In The Beginning

My father was career Army so an overseas assignment including the entire family as just a matter of time. In late 1957 we got orders for Germany. Dad purchased a brand new 1957 Chevy and he was off to his assignment. About two months later we followed with my Mother in the lead of four children. I was 14 years old and Gary was 12 years old. We were off on an exciting journey!

Once we were in Germany and settled in Gary and I began taking music lessons. I elected to learn the Accordion while Gary, the smart one, chose guitar. My Dad bought him a German Electric Guitar and started teaching himself. Gary was so intent on learning the Guitar he practiced until his fingers bleed. I am sure this is not unusual but he played through the bleeding.

We ended up in one hot little band while in Germany. It was called The DinaChords. (Sail Along Silvery Moon) We played around the base and actually make a bit of money. I turned to playing piano but still played the Accordion. Wish I still had that Accordion, it would be worth a ton of money today!

When we returned to Fort Leonard Wood we began looking for what would be our High School Band. What you will hear next is a series of very early recordings made at a radio station recording studio in Rolla Missouri. They are very rough and very late 1950's sounds. Gary played Guitar, I played the Hammond Organ, as I remember Romeo Bonifacio placed Bass and Mike Sindler played Tenor Sax on these recordings but the drummer's name escapes my memory.

Special Thanks: Many years ago I received a call from my Brother-In-Law asking me if I had the early recordings we made. After a few minutes I realized he was talking about the Rolla Recordings. No… I did not have one single cut as Shirley and I had a Moving Van hijacked, robbed and burned in 1973. Martin had them and provided me with a CD. It was a most wonderful gift. I wish to credit Martin and Donna Bonney for what you can enjoy below. "Thanks Guys!"

Things

Devil Women

Devil or Angel

Diane

Jammin'

The Hussle

Johnny B Good

Messing Around

Kansas City

One More Dance

Since I Met You Baby

Shela

Sugar Shack

What I Say

This is a rare photo of Gary Craig during the period of the Recording session in Rolla Missouri. The guitar he is playing is the first one he owned and was made by a German company. As I recall and you will hear; it had a solid sound. There are several lead solos on the Rolla songs.

Keep in mind, these recordings were made in a small studio with two microphones. One was in front of Gary who was singing and the other was out in front of the band. There is no balance or engeering at all.

After the recordings were made we went out to eat while the "engineer" cut our music to asitate records. They were cut one at a time with a machine that acutally cut the groves in the records. The asitate records were played too many times before we thought about making backup recordings. Some are better than others.

No Commercial gain is intended from these recordings. They are not for sale and are posted for listening and historical purpose only. If anyone so choses any of the recordings will be deleted.