Exclusive Interview: Paul Spiegelman, Best-Selling Author and Culture Executive

Originally published on February 13, 2015 at a Web site no longer in existence.  

By Aaron S. Robertson

Sought-after speaker, TV guest, author, contributor to a number of popular business magazines, and now fellow team member to this author, discusses the importance of organizational culture and what it truly means to have a values-driven business.

I thought the name ringed a little bell. I was familiar with some of his work, mostly his articles in a couple of business magazines. I never really got to dive into any of his books in real detail yet, but it’s certainly nothing against him – every other book author in the world has been deprived of my readership, as well, for a good amount of time now. It’s funny – for a guy who serves on his city’s library board, I can’t remember the last time I’ve read a book from beginning to end. No time. But I do love to learn and take in information any way that I can.

It was last summer, 2014, when we learned that Spectrum Communications, my full-time employer here in the Milwaukee area, had been acquired by Stericycle. That’s when I realized that Paul Spiegelman was now our chief culture officer.

Source: www.paulspiegelman.com

Having just graduated with my master’s degree in business management from Milwaukee’s Cardinal Stritch University in December 2013, I could easily relate to, and certainly appreciate, Paul’s insights and ideas concerning corporate culture. We both understand that when employees of a firm feel truly welcomed, appreciated, and engaged – when they feel like they’re given a real stake in the company and are a team member in the bigger scheme of things rather than merely someone’s direct report and tucked away in a corner somewhere – they’re going to be motivated to perform better and work harder. The company, in turn, performs better and works harder. Makes sense, right? But not everyone in business gets it yet. We’ll talk a little more about that later on here.

But though we both “get it,” Paul, at 56, has a bit more practical experience than I do when it comes to seeing and working with companies that operate, or did operate, under the old management style, in which the hard numbers dictate everything. For me, at 32 and still a recent college grad, this new approach to how we view business and life in general was naturally instilled in me through the college classroom and most of my work experience thus far. My generation has largely grown up on this philosophy and mindset.

I asked Paul to talk about his dive into business. I understand he started out practicing law for a couple of years before getting a good case of the entrepreneurial itch. Certainly, he didn’t think he’d turn out to be on the New York Times best-selling list, or a TV guest and writer for magazines like Entrepreneur and Inc. It sounds like one heck of a journey he’s been on. How did it all start, I wondered? Where did the passion for business and for subjects like organizational culture, innovation, and values in business come from?

“Well, when it comes to passion, I wasn’t one of those lucky people born with it or able to figure it out early on. Let it come to you, don’t force it,” Paul told me during our nearly one-hour conversation the morning of January 21.



Paul went on to describe how his older brother had an alarm company. The boys’ grandfather was in the hospital suffering from congestive heart failure, and they wanted to figure out a way they could help him and others like him in medical emergencies. “We came up with a company that created emergency medical response long before the ‘I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up!’ TV commercials,” Paul noted. The two brothers (and another one got involved, as well) charged a flat $25 per month and were eventually able to branch out to hospitals. “I was the salesperson, even though I never sold anything before. It was a 24/7 business, so my brothers and I took turns sleeping on a cot and staying up all night, waiting for calls,” he recalled. It was April 1985, and the company was BerylHealth. Paul would go on to serve as CEO, and the firm would win numerous and prestigious awards before being acquired by Stericycle in 2012.

It was during their time with BerylHealth that Paul and his brothers were really able to cut their teeth on this whole culture thing. “We wanted a business based on value. We wanted to charge more than our competitors. We wanted a business centered on service,” Paul explained. “We sold not what we did, but who we are. That was our secret sauce.” And just what are the ingredients for a solid culture? “I would say core values, fun, genuinely caring for employees, and getting involved in the community. Culture can be made up of small things, but it’s a real commitment to those small things being delivered consistently.”

Since selling BerylHealth to Stericycle, Paul has served the latter as its chief culture officer, a position that he essentially created. “They (Stericycle) were very gracious, and they told me I can stick around as long as I want,” Paul recalled, going on to add, “I had dinner with Charlie (Alutto, the company’s CEO) one evening, and he asked me what I wanted to do. I said, ‘I want to be Chief Culture Officer of Stericycle.’ He said, ‘Okay – when do you want to start?’ That was early 2013.”

Right away, Paul and his team got to work, backed by the blessing of Charlie Alutto and other top executives. “Charlie was always on the same page with me. He gets it, and he wants to make this company the best place to work,” Paul told me. Currently, the team is working diligently to allocate culture budgets across the company, monies that would be set aside and only used for rewarding and acknowledging team members.

“We wanted a business based on value. We wanted to charge more than our competitors. We wanted a business centered on service. We sold not what we did, but who we are. That was our secret sauce.”

To that point, Paul described a situation that came up during Thanksgiving, in which a number of the company’s truck drivers did not receive their usual holiday pies. “These truck drivers are so used to receiving these pies for Thanksgiving. And rightly so. They certainly earn them, and it’s the very least we can do to acknowledge them and thank them for their service,” Paul told me. He continued on, “Anyway, there was a mid-level manager somewhere who took a look at the financials and concluded that we wouldn’t be able to afford to give out these pies this particular year. That created a little bit of a rebellion among these drivers. But we stepped in, dug up some funds, and were able to resume this favorite tradition.”



An emergency assistance program for team members was also recently unveiled. The company and many of its 16,000 team members are already onboard with contributing to the plan, which will provide assistance for situations like unexpected medical expenses and disaster recovery.

Still being a recent college graduate, I next wanted to pick Paul’s brain for a few moments on the correlation between the classroom and workforce preparation. One argument made by business leaders these days, and in particular, those in the manufacturing sector for a number of obvious reasons (Milwaukee is traditionally a big manufacturing town), is that we as a country are dropping the ball when it comes to adequately preparing our high school and college students for the workforce and for leadership roles in general. There appears to be a big disconnect between formal education and business, however real or perceived that may actually be. I was curious to know if Paul had any particular thoughts or observations of his own on this subject.

“I’m not an expert on what we are teaching our students on leadership, but my thoughts are that the younger generation tends to be more fickle – they bounce from job to job. On a positive note, I see the younger generation wanting to do more social good in their work,” he noted, continuing on, “I also see more companies moving away from the old management style where the financials drive everything. Overall, I see things moving in a positive direction. I believe in the connection between culture and business success.”

Somewhat similar to that previous question, I wondered what advice Paul would offer to those starting out in the workforce or starting out as an entrepreneur.

“For those starting out in the workforce, I would say that experience means more than anything. Realize there are many companies that value you and want you to feel like you have a stake in the company. They might not be easy to readily find, but keep looking. They’re out there.” He continued, “For entrepreneurs, when we start out, we’re just fighting for survival, and culture may take a back seat. But set the tone on culture as early on as you can. It’s so critical.”

Remember that part where I said not everyone in business gets it yet, and that we’ll talk a little more about that later? Well, Paul founded an organization called the Small Giants Community some years back. “We’re a community of leaders that have an annual summit. We’re conducting an international study called the Return on Values (ROV). It’s a research project aimed at small- and medium-sized businesses that studies the correlation between culture and business success,” Paul explained to me.

When he has free time, it’s all family for Paul. “I spend a lot of time with my kids. I get to work from home a lot. Family is important. I play tennis 3-4 times a week. Some travel.”

As for final thoughts, Paul wants you to know that, “There’s no such thing as work-life balance anymore. There’s just life. It’s not about the money. It’s about making an impact on others. Put your head down and work hard.”

For more information on Paul and his research, or to read his articles or book him as a speaker for your next event, please visit www.paulspiegelman.com . Paul welcomes your questions and feedback, and looks forward to hearing from you.

Check out other exclusive interviews by Aaron S. Robertson

E-15 Fuel at Jetz in Milwaukee

Recent E-15 ribbon cutting at "Jetz on 70th" with federal, state, and local officials. Notice the prices.

The following interview took place between Aaron S. Robertson and Bob O’Connor on November 14, 2016. Mr. O’Connor is, along with his cousin Tim Klein, co-owner of O'Connor Petroleum Co., Inc. Jetz Convenience Centers, a growing chain around the metro-Milwaukee area, is a subsidiary of O'Connor Petroleum Co.

Jetz, along with the Wisconsin Biofuels Association, recently collaborated to introduce E-15 fuel to the state of Wisconsin. Mr. O’Connor explains the implications of E-15 for our health, our vehicles, the Wisconsin farmer, and our economy. The interview took place at the Hales Corners Jetz location, and was transcribed by Aaron’s colleague, Ashley M. Weber.

A: Welcome! This is Aaron Robertson here. I am with my friend and business associate, Bob O'Connor. It is a beautiful Monday morning--it's sunny out. I can't believe we're holding on strong with this weather going into mid-November here. It's 10:00 on Monday morning, November 14th. Bob, along with cousin Tim Klein, is co-owner of O'Connor Petroleum Company, which owns and operates the Jetz brand of convenience stores throughout the metro-Milwaukee area. We're getting together today to talk about an exciting thing happening here in Wisconsin. Jetz is going to be, along with significant help from the Wisconsin Biofuels Association, introducing a new fuel blend called E-15 to the metro area and to the broader state. This is an exciting opportunity for consumers, fuel producers, and those that are environmentally-conscious. It's a really-interesting development that's taking place. Bob, welcome!

B: Thank you, Aaron. Yeah, just a couple things--I do notice it is a blue, clear, clean, sunny sky, and Jetz is doing everything we can on our part to see it continues like that. And just for record keeping here, yes, I am president of O'Connor Petroleum Company and O'Connnor Petroleum Company is the parent of Jetz Convenience Centers. So O'Connor Petroleum is doing business as Jetz Convenience Centers.

A: Great, so let's start with your business. I understand it's a family-owned, multi-generational business. You currently have four locations--three of them currently branded as Jetz. Tell us more, fill in the gaps, talk about your business.

B: Yes, I am the third generation of my company. Myself and my cousin, Tim Klein, both lead Jetz Convenience Centers. We are both grandchildren of the original founder, Robert O'Connor Sr., who started the company on 92nd and Hampton on the Southeast corner of Timmerman Airport. We've been around since 1957. Like I said, Tim and I are the third-generation. My daughter, Mary, is the fourth generation of our company to be in leadership. She manages our Hales Corners store.

A: Great, and that is where we are this morning, at the Hales Corners location. It's a beautiful area and a fine community. How did your business come to spearhead the introduction of E-15 to the state of Wisconsin? Who did you talk to, and what were those conversations like? What can you share about what was taking place in the background?

B: Sure. The State of Wisconsin has an interest in creating more fuel choice, along with some environmental issues that they would like the fuel that we select to address. So Jetz is what we call in our industry "unbranded." So we do not have the traditional ties to big oil, like Exxon, Mobil, BP, Shell, you name it, although we do have one store that's Shell for the moment. We just bought that store. So, there have been concerns both for the environment and the amount of choice that consumers have. There is actually an office in the State of Wisconsin called the Office of Energy Innovation that is constantly looking for new and better choices for Wisconsin consumers. They, along with the American Ethanol Coalition, approached us and asked us if we would have interest in promoting E-15 through a new grant that the state has put together to help introduce this fuel.

A: So break down the mechanics of E-15 for us. What is the composition, what kind of vehicles can take it, which ones can't? Fill in the gaps for us from that standpoint.

B: 'E' stands for ethanol, which means there's ethanol blended in that gasoline. 15 stands for the percent of ethanol and is typically the 'up to' percent. So E-15 will be up to 15% ethanol and it'll have 85% typical gasoline. Now, two things happen when you add the ethanol. Number 1: You get a higher octane, so actually at our South 70th Street store, where we're introducing this, you'll get a midgrade octane. But the price will typically be lower than just regular unleaded gasoline. Right now, I believe we're a nickel cheaper, and that can fluctuate with markets. There's an ethanol market and a gasoline market, and they don't work together – they work independently of each other. Typically, ethanol has been a less-expensive fuel than typical gasoline. So we're able to save you money, and get you a little more power at the pump. Now, what vehicles can use it? Well, the EPA has said that any vehicle 2001 and newer can use it. If you are earlier than 2001, it's illegal to use it. You're not to use it in a weed whacker. You're not to use it in a boat. You're not to put it in your motorcycle. It's a newer, advanced fuel for newer, advanced vehicles.

A: So, that beautiful, '88 Lincoln Town Car that you and I were discussing that I just purchased from Holz here in Hales Corners can't take E-15, it sounds like?

B: 1988 – I'm sorry [laughs].

A: I will be missing out on this exciting opportunity.

B: However, you do have a newer Lincoln, as well.

A: I do!

B: And what year is that?

A: That is an '09 MKZ.

B: That would qualify for E-15. So just as an explanation--you are burning ethanol in your gasoline right now. In southeast Wisconsin, we are mandated to have reformulated gas, and reformulated gas is blended with up to 10% ethanol. So we are already burning ethanol nationwide – about 97% of our vehicle fuels are running ethanol already. It is the most expeditious way to get cleaner air than what we have at the moment.

A: What are some of the most common misconceptions you are hearing right now about E-15? Obviously, it sounds like this is taking on the traditional oil and fuel industry, and I'll bet there's going to be a lot of misinformation, misconceptions, whether intentional or not, right?

B: With respect to E-15, it's a new fuel, so there hasn't been a lot put out on it yet. Yourself, myself, and others, the State of Wisconsin, is putting out information. Jetz is putting out information. The Office of Energy Innovation is putting out information. American Lung Association is putting out information. Wisconsin Biofuels Association is putting out information. The American Ethanol Coalition is putting out information. Oil companies, you have to understand, with respect to ethanol, it's a competitor to the oil companies. So, when I sell E-15, that means 15% of the gallon in your tank that typically went to the oil companies, now goes to the American farmer, specifically Wisconsin farmers. They get that advantage of that 15%. Or if you are buying E-85, which is ethanol 85 up to 85%, 85% of that revenue is going back to Wisconsin farmers.

A: So I understand you and your team have put together some very informative online resources for consumers to learn more about E-15, and as you just mentioned, it seems like there are other organizations, government agencies, etc. starting to come out with more information. What are some of these Web addresses where people can go, people can turn to, to learn more?

B: Well, you can always go to JetzRewards.com. That's our Webpage, or on our Facebook feed, which you can find right on our landing page. You'll see the conversation that is going on about E-15, and I have specifically invited others in the industry to address the concerns that consumers are having. So if there is a question, go ahead and throw it on our Facebook feed – it's JetzRewards on Facebook. Put your concern on there, and we'll get you a real answer. Otherwise, you can go to FuelingWisconsinForward.com. I've created that Web site as a place that we can direct people to various pertinent information as different things come up. I might link that to different sites that address the majority of the questions – we just don't know what they will be yet. But that's what that site will do. Also, if you are wondering if your car is specifically warrantied for E-15, because some are, some aren't. It is a new fuel. You can go to EthanolRFA.org, and you can see specifically if your car is warrantied. Most cars will be out of warranty and they are allowed to use it, as long as it's 2001 or newer. But if you want to know if you are specifically warrantied, you can go to EthanolRFA.org.

A: Alright, very good. What are we looking at in terms of a time table? When are these pumps expected to be put in? When can consumers start buying?

B: Well, you can buy today at Jetz on South 70th Street. We put the first one in in Milwaukee. In other states where they have introduced E-15, for example, Iowa, up to 25% of the station's gallonage will go to that fuel, and a lot of people are using it as a premium substitute because, like I said, you are getting a midgrade octane for less than the price of unleaded. So if your car is fortunate to qualify for E-15, you are basically getting more bang for your buck.

A: So basically, for those that are concerned about octane levels for whatever reason – maybe they have an older V-8, maybe they're driving more of a performance-based car – purchasing E -15 would be like the equivalent, I guess, of a traditional 89 octane?

B: Yes, our E-15 is blended at 89, so you are getting a midgrade octane/power level, and you're getting a little more horsepower out of it than you would a typical 87, and typically it'll be cheaper than regular, unleaded gasoline.

A: Are there any other thoughts at the moment? Anything else you'd like to share?

B: So I think the story of ethanol is a great story, and I say that for four main reasons. Number 1: Ethanol is locally produced. Last week, I went and I visited an ethanol planet out in Cambria, Wisconsin. On my way there, I saw the farmers all out in their fields harvesting their corn. And what they do then, is they drive to the ethanol plant and they line up their trucks to deliver corn. The ethanol plant then accepts that corn. They basically just open the bottom of their trucks and the corn drops in the ground and the ethanol plant starts making things with it. The first thing they do is they make human food out of it. That's where they get the most money, is if they can turn part of that corn into human food. They extract that part and turn it into human food. Next on the line would be animal feed. So they produce a high-protein animal feed at the plant, and that generates a little more money, too, than the ethanol would. Then lastly, they take the ethanol and they put that through a distilling process which is all-natural forces of nature. It's basically bacteria that transforms the corn mash into the alcohol that we burn. So what you'll see is on one side of the plant, you'll see the farmers delivering the corn, and on the opposite side, you'll see there might even be the same truck picking up animal feed to take back to the farm, or it might be a tanker picking up ethanol to mix with conventional gasoline here at Jetz.

A: That's interesting.

B: So that's one thing – it's locally produced. Another thing about ethanol is that it's clean. Ethanol puts far less Co2 emissions and other contaminants into the air than conventional gasoline. That's why the American Lung Association is behind it. I'm sure if you go to their Web site, you'll find information on there. It's cleaner, locally produced, it's typically cheaper than unleaded gasoline, so as far as your pocketbook, it's good for that. And lastly, it gives you more power. So you are getting more power for less money. More bang for your buck, as I call it, on a locally-produced, cleaner fuel. I just don't see the downside – unless you're an oil company.

A: Yeah, wow, this is all truly interesting. It sounds like the economic implications are just huge. If people are healthier, people are breathing cleaner air, farmers are getting the economic support that they need, this is just one more viable product that they can sell and take part in distributing.

B: I call it Wisconsin gold. Corn is a solar-powered, renewable fuel. We are putting that into our mainline fuel system now. We are keeping the money right here in Wisconsin. We do export ethanol to other states, which allows money to flow back into Wisconsin. Instead of taking our money and giving it to the oil companies, which in many cases, distribute that overseas, we are keeping it right here in Wisconsin. So we're supporting our Wisconsin farms. We support our Wisconsin ethanol plants. We support our local transport trucks. We support our local gasoline retailers like myself.

A: Incredible. Well, thank you for sharing. This is really fascinating, especially for nerds like me that are interested in business and economics and marketplaces, and that's why I wanted to sit down and have this conversation with you in more detail, and hopefully my readers appreciate it and they learn something new.

B: When you choose ethanol, Aaron, you are choosing something for yourself, you're choosing something for your car, you're choosing something that's better for the environment, and you're choosing something that is going to support your neighbor economically. It's a good story.

A: You said that you already put in at least one pump at the Milwaukee location (South 70th Street)?

B: No, all our fuel dispensers have E-15 and E-85 right at them. We are the first ones to put these pumps in the state of Wisconsin, and what you will find at our pumps at that particular location right now is there will be five selections to choose from. So there will be five buttons instead of the typical three. You will have E-85, E-15, 87, 89, and 93 octane.

A: So it's all ready to go.

B: It's all ready to go.

A: People can start buying away.

B: Correct. Now, we're having a grand introduction on November 18th, this coming Friday, between 3 and 6pm. We're going to be offering discount pricing, so 85 will be 85 cents a gallon and E-15 will be $1.15 a gallon. Plus, we will be giving away some gift cards. We will be giving away a $100 gift card every hour between 3 and 6.

A: That's awesome! Well, any final thoughts, I guess?

B: Nope, that should cover it. But you're welcome to ask me more later on, if you'd like.

A: Yeah, and I hope people do. I hope they get excited; I hope they get encouraged. I hope this interview further helps not only your marketing for your business, but further helps in disseminating good information out there, as well. It sounds like a win-win for everyone, for those that are environmentally-conscious, and for those that simply want to be a little healthier.

B: Or they just want a lower price for a little more power.

A: Yeah, and definitely good for the Wisconsin farmer it sounds like, too.

B: If you want to join in on the conversation, go to Jetz Rewards on Facebook and ask us whatever you'd like, and we'll see if we can get you a good answer.

A: Alright Bob, appreciate it. Thank you so much.

B: Very good Aaron, thank you.

A: Take care.

Exclusive Interview: Bill Turner, former lead guitarist for Bill Haley and His Comets; Front man of Blue Smoke

By Aaron S. Robertson

A look back at the 70s resurrection of 50s rock 'n' roll by a guitarist who worked alongside one of the great legends there at the very beginning. Plus, thoughts on Chuck Berry, meaningful advice for aspiring musicians, and a whole lot more.

When I was growing up sometime in the early 90s, I remember that one of the very first cassette tapes I ever owned, if not the first one, was a collection of original 50s recordings by Bill Haley and His Comets. I think it came from the local Best Buy store near Southridge Mall, if I remember correctly. See, growing up, my tastes in music were heavily influenced by my parents, other relatives, and all of their friends, via the local oldies and classic rock stations here in the Milwaukee area. By the time I owned this tape, Haley had been deceased for at least a decade, having passed away in 1981, and the music itself was somewhere between 35-40 years old, I'm guessing. But for me, none of that mattered. Good music is good music. It knows no time.

With all of that being said, it was a real pleasure for me to have this opportunity to interview Bill Turner, who served as Haley's lead guitarist from July of 1974 until the end of 1976. Bill and I ended up connecting on Facebook not long ago, and so we've had some back-and-forth correspondence in recent months.

Bill Turner.

In addition to being a member of The Comets during this time frame, Bill is also known for his work as the front man of Blue Smoke, which actually predates his time with Haley and company, going back to 1972. Blue Smoke is still active today, and we'll come back to that band a little bit later on.

Asked how he got the chance to join Bill Haley and His Comets, Bill indicated he worked his way in by getting to know some of the other members over time. But it all started out as being a fan of Haley's as a boy.

"I was always a huge Bill Haley fan," Bill recalled in our approximately hour-long phone conversation on March 30 from his home in New Jersey. "I first heard of him in a newsreel on the TV in the spring of 1958," he said, going on, "I was seven years old at the time. The newsreel was showing a riot that broke out at a concert. The band was Bill Haley and His Comets."

Over the years, friendships formed. "I became friends with some of The Comets. They traveled through New York a lot. I always noticed he [Haley] had a new lead guitarist every time they passed through New York," Bill explained, continuing on, "I got to know Rudy Pompilli [Haley's long-time sax player] well, and I practiced in front of him. I learned all the original guitar solos by listening to the original records late at night with my headphones. I listened to the solos at half the speed."

I was always interested in the 70s revival of 50s rock ‘n’ roll and how that all came to be. I guess I always just assumed that the hit 1973 movie, American Graffiti, was the start of it all. But not so. "Well, American Graffiti definitely played its role, yes, but it can really be traced back to Richard Nader’s Rock and Roll Revival concert," Bill explained. The first of Nader's shows was held at New York’s Madison Square Garden in October 1969, and a tour followed, introducing original rock 'n' roll songs and performers to a new generation of fans.



Bill described to me during our phone conversation and in e-mail correspondence since then, some of the nightly fees that 50s rock 'n' roll artists and groups were getting before the revival:

Bill Haley - $1,000
Chuck Berry - $400
Bo Diddley - $300
Doo-wop groups - $250-500

"Chuck Berry was booked at a college homecoming down south before cancelling his appearance to go on Richard Nader’s tour. Bo Diddley had his car in the shop in Florida and couldn’t afford to get it out," Bill told me.

In a follow-up e-mail April 8, Bill explained, "To me, the biggest irony is how Chuck Berry, at that time, was working for only $400 per night, and yet he, in my opinion, is the most imitated rock 'n' roll guitarist, ever. Well, I guess today it would be Jimmy Page, according to what all the younger guitarists I meet tell me."



We stayed on the subject of Chuck Berry for a bit. I was curious to know if Bill had ever met or worked with him, and what his thoughts were, if any, on Chuck's extreme bitterness over the years, whether real or perceived. See, along with Bill Haley, Chuck Berry is one of the other legends I grew up listening to quite a bit.

.

"Well, Chuck was bitter, yes. And the reason for a lot of it was because his early recordings listed Alan Freed as a co-writer, which wasn't true," Bill told me, continuing, "I had lunch with Chuck once. It was at a restaurant he owned. I had just come out with a new album. Still remember what we both had. I had flapjacks and a hot chocolate. Chuck had hominy grits and black coffee."

Returning to Bill Haley, I was curious to know what he was like. “He was a true gentleman. Great guy. He had some health issues, though. He was a heavy smoker and had a bit of a problem with drinking,” Bill told me, adding, “He had other health issues that he needed to be treated for...but had a big problem trusting doctors. A doctor would give him a medication, and he would throw it away right after walking out of the doctor’s office.” And that famous kiss curl Haley wore in his hair? “He was blind in his left eye. That’s why he had the curl – it was to draw attention away from the eye, which often looked away slightly in another direction.”



But despite whatever shortcomings the man may have had, there is no doubt the role Haley played in rock history, and his place in it is secured. "Bill Haley was there in the beginning. He was playing rock ‘n’ roll before it was named. Rock ‘n’ Roll was originally called ‘Cowboy Jive’. There was no name for it at the time!," Bill said, adding, "Alan Freed coined the term from Haley’s song, ‘Rock-A-Beatin’ Boogie’. Listeners would call in and ask Freed, ‘Hey, can you play that rock ‘n’ roll song?’ Because the lyrics included, ‘Rock, rock, rock, everybody...roll, roll, roll everybody...’”

Though he was with The Comets for only roughly 2.5 years, Bill has unintentionally become a go-to, authoritative source for just about all things concerning Bill Haley and his band over the decades.



"Even Dick Clark himself would regularly contact me when he planned to show a vintage video clip of Bill Haley - to identify certain members in it. The Comets had three bass players in succession who each played standup bass and were dark complexioned-Italians...and to complicate things further, each of the three was named 'Al'!" Bill said, continuing on, "There was Al Rex (Piccirilli) in the 1950s, followed by Al Pompilli in 1958, and who was in turn followed by Al Rappa from 1959 through 1969! Today, only Al Rex and Al Rappa are still living, both men in their mid-late 80s!"

In October 1987, Bill got the original Comets back together for the Philadelphia Music Awards, which was a standout feature news clip on prime time TV's Entertainment Tonight. Bill played electric bass with them for the ceremony. Perhaps the most gratifying thing, Bill explained to me, was that this band of original Comets members remained together for the next 25 years, and once again became an international touring attraction. They were performing repeatedly throughout Europe and the UK, and even in far flung places like Dubai. They also successfully held a residence in Branson, Missouri, sharing the theatre stage in a packaged show that also featured Paul Revere and The Raiders and the surviving member of the Righteous Brothers, Bill Medley. "It was a long-time gig they held up until recently, when several of the Comets members eventually passed away, each at a ripe old age, respectively," Bill said.



In the past several years, starting out as an interview subject for Otto Fuchs's book, Bill Haley: The Father of Rock 'n' Roll, published by Wagner-Verlag in Germany, Bill ended up being hired as the English language editor for the book, which was originally published in the German language. Bill had contributed rare vintage photos, as well as corrected literally thousands of errors, ranging from mere typos and grammar to major historical errors regarding dates and places, as well as false rumors and long-believed factual errors.

As for advice for aspiring musicians, Bill has a lot to offer. “Treat it like a business. Form an LLC. Try to be as original as possible. Join the musicians union: the AFM – it’s perhaps the best investment you can make in your career,” he started telling me, going on, “Don’t play for free – it’s a race to the bottom when a band does that. And beware of politicians – particularly the liberal Democratic, 'environmentalist' zealots – for, despite their lofty altruistic goals and promises, the very first 'pollution' they go after, are loud, noisy, and smoky places...precisely the very workplace environment of bands and musicians, and that’s just disastrous for our business as music industry people. It always results in the eradication of our livelihood...and the entire mid-week live music scene in every case...including the many family-owned small businesses which are pretty much what most restaurants, nightclubs, bars and lounges really are!” He cited the efforts of New Jersey's Democratic politicians as the cause for Atlantic City’s downfall, in particular due to the drastic drop-off in attendance. "Even as a lifelong non-smoker, I stand opposed to the smoking ban laws, because by the mid 1990s, the 'Smoke Eater' ventilation systems had solved the second-hand smoke problem in clubs quite satisfactorily; and also because the law itself was foisted upon us under false pretenses - we were assured by the politicians that our business would increase, possibly even double, because the non-smokers would all return to the clubs and venues once again. Instead, the exact opposite had happened - the non-smokers never came back, and the customers who did smoke soon became tired of having to step outside to light up...and soon stopped coming out altogether. Now everybody is sitting home all week....including all the musicians and bands who used to be gainfully employed. So what is the solution that I am proposing? Simple - let each restaurant, bar, nightclub and venue, etc., decide for themselves whether they want to be a smoke-free facility, or a place where customers can smoke as before. After all - this would really be the 'democratic way'...now wouldn't it?"

In addition to advice for aspiring musicians, Bill also has some meaningful words for young people in general: "Be very, very careful with using credit. Those who understand interest collect it; those who don't, pay it."

Blue Smoke.

Coming back to Blue Smoke, the band was formed in February 1972, and it is one of the first Americana/roots rock bands. The band's first three songs learned, Bill told me, were “Rock Around the Clock”, “Folsom Prison Blues”, and Mystery Train”. The band is performing a show during an overseas festival coming up soon on May 30 in Wolfsburg, Germany. "It's the band’s first trip overseas. We're really looking forward to it. The entire event is completely underwritten by Volkswagen," Bill said. Other than that, Bill said there have been many gigs on St. Patty’s Day from Noon to 1:30am over the years (Yes, you read that right). Many casinos over the years. The band has played on others’ albums in a backing role, and it has also won two industry awards for film soundtrack work on an indie spy film, The Crusaders, which is a punk rock takeoff on the British mid-60s spy series, The Avengers, which starred Patrick MacNee and Diana Rigg. "For those of us old enough to remember the height of the mid-60s James Bond craze and everything that followed in its wake," Bill said. He went on to explain that this was a TV movie pilot that was pitched to both VH-1 and MTV, but that both have since passed on it.





In 1996, the band scored a major breakthrough by getting hired by MTV to record the soundtrack music to a series of four, 30-second commercial spots heralding the new "M-2 Satellite Network", which starred a cast of 24 Elvis-costumed actors posing and dancing as Blue Smoke recorded 58 seconds of the famous "C.C. Rider" entrance chaser used on Elvis' live concerts.



In addition to his work with Blue Smoke, Bill is quite the bluegrass fan, and has received many opportunities to work with notable groups and artists from that genre. "Bluegrass is actually my own personal favorite music!," Bill told me. "I'd gotten to appear six times on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville with my friends, 'Uncle Steve Crockett & His Log Cabin Boys' during the 1980s."

Yet, no performances in the Milwaukee area. In fact, Bill has never been to Milwaukee, period. We'll have to work on that. The area is missing out on some exceptional talent.

For more info on Blue Smoke and to listen to some great music, check out the band's MySpace page at https://myspace.com/billturnerandbluesmokeban/music/songs .

More recent videos of Bill Turner playing bluegrass with other bands:

With the Grasslands band (on mandolin)



With the Beth Coleman Band (on dobro and fiddle)

Exclusive Interview: Musician Jefferson Grizzard

By Aaron S. Robertson

Up and comer recently out with his second album discusses his broad musical interests, his recent European tour, how he got started in the business, Wisconsin’s famous cheese, musicians he’d love to work with, and a whole lot more.

At 24, Jefferson Grizzard has a lot to be proud of so far. He just released his second album, Learning How to Lie, last fall. The album, which has garnered a number of rave reviews, was followed by a great companion music video this spring. The Georgia native also did a mini European tour this past winter, with dates in Ireland, Germany, and the U.K. It was his first time performing in Europe, though he has been there as a tourist before.

Courtesy: Back Porch Syndicate Records

“In Europe, they really take the time to sit down and listen to the music. There’s more of a fan base over there for real music, as opposed to the cookie-cutter pop stuff here in the U.S. There’s more of an appreciation for the art,” Jefferson explained to me during our roughly 50 minute conversation by phone on June 24. “London, in particular, was great for me. A lot of fans over there. I got to talk with a lot of drunk British guys at our London stop. Couldn’t understand a word they said, but we all had a blast,” he added with a laugh.

Jefferson also had the opportunity to team up with Robby Takac of the Goo Goo Dolls, recording some tracks at that band’s studio in Buffalo. “Robby’s a great guy. We cut four songs that haven’t been released yet. It was a great experience,” Jefferson told me. Later on this September, Jefferson will be performing at an arts festival in Buffalo that Robby has a hand in. “Mike, my drummer, is from Buffalo, so he has a lot of connections there. I have a lot of fans up there,” Jefferson continued.

So how did it all start, I wondered? “Well, I really liked writing, even before playing. I grew up in a pretty boring, little town in Georgia. That’s how I passed the time,” Jefferson said, continuing, “I’ll often forget about the songs I’ve written, until I find them again later on - scrap paper sheets that just pop up again.” The guitar playing started when, “My sister got a guitar for Christmas one year. A cheap little Yamaha or something. I played for weeks, and then months. I played until my fingers bled.”

He counts among the songwriters who have influenced him Jeff Tweedy, Bryan Adams, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, and Bob Dylan. “The first songwriter I really got turned on to,” Jefferson said of Dylan.

Jefferson certainly has some powerful, moving, thought-provoking lyrics in his portfolio. I can see he’s a serious writer. What are his influences or inspiration when it comes to lyric writing, I wondered? Does he like to go anywhere in particular to get away? What is his process like? “I get that question a lot. I really have no process. It just happens,” he explained to me. Jefferson continued: “I’ll be outside doing something, and then it just comes. Or something just brews in the subconscious for a while before it comes out. I never really spend over an hour on a song. The ones I do spend that much time on never really turn out good.”



When asked about the moment he realized, Hey, this is for real - I’d like to do this as a profession, for a living, Jefferson said it came about more as an evolution than as a single moment. “It just kept evolving. I felt I was a different person when I did the first album compared to when I did the second one [the latest, Learning How to Lie],” he explained, continuing on, “For the second album, I really felt like I was a part of the larger process. With the first one, I was younger, I just went in and was told what to do. The second felt more like a true album, as opposed to just a collection of songs.”

I got my hands on a copy of Learning How to Lie before my interview with Jefferson, and I can attest that it really is a lot more than just a collection of songs. For starters, the album case features some great photography and design layout, and it comes with a booklet featuring the lyrics for all 12 songs along with more eye-catching photography and design. It’s packaged nicely, to say the very least. The lyrics are profound, which unfortunately seems pretty rare these days in most mainstream American music, as Jefferson was alluding to earlier. Jefferson’s voice is soulful, and the music is rich and diverse, featuring a good variety of instruments like horns, keyboards and organ, tambourine, and soul-filled background vocalists in various tracks. Drawing from elements of many musical forms, Jefferson explained, “I really wanted it to be an Americana album, with R&B, blues, rock, gospel, and country in it, even in one song.”

In his spare time, “I love to people watch, travel, and take in inspiration and information from the world.” A sci-fi fan, Jefferson enjoys watching Star Trek, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and reading. “I have the goal of writing a sci-fi rock opera someday,” he told me.



We got into talking about Milwaukee a little bit. Jefferson was here for the first time at the end of this past January for a show at Club Garibaldi. I felt pretty bad for him when I learned that, knowing that he arrived in our otherwise beautiful and hopping city in the middle of one of the longest, most bitter winters we’ve had in recent memory. But it wasn’t all that bad for him. “We stopped off at a roadside cheese shop. I bought the best cheddar cheese I ever bought in my life! That was my cultural experience there,” he told me.

Asked about dream musicians he would love to perform or record with, Jefferson presented a well-rounded, all-star lineup: bassist Catherine Popper (“The best bass player I’ve ever seen live”), drummer Glenn Kotche from Wilco, and British singer Laura Marling (“The greatest female voice around right now. The greatest songwriter of the Millennial generation. A great poet, songwriter, and guitar player”). He would also love an opportunity to work with British producer Ethan Johns.

His advice for aspiring musicians is as powerful as any of his lyrics: “If you’re a songwriter or musician, or any kind of artist, don’t look for an end goal. Always be satisfied in the present. Don’t look forward to the future. The music is the end, not a means to an end,” he said. And, for a young man who grew up in the Internet age, he warns, “Stay away from the Internet as much as possible. It’s too easy to get wrapped up with what others are doing or trying to do. I avoid it at all costs.”

And his parting words for fans and those who happen to come across his music - simple: “Listen to the words!”

You can learn more about Jefferson and follow along on his journey at jeffersongrizzard.com .

Aaron Recently Interviewed

For those of you interested, I was interviewed by two bloggers within the past week.

The first interview was conducted by John Shea about my experiences in online marketing and the call center business for his blog, Voices of Marketing.

The second interview was conducted by Amanda Laughtland. Amanda had some questions for me about my own interviews with classic rock musicians and other pop culture stars in my work as a freelance journalist.

Hope you enjoy them!

All the Best,

Aaron Robertson

Exclusive Follow-up Interview: Mark Dawson, Lead Singer and Bassist of The Grass Roots

By Aaron S. Robertson

Last fall, 2012, I had the wonderful opportunity to conduct an extensive interview with Mark Dawson, the lead singer and bassist of The Grass Roots, as well as a talented solo artist. But so many exciting things have come his way since that interview just over a year ago, that I felt compelled to do a brief follow-up with him to see where he’s at with some of these exciting projects and developments. Enjoy!

“Busy summer. Where did it go?”, Mark asked in our hour-long conversation by phone on October 9. “The Grass Roots kept really busy. We played a lot of small towns. We also did the American Pop tour with The Buckinghams (author’s note: see my interview with Carl Giammarese, lead singer of The Buckinghams). We still have a few more of those shows this year.”

The Grass Roots on the Happy Together Tour, Wisconsin State Fair, 8/7/11.

Since our last conversation, Mark has launched a weekly radio show on the Internet-based station, Our Generation Radio, which also surely keeps him busy. “I’ve been receiving great ratings,” Mark said of the show, which airs Thursday nights from 9:00-11:00 eastern time and is named after his latest solo album, “Making Noise”. “I’ve been doing the show since the end of January [2013]. So far, I have 35 shows in. They tell me I’m their number one guy,” he explained. The show essentially got started through a mere chance meeting one evening after a concert with The Grass Roots and a number of other acts. “Holly Hammet told me about the station. She’s a friend of Howard Kaylan [from The Turtles]. She was following the Happy Together Tour, and I met her at a meet-and-greet after one of the shows. Took her card. Some time went by, and I decided to call her out of the blue one day, asked for the contact info for the station manager, Rick Wrigley. Was told to send a demo in. Two days later, I was asked, ‘When do you want to start?’”

As for the format of show, Mark describes it simply as, “Things I listen to.” Themes have included, among many others: bands with odd names, songs with the word “summer” in the title, and birthday songs, where you tell Mark the day and year you were born. There’s an occasional character, Frank the Bug Guy. “I write and edit my own comedy skits, and I’ll start on Monday for Thursday’s show,” he told me. Show episodes are now also archived at aircheck.us .

When he’s not on the air, touring with The Grass Roots, or cranking out the tunes in the recording studio, there’s always Simulcast, the local Orlando-area band that’s built up a loyal following and has become a smash hit at all sorts of events, both public and private, throughout Florida.

Performing with Simulcast. Source: Mark Dawson.

And as for the book of hilarious Facebook posts and Tweets mentioned in my first interview that Mark is working to publish? It is currently being edited, and is set to be released in 2014, so stay tuned. It promises to be a real treat.

Be on the lookout for LayZEE pants in 2014, as well - a line of clothing he and wife Cathy are working on. The idea came from the radio show. As Mark explains, “I came to realize that I was often telling listeners at the beginning of the show, ‘It’s time to get into your lazy pants.’ You know, something comfortable, whatever you like to lounge around in. And that’s really how the idea came to be.” Mark and Cathy are currently lining up all the logistics, and there are plans to produce pants for men, women, and children.

Finally, mark your calendars. For the first time ever, and one time only, Mark will be airing a live concert on his radio show on 1/18/14. He’s putting together a talented lineup for the concert and billing the band, Mark Dawson and His Kings of Snack. It will be a one hour show featuring both Mark’s original material and some classic covers. Among the selections will be “She’s Gone Hollywood”, a song Mark wrote and recorded back in 1982 and originally produced as a 45 record.

Do check out my previous, more in-depth interview with Mark, and if you’re free on a Thursday night and find yourself wanting to relax and just be LayZEE, do tune into Mark’s radio show on Our Generation Radio. It’s a lot of fun.

Check out other neat, exclusive interviews by Aaron S. Robertson.

Exclusive Interview: Stu Cook, Bassist, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Creedence Clearwater Revisited (CCR)

By Aaron S. Robertson

Woodstock performer and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer shares with Milwaukee-area journalist his thoughts on our city, influences, hobbies, advice to aspiring musicians, what it’s like to be a part of one of the greatest bands in rock history, a special upcoming anniversary, the age of iTunes, and a whole lot more.

From my opening remarks for my interview with CCR drummer Doug “Cosmo” Clifford in June 2012: Twice on The Ed Sullivan Show. Woodstock. Madison Square Garden. Royal Albert Hall. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And plenty of other memorable venues, concerts, shows, and milestones along the trails that Creedence Clearwater Revival (1968-72) blazed, paths that are lined with a lot of gold and platinum. And though broken up for 40 years now, CCR’s music is engrained in our culture to this day, appearing in countless movie soundtracks, commercials, television shows, and on radio stations all around the country. Search for the band or individual members on Google or YouTube, and an endless amount of tribute sites, written interviews, biographies, recordings, and film footage of performances and interviews comes up.

“It’s going to be 20 years next year already. We’re going to have to do something special. Maybe we’ll tour on Chronicles,” Stu told me in our hour-long phone conversation July 23, followed by a brief pause. Of course, that’s meant to be a joke. “That’s what we’ve been touring on for nearly 20 years,” he added with a laugh, referring to the collection of both original hits and unique spins on timeless classics touching the realms of rock ‘n’ roll, blues, country, folk, and soul that catapulted Creedence Clearwater Revival onto the national scene. Well, it’s all in the marketing, we both agreed with a laugh. Perhaps a PR strategy like that will reach a few new fans that haven’t noticed what’s been going on for the past two decades.

Since 1995, Stu has been touring the world with fellow original Revival member Doug, best friends since junior high school, as Creedence Clearwater Revisited, in a great line-up that also features John Tristao on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Kurt Griffey on lead guitar, and Steve Gunner rounding it out nicely on multiple instruments ranging from harmonica and percussion to acoustic guitar and keyboards. “But seriously, we’ll have to do something special.”

It all started when Doug had a simple idea. “We were living in the same small town up in the mountains. Small town, not much to do. Doug thought it’d be neat to get a keyboard player and guitar player together,” Stu recalls. Starting out as a party band for friends and private audiences in the very beginning, Revisited has gone on to earn fans and accolades throughout the world, performing some 60-70 shows per year all around North, Central, and South America; Australia; Hong Kong; all over Europe.

Revisited, minus original Revival front man John Fogerty and his older brother Tom, who passed away in 1990, has survived five times longer than Revival, and is not showing any signs of slowing down any time soon. As I wrote in my interview with Doug last summer, “And the fans never tire of the music. Revisited’s two-disc live Recollection went platinum, which can perhaps be interpreted as a referendum of sorts on the band in which the die-hard fans of the original CCR didn’t seem to care that it was minus original lead singer John Fogerty. They just wanted to hear the old hits again, and they came to love it.”

When not on stage, Stu, still rocking strong at 68 now, enjoys traveling, golfing, and scuba diving. He gave up flying some years back, which was another big passion of his. “I had a Cessna 185 that I sold some years back,” he told me. “A lot of fun. I’d take it all over. From show to show. On vacations.” He still keeps a few acoustic guitars around his home for enjoyment, too. Many may not realize, but Stu grew up playing guitar, piano, and trumpet, in addition to learning the bass. “I came from a musical family. My father played trumpet in a big band, and my mother played piano and organ - a Hammond B3.” He played piano in the pre-CCR band, The Blue Velvets.

During our conversation, Stu took a few moments to reflect back on Woodstock. I explained to him that all we have in my generation to go off of is the film footage, audio recordings, and all the commercialized graphic tees depicting Jimi Hendrix and a host of others. “Well, it was a great weekend. We were the headliners for Saturday night. The logistics of it all, getting in and out, was tough, I remember. But the audience is the real story of Woodstock. They made it happen. The music was just the music of the day.” He continued with a laugh, “And the audience was so dedicated. Here we were with steak, wine, and good reefer back stage, and the audience was muddy and had bad acid.”

Creedence Clearwater Revival. L-R: John Fogerty, Doug Clifford, Tom Fogerty, Stu Cook.

Asked who he enjoyed listening to in the 60’s, Stu quickly declared, “Everybody!” “You name it. Booker T. & the M.G.’s, Hendrix, Spencer Davis Group, The Kinks, Otis Redding, early Moody Blues stuff.” Stu took a few moments to reflect back on the whole era. “It was the greatest revolution since the founding of the country,” he said, adding, “It was a time of learning, of awakening, of awareness. And there was so much going on, not just in music, but in art and cinema, too. It truly was a renaissance.”

Stu also took a few moments to talk about Tom Fogerty. Doug recalled in my conversation with him last summer that, “Without Tom, there would never be a CCR. He was a great guy. He paid for it all.” Stu agrees. “I agree with Coz’s [Cosmo’s] view on Tom. Tom groomed us. He was an early mentor of us. He took us in the recording studio. His own band just wasn’t interested in the full-time commitment it all takes,” he said. Sadly, Tom passed away in 1990 of AIDS after receiving a series of tainted blood transfusions for back troubles he was suffering from. “If Tom were around today, I wouldn’t doubt it if he’d be a member of Revisited,” he added.

Stu has good memories of Milwaukee. “How about West Allis?” he quickly chimed in with, when asked about performing or staying in Milwaukee, alluding to the metro area city that is home to the Wisconsin State Fair. “Great Place.” In addition to Wisconsin State Fair, Revisited has appeared a number of times at Summerfest, as well, held along Lake Michigan in Milwaukee. “I don’t know if Revival did Milwaukee,” he said, adding, “But I couldn’t tell you for sure.” He did recall performing at the Riverside Theater in downtown Milwaukee one night in the mid-late 80’s when he was a member of country band Southern Pacific. “Yeah, we opened for The Oak Ridge Boys. Beautiful theater. Really nice venue. Reminds me of the Fillmore.”

It was during his time in Southern Pacific (1986-91) that he saw a different kind of management philosophy. “There was no autocratic control freak in the band,” he told me, continuing, “We operated under the belief that everyone can make meaningful contributions. No one has all the answers. If you have great ideas, simply present them! It worked out well, and that’s how we run things in Revisited.”

His advice to aspiring musicians: “Get a trade or education to fall back on,” he said. “It’s a really brutal business. And the top of the pyramid is really small, with steep edges.” And it’s not just tough for musicians, Stu explained to me, but for everyone in the business. “Producers, engineers, everyone. It’s tough. So have a backup plan you can fall back on.” He explained that it took 9.5 years for the band to break out nationally with its 1968 version of “Susie Q” when you factor in the pre-CCR bands The Blue Velvets (1959-64) and The Golliwogs (1964-67). “And it’s just a matter of practice, practice, practice. Grow, grow, grow. Learn, learn, learn.”

I was curious to know if there was anyone he was keeping an eye on as far as up-and-coming talent. “Not really, still very much into my own era,” he said. “But I do enjoy a variety of music. I’m mostly into guitar rock, but Bruno Mars, Alicia Keys, and Beyonce made some good records.” Other artists and bands he enjoys include Aretha Franklin, Rhianna, and The Aristocrats, a jazz fusion band. “Lately, I’ve been really into Electric Light Orchestra,” Stu added. “They have this really great collection of their work that came out.” He talked up the Foo Fighters enthusiastically in our conversation, as well. But perhaps the most passion-fueled moment of our chat came when he brought up the band, Queens of the Stone Age, and its recent album …Like Clockwork. “It is so well-written, so well-done. I’ve listened to it 10-15 times now. iTunes won’t let me gift it anymore! Tells me I’ve exceeded my limit.”

For a guy who started playing and performing music in the 1950s and has seen and dealt with his fair share of non-portable stereo equipment and other listening devices through the years, Stu is very much the modern man. He is a big fan of iTunes and the whole download scene. “I’m always downloading stuff,” he told me. “Music goes with me everywhere. The big media system I have in my home is really only used now for piping holiday music throughout the house during the holidays.”    

When asked if he had any final parting words for fans or just words of wisdom, Stu said, “The most humbling part of it all is how many people still follow CCR. I’ve lived a blessed life, and it’s all because of the fans. We’re grateful.” He continued, “Before accountability comes responsibility. Get informed, and get involved. Also, if you think you’re great, play Oakland,” referring to a statement he saw written on a dressing room wall in a theater somewhere years ago. “Oakland’s my hometown,” he added.

As I stated in my interview with Doug last summer, being a big CCR fan myself made this interview that much more fun and special for me, and I’m thankful for the opportunity. To Stu, Doug, and all the guys - John, Kurt, and Steve - thanks for carrying on a legacy of such great music, music that has been a main staple of so many college dorm parties and backyard barbeques; that has gotten us through long commutes on the road and provided us company during quiet times of reflection; that has provided us with entertainment on so many bar juke boxes; and, as Stu quickly chimed in with, “How about all those back seat escapades? I heard we were there for plenty of those, too.”

Thanks much, guys! 

Visit Credence Clearwater Revisited on the Web at: www.creedence-revisited.com .

What are your favorite songs by Creedence Clearwater Revival? Why are they your favorites? Did you ever get to see the original band in concert? Ever see Creedence Clearwater Revisited perform? Share your favorite Creedence tunes and memories in the Comments section below.

Upcoming Interview: Stu Cook of CCR

NOTE: THE INTERVIEW IS NOW PUBLISHED AND AVAILABLE HERE.

Yesterday morning, I had the opportunity to interview Stu Cook, bass player for Creedence Clearwater Revival and Creedence Clearwater Revisited! It was a great, in-depth interview, so stay tuned for it! I'm hoping to have it published here either today or tomorrow.

In the meantime, enjoy my interview with Doug Clifford, CCR's drummer, from last summer!

All the Best,

Aaron Robertson

Exclusive Interview: David White of Danny & The Juniors

By Aaron S. Robertson

Milwaukee-area journalist catches up with founder of ’50s-’60s doo-wop group Danny & The Juniors, who went on to have a successful songwriting career that continues to leave a mark on new generations of music fans over five decades later.

He was writing poetry at age 11 and songwriting by 14. Benefiting from free music lessons and instruments offered to him by his elementary school, he took up both the trombone and clarinet. He grew up with a piano in his home, and learned how to play it by ear. And in 1955, at the age of 15, David White launched the group, The Juvenaires, which would soon be discovered by John Madara. As David recalls, “John took us to audition for his vocal coach, Artie Singer, who had a record company with DJ Larry Brown, called Singular Records.”

Growing up, David enjoyed an extensive variety of music, ranging from Glenn Miller, Teresa Brewer, The Four Lads, and The Four Coins to The Penguins, Frankie Lymon, and The Platters. The first time he heard African-American R&B groups on the radio, which he described as “being on the other end of the dial,” came as a bit of a shock to David’s system, as it did with so many others who grew up in that era. “It was such a neat experience. It really was. We were never exposed to that kind of music before,” he told me during our phone interview from his Las Vegas home on April 22.

L-R: Danny Rapp, Frank Maffei, David White, and Joe Terranova. Source: www.dannyandthejuniors.com.

That R&B influence made Danny Rapp an easy choice to fill the role of lead singer for The Juvenaires, later Danny & The Juniors. “Danny had more of an R&B sound, which I was looking for,” David explained. In addition to bringing Danny on board, David also selected Joe Terranova (who goes by Joe Terry) and Frank Maffei after auditioning kids in his Philadelphia neighborhood.

Two of the group’s more well-known earlier hits are “At the Hop” and “Rock and Roll is Here to Stay”, which were released in 1957 and 1958, respectively.

David co-wrote “At the Hop” with John Madara and Artie Singer. Originally called “Do the Bop” and written by David and John, the song was renamed and some of its lyrics changed at the recommendation of Dick Clark because the dance known as the Bop was already fading in popularity around the time the song was released. Hops were the new thing. Artie came aboard as a co-writer of the new version, and Dick was given half of the publishing rights for it.

As David recalls in his own words about that song, “We recorded ‘Do the Bop’ with Johnny Madara singing lead vocals and my group, The Juvenaires, backing him up. Artie took it to Johnny’s label, Prep Records, but they turned it down. Artie then took it to Dick Clark, who suggested the title change to ‘At the Hop’. Aritie changed some of the lyrics and became a co-writer,” continuing, “We went back into the recording studio and this time, my group recorded the song with Danny singing lead. Artie took it back to Dick Clark and gave him half the publishing of the song. ‘At the Hop’ was then released on the Singular label, which couldn’t handle the distribution demands. So Artie sold the master to ABC Paramount.” The practice of payola was not illegal at that time, allowing Dick Clark to get away with securing those publishing rights, David explained to me.

“Rock and Roll is Here to Stay” was written entirely by David.

Before it became "At the Hop", it was actually "Do the Bop".
"At the Hop" "Rock and Roll is Here to Stay". David White is the second singer from the front at the very beginning of this video.
 

L-R: David White, Joe Terranova, Frank Maffei, Danny Rapp. Source: www.last.fm.

With these hits came participation in Alan Freed’s tours. “What a thrill these Alan Freed tours were,” David recalled. “We played all the major cities. Milwaukee was definitely one of them. We performed with Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, so many others. What a thrill it all was.”

In 1959, David tied the knot with his first wife, got a job, and left the group. “That’s how fast our popularity waned,” he said with a laugh. But he would soon be back. Danny & The Juniors regrouped from time to time throughout the ’60s. As he recalls, “I rejoined them a year or so later to record the chart records ‘Twistin' USA’ and ‘Pony Express’ for Swan Records. In 1962, we recorded for Jamie/Guyden Records and in 1964, we recorded for Mercury Records.”

"Pony Express"

"I believe in God. I have a great family. I love my wife. There are a lot of sources for inspiration."

David would go on to have a diverse and successful writing career outside of Danny & The Juniors. Among other hit songs, he co-wrote, along with John Madara, “You Don’t Own Me”, which was recorded by Lesley Gore in 1963 and produced by Quincy Jones; and “1-2-3”, recorded by Len Barry in 1965. Len was a co-writer along with David and John on “1-2-3”, as well. David was also a member of two other groups during the latter half of the ’60s, The Spokesmen and The Crystal Mansion.

On April 5, 1983, lead singer Danny Rapp was found dead in his Arizona motel room of an apparent self-inflicted gun shot. About a month short of his 42nd birthday, Danny was originally out in Phoenix for a month-long lounge stint at a resort with another incarnation of “Danny & The Juniors” when he got into a couple of disputes offstage with a female member of the group that soon prompted resort security to intervene and confront him. With two more shows yet to complete, Danny took off and headed to a small town more than 160 miles away. Witnesses saw him drinking heavily in one of the town’s two taverns on Saturday, April 2. At some point during that weekend, he purchased a gun from a private individual.

Twistin' USA

Danny Rapp. Source: www.imvdb.com.

David recalled hearing of Danny’s death. “I saw him a couple months before his death. I considered joining Danny’s version of the band at that time. I flew out to Tahoe to meet up with him,” David said, continuing, “But I soon changed my mind. I came to realize that touring and being out on the road just wasn’t for me anymore. A couple months later, I heard the news. I was just shocked.” David went on to explain that Danny had developed a drinking problem.     

Continuing to write and participate in the creative arts, David keeps a full schedule that includes working on a memoir he hopes to have out sometime this year. He also recently wrote a screenplay and recorded a few local girls. A film script entitled, “At the Hop” was written by Michael Killen, based on a story by David and John Madara, as well. He writes a lot with his wife, Sandra, who is also into artography and currently seeking a distributor for her work. The two are planning a trip to Europe soon. “My hobby is being creative,” David said.

When it comes to inspiration for his writing, David has an unending supply. “I believe in God. I have a great family. I love my wife. There are a lot of sources for inspiration,” David explained to me, adding, “And if someone gives me a project, that’s inspiration enough.” When he and Sandra are away from their notebooks and computers, the two enjoy dinner, movies, and shows around Vegas.

Asked what his advice is for aspiring musicians and singers, David admitted he didn’t have too much to say on the matter, since his rise to prominence came in an entirely different era. “It’s a lot harder nowadays, I believe. Back then, you would give a DJ a bottle of booze, and he’d play your record. You could just walk into a recording studio. We were making three or four records a week. But I’d imagine if you stick to it and you have good talent, you have a shot.”

Speaking of aspiring talent, I was curious to know if David was keeping his eye on anyone in particular as far as up-and-coming talent. “Well, most of the people we see are already on their way up,” he told me. “I really can’t think of anyone in particular at the moment.” He and wife Sandra do tune into American Idol and some of the other music talent shows, he told me.

"It's a lot harder nowadays, I believe. Back then, you would give a DJ a bottle of booze, and he'd play your record."

On the subject of causes he really cares about, it didn’t take a millisecond for David to bring up the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, which awards grants to public schools across the United States to restore or preserve music education programs. “Music is beneficial to the mind and spirit, and it’s a true shame that budget cuts have cut out so many music programs,” he told me.   

Asked if he had any final parting words, David couldn’t express enough thanks to all of the fans through the years. “Thanks to all of our fans who came to see us and bought our records. Thanks to all of those who continue to buy our music online. It’s supported me and my family for many years, and I just can’t say ‘thank you’ enough.”

Danny & The Juniors has been back together for quite a number of years now, featuring the other remaining original members, Joe Terranova (who goes by Joe Terry) and Frank Maffei. Joe serves as the lead singer of the group, which also includes Frank’s brother, Bob. Visit them on the Web at: www.dannyandthejuniors.com . And be sure to check out David’s own Web site at: www.rockandrollisheretostay.com . Finally, stay on the lookout for David’s memoir!

And Rock ‘n’ Roll is still here, and it looks like it’s here to stay…

What are your favorite songs by Danny & The Juniors? Ever see the group perform? Share your favorite Danny & The Juniors tunes and memories in the Comments section below.

Upcoming Interview: David White of Danny & The Juniors

UPDATE: The interview is now published here.

I am thrilled to announce that I recently interviewed David White, who founded the great '50s-'60s doo-wop group, Danny & The Juniors, known for, among other hits, "At the Hop" and "Rock and Roll is Here to Stay".

Featuring Danny Rapp as lead singer and backed by Joe Terranova, Frank Maffei, and White, the group hailed from Philadelphia and quickly rose to national prominence with their smooth vocal arrangements and upbeat, fun style.

White, who co-wrote "At the Hop" and wrote "Rock and Roll is Here to Stay", went on to have a successful writing career after the original rendition of Danny & The Juniors broke up in the early '60s. Among other well-known and popular songs, White co-wrote "You Don't Own Me", which was recorded by Lesley Gore in 1963, and "1-2-3", recorded by Len Barry in 1965.  

Danny & The Juniors continues to tour today, minus White and original lead singer Rapp, who was found dead in his Arizona hotel room in 1983 of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot. The group now consists of Joe Terranova (who goes by Joe Terry) as lead singer, Frank Maffei, and Frank's brother, Bob Maffei.

White, who now lives in Las Vegas, continues to write to this day, always looking for the next creative project to get involved with. 

So stay tuned for this fun interview with someone who was right there in the thick of Rock 'n' Roll's early days, not only as a performer, but as a songwriter who gave the world material that is still going strong with new generations of fans over five decades later. In the meantime, enjoy these videos!

All the Best, 

Aaron Robertson

David White is the second singer from the front at the very beginning of this video.
 
Before it became "At the Hop", it was actually "Do the Bop". More on that in the interview!
Lesley Gore performing her hit, "You Don't Own Me", which was co-written by David White.

Exclusive Interview: Rebecca Romney, Rare Books Expert Featured on Pawn Stars

By Aaron S. Robertson

The manager of the Las Vegas store of Bauman Rare Books opens up about her passions for literature and languages, discusses trends in the industry, and shares her favorite memories of the show, among other topics.

Tune into Pawn Stars tomorrow, Monday, 3/4/13, at 10:00pm EST for the all-new episode, "Book 'Em, Rick". Rebecca will be appearing to appraise an incunable. In her own words, "An incunable is a book published within the first fifty years or so ('til 1501) after Gutenberg's first printed book."

My first exposure to Rebecca Romney, like so many others, came when I started getting into the hit History Channel show, Pawn Stars, where she is occasionally called in to lend her expertise and insights to Rick and the gang when they’re interested in purchasing a rare book or signed document of historic significance off of someone.

Over time, curiosity naturally set in, and I started developing an interest in learning more about the backgrounds and businesses of all of the pawn shop’s experts who appear on the show. They all do such a great job at explaining the background, significance (or lack thereof), and value of an artifact, whatever it is: an antique or collector car, sports memorabilia, a signature, a comic book collection, coins or currency, an antique gun, etc., etc.

Rebecca Romney.
Photo taken by Sean Samuels:
http://www.seansamuels.com/photography

That curiosity for learning more led me to discovering Rebecca’s blog and Facebook fan page, and eventually e-mail correspondence requesting an interview. I have a number of other interview requests for some of the show’s other experts floating around out there, and am anxiously waiting to hear back.

What I really appreciate about the show and Rebecca’s blog and Facebook page is that they serve us history and ideas on the go, and it’s all presented in a fun, light way. For someone like me, who loves history and trivia, loves learning new things all the time, but ironically doesn’t have the time to read a book cover to cover or dive into a long essay these days, these mediums help fill in some of those gaps. Imagine that, not having enough time to read a book cover to cover, yet you serve on your city’s library board. But that’s where so many people are these days with their time, and so it’s nice to have these other forms of media that can teach, inspire, and just get you thinking.

So just how did Rebecca, who manages the Las Vegas location of Bauman Rare Books, land her role on Pawn Stars? The show, she explained, started around the same time that Bauman, which has locations in New York City and Philadelphia, as well, was opening up its Las Vegas shop. Rebecca wasn’t yet managing the shop when Rick Harrison from the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop approached Bauman with the idea one day. “We initially declined, but Rick came back pressing,” Rebecca told me in our nearly 70-minute conversation on February 27. “I was now managing the store when he started pressing, and we eventually accepted. But he was really the instigator; he was the one who approached us with the invitation. It wasn’t the show’s producers or anything like that. It was a personal invite from him,” she added. And how does she like the role? “It’s a lot of fun. I really like it. But it’s all somewhat cherry on top; it’s something I never expected to be doing. Just working for Bauman, which is so well-known and reputed in the rare book world, is my dream job.”



Books, literature, history, and languages come naturally for Rebecca, who majored in both linguistics and classical studies and minored in philosophy in college. “I was only 2-3 courses away from attaining 3-4 other minors,” she noted. She started her freshman year out majoring in art history, but ended up moving away from it out of some fear over the practicality of it after college. “But I realize now, given the field I’m in, that I could have kept it, and things would have turned out just fine,” she said. As for languages, Rebecca can read in six. “I’m rather obsessed with languages,” she admitted, going on to add, “I need very little excuse to take up studying a language. I enjoy learning them for fun.” She was in Vietnam not long ago on a family trip, and studied up on Vietnamese prior to the journey.




When it comes to collecting books, Rebecca’s interests are wide and varied, and she often has to work to keep that impulse in check. She’s particularly a big fan of the works of publisher Thomas Mosher (1852-1923), who was, in her words, “…extremely avant-garde for the time.” In particular, she noted, he was really focused on the design of the books he published.

Two recently-published books that Rebecca highly recommends are Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.

As one can see, “A great deal of my life is wrapped up in books,” Rebecca told me. But she does make time for other interests and activities. “I also enjoy hiking, camping, movies. I’m interested in just about anything and everything.”

"I want to be a missionary for literature and reading."

With such a deep love for literature, poetry, and history then, does Rebecca write at all herself? Not really. “I write a short story or poem once in a while, but I pretty much just dabble in it. My husband is a full-time professional writer, and he’s the one that’s really good at it. He once wrote a complete novel based on a short story I started,” she recalled.

Rebecca, asked if she’s noticing any particular trends in rare books right now, said that “Modern Firsts”, which cover 20th and 21st century books, have been a hot trend for the last 10-15 years. Tying into that genre is “Children’s Literature”, which collectors are starting to take more seriously and see the value in. “The history of science, a genre I really appreciate, is starting to become more popular, which is great because I feel it’s undervalued,” she explained, going on to note that particular titles by Copernicus and Newton are showing increased signs of heavy activity by collectors in recent years.



With the world of rare books and historic documents comes the need to authenticate signatures from time to time, another aspect of Rebecca’s work. “There’s a baseline competence that has to be there,” she said, adding, “Autographs require a lot of exposure to authentic signatures. However, that’s not the only way to authenticate them, and it really shouldn’t be.” Other factors, she noted, include the quality of the paper, the age of the document, the formation of individual letters, and the quality of the ink. It sounds like a daunting task, but Rebecca notes that, “It can also be a lot of fun because it’s a challenge, especially when you’re dealing with a forgery. In those instances, you’re pitting your expertise with the forger’s,” she said. Rebecca describes the process of getting educated on signatures as, “…more apprenticeship than degree-like. It requires a lot of exposure to autographs and working with someone who has experience.” She credits John Reznikoff of University Archives with showing her the ropes, calling him a great mentor and tutor.

Asked about her favorite moments on the show, Rebecca immediately brought up the filming for this past year’s Christmas party episode as a special time for her. “That was a lot of fun, because it allowed me a chance to get to know the other experts a lot more,” she said, adding with a bit of a laugh, “It was nice hanging out with other like-minded, nerdy people.”

Speaking of the show, I was very curious how she manages to do it all. She’s sort of in this gray area between being this regular, everyday working professional with a job and responsibilities, like the rest of us, and having somewhat celebrity status, as well. What are her secrets to handling her duties of managing her shop and also doing all of the appearances, the blogging, the social media, the speaking engagements (she does in-store lectures from time to time, and is speaking for 40 minutes during a Preservation Week lecture in April), the talking with pesky journalists like me, etc.? Surprisingly, it’s not very overwhelming for her. “I’ll film for a few hours, then just go back to my job. As far as the social media stuff and the blogging, the topics come from ideas and thoughts I’m already having, so they’re not very time-consuming,” Rebecca explained to me.

As for final thoughts, Rebecca wanted to focus on books as a medium of entertainment. “You’re missing out on the unique strengths a book can offer that a movie can’t. A book forces you to create something - you fill in the picture yourself, minus the details from the author,” she said. Ultimately, what she strives to be is, “…a missionary for literature and reading.”

For my Wisconsin readers here, Rebecca said she hasn’t been to our state yet, but would love to someday. So with that answer, we do know that she’s not an expert in a world-famous Milwaukee fish fry, or the excitement of a Milwaukee Brewers or Green Bay Packers game, or the fun that comes with Summerfest or the Wisconsin State Fair. Not yet, anyway. We’ll have to work on that.

For further information, visit:

• Rebecca Romney’s blog
• Rebecca Romney Facebook fan page
• Rebecca Romney on Twitter
• Bauman Rare Books

Do you watch Pawn Stars? If so, what are your favorite episodes? Do you collect rare books? If you do, what do you enjoy the most out of it? Are there any particular genres, authors, or publishers you like? Share your experiences and insights in the Comments section below.

Check out other neat, exclusive interviews by Aaron S. Robertson.