The History of Rock Music
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Why I am writing about the history of rock music
It was just before Christmas in 1966 when my future was altered by an unlikely event. A young man owed my father money but couldn't come up with it. He had a brand new, huge set of Rogers drums that he offered instead to square the debt. My dad had absolutely no use for drums but figured he could sell them for more than he was owed. So, he had the young man set them up in our living room for display and intended to run an ad in the newspaper to find a buyer.
I came home from school that day and, since I was all alone, sat on the drums and began to play. And I could play them—much to my surprise. I already had my heart set on becoming a singer in a rock n' roll band. I had tried and failed to master the guitar. My father came home and caught me playing those drums and said, "Son, do you want those drums for Christmas?" I certainly did. And that is how I became a drummer. And here I am 43 years later writing about the History of Rock Music.
From the Beatles to the Jimi Hendrix Experience
When I was nine years old my babysitter—who happened to be gorgeous—told me she had something that I just had to hear. The Beatles. I did not know what that was. But I was immediately hooked. The songs were great and fresh; the band members looked very cool; but mostly, it was my babysitters reaction that sold me. If they could have that effect on her, I wanted to love it, too. And I wanted to learn how to produce that effect on gorgeous girls someday, too.
Around three years later, my cousin John Baker called me over to his house and into his room. He solemnly told me that he had something I needed to hear. It was the Jimi Hendrix Experience. By then I had been playing the drums about a year to mostly Beatles records. When I heard Mitch Mitchell swinging on those drums, I was in open-mouthed awe. It was like nothing before it. And the guitar? I don't think I need to comment on that. Otherworldly. But what was even more shocking was all that sound coming from only three musicians.
Cream & Grand Funk Railroad
By 1970, Cream had become one of my favorite bands and all of the musicians I knew felt the same way. Their music was very melodic and yet haunting and mysterious. It was the first time I heard musicians raving about a bass player; as in Jack Bruce. Another appeal was the fact that this was, again, just a three piece band. How self-contained they were! Instead of the orchestra sound (or "wall of sound" as producers would say) it was the sound of powerful individuals coming to the fore.
But I was a boy from Michigan, so what really inspired me (and many of my friends) was the arrival on the scene of Grand Funk Railroad. A power trio from my home state that made it big! It gave us the hope that we too could follow in their footsteps. Three piece bands sprouted up around town. Singing with the gusto of Mark Farner would prove to be a mighty tall order—even if he was short. My own band played every single song from their first three albums at high school dances around my area.
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Comments
Roman,
Thank you, sir. Do you have a Hub Page?
james
James, thanks for the history lesson. I'm glad to find out how you got started on the drums. - Yo - Da - Man! Keep on drumming!
John,
Thank you for posting your gracious comment. You are welcome. I do hope you gave me a "Thumbs Up!"
james
James (or should I say "Jimmy") -
I haven't been a real fan Rock, I mean - enough to know names, bands, etc. O course, I have some favorite tunes and I recongnize some artist - but for the most part I couldn't tell you a Cream from a Grand Funk Railroad or a Mark Farner from a Jimmy Watkins. Pretty sorry for a baby boomer.
But now that I know you - it's a different story. Be patient (and sympathetic). I'm now a devotee of this blog and "White Summer!" I'll catch up.
Rock On! Brother Jimmy!
PS - you're going to have to educate me on this hub stuff! I do have a facebook so I'm not totally out of it.
Bob,
Thank you for viewing my page, for your support and for your honesty. More to come soon.
James
Two thumbs up!! Although I knew most of that story from years past, you put it into words very nicely here for others to follow.
WTG!!
Wanda
Wanda,
Thank you, dear, for your kind words. Stay Tuned.
James
Thanks. I enjoyed reading about how you got started playing drums. This is a very happy story and it worked...did it not? Many gorgeous ladies went crazy over you. I also like your layout...very nice and easy to read.
You will have to educate me on Hub stuff too.
I should know Grand Fuck Railroad since I am from Michigan as well, but then again I was kind of out of it.
I got my books!
Dara,
You are most welcome! I think you may have had a Freudian slip in your comment. Thank you for your gracious words. More to come soon.
James
I think drummers are so cool!!! They are truly the heart and soul of any band, just look at Don Henley...I think you are the coolest of all...I'm so glad I got to know you, I think you are great....Good work on the hub, you are just like David, perfect at everything that you do...It must run in the family!!! LOL
Johnnie,
As soon as my feet get back on the ground, I will go to work trying to somehow measure up to these lofty accolades!
James
I like this site. It's well put together. Not too sure what a hub is (did you mean hub cap?). Anyway, keep it up; and it's nice to finally hear how you became a drummer.
RJ,
Thank you. yea, hub cap, that's it.
Hi James,
I would have given just about anything for a set of drums.
I read this hub with great interest. The most impressive of the drummers I have seen, was the guy who played along with Carlos Santana. I believe his name was Greg Roile. Saw him perform with Santana's band in the documentary "Woodstock."
Thumbs up!
quciksand- I appreciate your interest. Michael Shrieve is the Santana drummer to which you refer. Greg Rollie was the singer and keyboard who went on to become a founding member of Journey.
Hi James, this guy was only 15 years old when he performed with Santana in Woodstock. They did a brilliant rendition of Soul Sacrifice.
quicksand- I did not know he was that young! Santana was extremely hot at Woodstock
i feel mezmerized seing someone playing drums, of all the musical instruments, its what i dreamed of learning how to play, i just dont have the time and the resources. buy the way cool hub.
midnight bliss- Drums have been known to hypnotize! I love to watch the crowd move as I play them. I appreciate your compliment.
I suppose I'm a couple of years older than you - I was 10 when the Beatles started, or at least when they started having the huge hits, Love me do, She Loves you, etc... From that era, my favourite band was/is the Kinks, and from a little later, Jethro Tull. Never could get on with drums but I've played guitar and flute all my life. Thanks for this hub.
Paraglider— I was born into this earthly realm in 1955. I also loved the Kinks and Jethro Tull. "Aqualung" is one of the all time best rock albums in my book. I still listen to it from time to time. Nice to meet another artist. Thanks for your remarks.
I was minted in '52. Did you pick up on Ray Davies's 'Storyteller' album in 2000? Ray's retrospective on the Kinks. Worth seeking out.
Aspiring story. The Hub rocks..1
Paraglider— I have not heard that album. I will check it out. Thanks for the tip.
DRG— Hey man, I appreciate you saying so.
Hi there - I enjoyed reading this hub very much. We have age I'm estimating) and musical tastes in common. Your story of how you came to play the drums is very touching - for both you personally and the young man who had to clear his debt with those drums.
Iphihenia— Thank you for your appreciation of my story and your perception of events is astute.
cool history of rock and your early musician years. Very well written. We seem to have a lot in common. Besides spirituality, I am into rock and roll, and I was a disc jockey for12yrs. I never was gifted as a musician much to my chagrin. peace, mike
muley84— Thanks! I really liked the Hub of yours I read earlier today. I will go in and read some more. I appreciate your kind fan note, too.
James A Watkins - really enjoyed reading your potted history of music and how you came to beat the drums - look forward to reading more...cheers
ajcor— Thank you for your comments. Sorry for the delay in acknowledging but I was in Michigan to play a concert. Just got home.
James loved the hub . It might Interest you to know " Closer to Home " was the very first piece of vinyl I ever purchased with my allowance much to the chagrin of my Dad .
tony0724— That album is close to my heart. I once played every song on it live and the title song I have performed maybe 500 times. I love it! Thanks for your contribution.
Just call me Tony , James . I consider us friends here so we can get rid of the formalities !
You got it, Tony. I like you, man.
You know James,
We're both getting a little older now (50 something?) and so, I had to give this some thought before I said anything, but I remember that set of Rogers. I remember when you first started playing on them (it was before your Dad knew you were, remember)? Do you remember me coming over and you showing me how you were learning to play? (For those who don't know, Jim and I are cousins as well as past White Summer Band Mates).
Anyway, it wasn't but a short time before Jim was really tearing those drums up, but as young boys are prone to do, his dad didn't know at first that he was playing with them and I remember at first Jim was a little bit worried (since they were very expensive even during those days).
But, in all honesty, I must say that once “James Watkins Sr.” found out that Jim could play that set of drums he always backed up James Jr. in his musical endeavors emotionally and as well as financially (you have a father to be envied Jim, don’t never forget that).
Not only that, but James Sr. also did the same for me as well. In fact, James Sr. did more to help me in the financial part of my “White Summer” experience than anyone else (including my own parents), by providing $1000.00 for personal equipment for me to use (which until this day I am indebted to him for, Thank you James Sr.).
Perhaps I’m getting too personal for the web, but I want you to tell your dad James Sr.; that he was a hero to me back then and I did really appreciate all of his inspiration and help.
Just so all will know who I am,
David Wheeler
David— Thank you very much for remembering the contributions of my Father to all of our careers in the music business. Sadly, my recollection is that this very benevolent act is what split the band apart immediately after we released our first album when Rick Lowe's (our guitar player) mother convinced him that Mr. Watkins was ripping him off somehow.
My Father backed most of the major ventures my band, including recording expenses and concert expenses. I have always felt bad that Rick and his mom never saw this as it was. I appreciate you stepping forward now to acknowledge that Mr. Watkins only tried to help us as best he could. And he did a lot for us.
I love you Brother!
Yeah James, you and I agreed on that issue way back in 1976 and still do today. I just made it public to the world to honor your Father, James C Watkins.
Let me see? You and I had agreed upon giving a mere 10% of our earnings from performances to reimburse your Father for providing the funds for the first “White Summer Album” studio time, promotion and etc. but Rick tripped! “That was too much!”
Now, taking the studio cost alone ($2000) and considering we were mostly playing bars in which we each received $50 each per night (good pay for 1976); that equaled a whole $15 a night on the studio cost debt. Wow, now consider dividing $2000 by $15 which equals? What???
133.33 shows??? How could anyone think that that amount was “ripping him off somehow?” If we only played two nights a week twice a month it still would have been easy.
Sure we expected to make more in concert, but more would have been more for us also, as well as would have made it faster to reimbursed James Sr. for his generosity. And as I recall, there was no contract, you and I and Rick simply discussed it and decided that it was the right thing to do, but Rick (Little, Ha!); somehow missed it.
Your Father wasn’t trying to take a piece of the “White Summer” pie. There was no interest or penalties. Your Father was trying to help us to succeed.
You know the ironic thing about it? The one who squawked is the one who has hundreds of those albums for sale.
I’ve never received even one penny from sales of that album. Has Rick ever shared the proceeds he receives with your Father?
Ironic, huh?
I love you too, My Brother!
David— Actually what happened was, Rick agreed to this program before my Dad backed the project with his hard-earned cash. It was only right after the album was released that he balked. I honestly think the buzz about the album went to his head and he felt he could not be replaced. It ruined everything. Think how hard we worked; the endless hours we wrote, refined and rehearsed those songs. Shame. I never thought I needed a written contract with my brother Rick. I have never gotten a cent from it.
Ahh...this hub brings back memories!...and, we have a couple of things in common, James.
Just as your babysitter got you into the Beatles, one day my eldest brother Jack brought home a 45 rpm record. I never saw a 45 before this time but, he put it on the record player and next thing we heard was, "You ain't nothing but a hound dog...." (Elvis, of course). I became a child Rock n Roller, instantly! (Never touched my kiddie records again.) A handful of years later (and while I was still not yet a teenager), Chubby Checker came out with "The Twist" and the when the lyrics, "You should see my little sis...she really knows how to rock, she knows how to twist" played, Jack beamed with pride at his little sister's (my) ability to do the Twist.
The second thing we have in common: similar to your dad and the drum set, one day I found a blues harp (key of C) tucked away on top of a book in one of the book shelves. I asked my mom about it and she said it was my brother Tom's but he lost interest in it. I asked Mom whose it was. She said since she bought it, she figured it was hers. I asked if I could have it and she said "OK". I started playing it to whatever Beatles hits were in the key of C as well as hits of other artists in the key of C. I found I could play it by ear. In time, I purchased blues harps in all the keys so I could play along with many more hits. This is the instrument I play in my band.
Tina Irene— You play the harp in a band!? That's awesome! I love it.
We surely do have a lot in common. Isn't it interesting the little twists of fate that put us on certain paths in life.
I enjoyed your story. Thank you for adding it to this thread.
I really enjoy reading your hubs. I recently watched the documentary on "Woodstock" and like quicksand I was most impressed with Santana's drummer. Up until recently I had no idea Phil Collins played drums. I think the best part from most of the songs from the 70's were the drum solo's. I am sorry to say I have not heard any of your music but would really like to know where if any is available.
You're welcome, James. And you're right: those little "twists" (hee hee) sure ARE interesting.
SunShineSnow— Thank you! Santana was a great group, particularly on their "Abraxas" album, I thought. The drummer is smokin'. I have seen "Woodstock" many times and it is still a pleasure. I was invited to go and blew it off—much to my dismay a few days later. :)
I used to do drum solos. One of the best is Don Brewer's of Grand Funk. Our music was on Amazon up until a few years but not anymore. I have created and published 16 crude videos of our old songs on Hub pages under the four Hubs named White Summer (I, II, III, Red Album). Our first album is at myspace under "WhiteSummer1976."
Thank you for your interest. It is gratifying for me.
Roman Inochovsky says:
9 months ago
I was about to ask you how you got started playing the drums....and there you go, you gave me the explanation. Neat story!!
Keep it coming, James you are doing well.
Roman