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We
played at the South Tahoe Club Casino in Lake Tahoe. Not a
main casino, but we WERE playing Tahoe. After playing for a
few weeks, our contract ran out. The club owner approached
the musicians to stay on, but without Al. This was nothing
more than bypassing the leader of the group, to get the band
for a cheaper price. To our shame, we agreed to the offer
and abandoned Al. An embarrassment for me to this day. Al
Ward is a great guy. Young men can do some shameful things,
and that was definitely one of them. Al, if I never
apologized, I'm doing it now. Sorry. Of course Al, you were
taking a big extra chunk as leaders fees, if I recall
correctly. Nyuk nyuk.
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After
having worked with a front man, the group, "MIKE
RANDALL and the FAMILY SCANDAL" was born. Let me
add this, it also died there, at least the MIKE
RANDALL part. The name came as a derivative of my
middle and last names. It didn't last long and I've
been ribbed about the Mike Randall thing by the
guys, ever since.
If
you look closely on the sign above, you'll find
that we played behind "topless go-go girls" at
times. Hey! Somebody had to do these things.
(Heavy on
the bass drum, please. Boom - Baboom.
Boom - Baboom. Your basic "bump and grind"
beat.)
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Mike
Randall
The
and
Family
Scandal
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While
playing in Tahoe, we became friends with a group
called, The Jets, who were a regular in lounges at
the main casinos. They had some really funny bits
and were good players. While there, we also met
Jimmy Seals, later of Seals and Crofts. Jimmy would
play a violin, with half the bow in shreds. He
played great and was funny as hell. Another
acquaintance was drummer Mike Botts, who later had
success and fame with the group BREAD. A real nice
guy and a great drummer. This was a wonderful
experience for all of us, and daring on a teenage
level. God, I love this business, the fun and
excitement of it all. True, 5 sets a night, night
after night, can wear you down. But, it can also be
great. Cory Wells and I share that in our history.
We both "came up" through the club circuits, honing
our craft. We have an understanding and a mutual
respect regarding these years. The glory of the
pursuit and the "working a hard crowd that doesn't
even know your name," kind of venue. He and I both
have done a 5 set gig and then packed up and went
to another place, to do the after hours gig, too.
Why? Because we loved it and were going for it with
everything we had.
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