Coffeyville’s
Memorial Building once played host to some of biggest name in the music industry. That
may be a surprise to many that only knew Coffeyville Memorial Hall as the place
where the Red Ravens and the Pirates played basketball, but it was much more
than a mere sports palace, much more.
Musical Heritage
I once saw a group
called the fabulous Flippers play
there and stood on the front steps in the dark with Janie Page, but that's
another story. Along with my brother Fuzz and the late Ben Young, we appeared there as
musicians, but even before that I remember a time that held magic for me and
thousands of African Americans from the four-state area.
Before I ever saw a
basketball game at Coffeyville's Memorial Building, I saw a classical piano concert;
I saw the Ernie Fields orchestra, a big band that my brother and I would later
perform with; and, I attended a talent contest there and met the late Pete “Peaches”Williams, one of the greatest guitar players Kansas ever produced.
Born Anthony Williams,
Peaches was a prodigy. The first time I saw him was at a talent contest held at
the Coffeyville Memorial Building. He performed by himself, playing a crimson Gretsch Firebird
guitar and singing Buddy Holley's "Not Fade Away." I was mesmerized
as was most of the crowd. It was exciting and the beginning of a long
friendship. I also met his sister Diane, but, again, that is another story.
Star Time
The real story of
Coffeyville's Memorial Building for me came from it often being the venue for famous
black musicians and singers thanks to the efforts of promoter extraordinaire,
Ted Blake. Although my parents forbid me going there by myself, I went anyway with my older brother Fuzz. Once,
my father took me there to see Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, someone I
should have known little about, but thanks to my father's music collection, I
knew most of his songs. Appearing on the same bill was Louis Jordan who was
another of my favorites, but far removed from time.
Slippin' Into Darkness
The first performer
I saw there without my father’s sanction was the legendary Bo Diddley with his square
guitar. Wearing horn-rimmed glasses and playing his
modified Gretsch Firebird guitars, Bo Diddley was a sight to see. He played
through a Magnavox amplifier that was more than 6 feet long. It was amazing.
Appearing with Bo Diddley was Laverne Baker and Clyde McPhatter, the former
lead singer with the Drifters. McPhatter had hit records such as “Lover Please”
and “A Lover’s Question.”
The Drifters also
performed there, but I couldn’t slip away to see them. I think my father had his
spies working overtime. Love songs had never been a favorite, but for some
reason as a teenager I started to like them and the Drifters had one of my
favorites with “This Magic Moment,” sung by group member Ben E. King. King
would later have a solo career with a hit some may remember, “Stand by Me.”
The next time I managed
to get to Coffeyville, Hank Ballard and the Midnighters were the main
attraction, the Five Royales were with them and a group called the Famous Flames
featuring some joker named James Brown. Hank Ballard and the Midnighters tore
the house down, but that James Brown cat put on a hell of a show too.
Later, a song
called “Try Me” hit the slow dance scene. The group performing the popular
single was James Brown and the Famous Flames. Little did we know then that we had seen
one of the greatest performers of all time.
Bobby"Blue" Bland came to Coffeyville with his ultra tight band, with
guitarist Wayne Bennett along with Al "TNT” Braggs. I loved Bobby because
Bennett was so damn good on the guitar and Bobby kept a strong drummer. I
remember the first time I saw him so well because his opening act was a guy
named Chubby Checker who had a small hit record called "The Class."
Just to keep the
music history straight, Chubby Checker went on to score and international hit
and dance craze with “The Twist.” We danced to “The Twist” long before it
became a hit. We had seen it performed in Coffeyville by the man that wrote
it—Hank Ballard.
It was always
entertaining for a musician to watch real traveling professionals. BB King was a regular performer at
Coffeyville’s Memorial Hall, as were Little Junior Parker and the Drifters.
Etta James also came often as did Billy Ward and the Dominoes and Dave"Baby" Cortez. Chuck Willis sang
"CC Rider," Ruth Brown sang the blues and Damita Jo sang “Save the Last Dance for
Me. Aaron “T-Bone” Walker always packed the place, but I never saw the
legendary guitarist, as it seemed my folks were always near when he came to
town making it extremely difficult to get out.
Jackie Wilson
visited at least twice and we missed him both times. Coffeyville's polite
society had no idea they were part of the legendary “Chitlin' Circuit” a
regular round trip of musicians and singers, some on tour, some heading home.
For instance, Bobby “Blue” Bland was from Texas and when he came through he was
headed home.
The "Chitlin'
Circuit" was a string of performance sites in the United Statesthat were safe and
acceptable for black musicians,
comedians, and other entertainers to perform during racial segregation in the
United States. Thanks to the efforts of Coffeyville promoter Ted Blake the
four-state area witnessed some of the greatest performers in history.
