Saturday, October 17, 2015

HISTORY OF SYRACUSE MUSIC "OFFICIAL SITE"- CHAPTER 151 - OTIS & ALL NIGHT WORKERS, OTIS SMITH & LLOYD BASKIN

This Syracuse University rhythm n blues band was first known on the SU campus as "The Headliners" (1963-64) Billy Elmiger (bass, formerly with the Vanguards), Steve McCord (guitarist formerly with Felix Cavaliere & The Escorts), Herb Flower (drums formerly of the Techniques) and were managed by Joe Davoli. They later who add Lloyd Baskin on keyboard

 Lloyd Baskin and Billy Elmiger went looking for a new lead singer. They found that singer in Otis Smith the former Rhythm Cadet and drummer for Bobby Green & The Hi Fi's was singing in the ward bars in downtown Syracuse. Then a name change from Otis & the Headliners to "All Night Workers". The groups name came from the old Rufus Thomas song "I'm An All Night Worker" a name that finally all members agreed upon. With this new lineup the band became Otis & The All Night Workers,

In the fall of 1965, they recorded the legendary Billy Elmiger tune "Don't Put All Your Eggs in One Basket" (1965) for Round Sound Records a division of Pickwick International. The band had been recommended to Pickwick by their manager NYS lawyer Don Schpak who had a relative working for the label. They reached the studio recorded "Eggs" and used a Pickwick staff written song for the flip side- (by another SU friend, Lou Reed,.Note Lou did not play on this recording) Eggs finally reached #1 on WOLF Radio charts in Syracuse while the band traveled the East Coast stopping as such New York City night clubs as Trudy Hellers & Max's Kansas City while staring the stage with such national acts as Del Shannon & Chuck Berry.

They were then lead to Cameo Records by produced Neil Bogart and a follow up single "Honey and Wine" (1966). It was then on to Mercury Records and the single "Misery" (1967). Otis and the All Night Workers (as they were known locally becoming only one of a few University bands to break off campus and become popular with city teens in clubs like the Brookside & Fayetteville Inn (1964-66), This coming from the exposure they received from WOLF's popular  night time disc jockey Dale Dorman. After a summer at Lake George that members described as a hard grind the band finally broke up in Boston in 1968.

Herb Flower returned to Syracuse awaiting an opening with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra (also taught at OCC). Flowers would play with the Symphony for many years. Elmiger, Smith and McCord went to reside in New York City and released two albums on Perception Records with a group named "The Albert" (named after a hotel where they all resided). Otis also release a single for Perception "Let Her Go".  Otis Smith was inducted into the Syracuse Area Music Hall of Fame (Sammys). Bandmates- Elmiger, McCord & Flower returned for his induction.
Lloyd William Baskin graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Design, but he turned to music as his profession in 1966. Baskin sang lead and played his Wurlitzer 140 B electric piano on the All Night Workers hit "Don't Put All Your Eggs" recorded in New York City by producer Jerry Vance (Pickwick International) again was released by Round Sound Records.
Meanwhile Lloyd Baskin went on tour with "Jesus Christ Superstar". After his Jesus Christ Superstar days , Lloyd joined the national group "Seatrain". Their first release was a self-titled album '13 Questions". Lloyd is featured on both Capitol Records Seatrain albums "Seatrain" (1971) and "Marblehead Messenger" (1971). But it was there hit single "13 Questions" that propelled the band into the national spotlight.
In the late 1970's Lloyd returned to Central New York joining Mark Hoffmann forming Baskin- Hoffmann & Lee with Sandra Lee (vocals), Gary Goal (bass), Tommy Neuman (drums), Mark Hoffmann (guitar) and Baskin (keyboards & vocals).
Other Lloyd Baskin release include-Martin Mull's album "Days of Wine and Neuroses" Orphan's LP :"More Orphan than Hot', Patricia Rushen's Lp "New".  He was also seen in the feature film "Bugsy: (1990) playing Ciro"s singer. Lloyd resides in Southern California.

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

HISTORY OF SYRACUSE MUSIC "OFFICIAL SITE" - CHAPTER 150- THE HOWIE WYETH STORY- From SU To The National Music Scene.

Howard Pyle Wyeth was born on April 22, 1944 in Jersey City, New Jersey. His father was Nathaniel Wyeth (worked as an inventor for the Dupont Corporation. His mother Caroline Pyle, the famous illustrator from Chadd's Ford, Pa. Howie had four brothers Convers, Andy, David and John, a sister Caroline who sadly died as a youth. Howie and his family moved from Northern New Jersey to Chadd's Ford, Pa where they resided for several years before shifting to Hockessin, Delaware (lived till age 14). At the age of 8 he had a very serious case of Polio. But he recovered and played in his high school band and later became a member of the New Jersey All-State Band. Howie Wyeth then studied and received a music degree from Syracuse University, It was at SU that he formed and became leader of the big band the "Sidewinders' (a few years later became Jam Factory). During his years in Syracuse, the Sidewinders played several clubs including Deb's (now Lost Horizon) and the Little Brown Jug. Wyeth's Sidewinders also included Mark Hoffmann, John T. Hall, Bill Storm, Mike Mattia, Steve Marcone, Paul Petruccelli, Charlie Brown, Eddie Freeman and later Ian Taddeo (Stompin Sude Greasers, Alligators) to names just a few.

Wyeth studied percussion with Alan Abel of the Philadelphia Orchestra and was a member of the Syracuse University marching band. He graduated from SU in 1966.
 
He moved to New York City in late 1968 and recorded two albums with "The Albert" (1970-71) that included Syracusan Otis Smith and ex- SU alumni Steve McCord. Paul Petruccelli, Billy Elminger, Louis St Louis and Paul Dickler. He then appeared on James Moody's album "The Teacher" (1970),   followed with Zulema (1974), McKendee Spring (1975) and Leslie West's "Great Fatsby" (1975).
 
Best known for being a drummer he teamed with Bob Dylan on his Rolling Thunder Revue (1974-75) and on Dylan's albums "Desire" (1975), Rolling Thunder Revue (1975), Hard Rain (1976)  and on Bob's hit singles 'Hurricane" and "Mozambique".
 
Then it was on to recording with impressive list - Roger McGuinn (1976 & 1992), Topez (1976-77), Kinky Friedman (1976), Don McLean (1977), Essra Mohawk (1977), Robert Gordon w/ Link Wray (1977-820, Moon Martin (1979), Link Wray (1979 & 1983), Jack Hardy (1979, 89) Rob Stoner (1980), Paul Lockheart (1980), Jack Harty (1984), Christine Lavin (1984,86), Richard Golke (1985-87), Rob MacDonald (1987), Blues Traveler (1990 RIAA Gold Record), Nice Boys from New York (1990), Lonesome Val (1990), Richard Meyer (1992), Suzanne Rhatigene (1992), Richard Shindell (1992), John  Meyer (19940, Michael Parrish 91995), Kinky Friedman (1995), Loup Garou (1996), Christine Lavin (199), John Manson Band (1995), Eric Wood (1997), Chadd Fort Getaway (20030, David Massengill (2005), Lesley West's 'Blood of the Sun 1969-75".

Of course Howie Wyeth worked with many talented musicians that included- Bob Dylan, Rob Stoner, Leslie West, Patti  LaBellem Roger McGuinn, Link Wray, Don Covay, Loudon Wainwright III, Anton Fig, Blues Traveler, Robert Gordon , The Jordanaires, James Moody, Don McLean, Chris Spedding , Richard Gotteher, Martin Moon and many others.
 
He married Rona Morrow in New York City, but eventually divorced. He then had a 17 year relationship with Catherine Wheeler. She was instrumental in bring out the very best in Howie.
 
In recent years Howie Wyeth concentrated on piano, leading is own group in ragtime, blues and early jazz in New York City clubs. His last recording, a cassette 9now a Cd) of ragtime and stride piano called "Chadsford Getaway"(1994). Howie appeared in the motion pictures "Renaldo & Cara" (1978) "Save the Children " (1973), 'Angelo, My Love: (1983) and 'Fried Green Tomatoes " (1991).
 
He was also seen on television on Don Kisrchner's Rock Concert with Robert Gordon, Midnight Special (twice) again with Robert Gordon, ABC's Today Show w/ Kinky Friedman, PBS TV's Buskers with Joe Flood, Michael Douglas Show, ABC's soap opera "One Life to Live, NBC's "The World of John Hammond' with Bob Dylan. And again with Dylan in  NBC's 'Hard Rain Special',  and the Joe Franklin Show.
 
Sadly the very talented Howie Wyeth passed away on March 27, 1996 in New York City at age 51.