My rock band White Summer
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MY BAND
I have published eight previous Hubs about my life as a musician and in five of them featured links to videos of my band on YouTube. I was a professional singing drummer for 22 years. I gave it up as a career a long time ago and now only play once a year, when we perform our annual White Summer Reunion Concert, which alternates between Michigan, where the band is from, and Florida, where the band moved its home base for the second half of my career.
I cannot claim any fame.
I am a notch below a has been—a
never was. That is because we failed in our
mission. So, I am a failure. Nonetheless, we had a marvelous time
entertaining people by creating the magic on stage that is music. We recorded five albums of all original
material; and we performed live thousands of times, including a lot of concerts
as an opening act. In Michigan and
Florida at least, where we were best known, we were a pretty big band for a
long time. And I will add that Eric Clapton and Neil Young loved our group. So there.
It was costly to be a traveling musician. Years on the road will take a toll on one's personal relationships. And you don't make much money. But there is an ineffable joy in being on stage with a great band making music; and looking out at the faces in the audience and realizing how moved they are by the songs. I miss playing music; I miss the applause; I miss being, and being known as, a musician. Maybe that's why I am writing about it and sharing some of my songs. This is an unusual mixture of melancholy and joy—and always was.
I thought I might share two songs with you today. The few actual videos the band made are lost, along with all of our masters—long story. But I have a load of White Summer CDs and from them I made videos with images of the band and of strangers.
MOONDANCE
The first song is a White Summer remake of the great tune by Van Morrison, Moondance. We were never into being copyists. We would listen to songs and each of us would play it the way we heard it in our own souls. As you will hear, even on songs we didn't write, every tune we played was a White Summer original when it came out—for better or for worse. This song was recorded live surreptitiously, meaning, we didn't know we were being recorded. So it is a bootleg recording that came into my possession—made on a simple cassette deck. But don't let that scare you off. It sounds pretty good. That is Steve Douglass from Cincinnati on vocals; Jimmy Schrader, like me from Benton Harbor, Michigan, on guitar; Danny Frye from Boston on Keyboards; and Donnie Brown from Los Angeles on bass. And that's me beating the drums. And I mean that literally. So this is how we sounded live but a lot louder. A lot louder. We were a very loud band but not bad loud. Good loud. Our sound was clean and without piercing frequencies or distortion. So turn it up!
VICTORIA
The other song I will present today is a little number that I wrote—or created, as I prefer to say. It is entitled Victoria. This was recorded in studio and appeared on our fifth and final album. That's me singing all of the vocal parts. A special thanks to Danny Frye for his big keyboards.
WHITE SUMMER
For those who have further interest in our music, and brief stories about my so-called career in music, I will provide links to three of the previous Hubs I published, the so-far-least-visited among them, of course—though not by lack of relative merit.
One of them features remakes of All Along The Watchtower spawned by the Jimi Hendrix version but written by Bob Dylan; and Green River by Creedence Clearwater Revival. I threw in a little song Jimmy Schrader and I wrote called Running from the Light. Jimmy Schrader was born blind and played in my band for 16 years. He was the star of the band, as he was and is a tremendously gifted guitar player. I entitled the Hub White Summer II.
Another one you might like has only two songs linked from it and they are both original compositions from our last album. The songs are Mother Earth and Without Love. You can hear them by going to White Summer III.
Finally, I created a Hub about our third album with links to videos of four songs we created called More and More; Shine Again; One Thing; and Dream for You. This can be found by clicking on this link: White Summer: The Red Album.
Thank you for your patience. I'm not trying to bore anybody. I'll be leaving this Earth soon and this is my way of leaving a piece of who I am behind. I hope it is a tasty morsel.
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Comments
Loved the hub, dreams of adequacy remembered :) I never got to play but I carried the boxes for a few good bands who were never really gonna make it. Glad to see you carrying on being creative here.
Hey-more than a ten trick pony this guy-most impressive.It seems to be the trend now for bands to get back together-so what's stopping you?Eric Clapton liked you -can't come better than that.
My son currently gigging around the place-very loud band!
On youtube 'Mighty Atomics'-he's the good looking one-says she with maternal pride.
RE. leaving the earth soon-Are you okay?
You are anything but a failure. You have reached peaks that some of us only dream of. You have a great deal of talent.
James,
I like your sound. It sounds like on Moondance you guys could have played jazz if that had been your penchant.
Hi James - Enjoyed the read and will check out the soundtracks after work tonight. You're still performing though; it's just that you've changed your medium. I was playing fairly regularly here in Qatar up until last year when unfortunately our venue was closed down. So now it's back to the apartment and the long-suffering terrapin...
Good stuff! What a great past to have! What do you mean you'll be leaving this earth soon?!?
Hail master.
James, this part of your life is not surprising at all to me. I picture you as the star-studded young kid down the block who had all the talent, all the get-up and go to set up his own band (I know White Summer was a collaboration and when you get with young people ideas fly all over the place, but someone had to lead out). Twenty-five thousand people at your last gig? WOW! Those YouTube videos are outstanding. I spent some time just studying the photographs you put on, they are very artistic, some of the best I've seen. Eric Clapton and Neil Young loved your group. You traveled in special company. Your sound is great, and you had it all as far as I am concerned. Still do. You sang and drummed across America for 20 years. What an experience. You learned a lot about people in that time, enough to run for office. Why don't you run for governor? Forget that God-forsaken place we call Washington. You're too good for that. Don White
I am going to share this with my hubby. He loves books and music although he has very eclectic taste, his favorites are Jimmy Buffett and James Taylor. I only had time to listen to Victoria kinda reminds me of a cross between Rick Springfield and James Taylor. I really enjoyed it. Talent abounds with you!
HiJames
What a great tribute to your band. Being a Rock Star is tough work. My oldest brother like you has both talent and a fathomless love for music. He was in a band in P.R. while we were growing up. Always dreamed of making it Big. Today he's worked for billboard and now does sound for Julio Iglesias. I imagine you both having similar pasts.
Loved your music and nostalgic memories.
poetlorraine— Thank you for being my first visitor! I am amazed by you. I have never seen anyone rack up more than 200 fans on HubPages in one month! WOW! And I love your comments. I'll keep unraveling. :D
cally2— Hello New Zealand! Look, I've gone international! :)
Thank you for your kind comments. We had a roadie who we gave his first job in the music business and he went farther and further than we did. Mark Kuntz has been all over the world with many BIG groups. So, he became greater as we became lesser.
yeah and look what i did for you...... found this and everyone followed yipeeeeeeeeee how is your wife, every time i look at your holiday picture with your shirt and tie on, and see you are around a lot, i wonder if she is o.k. or are you at home looking after her...... please give her a hug from me
itakins— Thank you for tuning in to my little vanity project. I am going to check out your son the Mighty Atomics.
We were playing at Sloppy Joe's in Key West when someone told me Eric Clapton was at the bar. I didn't believe it but I went over and there he was! He said, "You guys are the best band I ever heard in a bar." He also ASKED if he could come the next night and jam with us. I called a hundred of my friends the next day to brag about it but alas: he didn't show up! :(
I think I have a some time left but the sands in the hourglass are running out. But that's OK. It's been a great run. I appreciate your remarks.
advisor4qb— Thank you, dear. You have a fine voice yourself. I appreciate your uplifting words. :-)
Tom Whitworth— Thank you. Steve Douglass was a jazz singer by trade. He slummed it with us for a few years when our agent said we either needed a front man and I needed to come out front and hire a drummer. No way I was giving up my drums. After that I sang about 1/3 of our tunes.
Paraglider— I had forgotten that you were a guitarist—and Flamenco at that. I love it! That poor terrapin! Thank you for coming by and checking out my art. I appreciate it, Dave.
Lily Rose— Yea, I'm becoming one of those old men looking for someone to tell his old tales to. Thank God for HubPages! :D
Thanks for visiting and commenting. I'm running on empty but still running. Only with the little dogs now—one of whom is on my lap.
gusripper— Oh yes. I am a legend in my own mind. Thanks for coming.
we are having a party to celebrate my 200 fans on the forum can you come and play for us please
dusanotes— Thank you so very much for your affirmation. I feel better already! Hey, Eric Clapton is on TV right now. Yes, I was the band leader. Therein lies the problem! It's not easy keeping a group of "artistes" together. Thank you for the kind compliments about the videos. They are crude, to be sure, but I'm not much a computer person. It was the best I could do on short notice. :D
It really was a great experience that I have no regrets about, Don. Governor? I hadn't thought about that.
Tammy Lochmann— I hope hubby digs it. Thank you for placing my song in such good company. I'm glad you enjoyed it and I appreciate you for coming by to visit and leaving your words here.
Bail Up ! — Nice to hear from you. The band once did a three month stretch in the Keys. We rotated between Sloppy Joe's, Dirty Harry's and Rumrunners in Key West; and a club on Big Pine Key that was owned by Don Henley's cousin that I forget the name of.
Yes, we had dreams. That reminds me of a great Allman Brothers song made even better by Molly Hatchet that we used to play our version of, which was halfway between the two.
Thank you very much for your comments. Say HI! to your brother for me.
poetlorraine— Thank for leading the people astray. :) My wife struggles with Parkinsons and has good days and bad days. Other than Israel, I haven't traveled since she fell ill. Thanks for asking. And as I am unemployed, I am home most all the time. On HubPages.
poetlorraine— Sure! I rarely miss a good party. Any requests?
what can you play well....... i like bowie, or lennon or some such sloppy kinda thing
I can sing a killer version of "Space Oddity." I think that was one of our best covers, though much ballsier than the original. For sloppy I'd do "Wild Thing."
You just mentioned my three favorite places in KW , may be the "No Name Pub" in BPK.
HaHa I use to listen and love Molly Hatchet - Flirting with Disaster !
You're a cool dude! Rock on!!! :)
I never thought I come down my comment. Your fan are too many. I am surprise about this revelation and sure many are as well. I sure you miss it all and it must have been geat fun and a great experience. I am sure you were great. Less of the modesty. Thank you for giving an insight of that experience.
Methinks thyself too modest, good friend. Besides I've sat in with you on more than one occasion and know from substantial show biz experience this is simply not true.
Did you know that Eric Patrick Clapton was rated #4 in the "100 Greatest Guitar Players of All Time"? Article in Rolling Stone magazine, September 2003, authored by Pete Townsend, no less.
So, if we are judged by the company we keep, it would seem that YOUR company has been kept by those of rather exalted status.
On the other hand, the unmatched brilliance of Les Paul weighs in at only #46 with (alas) no Chet Atkins to be seen. Or Johnny Lang, for that matter.
Bail Up ! — The Pelican Post!
you owe me big time........ glad this thread is still going x
lancelonie— Thanks for the love!
Hello, hello,— It was a great and fun experience. I like to spring a surprise once and a while. It keeps things interesting. Thank you very much for your comments and you are welcome.
ArchDynamics— Hey! Ladies and Gentlemen, this man taught me—over the computer—how to make these videos of my music!
Clapton is surely one of the best, Scott. And Les Paul was in the control room during an afternoon of our sessions on my very first album, in Kalamazoo. I think Chet Atkins was great. huh
Thank you for coming by, brother. I appreciate you!
poetlorraine— I do! I do! You let me know what I can do for you.
just keep being the hubber you are brilliant
James! Awesome hub! I have told you before how much I loved your music.
I wanted to say something that may bring a different light? I know life and responsibilities always take away "center stage," but what I have learned is if you do not do something you love (which I feel music was a HUGE part of your life especially performing), you will always miss it. It is a deep core longing and it never goes away.
I think it would be great for you to play once in a while.........even if it is at a local dive. I only perform once in a while.......and now I'm recording again with some very wellknown and talented people. Fame was never what I wanted even when I was in and out of record deals and the Hollywood shuffle my first time around......what makes me happiest is "creating, writing and recording." Ofcourse I'm still out there in "the shuffle" right now.;
You accomplished so much even though you think you didn't (that is what makes you so great) and it shows in your writing. You put yourself out there and are very honest. You should pat yourself on the back for all of the music you shared! I think you are "divine." Best, G
I like Victoria more so than Moon Dance. Great job, James, creating such a fantastic piece of music and poetry.
Great stuff
poetlorraine— "Shining Star for you to see, what are lives could truly be"
James, a failure, I think not! You are multi-talented and have loved what you have done! You have a lot of fan's James, both of your music and writing! White Summer was quite an accomplishment, most bands don't ever make it out of garages, let alone into bars, clubs and then able to open for top name bands. As for leaving this Earth soon, I certainly pray it won't be for a very long time! I enjoy your articles and music. I for one would miss you very much!
GPAGE— Thank you! It's always a joy to hear from you. A real American success story. :)
Thanks for the compliment regarding my music. I have been thinking about playing again. I gave my drums to my son and he took them to Michigan. But he's not using them. I like Danny's idea of a Band of Gypsys tribute band.
I look forward to hearing what you're recording. I'll get it on CD so I can listen to it in my car or in my office. Still no sound on the computer. :(
I will confess that I did want fame—not personally, for the band. For Jimmy Schrader. I haven't written a song this last album flopped. I just shut that part of my brain down. But I would love to play.
It may look odd that I keep using the same photos. These are all I have. We went on the road for a few years in 1987 and I had a huge collection of photos and memorabilia, our master tapes and videos, most of what I owned, in a storage place. Our manager "forgot" to pay the little bill—like forty bucks a month—and they threw it all away. Bummer.
Divine. What a fine thing to say. You always enhance my day. Thank you.
Douglas— Well, thank you for your kind compliments. I really appreciate you listening and leaving your words here.
drcrischasse— Thank you! Thank you very much! (Elvis has left the building.)
Kebennett1— "Fly me to the moon"
Thank you for the love and the accolades. I feel much better now. I think God is going to call me home. And suddenly. Of course, I don't know when. But before I go, I have something to say. And I'm doing it here on HubPages! :D
James,
E Clapton showed a huge lack of courtesy by doing that-but I suppose the poor guy did have an alcohol problem-!
Anyway,don't be in any rush to depart from us .
You have to do something with that music-see it as a service to humanity-sharing is caring!!
Gosh your fans, I never thought down to it. Just stopping to say congratulation for being on number one Hubpage, but I am surprised.
Nice hub, Victoria sounds pretty big even on the tiny little speaker in my work computer. Great stuff.
Hi Dad!
Very nice! Victoria is a beautiful song and has always given me chills, even when I was little....it's haunting in a way.
Oh and I love the stache!
Love ya!
Sarrah
Beautiful music! I liked both songs and I think that if you 've been a musician once in your life you are always a musician!! Great work! :D
itakins— I think his handlers probably talked him out of it. He had to leave after a hour because he was getting mobbed at the bar. So, I forgive him. :)
A service to humanity. I like that. Thank you for your kind comments.
Hello, hello,— Thank you so much for the congrats. I am surprised, too. Well, my blessings keep on coming. I see one now. :-)
matiano_9— I have to say this: you look an awful lot like my son, Adam. :-)
I like your comment. Sounds big on a tiny speaker. Thanks! It's the old wall of sound plan.
I appreciate the visit.
Sarrah— It is a joy to hear from you, honey. I know how hard it is to break away from your entourage! :D
Maybe I'll go back to the stache. Thank you for your kind words about my song. I never knew you liked it. That's gratifying to know.
Love you!
Dad
Wild cherry— Thank you! How kind of you to visit, listen, and let me know you enjoyed my work. That makes it all worthwhile. I appreciate you.
Oh My Goodness and he can sing too! Being a lover of music I enjoyed listening to your work. Really good stuff and by no means are you a failure. You only fail when you quit and you dont sound like a quitter to me.
James, what a multi-faceted individual you are.
Many blessings to you and yours.
Write on. :)
T.D. Mitchell— Love your new avatar. Beautiful! I'll keep on as best I can. Thank you for visiting and commenting.
GRivers— He sings! He dances! I'm not quitting yet. Especially when I get encouragement from you. Thank you so much!
This is quite interesting ! I am glad that I visited one of your hubs from a different element. I see another facet of your personality here. Music balances out your temperament! It gives you a natural outlet to express. Very Good! I can hear you got rhythm; nice drum beat! Luv, that soft jazz sound… I have a son who is a gifted drummer as well as a talented Graphic Designer! We always have had piano, organ, keyboards, drums… I was always asked how is it having drums? Well it was wonderful! He can play, so can you! I am not a rocker but that was a nice song “Victoria” with Great vocals! Although Gospel is His forte, My husband has mastered and can play any and all types of music or anything with a keyboard. I lean to playing “classical.” I am thankful to have a musical family who are also computer heads! LOL
We took a Gospel Group on tour to Switzerland for 21 days. It was wonderful & challenging. I acquired more patience. But I must say overall it was so rewarding ……. I can only imagine how that would be on a continuum ..
This was a treat! It always fascinates me the sounds and tones music emanates from instruments. Music is a language in itself… The Lord has truly gifted you in many areas! Thank you for sharing. Again Wonderful job! In His Love , Blessings
DeBorrah K. Ogans— I see you are blessed with an abundance of musical talent in your family. That's great! Yes, if I have frustrations, there is nothing like giving the drums a good hammering. :-)
Thank you for complimenting my art and artistry. You never fail to encourage. What a lovely soul you are. I knew you and your husband has a music ministry but I didn't know you took it on the road. That's impressive. I think I listened to a song of his months ago.
Music is fascinating. You are welcome and thank you for your dependable graciousness.
Switzerland!? That would be awesome to perform there for few weeks. I have only been as a tourist.
In the past, we have recorded many of the San Francisco Bay Gospel Artists as the Executive Producers, I am sure you know all that entails... We selected both traditional and contemporary Gospel compositions! Our latest is “Beyond the Walls.” In your leisure it is our only instrumental recording. Let me know what you think? We wanted something for everyone this is what takes “Ministry Beyond the Walls” !
Switzerland, was absolutely beautiful! It was well promoted & We had very wonderful hosts …. The air was so crisp, clean and refreshing, wonderful to have experienced the Swiss Alps. ( I feel a hub coming on) I luv the architecture in Switzerland! We were invited to beautiful cathedrals and …… we were even invited to a palace for dinner….
Back to your hub! James again this was a wonderful hub ! It really is wonderful as a child of God to experience so many dimensions of life here on this side of heaven . It is my pray that the Lord keeps you here for a long time. I am sure He has much more for you to do. Again you bring a plethora of fantastic interesting topics to hubpages! I am sure there are many that agree. Keep them coming. Again till next time Blessings!
I have the impression that you had a lot of fun with this band, that you went your own way, things that are much more important than commercial success.
James, you are a man of surprises. I like this hug revealing another side of you and I liked the music.
DeBorrah K. Ogans— So, you are out in the Bay Area? For some reason I thought y'all lived in Sarasota. Now I see, you went to school there. Your web site is dynamite; I mean, that it is top-notch.
I want to see that Hub on the Switzerland trip!
My spirit is uplifted by your words.
nextstopjupiter— I surely did have a lot of fun. Priceless! And you are very perceptive: we did do it our own way, that's generally true. It was an adventure (you'll appreciate that). Thanks for your comments. I enjoyed reading them. And I love your travel Hubs.
Pamela99— If you liked it then I'm gratified. Thanks for listening and letting me know your feelings. Always good to hear from you.
I am disarmed even more then the last hub I read of yours.... You humble yourself and yet seem like a great force relaying your conviction....
Where to go from here since I am commenting on more then this hub of yours.
Hub and rub a dub in a tub.
dara— You are quite the poet there, kid. :) A great force, huh? Gee, nobody ever called me a great force before. I kind of like that.
Thank you for coming by to visit and for your encouragement. You are loved and appreciated.
I'm a big fan of 60s and 70s pop & rock and some of the early 80s but also like some new stuff. Your early band pics look to be from the late-70s/early-80s but I'm guessing.
I plinked around with a band in the late 70s but I was too distracted to stick with it. The band that continued-on without me called their selves "Black Diamond" originally but changed their name to "Fox" because the first name obviously belongs to a guitar-string manufacturer and they didn't want to infringe. Stangely enough, a band from the UK with same name did gain some fame in more recent years.
They went on to record a record (maybe more than one) but I don't believe they ever gained any real notoriety and made most of their money doing gigs.
My favorite band is the Beatles, followed by the Who and the Rolling Stones. I listened to them all growing up, including Hendrix, Doors, Pink Floyd, Cheap Trick, Ramones, Tom Petty-Heartbreakers etc...
Your band looks like it could churn out a diversity of tunes but your early pics look like you were capable of some groovy mellow ones (trying to sound cool now, in my old age).
Hi James,
All your hubs are a real delight to check out and most of them deserve to be bookmarked for life!
Especially the ones on history.
I recall after seeing your picture on top, that a guy called Tony Orlando used to resemble you! Remember "Dawn?"
JimLow— I'm a fan of the same music that you are. And yes, you guessed the age of those pics perfectly. Keen eye!
My band had the most diverse song list in history. We would go from James Brown to the Eagles to Black Sabbath in a heartbeat. We had 1000 songs and we would play virtually any request from the crowd as long as we had at least heard it. They called us the "all request band."
quicksand— Hey! It's been a while. Welcome back. I've just been biding my time; waiting for you to show up. :-)
Just kidding. Of course I remember Dawn. I've been told I resemble Christopher Reeve and David Koresh but never Tony Orlando. Thanks for the compliment. To Tony. :D
Excuse me Sir, you've got it wrong! I said Tony Orlando resembles you, and I was wondering if he had your permission to do so!
quicksand— Come to think of it, no. Maybe I should have my lawyer put an injunction on him to cease and desist.
If you were out & about in the seventies, I wonder if I ever heard you? Being in NE Texas, I didn't get to see many concerts except when somebody came to Little Rock or Shreveport. Very cool.
donotfear— We played in hundreds of towns but never in Texas. Only in the Southeast and the Midwest, and in Mexico. Our agent didn't book out west. We had a fair amount of radio play but I'm not aware that that happened in Texas either,so probably not. Thanks!
I enjoyed listening to your band James, particularly "Victoria". Even though I am not really into rock bands I am into friendships and I am glad to have shared a few special moments in your life with you. It was a gift and I thank God for this experience.
It was interesting to me that where your band is from, is where I am from, Michigan, and where your band moved its home base is where I now live, Florida.
Now, I must disagree with your statement, "I cannot claim any fame. I am a notch below a has been—a never was. That is because we failed in our mission. So, I am a failure."
I disagree because your music touched many lives and continue to do so even through this medium. In my mind, when our gifts touch people lives in positive, meaningful ways, it is success of the highest order. Maybe not in the worldly sense, but certainly in the Christian spiritual sense (which to me is the real). Thus, the way I see you is not as "a notch below a has been," but "a far above." Not "a never was," but "an always will be." Not “a failed mission," but a "mission that served it purpose."
Thanks again,
Love and hugs
RevLady— How gracious of you to tune in as a friend to music that is not your cup of tea. Now that is a selfless lady. You are always teaching! :)
I am glad you enjoyed my music. I agree with you, it was surely a gift from God with which I was blessed. Where in Michigan were you from?
Calling myself a failure was probably not a well-thought-out-outburst from somewhere. While we failed to achieve the goals we set out for ourselves, we made some great music and made countless people happy—if only for a few hours in this short, nasty, brutish life (Hobbes). :)
I love the words in your last paragraph. Why, you've turned around my whole morning!
I was just now perusing your web site and I do want to say God Bless You for helping the lost with issues of dying, hospice, death, funeral arrangement, grief. See, when I was lollygagging around having fun you were down comforting people during the toughest days in human life cycle. That is a life well lived.
I respect your work and added blog to favorites
poetlorraine says:
2 weeks ago
you are so full of surprises. Lisstening to you singing, and a drummer...... lovely to have you on hub pages, the unravelling of you, is such fun... keep on enjoying life, as you obvioulsy do.... nice one