"THE TARENA" (In Tarentum, PA) ROCKED IN THE EARLY 1960S

The TARENA DANCE CLUB rocked the (Allegheny) valley in the Early 60s, featuring great tunes from The Delcos, Nolan Strong, The Falcons, The Elgins, The Valadiers, The Heartbeats, Nathaniel Mayer,  Lightnin’ Slim and The Moroccos just to name a few. Check ‘em out…

The Delcos’ ARABIA   

 Nolan Strong’s MIND OVER MATTER 

   

The Falcons’ YOU’RE SO FINE

The Elgins’  UNCLE SAM’S MAN 

The Valadiers’ GREETINGS (THIS IS UNCLE SAM)

The Heartbeats’ A THOUSAND MILES AWAY

 

Nathaniel Mayer’s VILLAGE OF LOVE

      

Lightnin’ Slim’s ROOSTER BLUES 

The Moroccos’ RED HOTS, FRENCH FRIES AND CHILI MAC  

  


OF COURSE THIS WAS ALL
PRE-BRITISH INVASION AND

That's me in '64!

 I AM SO THANKFUL TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF THAT INCREDIBLE MUSIC SCENE!!!

Ruth Brown in The Evolution of Rock 'n Roll...

On January 12, 1993, Ruth Brown (b. January 12, 1928 – d. November 17, 2006) was inducted into The Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame…

Due to Ruth Brown’s 1950s hits, Atlantic Records was known as “The House That Ruth Built”

"Teardrops from My Eyes", written by Rudy Toombs, was the first upbeat major hit for Ruth Brown, establishing her as an important figure in rhythm and blues. Recorded for Atlantic Records in New York City in September 1950, and released in October, it was on BillBoard's List of number-one R&B hits for eleven non-consecutive weeks. It was Atlantic's first release on the new 45-rpm record format. The huge hit earned her the nickname "Miss Rhythm" and within a few months Ruth Brown became the acknowledged queen of R&B. "Teardrops from My Eyes" was her first of five number one R&B hits. (Wikipedia)

"(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean" is a 1953 song by Ruth Brown, written by Johnny Wallace and Herbert J. Lance. It became Brown's third number one on the R&B chart…

And my favorite Ruth Brown tune…

R.I.P. MISS RHYTHM...

                                                           

NOTE: Etta James was inducted into the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame on that same day…

TARENA TIME!!!

How’s a guy originally from Pittsburgh (me, for instance) know so much about Blues and  Jazz and Rhythm & Blues and Soul and all that became just good old  ROCK ‘N Roll?

How couldn’t I know ALL about this thing called Rock ‘n Roll—I’ve been in it all my life!!!

 AND, with venues like Tarentum, PA’s TARENA Roller Rink, cum Tarena Dance Club;  and with mentors such as Porky Chedwick, Bob Livorio, Bob Mack, Mad Mike Metrovich and Terry Lee, I couldn’t miss!!!

That’s why I’m gonna TRY to post a set or two—TARENA STYLE (circa 1963 ~ 1966) every so often to hip  y’all (Sorry, I live in Texas now) to where I came from and to what a lotta  y’all missed—AND, to remind a lotta  y’all what ya didn’t!!! Damn, that’s a lotta  y’alls, whatta ya think you guys???

 First up. Bill Robinson (NOT SMOKEY) and The Quails with QUIT PUSHIN'...





Back it up with BO...




Close the set with Smokey Robinson and The Miracles and ya got a classic first set at the TARENA--The joint that taught me about Rock 'n Roll...

January 10: Jerry Lee Lewis, John Lennon/Yoko Ono, and ? and the Mysterians: The Best of Times & The Worst of times in the EVOLUTION OF ROCK ‘n ROLL…

January 10, 1959: Jerry Lee Lewis has his only UK #1 single with "Great Balls Of Fire".

January 10, 1981: John Lennon and Yoko Ono's "Double Fantasy" LP goes Platinum a little over a month after Lennon's assassination. The album would be number one in the US for eight weeks.

January 10, 2007:  A fire razed the Clio, Michigan home of ? and The Mysterians leader Rudy Martinez, destroying all of his priceless memorabilia. He did not have insurance on the house and was forced into living at a nearby mobile home.

Jan 10 1950: Frankie Baker, the Frankie in the murder ballad Frankie And Johnny, dies in an insane asylum, in Pendleton, Oregon, USA. Frankie And Johnny has been recorded in more than 250 versions.

 

 

"Frankie and Johnny"



(sometimes spelled "Frankie and Johnnie"; also known as "Frankie and Albert" or just "Frankie") is a traditional American popular song. It tells the story of a woman, Frankie, who finds that her man Johnny was "making love to" another woman  and shoots him… Actually,  the song was inspired by a murder which took place in St. Louis, Missouri, on October 15, 1899, when Frankie Baker, a 22-year-old dancer

stabbed (or shot) her 17-year-old lover Allen "Al" Britt (who became Johnnie in the story), who was having a relationship with a woman named Alice Pryor (The name became Nellie Bly in the tune). Britt died of his wounds two days later. On trial, Baker claimed that Britt had attacked her with a knife and that she acted in self-defense; she was acquitted…

The first published version was in 1904 copyrighted by Hughie Cannon who wrote "Won't you come home Bill Bailey"…In 1908 a version was published by Frank and Bert Leighton and then again in 1912 with the words that appear in the modern versions and is recorded here on Melodee roll # 1153 with no "played by" credits…

One of the earliest  recordings was by Frank Crumit in 1927…

Of the over 250 recordings of "Frankie and Johnny" which  have been made since the early 20th century, some of the singers include Jimmie Rodgers,  Lead Belly, Big Bill Broonzy , Frank Crumit, Johnny Cash , Pete Seeger , Mississippi John Hurt , Mississippi Joe Callicott, Taj Mahal , Charlie Poole, Sam Cooke, Elvis Presley, Gene Vincent, Van Morrison  AND MANY, MANY OTHERS...

 Here's Stevie Wonder’s Version…



Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Bunny Berigan, Dave Brubeck, Duke Ellington, and Benny Goodman have also recorded the tune.

REST IN PEACE





FRANKIE BAKER ~

JOHNNIE DONE YOU WRONG…