ECHOES OF OUR PAST... THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

In 1974 at age 19 I auditioned for Mojo Blues Band after my friend Kevin Wright called me and said that he heard Mojo Blues Band was looking for a drummer.  I knew the name and had met the guys two years before in 1972 when my friends Barry Daily and Terry Smith were once part of the band.I called Kevin Martis -- the leader of the band -- and during the conversation he invited me to their practice for an audition.  I was already familiar with blues music thanks mainly to my brother Jim, who was a blues fanatic, and he had played me artists like BB and Albert King, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy Reed and Elmore James -- I loved it!The audition went really well and I was asked to join the band --- I was officially a Blues Drummer!Mojo Blues Band was a great experience in many ways.  I basically grew up in those years from 1974 to the end of 1979.It was the first time I ever played in a bar -- wow, free beer!! I'm in!  And the first bar I ever played in was The Cellar in Lockport and Ed Shedowsky the owner would sometimes join us for a song or two blasting his trumpet -- lotsa fun!We also played a couple downtown Chicago bars in those years but it was really tough for an outta town blues band to make it in Chicago -- especially back then because many of the blues icons were still alive at that time.   But it was a huge thrill to play any of those places and I also got some autographs which I still have and cherish.  We also opened shows for a few artists such as Luther Allison and Lonnie Brooks.  We released a 45 in 1975 and in 1976 we released an album called "Here 'Tis.  "The album was homemade on a reel to reel deck in Kevin's basement and it sounded good for what it was --- everyone playing live at once -- no overdubs, not even vocals.   I only have 2 copies of the album now -- I wish I had more. the 45 -- I have quite a few copies -- over 50 at least -- because one day a few years after it came out, for some reason Kevin was throwing them away and I rescued them from the trash.Things were fine in the band, we always got along, but there were periods when the gigs were infrequent.   Towards the end of 1979, Tim Gonda asked me if was interested in auditioning for his country band, Daddy Claxton.Tim was the brother-in-law of my great friend Dave Wilke and Tim was a Joliet legend having played in very popular Joliet rock and roll bands going back to the mid 60's. We had become friends through Dave and my mind reeled thinking about playing in a band with him.Daddy Claxton was a popular local Country band and if I joined them I would be playing many more gigs than I ever did with Mojo.  But I didn't know anything about being a country music drummer.Tim said not to worry about it and he walked me through the audition, winking at me when I was doing okay and instructing me as needed when it came to laying back, playing softer etc... The audition went well and they even asked me to join the band at the end -- wow!Ok, now I had to go and tell Kevin Martis I would be leaving Mojo Blues Band. He seemed to take the news pretty well and I think I left on good terms with all three of them. I played a couple more gigs with Mojo and that was it.I have many great memories of playing with such a good Blues Band, I was so lucky to spend over 5 years with those guys.

Mojo Blues Band:Kevin Martis - Guitar, Harmonica, VocalsButch Stimac - Bass GuitarFrank Sharp - Rhythm GuitarDenis Kramer: Drumsresource for independent musicians to promote their work.

For a few brief moments at the beginning of 1980, I was in two bands at the same time. This is something I never do -- I'm not one of these guys who can be in five bands at once -- it ain't me. Towards the end of 1979, Tim Gonda asked me if I'd be interested in auditioning for his country band, Daddy Claxton.Tim was the brother-in-law of my great friend Dave Wilke and Tim was a Joliet legend having played in very popular Joliet rock and roll bands going back to the mid 60's. We had become friends through Dave and my mind reeled thinking about playing in a band with him.  Daddy Claxton was a popular local Country band and if I joined them I would be playing many more gigs than I ever did with Mojo.But I didn't know anything about being a country music drummer.  Tim said not to worry about it and he walked me through the audition, winking at me when I was doing okay and instructing me as needed when it came to laying back, playing softer etc...The audition went well and they even asked me to join the band at the end -- wow!Ok, now I had to go and tell Kevin Martis I would be leaving Mojo Blues Band. He seemed to take the news pretty well and I think I left on good terms with all three of them.   I played a couple more gigs with Mojo and that was it, but what a great life experience!I loved Southern Rock but I was totally unfamiliar with Country music, and now it's January 1980 and I'm a member of Daddy Claxton, a premier Joliet area group.They were already together for five years or so before I joined so they were well established, popular in the area with plenty of gigs booked.   I learned how to play on the job as they say with Tim providing plenty of help and advice as well as Chuck Thomas the Bass player and Russ Hucek the genius guy on Steel guitar and banjo, guided me as well.I had a really good time especially as I got more comfortable with the material and more familiar with Country and Bluegrass music in general.Chuck on the Bass was the meter in the band and he would tell me whenever I went off the road a bit with the tempo -- especially on the bluegrass stuff --- I needed it and he was a big help.   I was in Daddy Claxton for over a year in a half until one day Russ called us up (me, Tim & Chuck) and said that Dale Alvey wanted to have a meeting...
Daddy Claxton:Tim Gonda - Guitar, VocalsChuck Thomas - Bass, VocalsRuss Hucek - Pedal Steel Guitar, BanjoRon Decker - VocalsDenis Kramer - Drums