Photo: Jimmy Russell, the Love Muscle.
Mild-mannered DC Duncan finds himself caught in a maelstrom of musical madness. The whimsical musicians who occupy this strange new world have cast a spell upon Mr. Duncan, sending him into a delightful, but tumultuous tailspin. Welcome to The Twilight Zone…
– Rod Serling
Santa Fe, 1982 (and beyond):
David Henry & The Heaters
I received a phone call from David Henry. Someone must have told him I was a pretty good drummer; and he needed one. He invited me to his office on the Santa Fe Plaza where he and his two singers would be rehearsing.
After dinner I jumped on my Harley and rode down to the Plaza. His “office” was upstairs overlooking San Francisco Street and the historic square. I entered the room and found David and his two pretty singers rehearsing some harmonies – and they sounded really fine. There was a piano, a stereo, a few chairs and that was about it in his so-called office.
David introduced himself and the girls: Margo Covington, the blonde; and Rona Gold, the brunette from Toronto. I complimented his strong tenor and the girl’s mellifluous voices. We chatted a bit, and then he told me that he was playing at the Ore House (on the Plaza) in two hours. He asked me to join them that evening. It sounded like a good idea, so I rode the short distance back to my house and fetched my drums.
Back at the Plaza, I entered the Ore House, cases in hand, and headed to the little band area that doubled as a dance floor. (At that time in Santa Fe, stages and lights were an afterthought.) The other band members were setting up and were surprised to see me strolling in.
I introduced myself and shook hands with Tony Young, a bass player from San Angelo, Texas, and Mike Waganaar, a local, on steel guitar. Tony asked if I was from Texas. (Must have been my gentle drawl.) I replied: “Texas? No, I’m from Dallas.” They chuckled. Tony asked who I had played with. I rattled off a few names and then mentioned the Bee’s Knees. His face lit up. He exclaimed, “I have both your albums!” From that moment on, we were good buddies. And we still are!
After a while David showed up and we were off to the races, playing some hot rockabilly.
On a break I visited the men’s room. On the wall over the toilet was some poetic graffiti: Here I sit, buns a flexin’… Just gave birth to another Texan! From that moment on, I decided not to make a big deal about being from the Lone Star State. After living in Santa Fe for a while, I understood – well and good – why the locals had a great disregard for Texans. (Some of the more braggadocious ones can be a real pain-in-the-ass. Nuff said.)
The Heaters also played Club West and other raucous venues in northern New Mexico.
The Songwriters Contest
Tony was also a schooled recording engineer with a four-track studio in his home on the hill. The New Mexican had advertised a songwriter contest called Fill In The Blank, from Moon Mountain Sound. I sat down and wrote a quirky song called “The Ogre That Ate Santa Fe” dedicated to Frank Zappa. We recorded it at Tony’s along with Mike Waganaar on steel and incredible bass player/guitarist, Lewis Winn. The whole project, from start to finish, was a pure delight. I’ll be damned if I didn’t win first prize! I was really beginning to love Santa Fe.
Soon I was meeting more players and working in other bands simultaneously. I had a lot of irons in the fire, but the fire needed constant tending! (I guess you could call me the keeper of the flame?)
Some of the bands with whom I played:
Trio Limbo
Featuring my new friend, Lewis Winn on fretless bass, and Kirk Kadish, a terrific jazz keyboardist who managed a local music store, The Music Villa. We played the Ore House, The Bull Ring, El Farol, anywhere straight-ahead jazz was tolerated. We got really tight and the ‘Real Book’ was our Bible.
The Orchestra de Santa Fe with Jazz Quartet
The jazz ensemble, including Kirk Kadish on keys, Richard Snider on bass, Dave Anderson on Soprano sax, and myself on my little jazz set. We played the well-attended 4th of July concert in the courtyard of the Palace of the Governors. Featured was a jazz suite based on a piece by French composer, Gabriel Fauré. (What a thrill!)
The Forgery
Yet another jazz trio consisting of Tom Rheam, veteran of the Glenn Miller Orchestra and other name bands, on piano and trumpet, and Chris Haller on upright bass. We were the house band at the Forge, at the Inn of the Governors. We welcomed many talented sit-ins and at one point expanded to a quintet. Tom’s brother, Bob Rheam (The O’Jays) played a mean trumpet and both brothers would figure into several future bands and projects with which I was involved.
Too Much Fun
A party band consisting of Sal D’Onofrio on bass and vocals, Chris Donahoe, lead guitar and vocals, Mike Waganaar on steel guitar and DC on drums and vocals. I can’t remember what we played or where we played it. Maybe because we were a demented party band. Dah!
The Santa Fe Express
A tight little R&B group featuring Ms. Wendy Beach, vocals and bass, Lewis Winn on lead guitar, Kirk Kadish on keys, Tom Rheam on trumpet, sax and flute, and of course DC on drums and vocals. We mainly played at the Bull Ring but we were not averse to playing other fine venues – especially those that paid well.
Motown Revue
I was honored to play with the biggest horn band in town, usually at Club West, Santa Fe’s premiere concert club. (My excellent friend, Baird Banner, became the full-time drummer when I indulged in other musical pursuits – and mischief.) The band consisted of Jimmy Russell the ‘Love Muscle,’ lead vocals, keys and flute; the amazing Terry Diers on guitar and vocals; the irrepressible Sherman Ruben on keys; my pal, band leader, Sal D’Onofrio on bass and vocals; and the horns: the Rheam brothers on trumpets and Ray Griffin on tenor sax…
That band could have played anywhere in the world, and would’ve knocked them dead!
Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
One of my favorite songs ever is “I Put a Spell on You” by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. And now, Jay was coming to town for a concert at Club West and I was in the band that was selected to back him up. The other sidemen were Terry Diers on guitar, Ray Griffin on sax and Sal D’Onofrio on bass.
At rehearsal, Jay showed up with his latest wife in tow. She took care of the old singer/piano man and also ran the pyrotechnics in the show. Unfortunately, the couple were at each other’s throats the whole time and Jay was a little short with a couple of band members. Thank God he got along nicely with me. The music sounded good and the grand piano had been tuned to perfection.
That night the place was packed with an adoring crowd and the music went off without a hitch. Screamin’ Jay was dressed in black, donning a top hat and carrying a stick with a skull on top. He was quite a sight – and quite the showman. But at one point in the show, his wife detonated an overloaded flash powder cannister and nearly blew her old man to kingdom come. I spotted her at stage right laughing her ass off. He didn’t like that a bit, but the audience gave him quite an ovation!
Later, Screamin’ Jay and I had a nice talk in the dressing room and parted as buddies. (Could it be my magnetic personality? Right.)
By this time, I was chock-full of music – all kinds of music – way too much. I dreamed music. It played in my head on a loop, 24/7. My bi-polar brain became a musical pressure cooker and I needed to release it now and then… but, of course, chaos always ensued.
One day I was out and about on my Harley. I was in one of my manic moods – in the Twilight Zone again – just trying to ride it off. I ended up at the Plaza and decided to get a beer at the Ore House. Instead of parking my bike at the curb, I simply rode through the opened doors and headed for the bar on my roaring scooter.
For some nonsensical reason, the management frowned on motorcycles inside their pretentious little tourist trap. The pissed-off manager, Danielle, instructed her boys to back me out of the joint and threatened to call the cops.
Jeezus! What’s a guy gotta do to get a beer in this town?
In December I played a show with the Motown Review at the Taos Ski Valley. After the event, back at our lodging, Jimmy Russell and I were chatting. He was complaining that his girlfriend had gone home to spend Christmas with her family, and his people were back in Virginia. He was feeling pretty sad and lonely, so I invited him to spend Christmas Day with my family and me. He agreed!
On Christmas morning, Jimmie – in an elf hat – showed up at our house for brunch. My folks were visiting from Dallas and after getting to know our guest, fell in love with the lovable elf. Of course, Jimmie knew Jayebird, and little Tait adored him. Later we had a Scrabble contest, and Jimmie kicked ass. The blaze in the kiva fireplace crackled as the snow fell outside the frosted windows.
The wonderful Christmas tree was glowing – and so were we.
Christmas in Santa Fe is always jolly, but this year was very special indeed. That evening we sat down to a lovely turkey dinner with all the trimmings. The candles flickered as Christmas carols played softly in the background. My dad, Spike, said grace; and I thought how lucky I was to be living in Santa Fe and playing music with all my crazy friends.
But I knew, in just a few days, my evil mistress would be back at work seducing me in the new year. She’d make love to me on the mountain high, and break my heart in the valley so low. But she is my muse… and I will follow her for the rest of my life.
“I intend to live forever. So far, so good.” – Steven Wright
DC has been a frustrated musician for over fifty years, and now has decided to become a frustrated writer. Learn more at DCDuncan.com. He’ll keep you posted.