Ever since my first blog post about my friend Gary Croslin’s band Junior Smoots And The Disturbers, people have come in droves. It amazes me still! One … that people Google Junior Smoots. And Two … that I’ve reconnected with all the (living) members of the band and quite a few fans. One of the people who recently found me was Bruce St. Laurent. Bruce was the sound man for the Smoots band in the early days. And thank goodness he did. Because now boys and girls … we have thirteen … count them … thirteen well recorded live songs, recorded direct from the sound board,  from an early gig at the Harbor Inn in Brielle, NJ.

If you were a Smoots follower … you know The Smoots band played the Harbor Inn A LOT! When I was living with Gary, Judy, & Kenny at the Smoots house in Wall Township, I’d go to most of the shows. I know I’d go and dance all night long too! We all would … you know who you are!

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It’s funny … I was searching my negative files for photos of my band, The Human Element. I’m working on a huge post about T.H.E. But while I was searching for group promo photos that my friend and artist Dorian LaPadura took, I stumbled upon black & white promo photos I took of the Junior Smoots band at the old Wall Township, NJ house. They even include new trombone player Tommy Meares.

To my amazement, I also found the few photos I took of the Smootsters, well at least Gary, Judy, Kenny (see Kenny I DID take photos of the drummer!) and the engineer/producer, who’s name escapes me right now, at the NYC recording studio where they recorded these three songs. I also don’t remember the studio name either. I’m sure someone out there will remeber those details. And I’m almost positive there might be more studio photos … but then again that could be my mind playing tricks again. Continue Reading > > >

Drummer man Kenny Douyotas sent me a present today … it was a “Six Million Dollar Man.” Well … at least the Junior Smoots band studio recording of it. It was appropriate for this Memorial Day. We can all listen and remember. Remember all those summer nights we saw the Junior Smoots band and had fun fun fun fun fun! Yah man! Skankin’ and rankin’ until the wee wee hours.

When Kenny first eMailed the first two tracks, I was having serious flashbacks to the Harbor Inn, Mrs. Jays, The Fast Lane, and all the other places I ever saw Gary and the Junior Smoots band. I remember dancing my ass off to these and so many other Smoots covers and originals. Thanks Gary for all of that … and thanks Kenny for contacting me and providing us all with these nuggets.

I remember going to at least one of these recording sessions. Of course I had camera in hand, taking photos. When I locate the slides or negatives I will post them as well. I was and will forever be a “documenter.”

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It was sometime in the summer of 1982. Cande Brought aka Cande Roth of Shadow Traffic fame called me. I hadn’t heard from her since we graduated from CW Post Center out on Long Island. Then again, after graduation my friend Charley Maria and I did a month long trip to England & France. It was all business the first week. I had hot hot hot photos of the Clash at the start of their Combat Rock tour which started at the Asbury Park Convention Hall. He had his more “social” photography work to try to hawk while we were in London for the first week. These were the first picts of the tour & I was guest listed all three night. Thanks Cosmo! Continue Reading > > >