The Legendary Stardust Cowboy's three Mercury 45s along with some Ohio obscurities that the discerning and deceased Jones squirreled away for me long long ago at the Record Rendezvous on Prospect in downtown Cleveland. Both Johnny Angel and Tom Claire were local lounge Sinatras, the former liable to scare off even the wildest divorcée with his deranged BANG! BANG! BANG! scatting. Bluesman Travis 'Moonchild' Haddix moved to Cleveland when he got out of the U.S. Army in 1959, joining Ernest & D.L. Rocco's band that same year. Around 1988, after decades in local joints, he signed with Ichiban and began a successful career while continuing to work full time for the U.S. Postal Service to support his family. The Ohio State Penitentiary's 511 Jazz Ensemble, named for the prison's PO box, was inspired by a program the Columbus Jazz Society prepared for Ohio State's FM station called Jazz Roundtable, a brief but welcome jailhouse respite from the prevailing Country and Rock in a city surrounded by farms. Alan Zahorchak on the other hand maintains an orbit of his own. Total WHAT, Jones?! That phrase was absorbed by all who knew another departed soul, Brian Kinchy aka Brian Sands aka Brian Biddulph, who introduced me to Jones on one of my many drives from Fostoria to be guided to Cleveland's secret promo bins, troves of forgotten 45s in shops all over town and of course the bargain bins in the big box stores, where one might find Shadows Of Knight picture sleeves for 2¢ or Nico's Marble Index 3/$1.00. Total WHAT?! can be used to express disbelief ranging from enchantment to exasperation. And if any kind soul happens to have files of Ernest & D.L.'s other single Billy's Bagg/How To Keep Your Man they'd be willing to share, I'd be eternally grateful!
01 Paralyzed 1968
02 Who's Knocking At My Door 1968
03 I Took A Trip On A Gemini Spaceship 1968
04 Down In The Wrecking Yard 1968
05 Kiss And Run 1969
06 Everything's Getting Bigger But Our Love 1969
07 Cleveland's A Winner! - Tom Claire 1981
08 Singles - Johnny Angel circa 1979
09 Night Time Girl - Johnny Angel circa 1979
10 I Wake Up And It Rains - Alan Zahorchak 1977
11 End Up Losing - Alan Zahorchak 1977
12 Moon Child - Ernest & D.L. Rocco 1984
13 Count Terry Devine - Ernest & D.L. Rocco 1984
13 Count Terry Devine - Ernest & D.L. Rocco 1984
14 Counterry Bosa Davan - 511 Jazz Ensemble 1971
9 comments:
I really, really need to hear what y'all think "belongs" with the ledge.... ;-)
Er, uh, I realized I was on thin ice here. Hopefully you can find it in your heart to forgive me.
No, I mean I really,really do!
So what I really mean is thank you,
I am a huge fan of Wesley Willis,a nd I think that is why I dig on the Lege. Just a regular guy trying to buck the trends and make music HIS way, no Autotune, no cookie cutter music. When you hear Lege, you know who it is. Great job on being your own man, and for having the strength to be truly different.
Hi there, I'm working on a story about the 511 Jazz Ensemble and was trying to learn more about Ernest and D.L. Rocco and their connection to the 511. Any chance I could chat with you about them? soulsides@gmail.com
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