Howard Steele and Richard Perry's Studio 55 in Hollywood

(Click Image to View)

El Paso's Howard Steele (who was a partner with Richard Perry)

 invited my wife and I towatch drummer - Jeff Porcaro lay down a drum 

track for a cut on a Diana Ross song for her new album. It was a

phenomenal experience watching Jeff and these producers

at work. The picture above was the only one I shot inside

their studio. They are gold records that had been produced

by them to include the works of: Ringo Starr, Leo Sayer,

Rita Coolidge and Diana Ross. I included a YouTube video

of Jeff recording Live with Toto in the studio. You can view it

at the bottom of the last post. For all of you drummers, there

are many YouTube videos of Jeff giving drum lessons and

live concert performances with Toto (Africa and Rosanna)

BTW - Toto was discovered in Howard's garage studio before

he joined forces with Richard to form Studio 55 - 5505 Melrose.

Submitted by Rick Kern

PT & the Cruisers

L-R Buddy Winston, Andre Bonaguidi,

Patty Tiscareno, Doug Neal and Gary Hollis

are PT & the Cruisers. They are all about

great musicians playing great music in a

concert type format. They are available

to entertain for any type venue - large or

small. Click on their link for additional

information on the group.
http://www.ptcruisersep.com

Booking Contact: Rick Kern

rick@ptcruisersep.com

BORDER LEGENDS CONCERT - WHAT A SHOW!

On Oct. 16, 2009 - music history was made.

El Paso turned out to see a show that took

over a year to organize. Forty seven musicians

came from all over the U.S. to play in their

respective groups from the 60's and 70's.

Click on the following link to revisit the

Border Lengends Concert of 2009.

http://www.borderlegendsconcert.blogspot.com

Submitted by Rick Kern

Border Legends Jam Tribute to Ron Stone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szIc0IiSBkk

The top link is a video from our Tribute to Ron

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Cg01u2hAas

This is a promo for Ron's group "Southwest"

that was produced in the 90's.

Submitted by Rick Kern

Ron Stone - July 30, 1952 - December 16, 2009

Ron Stone will be remembered by all

as having one of the biggest hearts a

human could have. He was a great friend and

musician who loved performing and sharing

his wonderful talent. I know that Angels

and Ron are singing today.

Visit the following link to see the musicial tribute to Ron

http://www.ronstonetribute.blogspot.com

Submitted by Rick Kern

BORDER LEGENDS CONCERT - Oct. 16, 2009

Master of Ceremonies (Grammy-nominated)

Karen Taylor-Good

http://www.karentaylorgood.com/

It will be two years this coming October that

I started this site about the great music

history of El Paso - Past & Present. It has

been an inspiration and dream to bring

together, once again, some of the actual

groups that many of us remember from the

60's and 70's. On October 16, 2009, El Paso

will have the opportunity to see this musical

reunion. The Lancers East will be the site

where ten of El Paso's most popular rock

and folk/rock groups will perform. There

will be 600 tickets available. Advance reser-

vations can be made by calling 915-584-4421.

Tickets are $20.00 and include food and show.

The show will feature:

AppleJack

Rod Crosby & The Intruders

Moon Pie Daince Band

Bobby & The Premiers

Mourning

PT & The Cruisers

The Sherwoods

Karen Taylor Good

The Sojourners

Swift Rain

The Wild Ones

This will be a show that will have El Paso

fans talking for a long time - you don't

want to miss this one! Submitted by Rick Kern

BORDER LEGENDS CONCERT - Oct. 16, 2009

(Click Image to View)

Thank you El Paso Inc. for doing a great

story on some of El Paso's Border Legends.

There are many musicians in El Paso that

are equal to the musician talent in this show's

line-up. There is just no physical way to put

them all in one show. You will see more of

them in future shows. Stay tuned...

Submitted by Rick Kern

BORDER LEGENDS CONCERT - Oct. 16, 2009

(Click Image to View)

Music: Into the Wild: Balmorhea's frontier wonderment - The Austin Chronicle

Music: Into the Wild: Balmorhea's frontier wonderment - The Austin Chronicle

Music Festival Schedule | SXSW.com

Music Festival Schedule SXSW.com

El Paso Times Article About This Site - Aug. 2, 2008

(Click Link to View)

Please send us your pictures and stories to:

winmkt2@swbell.net

The El Paso Times did a nice article about the site:
http://www.elpasotimes.com/living/ci_10071391

Soon I will be launching a new site that will showcase

some of the bands that are currently playing in Texas.

www.musiciansoftexas.com

The Sounds Royale Reunion - April, 2007

The Sounds Royale - 1973

The Hyatt Regency San Francisco - 1973

(Click Image to View)

This was the first place that our Sounds Royale Show played on the

road. It was a two week gig, as I recall - at Christmas time, 1973.

The name of the room was The Happenstance Showplace

and the group that had just finished playing there was

some of our old friends that we got to know in El Paso - the

"We Five"

Submitted by Rick Kern

The Happenstance Showplace - Hyatt Regency, SF

(Click Image to View)

The We Five, The Sounds Royale, Gary & Company,

Frank Ricci, The Originals International,

Stewart Little. This was a three to four month

line up for the Happenstance - Hyatt Regency, San

Francisco in 1973. This was the Sounds Royale

first official (on the road) job - a great show room.

Submitted by Rick Kern

The Sounds Royale Show - May, 1974

(Click Image to View)

This was one of our performances probably at

the Golden Pheasant in Anaheim, CA. in 1974.

L to R: Rick Kern, Gayle Hageman, Debbie

Wilson, Sam Stephenson and Tedd McKeever.

Submitted by Sam Stephenson

The Sounds Royale Show - 1974 (Anaheim, CA)

(Click Image to View)

The Sounds Royale Show had really nice memories of this

show room. It was right by Anaheim Stadium. The most

memorable event that happened there was the night Debbie

was being featured on Jesus Christ Superstar's (I Don't Know

How to Love Him) You have to picture this - there's a pin spot

shining right on Debbie (while sitting on a tall stool). You could hear

a pin drop - she really had the crowd right where she wanted. Then

as we begin our crescendo for the big ending, we hear a loud

commotion coming from the entrance to the room. It was two

guys and a girl totally nude (streaking across the room). Needless

to say, we didn't finish the song. In fact, we said please stick around.....

we'll be back in fifteen with a new show.

We never saw the streakers again...

Submitted by Rick Kern

Elvis - Sahara Lake Tahoe (Rick's group - Tapestry)

(Click Image to View)

June, 1974

During our 6 week engagement:

"Elvis" "Diana Ross and The Supremes" "The Fifth Dimension"

"The Jackson Five" and "Isaac Hayes"

This was a great gig!

(Look at the You-Tube video of Elvis at the Sahara

in the right margin)

Submitted by Rick Kern

Tapestry - June, 1974

Rick Kern & "Shorty" Sammy Davis Jr. Drummer - 1975

Rick Kern and "Shorty" the drummer for

Sammy Davis Jr. This was shot after a

Sammy Davis Jr. show that my wife and I

attended in Phoenix (Theater In the Round)

I believe it was in 1975.

Submitted by Rick Kern

Tapestry - Sahara, Lake Tahoe - 1974

Submitted by Rick Kern

The Jackson 5 - Sahara, Lake Tahoe - 1974

(Click Image to View)

Submitted by Rick Kern

The Jackson 5 - Sahara, Lake Tahoe - 1974

(Click Image to View)

L-R Sharon Kern, Johnny Jackson, Curt Hespe

and Jackie Hespe - visiting with the Jackson 5

in their dressing room after a show.

Submitted by Rick Kern

The Jackson 5 - Sahara, Lake Tahoe - 1974

(Click Image to View)

This shot was of the Jackson 5 performing

at the Sahara. Michael Jackson was 16.

I couldn't shoot with flash and there was

obviously lots of movement - so this was

about the best quality I was able to get.

Submitted by Rick Kern

Tapestry - Sahara, Lake Tahoe - 1974

.(Click Image to View)

L-R Rick Kern and Johnny Jackson (drummer

for the Jackson 5) This was shot in our dressing

room between shows. The Jackson 5 were at the

Sahara for one of the six weeks we were there.

We had a great time with them and I must say

they were one of the most cordial and out going

of all of the 'big names' we got to know on the road.

Submitted by Rick Kern

Tapestry - Sahara Lake Tahoe, June 1974

(Click Image to View)

Top Image: Tapestry at the Sahara

Curt Hespe, Rick Kern, Dan Evans

Middle Image: Command Performance

Command Performance was with out a

doubt, one of the best vocal show groups

in the 70's. Our group was asked by CP

to perform with them in Winnipeg, Manitoba

just a few months after meeting them in

Lake Tahoe. We were at the Sahara and they

were performing at Harrahs, across the street.

Submitted by Rick Kern

Tapestry - Marco Island, Florida - 1975

(Click Image to View

(Click Image to View)

L-R Curt Hespe, Rick Kern and Dan Evans

Marco Island, Florida was one of the premier

places to perform. We were right on the gulf

side of Florida. The sunsets, people and pina

coladas were fabulous!

Submitted by Rick Kern

(Click Image to View)

"Swanee, How I Love Ya, How I Love Ya,

My Dear Old Swanee"

Submitted by Rick Kern

Tapestry - Recording in Hollywood (1977)

Left to Right: Danny Miller, Jerry Johnson,

Danny Evans, Rick Kern - recording

"What Am I Gonna Do If It Comes Out Country?"

Tapestry - 1978

(Click Image to View)

Left to Right: Rick Kern-Drums/Vocals

Dan Evans-Guitar/Keyboards/Vocals

Jerry Johnson-Guitar/Bass/Keyboards/Vocals

Danny Miller-Guitar/Banjo/Vocals

This was Rick Kern's last vocal-show group

on the road. They played mainly clubs and

show-rooms throughout Orange County, CA.

and the San Bernadino Valley. The songs that

are available to be heard in the right margin of

this site were two of our originals.

Mike Stone, Wony Jung, Rick Kern - 1977

Mike Stone was Phil Spector's (famous record

producer) body-guard. See the You-Tube Story

about Mike and Priscilla Presley in the right margin.

These pictures were shot after one of our Tapestry

performances in LA. Mike was dating Wony at the time.

She was the drummer of an all girl group called "The

Dae Han Sisters." Our group alternated shows with

them when we were touring Canada. Submitted by Rick Kern

Rick Kern taking drum lessons from Louis Bellson

This was one of my highlights

of being on the road- the opportunity

to study with one of the greatest

drummers in the world - Louis Bellson

(Check out his solos on YouTube - in

the right column below my Tapestry

YouTube videos)

Johnny Carson's Drummer - Ed Shaughnessey

I got to study with Ed at Dick

Groves Music Conservatory

in Studio City, CA - he's another

awsome drummer!

Rick Kern and Ed Shaughnessey after one of my lessons.

Submitted by Rick Kern

TAPESTRY - After Performance in Springfield, Ohio

Liebert and Guy Lombardo after seeing the

Tapestry Show in 1976

(Click Image to View)

Tapestry Album

Album Cover Design by Sharon Nelson Kern

Tapestry Album

(Click Image to View)

This was an album that we did at Queen City

Studios in Cincinnatti, Ohio - 1975.

Submitted by Rick Kern

No, It's Not "Tammy and The Bachelor" - It's Debbie and Rick

(Click Image to View)

Did you know that Debbie Reynolds is from El Paso,

Texas? Her only living relative from El Paso (an uncle),

had passed away right before this picture was shot.

She told me that now she had no reason to ever return to

El Paso. Maybe she might consider coming here and doing

a show sometime.

Submitted by Rick Kern

Our Two Musicians of El Paso - UT PROUD!!

Our son Ricky graduated

from UT Austin in 2007

with a BS in Radio-Television-

Film and Business Foundations

from the Red McCombs School

of Business. He's a great photo-

grapher, web designer and

does pre and post video pro-

duction. You can see his work at:

http://www.rickkern.net/
Submitted by Rick & Sharon Kern

(Click Image to View)

This is the "Grand Daddy" of Graduations!

Put this moment along with the "Eyes of

Texas" being sung by the best college choir

and symphony in the country equals

Major Goose Bumps (GO HORNS!!)

Photo by Rick Kern Jr.

Commentary by Proud Dad

Our daughter Nicole just
graduated May, 2008,
from UT Austin. She has
a BA Degree in History with
an additional Concentration
in Film Studies. She's a great
Cellist, plays in two popular
Austin bands and does great
work at the PBS station and
Austin City Limits...stay tuned!

Nicole Kern - playing with "Balmorhea"

El Pasoan Nicole Kern (daughter of Rick & Sharon

Kern) has just become a band member of one of Austin's

most popular bands - "Balmorhea" She is also still playing

with "Alex Dupree and the Trapdoor Band" They will be doing

a concert at the Granada Theater in Dallas Friday, May 9, 2008.

They are seen here practicing without the drummer.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=113313394

Submitted by Rick Kern

Sonny Melendrez - SonnyRadio.com

One of El Paso's Best - Sonny Melendrez

is one of the best DJ's to ever talk on the air-waves.

He left El Paso quite a few years ago to go to Los Angeles.

He worked at KTLA radio. My wife and I would listen to

him on the radio while driving home from my gigs in the

early A.M. hours. He later went on to work for Disney

and had a show called "You and Me Kid" We have a fond

memory of him coming to El Paso to Bassett Center and

brought Mickey & Minnie with him. He took our son

up on stage with him. He was only about 6 months at

the time - he's almost 25 now! Yeow!! Sonny is currently

living in San Antonio and has been an inspiration and

supporter of this site. Click on his Link below.

Submitted by Rick Kern

http://www.sonnyradio.com/

(Click Image to View)

Nicole Kern playing cello with "Balmorhea"

Nicole Kern - "Balmorhea" in Concert

(Click Image to View)

El Pasoan (and our daughter) Nicole Kern is playing with Austin, Tx.

band "Balmorhea". This show was at the Granada Theater in Dallas

5/9/08. Recording sessions are in the works this summer and a tour

that may bring them through El Paso.

Submitted by Rick Kern

http://flickr.com/photos/photosbyamanda/tags/balmorhea/

Nicole Kern - recording a movie soundtrack

(Click Image to View)

Balmorhea was asked to do the sound track

for George Berman's movie "Dog Pound" to

be released in the spring. He had seen them

perform two concerts in France during their

recent European tour. We went to Austin to

see Nicole and the group lay down tracks.

The technology has really improved compared

to what we used back in the 70's.

Submitted by Rick Kern

Nicole at the board - checking one of her tracks...

Yeah! I like that...

Submitted by Rick Kern