Tuesday, December 26, 2006

 

True SOC HOPpers

Brenda Clarke was coming to The SOC HOP with my cousin, Linda Bowers, when they were both in the eighth grade. Linda's dad, Ed, was my father's partner in the dance hall. Brenda said it had been a long time since she had done the West Coast with her brother, Rod, who was one of my classmates. He an Brenda were two of the first SOC HOP patrons and also among the most faithful, who attended almost weekly for the duration of the SOC HOPs life. It was good to see them on the dance floor again at the Surprise Reprise on Dec. 8th, 2006.

Thursday, December 21, 2006

 

The New Silvertones Play at RC's

Here's Frank & Little Joe accompanied by Ron Hodgden and Jack Nead.
















On Dec.8th, '06. The Surprise Reprise was a fun night indeed. Can't wait to hear them again.

Sunday, December 10, 2006

 

Text Of KC Star Article 12/09/06

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL Band to be inducted into Kansas Music Hall of Fame
Silver Tones give tunes new shine
Shawnee Mission East students formed the group popular at ’60s sock hops.
By SARA STITES
The Kansas City Star
The Silver Tones began when a movie inspired two of its members to take on guitar lessons and start their own band. They named it after their new Silvertone guitars, splitting the word in two to be safe.
Or was it at the Indian Hills Junior High School talent show, when a couple of kids just learning to play figured they’d just enter the talent show together?
Rich Stoy of Overland Park, who recalled the first account, and Frank Plas of Lenexa, who gave the second, take it in stride that their memories are fuzzy.
After all, that was almost 50 years ago.
• • •
Around 1960, the Silver Tones donned white dinner jackets and took the area teen scene by storm.
The four musicians, Indian Hills then Shawnee Mission East High School students, started performing at small private parties before taking their show to area dance halls.
Plas played lead guitar, Stoy was on bass. The other two members, both now living in California, were Roger Calkins on vocals and Mike Weakley on drums.
They played rock ‘n’ roll — originals and cover songs — and rhythm and blues at now-bygone places like the Chicken Coop in Raytown and the Coke Bar in Grandview.
Their best gig was as the house band at the Soc Hop in Overland Park, located first in a barn and later in the old Silver Spur Country Club at 8940 Quivira Road.
"We would have between 1,000 and 1,500 teenagers at the Soc Hop on a Saturday night," Plas said. "The joint was really jumpin’."
The band recorded several albums, and some of its original songs — including "Midnight Thunder" and "Dimples" — neared the apex of the Top 40 list on local radio stations, hovering around crooners like Elvis and Brenda Lee, Plas said.
At some point their name was upgraded to the Fabulous Silver Tones.
• • •
The Silver Tones’ splash has now landed them a spot in the Kansas Music Hall of Fame.
A few other early bands were playing around the Kansas City area, but the Silver Tones were the first to really make an impact on later groups, hall of fame President Bill Lee said.
"They just captured the imagination of the kids in Kansas City at a time when rock ‘n’ roll was exploding nationally," Lee said. "There were other bands that later became successful who copied everything about the Silver Tones."
The group will be inducted into the 2007 class at a concert next month in Lawrence.
The two remaining local members started shaking off the rust just in time.
• • •
The Silver Tones broke up in the mid-1960s, a few years after its members graduated from high school.
After moving away, Calkins owned music stores and Weakley was a musician, including with a band called the Electric Prunes. Plas and Stoy, both busy with family and business careers, didn’t touch a guitar for decades, they said.
But Stoy dragged his out a couple of years ago, when co-workers talked him into playing at his company’s annual sales meeting.
Plas revived his guitar playing earlier this year, he said, and then revived the Silver Tones.
Stoy, busy as vice president of a large corporation, said he can only commit to moonlighting, so, other than Plas, all of the other New Silver Tones are in fact new.
One of the bands most popular gigs was billed as a Soc Hop reunion and drew a full house at RC’s Back Door Bar and Grill in Kansas City for several shows this fall.
Plas said he "worked up" 52 of the Silver Tones old songs to get ready for the first show. Things are different now, but the tunes still had the right effect.
"Everybody wasn’t as young, but the crowd was really receptive," Plas said. "They were dancing."

Saturday, December 09, 2006

 

A SOC HOP Surprise Reprise indeed


What a pleasant surprise it was to have Jack Nead join us in our Surprise Reprise. So great to see so many familiar faces again.

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

 

IT'S BEEN A LONG, LONG TIME !

Here's Joni Calkins Simms giving Gary Heflin a forty year hello at the SOC HOP Redo #2 on Nov. 17th at RC's Lounge. It is really fun when old aquaintances see each other again. For me that has been the thrill of the SOC HOP Reunions - seeing so many familiar faces - especially when we are bumping elbows out on the dancefloor. It may be true that we can't go back, but we can sure as hell remember. I'm lovin' it. Hope to see all Friday 12/8 for the Surprise Reprise at RC's for a PreHoliday Boogie featuring Frank Plas - Little Joe Sherrick and The Sensational Silver Tones....Please come and join us...

Monday, December 04, 2006

 

Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony and Friday Jam

Here are some excerpts from the Hall Of Fame Newsletter that I wanted to pass on to any who might be interested.............

Kansas Music Hall of Fame
Weekly Online Newsletter
November 17, 2006
*************************************************************************

2007 HALL OF FAME SHOW SHAPING UP
So far The Silver Tones and the Topeka version of The Rising Suns have confirmed that they will be playing at the January 13, 2007 Induction Ceremony at Lawrence's Liberty Hall. Jim Stringer has indicated that he needs to get out of a recording session that weekend for Tide to make it. We're still talking with Marilyn Maye and Martina McBride about possible appearances. So far we haven't heard from Dawayne Bailey, The Blue Riddim Band, The Common Few or the Coffeyville version of The Rising Suns, but we're hoping they can all make it. Many musicians are planning to participate in the Friday night jam at the Holiday Inn/Holidome. If you can pick, sing or play, we hope you'll join in, too.
Speaking of the Holiday Inn/Holidome, a special room rate of $55 plus tax per night has been set up for those attending the ceremony. Reservations can be made by calling 785-841-7077.


Kansas Music Hall of Fame
Weekly Online Newsletter
November 25, 2006
**************************************************************************************************
Induction Ceremony January 13, 2007
Here's the lineup so far: Dawayne Bailey, The Common Few, both versions of The Rising Suns, The Silver Tones and Tide. The Blue Riddim Band and Marilyn Maye are still possibilities, and Martina McBride may still make it, but not perform. Ticket information will be finalized Monday or Tuesday, and they will go on sale in a week. There will be no reserved seating this year except for 2007 inductees and their guests. All other seats will be general admission.

Friday evening, January 12, there will be a free acoustic jam at Paddy O'Quigley's in the Lawrence Holiday Inn/Holidome, 200 McDonald Drive. Dennis Fox Higgins will be in charge, and will have details for us as we get closer to the event. If you're planning to attend, don't forget your instrument.

A special rate of $55 at the Holiday Inn/Holidome has been arranged for the nights of January 12-13. Reservations can be made by calling 785-841-7077 and asking for the Hall of Fame rate.

Merchandise available at the show Saturday night will include 2005, 2006 & 2007 Hall of Fame t-shirts, 2005 & 2006 Hall of Fame DVDs, and other items from past and present inductees. Any past inductees who can't attend, but want to sell items, please email kansmusic@aol.com to make arrangements. We are not set up to take credit cards at the show, so bring lots of cash. There is an ATM nearby.
*****************************************************************************************************************************

Tickets Go On Sale!
Tickets for the 2007 Induction Ceremony for the Kansas Music Hall of Fame go on sale Saturday, December 2. They are all general admission, and the cost is $35 each. Tickets may be purchased from Liberty Hall in Lawrence or Ticketmaster. The Liberty Hall box office is unable to accept credit cards, so all credit card purchases must be made through Ticketmaster. Here are links you can use for more information.

Official Ticketmaster site. Liberty Hall Lawrence, KS tickets . Directions, seating chart, events.

Liberty Hall does not currently have the show listed on its site, but I'm assured tickets will be available tomorrow. http://www.libertyhall.net/

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