News & Reviews

The Buffalo Music Hall of Fame is proud to celebrate 25 years of honoring the music and performers of Buffalo and Western New York at its 25th Anniversary Induction Gala
Please join the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame on Thursday, October 9, 2008, 7 PM at the Tralf Music Hall located at 622 Main Street in Buffalo's Downtown Theatre District for an evening of live music.  Everyone is encouraged to attend to welcome the forthcoming 2008 Buffalo Music Hall of Fame Inductees who will also be performing.  
The Buffalo Music Hall of Fame was founded in 1983 to recognize groups and individuals who have had a significant impact on the WNY music scene and/or achieved success in the music industry on a national and often an international scale.  The Buffalo Music Hall of Fame annually recognizes and inducts outstanding Western New Yorkers who have made major contributions to the music industry at their annual induction gala.   Members of the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame from previous classes will be in attendance to honor the Class of 2008 and in some cases to induct the new members. 
Food and refreshments are available through the Tralf facilities.  Tickets are $20, at all Ticketmaster locations, charge by phone 852-5000, or through the Tralf Box office.  
The Buffalo Music Hall of Fame announces its Class of 2008: 
ED BENTLEY:  Rockabilly music performer, Inductee/National Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
BOB JAMES:  Songwriter guitarist/singer, local music producer and educator.  
RICHARD KERMODE:  1970's keyboardist for Janis Joplin (posthumous award).  
JERRY LIVINGSTON:  National Recording Artist with:  Miki Howard Atlantic records, Stephanie Mills – MCA Records, Liberty Silvers RCA Records/BMG and Billy Phillips/MCA Records and he recorded (5) albums 2 of them Gold with Rick James on Motown Records.  Jerry is also a local Jazz Bassist.  
TOM REINHARDT:  Local rock and blues bassist.  
JOE ROZLER:  Internationally sought after keyboardist.  
SCHULZ FAMILY:  Generations of great musicians represented in one of Buffalo's premier musical families.  
JOANIE SOMMERS:  1960's radio star & "Pepsi Girl."  
 
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT INDUCTEE 
JIMMY SACCA:  Lead Singer of the world famous Hilltoppers – national vocal group from the 1950's and 1960's.  
  
NON-PERFORMING INDUCTEES 
MACK LUCHEY:  Buffalo music store owner and promoter of Buffalo music. 
ANTHONY MARCHESE:  Synthesizer pioneer.  
RICHARD SARGENT:  Local record producer. 
     Co-chairs of the event include:  Patricia Kirisits, Susan Banks, and Richie Derwald.  For more information on the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame – please access the website at http://www.buffalomusic.org/

{ 08/12/08 }

Hi Gang:

Sadly, an era in country music that has been dying piece by piece, legend
by legend, over a period of fifty-five years finally came to its unhappy
conclusion yesterday morning here in Nashville.

Don Helms, the great steel guitar player, passed away. He was the last
surviving member of Hank Williamsâ?T original Drifting Cowboys band.

He was also one of the funniest men and finest human beings it has ever
been my privilege to know.

[More:]

If you were down in the dumps and you needed a good laugh to cheer you up,
you called Don Helms. If you wanted somebody to tell you the real story of
Hank Williamsâ?¦his songs, his charisma, and his demons...you called Don
Helms. You wanted a great steel player who never changed his style over the
years, but whose style never went out of style, you called Don Helms.

Iâ?Tll never forget a night not long after I came to Nashville when I was
riding home from a tour in the back of the Wilburn Brothersâ?T long black
Cadillac. Don was working for them at that time, both as a road musician and
as a businessman in their publishing and booking offices. On this particular
night, he was also their chauffeur, climbing under the wheel somewhere in
Michigan and pointing the car, as he had so many times during his career,
toward Nashville.

For some reason, I couldnâ?Tt fall asleep that night, so I leaned across
the back of the driverâ?Ts seat and began asking Don questions about Hank
Williams. I found him more than willing to talk, to share storiesâ?¦some
funny, some sadâ?¦mesmerizing me mile after long, dark mile.

He told me about endless days and nights on the road before air
conditioned cars and interstate highwaysâ?¦.about Hankâ?Ts incredible back
painâ?¦about his problems with Audreyâ?¦about how he loved to fishâ?¦how
much he loved Bocephusâ?¦and how he could turn a phrase and write a song in
virtually no time at all. Hank had been my boyhood hero, and to find myself
one-on-one with the man responsible for so much of his musical sound was
almost more than a wide-eyed kid from Georgia could take.

In later years, when I needed someone to come talk about Hank on my radio
shows, Don was there. When we needed a legend back in January of this year
to play steel guitar on our Countryâ?Ts Family Reunion videos, Don was
there. For the rest of my life I will remember Donâ?Ts playing â?oCold Cold
Heart� all by himself in that studio filled with stars, Vince Gill sitting
nearby, tears streaming down his face. When the song was over, Vince looked
at the rest of us gathered in the room and said, â?oGuys, THATâ?TS the
reason I came to Nashville.�

I consider myself so lucky to have known and traveled and existed in the
presence of Don Helms. His music will live forever.

I just wish he could have done the same.

Bill Anderson

Hi Ed
Thank you very much for the CD. Much appreciated. There will be many spins from this in my coming “Country Sunday” programs.
You are quite right “Who needs Jamaica”? With a backyard and fantasy you can have the same fun much cheaper.
Very good production and great songs.

Wish you all the best - Stig
Stig Tornqvist
DJ & Resp.Editor
CMR 105,5 in Sweden

A Big HOWDY!!!!!

Ed.......... your CD is fantastic........ special........ very refreshing........ especailly "Hank And The Boys" !

Every chance I get, your songs will be on my country music radio shows! As long as I live Bud......... your music will be play and listened to, and that's a Jimmy Stix' word Bud!

Hope to meet you some day........ I'm only 56 years old, so your songs will be spinned for a long time......... well......... that depends on how long I live........ LOL!!!!!!!

Talk to you later ok!

Keep in touch cousin!

Sincerely your promoter,

Jimmy Stix
jimstix@nycap.rr.com
www.jimstix.com

(NEW CD GETTING AIRPLAY OVERSEAS!!)
Bob Atkins-Australia
Giday Ed Thanks for the Album, I am on this Thursday and next
Wednesday and Friday , Thanks mate I also have you on the latest MTM,
You will receive e-mails and I post on about 7 boards. Bob (Ps I
enjoyed this album)
_________________

Hi Ed
Thank you very much for the CD. Much appreciated. There will be many spins from this in my coming “Country Sunday” programs.
You are quite right “Who needs Jamaica”? With a backyard and fantasy you can have the same fun much cheaper.
Very good production and great songs.

Wish you all the best - Stig
Stig Tornqvist
DJ & Resp.Editor
CMR 105,5 in Sweden
_________________________
Dear Friend
I would be very grateful to you if you could send me information and record on the artist:

Ed Bentley

I am very interested.
My programmshows, I host on the Radio RCF Rivages, are based on the country music especially if the artists are unknown, so I could present the artist and the record.
Your contact by 'Mark Trail Music 29' with the fantastic song 'Common ground' and hope to heard others country songs with the album 'Who needs Jamaica'
Thanks
Looking forward to hearing from you, I remain
Sincerely yours
Dominique Lemarechal

Dominique Lemarechal
6 Rue Per Jakez Helias
29860 Plabennec
France
BCMA Member
CMAA Member
Int'l CMA Member

Ed will be performing around the Western New York State for the summer of 2008. He will be playing some of the songs from his new CD, Who Needs Jamaica? Check out the Roadrunner dates at
www.theroadrunnersband.com

Ed Bentley
-Here We Go Again!-
By Bob Silvestri
bobsilvestri@bestofwny.com
Ed Bentley, a rockabilly music pioneer in the 50’s and 60’s, thought his career had wound down with the exploding rock scene of the time and settled in to life back in Buffalo. In 2004 he was honored with induction to The Rockabilly Hall of Fame and after a little thought and a little persuasion he returned to the recording studio to release a new CD titled Here We Go Again!. He assembled an elite group of Buffalo musicians (John Dieckman, Dwane Hall, Nick Veltri, Doug Morgano, Mike Phelps, Jim Ehinger, Rob Peltier, Jim Brucato, Willie Schoelkopf, Linda Lou Shriver, Mark Winsick and Ted Andrews) at Sessions Studios to record the disc a mix of covers and original songs. Bentley covers Johnny Cash’s “Get Rhythm” and Carl Perkins “Matchbox” with aplomb. “Let’s Tear it Up” a Doug Morgano tune and the John Dieckman penned “Honey I’ll Be Gone” are outstanding. Bentley’s own “Rock A Baby Boogie”, “Lovin Man” and “Dance Bop A Shoo Bop” ooze authenticity. The disc is currently featured on play lists and radio through out Europe and is getting a lot of buzz overseas. For more on Ed Bentley and his new release Here We Go Again check out www.edbentleymusic.com

We did the arrangement of Barbara's recording of" I'm getting better all the time" on our CD, " Here We Go Again" Her record was fantastic!!!

Barbara Pittman Gone at Age 67
Portions of this article courtesy Stephen D Price & Memphis Commercial Appeal - Rockabilly singer Barbara Pittman never had a smash hit, but could occasionally find work performing. The Sun Records and Phillips International recording artist's popularity in Europe remained constant, and she last performed in England in March.
"She made her living singing. I never knew Barbara to do anything else," said Pittman's sister, Carlene Day of Arlington.
Pittman died at her Memphis home Oct. 29 of heart failure. She was 67. Best known for the classic "I Need a Man," Pittman was born in North Memphis. Her mother was friends with Gladys Presley and Pittman and Elvis Presley knew each other as children. Early in their careers, the young singers one night stayed up late taking publicity photos of each other. "They were up to 3 in the morning," Day said. "She got in trouble with Mama for that. She said, 'But Mama, it's Elvis.' Mama said, 'I don't care who it is.'"
Pittman began thinking of a singing career when she won a high school talent contest, Day said. As a child, Pittman spent time at her uncle's pawn shop on Beale Street, where she listened to jam sessions with B.B. King.
When she was 10 or 11, she auditioned for Sun Records, only to be told by Sam Phillips to come back when she learned how to sing. Later Phillips would be impressed by a demo she cut, "Playing for Keeps," and recorded her first session at Sun in 1956, according to the Rockabilly Hall of Fame Web site.
Other singles followed, including "No Matter Who's to Blame," "Two Young Fools in Love" and "I'm Getting Better all the Time." John Singleton, president of Sun Entertainment in Nashville, said Phillips used mostly male singers but liked Pittman.
Barbara did several shows for the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in Memphis and one in Las Vegas during the past 5 years. Sadly, she was often overlooked when the Memphis area Sun Tribute Shows were put together. She especially enjoyed joining Ace Cannon's band on stage for a song or two.
Day said her sister had a good sense of humor and "could tap dance. She could do anything." After that trip to England in March of 2005, Day said her sister's health declined. A memorial service was held Saturday, November at Family Funeral Care in Memphis.
The Rockabilly Hall of Fame will soon host a special tribute page for Barbara where fans, friends and family may share their thoughts about her life and career. Send you tribute for Barbara now - to: Bob Timmers.

Ed Bentley - Here We Go Again
Recently inducted to the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, Ed Bentley gives serious cred to his induction with this CD. Foot stomping music with a gritty edge steeped in boogie rock roots, Ed's gravelly, soulful voice has a high octane vehicle. The full throttle country edged Freight Train Boogie the barrel house shag inducing Dance Bop a Shoo Bop and the beach tinted ballad Bluebirds Over the Mountain show slightly different sides. Throwback music with just the right modern edge. URL: http://www.edbentleymusic.com E-mail: rsargent@adelphia.net:->

Here We Go Again, Ed Bentley
RaBHoF CD-122


Ed Bentley's new album hits off with a classic Delmore Brothers song "Freight Train Boogie". Good choice I would say, it sets the mood for some American roots music to come, and it introduces the great musicians that accompany Ed on his new album. Ed's got a dark and raw voice, while already in his 60s, apparently the man's still got lots of mojo. "Rock A Baby Boogie", written by Ed himself, follows in the same style.

Another selfpenned song is "Dance Bop A Shoo Bop", piano boogie woogie, guitars and harmony vocals. After that, Ed is picking up speed with a song Doug Morgano wrote "Let's Tear It Up". Superb Sun-style rockabilly with magnificent guitar riffs by Doug himself. The song, and Ed's voice as well, remind a bit of the classic recordings of Sonny Burgess.

A cool slow paced intermezzo is a cover of Ersel Hickey's "Blue Birds Over The Mountain", followed by another boogie woogie rocker "You Been Changing Your Mind", which also includes some great guitar licks. Ed's original "Slap Happy Boogie Band From Tennessee" is back to the roots of rockabilly, a real gone bass pluckin' slapper. Basic and simple, exactly what rockabilly is all about.

"Lovin' Man", another selfpenned song, goes back to country music roots, while Johnny Cash' classic Sun hit "Get Rhythm" brings back the beat. Ed does great too on Barbara Pittman's "I'm Getting Better All The Time" as well as on Sanford Clark's "The Fool". On "Oh Yeah" we are presented again with the raw Sonny Burgess sound, very nice harmony and guitar pickin', and a fabulous saxophone break. Ed closes his album with a tribute to the ever great Carl Perkins with "Matchbox".

Ed bentley is a fantastic singer with a voice just cut out for rockabilly music, he's got one hell of a band and the recordings are superb. Having said that, I also think the album might just be a bit too perfect, a bit more "wildness", like we had in the fifties, might have been good idea. My favorite pick from this CD would be "Oh Yeah", great song!

In the last half hour of the "7 O'Clock Rock Show" on August 19th, we
played only Ed Bentley songs. Here's the playlist:

- Freight Train Boogie
- Rock a Baby Boogie
- Dance Bop a Shoo Bop
- Let's Tear It Up
- Lovin' Man
- Get Rhythm
- Honey I'll Be Gone
- Matchbox

Rick den Haan, Cowboy 'Willie' Wilfried & Rob Verstraaten
"7 O'Clock Rock Show"

----------------- End Forwarded Message -----------------

>>>========================================

Subject: Ed Bentley goes over big in New Zealand
From: "Comstock Records"
Date: Mon, August 22, 2005 1:08 pm
To: "Ed Bentley"
Priority: Normal
Options: View Full Header | View Printable Version | Add to Addressbook | View Message details




Ed- This is a huge 9 station chaing covering most of NZ>... see the
attached coverage map I've put on this e-mail..... Frank


---------------- Begin Forwarded Message ----------------
Date: 8/16/05 6:00 PM
Received: 8/17/05 6:37 AM
From: JUST COUNTRY JUST COUNTRY, justcountrymusic@hotmail.com
To: fara@comstockrecords.com

Hello from New Zealand..

Many thanks for the following CD -

ED BENTLEY

Please can you inform this artist that ALL tracks are now on our network
and will receive permanent airplay.

www.justcountryfmradio.notlong.com

Many thanks again

Dave
JUST COUNTRY FM NETWORK
_________________________________________________________________
Read the latest Hollywood gossip @ http://xtramsn.co.nz/entertainment

PLAYLIST INN FOR MORE
DATUM: 22-08-2005.
Radio Frequent / Colorado FM / Maasland FM / Wan FM

CD of the week: Here We Go Again / Ed Bentley / Comstock Records

c.laponder@home.nl
SONG: ** ARTIST: ** LABEL:
Freight Train Boogie ** Ed Bentley ** Comstock Records
Pickup Jasmine ** Ove Stoylen ** Kultur&Spetakkel Rec.
Bring Back My Cadillac ** Jim Wise ** Silver Star Records
Strangers No More ** Joyce Andersen ** Joyscream Music
Honey I’ll Be Gone ** Ed Bentley ** Comstock Records
The Way I Feel Tonight ** The Lennerockers ** Lennerecords
Just An Old Love Story ** Don Bouvette ** South 40 Prod.
You Won’t Catch Me Fallin’. ** Melanie Lane ** Royalty Records
Heartbreak Tattoo ** Thunder Road ** Comstock Records
Just Beyound the Pain ** Ch.Louvin& Cr.Gayle ** BSW Records
Bluebirds over the Mountain ** Ed Bentley ** Comstock records
Forever in Our Hearts ** Wes Mc Donell **
Keep the Candle Burning ** Lori Morrison ** East Line Ent.Ment
Drinkin’About You ** Hetten Des ** Drunkabilly Records
Alabama Rain ** O.J.Hanssen ** RMG Records
Common Folk ** Larry Lee Vannetta **

SECOND HOUR ** **
Barrelhouse ‘n’Boogie ** The Lennerockers ** Lennerecords
A Thing About Trains ** Grand Ole Country ** Star sound Records
I Can’t Make It without You ** Jim Wise ** Silver Star Records
Baby What You want Me To Do ** Teddy Redell ** Collector records
Two Broken Cigarettes ** Ove Stoylen ** Kultur&Spetakkel Rec.
Tequila Sunrise ** Roller Coasters ** HCD Records
Get Rhythm ** Ed Bentley ** Comstock Records
Shy Little Bayou Love ** Jolie Holliday ** Universal Records
The Devil in Miss Jones ** Hetten Des ** Drunkabilly Records
Baby Don’t Move Me ** The Paladins ** RUF Records
Just My Luck ** Lori Morrison ** East Line Ent.Ment
Forty Miles of Bad Road ** Eddy&The Crazy Yets ** Pink records
Redneck Fancy Boy ** Ove Stoylen ** Kultur&Spetakkel Rec.
Breakfast in Bed ** Donnie Fritts ** Oh Boy Records
You Are Never Nice To Me ** BR5-49 ** Arista Records
Matchbox ** Ed Bentley ** Comstock Records

INN FOR MORE / P.O.Box 573 / 5340 AN OSS / Holland.
Members of the DUTCH COUNTRY D.J.ASSOCIATION / DCDJA
Members of the DUTCH COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION / DCMA
Members of the COUNTRY AND WESTERN ASSOCIATION BELGIUM / CAWAB
Reported on BUMA/STEMRA.

Ed Bentley Member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame

Gator writes "Though to some Ed Bentley might sound like a new artist, he has been around for many years. His Mother and Father were both performers. He teamed up with his two older brothers, to enter music industry. This new CD "Here We Go Again!" is a mixture of some original music and some old time favorites. You will notice the influence of Johnny Cash, Lee Hazelwood, and Carl Lee Perkins. If you like Country Rockabilly, this CD is going to knock your socks off."



Posted By wb5jzp on Monday, July 04 2005 @ 17:34:45 CDT (1 reads) comments? |

ROCK&ROLL
POP AND BLUES
WITH
PETER HARRISON
8pm TO 10pm
101.3 FM
AUSTRALIA
EMAIL
mhar5043@bigpond.net.au DATE 8-6-05
AUST

TOTAL


SONG ARTIST No
1 FREIGHT TRAIN BOOGIE NEW ONE ED BENTLEY 1
2 ROCK THIS TOWN STRAY-CATS 2
3 TWO MINUTE BOOGIE JOE PHILLIPS 1
4 FEEL SO FINE JOHNNY PRESTON 11
5 PLAY IT COOL BILLY FURY 2
6 BREATHLESS J. LEE LEWIS 9
7 BABY BLUE STRAY - CATS 13
8 BLUE HIGHWAY WTR GEORGE THOROGOOD 2
9 DOWN IN THE BOONDOCKS BILLY JOE ROYAL 22
10 YOU TEAR ME UP ROSIE FLORES 14
11 READY TEDDY SHAKIN STEVENS 10
12 ROCK A BABY BOOGIE WTR ED BENTLEY 2
13 LET THE BELLS KEEP RINGING PAUL ANKA 5
14 WATERLOO ABBA 19
15 PLEASE,PLEASE ME BEATLES 2
16 BLUES BOOGIE HAROLD SHARP 3
17 I DRINK ALONE GEORGE THOROGOOD 5
18 RIP IT UP E. BROS 4
19 I GOTTA KNOW ELVIS 7
20 ROCK A BABY ROCK BUDDY HOLLY 8
21 I’M KNOCKING SHAKIN STEVENS 3
22 HONKY TONKIN BILL DOGGETT 7
23 BE-BOP-A-LULA E. BROS 18
24 DON’T SHE LOOK GOOD SHAKIN STEVENS 5
25 IT’S NOT MY FAULT BUDDY HOLLY 26
26 DON’T TURN YOUR BACK SHAKIN STEVENS 12
27 KONTIKI SHADOWS 9
28 KEEP A KNOCKING E. BROS 27
29 LET ME SHOW YOU HOW SHAKIN STEVENS 13
30 LAZY J. & HURRICANES 10
31 BORN TO BE BAD GEORGE THOROGOOD 10
32 I DO I DO I DO ABBA 7
33 BLUE BERRY HILL FATS DOMINO 8
34 WALK DON’T RUN VENTURES 6
35 GREEN DOOR SHAKIN STEVENS 6

From Rockabilly Hall of Fame, " Front Page News"

Ed Bentley's CD Release
June 16, 2005 - Rockabilly Hall of Fame inductee Ed Bentley, from Yorkshire, NY, looks rather laid back and relaxed on the disc's cover, but when you slap the CD in your player you'll hear nothing that's laid back and relaxed.
The story goes like this ... Ed Bently was browsing the Internet, found his name among those listed on the Rockabilly Hall of Fame web site and inquired by e-mail if this could possibly be him. Shortly thereafter, he was informed that "yes" this is you - could you please send a bio and some photos - and Ed was soon inducted.
Now, this recently inducted member of the Rockabilly of Fame has released a brand new CD ... "Here We Go Again ... to celebrate his recent induction.
This CD, a collection of some original tunes and some older rockabilly and boogie remakes, was recorded at Sessions Recording Studio in Buffalo, NY and is now released on the Rockabilly Hall of Fame label.
Says Bob Timmers, founder of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, "After we found him to be the 'real deal' he was brought into the fold. These veterans of rockabilly music need to have their stories told. That is our purpose and it has great rewards, especially when cats like Ed are still giggin' and recordin'".
For more information, contact Rich Sargent by phone at 716-310-2716 or visit Ed's web site.

Recently Inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame Ed Bentley was asked, "Why don't you record a new CD to celebrate the occasion?"
Not having been in the recording studio for many years, and playing only weekends, Ed thought "I wonder?" Not many people get to have a secound chance at their first big dream.
Well, it didn't take too much persuasion, he jumped in with both feet. The result is a collection of Rockabilly and Boogie songs -- some original & a few great covers.
Ed invites you to listen and come along for the ride. Enjoy!!
His new CD,
HERE WE GO AGAIN now available on this site. Just Click on Music to hear it!!!