer and performer who lope. If he can’t find like the Don Strange oper - never made the really big which still sits proudly out Try Not To Go Home Chambers provided with a anything on it to play on ation. This is when I do the bucks, but the business behind George’s house. Alone is on Chambers’ place to live when Chesnut the station, I want him to cowboy hitchhiker part of has been kind to me. The “We’ve always called brand new and just re - was down on his luck. send it back because I in - my act. reason that people like me the bus Rodney,” George leased cd titled The Jour - Chambers also worked tend to sell it. I know every “I look pretty scruffy and keep doing it is that we said. “I don’t really know ney Continues. This is the ’s first Texas excuse ever made by a western, you know, and I’m keep doing it. how we got the name. I album that includes the show, an appearance at radio station to not play a hanging out at a desig - “I never drank alcohol, think the bus always Chambers/Nelson duet of the Roundhouse Jam - record. One of these days nated bus or truck stop lo - and I never got into drugs looked like a Rodney. It’s Bloody Mary Morning, as boree that was sponsored I would like to publish them cation when the tour bus of any kind,” George con - been sitting right where it well as Shel Silverstein’s by the Alamo Kiwanis Club all in a book.” stops to ostensibly give me cludes. “ I have been is since I ran it out of gas. Jennifer Johnson and Me. at the Villita Assembly Asked his favorite fe - a ride. I get on the bus and blessed with friends you We quit using it when the This is the album that Hall. male vocalist, George tell the tourists I want to can’t beat or ever replace. insurance got too high.” feature George’s basenji “KKYX participated, doesn’t hesitate. It’s Sylvia sing them a little some - I have had wonderful stu - Before the bus, Cham - dog Chase on the record and Bill Rode was doing (Leal) Kirk, a former cover thing. Then I start singing dents, and I have had my bers and his band toured jacket. his Elvis impersonation on feature in Action Maga - some of the cowboy clas - own band and my own in a black Cadillac limou - “I call it Ameri-Country,” the Jamboree,” George re - zine, and always a favorite sics, songs like Home on bus, and I have never had sine they bought from a fu - Chambers said. “There is members. “I worked with of mine. the Range, Tumbling Tum - the pressure or the fan neral home which had some Merle Haggard that Red Stegall and Patsy “Most people don’t have bleweed, Cool Water, Back crunch, or any of the other George Chambers and the definitely fits the country Coleman. I had a tune a clue as to the magnitude in the Saddle Again... a lot annoying and really aggra - Country Gentlemen em - category, and I believe called the Mr. M Blues. of some artists,” Chambers of old stuff most people vating problems that the blazoned on both front Bloody Mary Morning and That’s when Mr. M ice said. “Sylvia is another one can identify with. I like super stars have to deal doors in gold lettering. Jennifer Johnson and Me houses were all over has been overlooked doing it, and the tourists with. I’ve never had to sack “If we’d have had flags fit the Americana defini - place. I think Jerry Blanton and vastly underrated. She seem to enjoy the music groceries at H.E.B. I have on the fenders, it would tion.” wrote the song. Ron Hous - is a great voice and a and having their pictures been fortunate enough to have looked like an em - I have never big big on ton played our record four sweetheart to go along taken with me.” work with some of the bassy car,” George said. album reviews, but I lis - times a day on old KRIO. I with it. She came out and If this all seems a little greatest musicians alive, “We had yet another Cadil - tened to George’s new cd loved that station.” sang at one of my Texas low-key and low-rung for a and my health is reason - lac limo after that before from beginning to end, and Chambers worked the Star Inn gigs, and the peo - band leader who has ably good. I believe I have we got the bus, and we I’m here to tell you that you rodeo, backing a variety of ple were laid in the aisles.” backed up , had the best of both also had a pickup truck coudn’t find a better coun - country stars, and he was When Chambers works George Jones, Willie Nel - worlds, and I am really with a camper shell to haul try album. The song selec - a mainstay on the old with a full band, which is son, and Charlie Pride, we grateful for everything I KKYX River Festival every only occasionally these must consider the subject have today. • 14 • Action Magazine, December 2014 DARTS • POOL • FREE SHUFFLEBOARD• BARTOP MEGATOUCHS

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Action Magazine, December 2014 • 15 •