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I started singing in the first grade. A teacher came to my classroom and said that there was going to be a talent contest
and asked if any one could "do anything". I raised my hand and said: "I can sing". I won first place, and that was it - I
was hooked (the applause, the adulation, the women...well ok, the applause)! Throughout elementary and junior high school
(Charjean & Sherwood), I would be the one that was called on to sing at the "events".
In high school (Overton), I started hanging out at the YMCA and CYO dances and was blown away listening to the great bands
of the era, like the Counts and the LeSabres. So, I decided to try to join or start a band.
Because of the recent interest in the "early" days of Memphis music (several books have been written on the era of
the 60's.....), I've gone into detail on the bands that I've had or played in. There is even more detail in the "Trivia"
section.
Bobby and the Originals was my first "pay for play" band. The group was renamed Lawson and Four More when we
signed a recording contract with Ardent Recording. Our main gigs were T Walker Lewis YMCA (behind Treadwell High School-Highland
and Summer Ave area, St. Michael's CYO (Summer Ave), and the Bitter Lemon (on Poplar Ave where the underpass cuts through
to Union).
Bobby and the Originals/Lawson and Four More:
Joe Lee - Lead Guitar & Vocals
Joe Gaston - Bass Guitar & Vocals
Bill Donati - Drums
We started out four piece, then later added a keyboard player, Bernie (?), who was later replaced by Terry Manning - Keyboard
& Vocals
Me - Lead Vocals & (initially) Rhythm Guitar.
We specialized in 1950's Do Wop. The Beatles and the Stones had just come into prominence, and although we did some
of their tunes, we were considered an oldies band (even then!). The singers of the 50's were the greatest influences
on my singing style.
In 1965, we signed a recording contract with Ardent Recording. For marketing reasons, our name was changed from Bobby and
the Originals to Lawson and Four More (at least it was original).
In 1965-66, Lawson and Four More had two releases on the Ardent label: "If You Want Me You Can Find Me" and "Relax
Your Mind". We were also heard frequently on the radio with the commercial we did for the music store, Guitar and
Drum City (owned by songwriter Paul Craft). In case you're a Memphis music buff (into Memphis music trivia, or you
don't have a life), I have detailed my recording/Ardent experience in the "Lawson and Four More" section.
As most bands usually do, Lawson and Four More grew apart musically. The "Four More" evolved into being
a psychedelic type group, while I remained true to my 50's/R&B roots. Also, Lee Baker had shown me my first blues licks
on guitar, which got me hooked on the blues.
I left Lawson and Four More and formed Lawson's Blues Bag, one of the first (if not "the" first young white blues
band) in Memphis. We were heavily influenced by Albert King, BB King, and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band.
Glen Cammack - Lead Guitar
Larry Lindsey - Bass Guitar
Gundy Owens - Rhythm Guitar
Don Kesler - Drums
Me - Lead Vocals.
When I left Lawson and Four More, I was "supposed to" maintain my Ardent recording connection. Lawson's
Blues Bag was together probably together about 6 months before I lost interest and quit the group. I was burned out from the
previous experience: the excitement and disappointment of the recording process. Looking back, I regret not pushing
Lawson's Blues Bag more. It was one of the best bands I ever had. We were just too far ahead of the times for Memphis.
Also during this time, I played all kinds of temporary gigs, which included my first "black" club. For a short
time I had a gig at a little club called Ester's Lounge (Lamar Ave). It was a great place to further develop
my R&B and Blues style.
The "House Band" at Ester's:
Glen Cammack - Lead Guitar
Danny Aycock - Bass Guitar & Vocals
Dan Faust - Drums
Me - Lead Vocals, Rhythm & (a little lead) Guitar.
After The Blues Bag disbanded, I cut my hair, moved back home (see the "Trivia" section), and went back to college. During
this time, I really got into Bluegrass. My dad, Howard Lawson started playing about the same time I did (I was about
15). Dad loves Bluegrass. He started out on guitar, but soon went to mandolin. He became a heck of a player! For about a year,
while I was attending the University of Memphis, he and I played Bluegrass gigs as ........you guessed it the Lawsons! I would
play guitar while he played mandolin. Then, dad would play guitar while I played the five string banjo.
Howard Lawson - Mandolin, Guitar, & Vocals
Me - Lead Vocals, Guitar, & 5 string Banjo.
Around 1970, I was approached by David Friener, a keyboard player who had left Flash and the Board of Directors, to
put together another rock and roll group. We formed a group called Prelude. We got a job as the house band at the El
Toro Lounge (behind Pancho's in West Memphis). We played there five nights a week for about 6-9 months. We were regulars
on George Klien's Talent Party. We really tried to "make it". The highlights of my "Prelude" experience was opening
for The Who, at Ellis Auditorium, and opening for the Young Rascals, at the Mid South Coliseum. The gig with the Rascals
was my greatest achievement because after the show a mutual friend introduced me to my future wife, Carolyn Coker (now known
as "CoCo"). We met and have been inseparable ever since (notice I didn't put this in the trivia section!). After
our club gig in West Memphis, we went "on the road" before landing a gig at the Thunderbird Lounge (the bottom floor
of the Shelbourne apartments-UT area). We played there about three months before disbanding.
Prelude was affiliated with Jerry Williams (Jerry managed the Guillotines, and later opened TransMaximus Recording Studio) ,
one of my favorite (along with George Klien) of the "Memphis music people". Jerry worked hard to get us a contract with a
major label (close but no banana). He was responsible for our gigs with The Who and the Young Rascals.
The band originally had five members. For the Thunderbird gig, we went to four.
David Friener - Hammond B3 Organ & Vocals
Bill Hall, and (later) Gerrad Palmer - Bass Guitar & Vocals
Roy Yeager, and (later) Richie Pulliam, & Chuck Baker - Drums
Jim Vinson -Lead Vocals & Rhythm Guitar; and (later) Brian Truitt - Vocals, Percussion, & Rhythm Guitar
Me - Lead Vocals & Lead Guitar.
After the "Prelude" experience, I went back to the University of Memphis for a couple of years and finished my degree.
I played at night and went to college by day.
The last group that I was a member of before graduating was New World, one of the best groups I ever worked with.
Although I was going to school, we were all very serious about the band. Our main gig was the Cock & Bull Lounge
(Lamar and Winchester). We did a lot of Allman Brothers, ZZ Tops, and original stuff. For a time we had some affiliation
with Jerry Williams as we searched for the "elusive" recording contract.
Ricky Johns - Lead Vocals
Randy Swan - Keyboards
Kenny Hamilton - Lead Guitar & Vocals
Leo Goff, and (later) Jimmy Love - Bass Guitar & Vocals
Jimmy Pierce - Drums
Me - Lead Vocals & Lead Guitar.
While playing with New World, I started having ear trouble caused by the loud volume. I developed a hearing condition
called Hyperacusis, which is a heightened sensitivity to sound. Because of this, I had to quit New World (we
played at ear shattering volume). For a year or so, I became a "lounge lizard" and played with "club" groups that played at
lower volume levels. In fact, I graduated from the University of Memphis (to me it's still Memphis State!) in
December 1973 and started as lead guitarist/vocalist at the Whirlaway Club (on Lamar) the next week. After
a while, the nucleus of the Whirlaway group accepted a job at the Club Car Lounge at the Admiral Benbow Inn (Lamar &
Airways).
Lounge Lizards:
Joey Williams, and (later) Stan Barron - Drums
Ben Wages - Lead Vocals & Bass Guitar
Larry Pierce, and (later) Richard Bryant - Lead Vocals & Keyboards
Me - Lead Vocals & Lead Guitar.
Around 1976, the ear problem that I had developed and the incredible boring grind of being a "lounge lizard"
took their toll. I was burned out. So I quit playing! I laid my guitar down and didn't pick it up for several years. Then
one day.......
While I was with New World, I began studying classical and flamenco guitar with Mr. Fusco, a gypsy guitarist who claimed
to have studied with Andres Segovia. Later, I studied with Howard Vance (Howard Vance Guitar Academy - a great place
to study all styles of guitar) and learned jazz tunes on the classical/nylon string guitar.
One day I got the urge to play my guitar again, and I haven't put it down since! I started studying with Howard again.
At that time, I really didn't think I would ever perform in public again (because of my ear trouble).
Around 1983, I got interested in comedy. For a few years, I worked around the Memphis area doing stand up comedy (impressionist)
and commercials.
At that time, I used to hang out at the Daily Planet (Park Ave ), the infamous neighborhood bar owned by Kenny
(guitarist for New World) and Debby Hamilton. Lots of local musicians/personalities (Tom Hackenberger, Harry Bryan, Alan
Collier, Andrew Suggs......) used to hang there. I used to set in and hone my comedy routine. Also, I started to jam
with the bands (Don McMinn, Glen Cammack & the Crackers...) that played there. The problem with my ears had gotten
better, and little by little I started to get interested in playing with bands again.
About this time Joey Williams, one of my old buddies from the "Whirlaway" days, called and asked if I was interested
in playing again. He was playing at Leon's (Summer and White Station area), a gig that greatly reminded me of the Whirlaway.
I played there for about a year. It was a lot of fun, plus it allowed me to get my "chops" back.
Denise Barnes - Lead Vocals & Keyboards
Mike Rowland - Bass & Vocals
John Russell -Lead Guitar & Vocals, and (later) Howard Tankersley - Lead Vocals & Lead Guitar
Steve ? (from parts unknown) -Sax
Me - Lead Vocals & Lead Guitar.
Eventually, I got the urge to form my own band. I started with a trio called BLT (Bobby Lawson Trio).
Kelsey Card - Drums & Vocals
Mickey Burrell - Bass Guitar & Vocals
Me - Lead Vocals & Lead Guitar.
About that time while jamming at the Planet, I met Richard Hite, the (late) great bass player of Canned Heat. Richard
had retired to Memphis after leaving Canned Heat to play music and pursue his passion for record collecting.
Richard was one of the greatest people and musicians that I ever worked with, and I miss him dearly. We decided to form Bobby Lawson
& Shades of Blue. I always had trouble finding a keyboard player, so I bought a keyboard and decided to DIY
(do it yourself). Our main gigs were the Circle Cafe (Brookhaven Circle), Neil's (Poplar Ave-medical center area), and
various gigs on Beale Street like the Rum Boogie Cafe. We were together about five years (give or take a decade).
Bobby Lawson and Shades of Blue:
W.C. Garrison - Drums & Vocals
Randy Middleton, and (later) Bill Parsley - Lead Guitar & Vocals
Richard Hite (formerly of Canned Heat); and (later) Walter Shaw, Micky Burrell, Charles Gillihan, and Bob Tait - Bass Guitar
& Vocals
Me - Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar, Keyboards.
Finally, I got a bit tired of "running" a group. After we disbanded, I hooked up with Wayne Thompson, former rhythm guitar
player for Tommy Burke and the Counts (the first band I idolized). Wayne was now a drummer and played a lot of country
club & private party gigs (I had been mostly on the nightclub circuit). Leo Goff, former bass player for New World,
and I joined up with Wayne, his (now) wife Melissa, and Memphis legendary singer/keyboardist, Wally Wright (formerly
of Eddie Harrison & the Shortkuts) and formed Heat Wave. This was the best vocal group I ever worked with. Wally, Mellisa,
and I had very different sounding voices, but we got a great blend.
Melissa Thompson - Lead Vocals & Percussion
Wally Wright - Lead Vocals & Keyboard
Leo Goff - Bass Guitar & Vocals
Me - Lead Vocals & Lead Guitar.
Naturally, after a while I got the "bug" to have my own band again, so I formed Bobby L & the Spell.
David Shanklin - Lead Guitar & Vocals
Jack Syfan - Bass Guitar & Vocals
Al Doyle, and (later) Terry Carter - Drums
Me - Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar, & Keyboards.
When I left Heat Wave, Leo had remained. After about a year, Leo left Heat Wave, and we teamed up to start my current
group, Bobby L and Smokehouse. We're together now and available for bookings (fast dependable service and reasonable
rates!). For more information on Smokehouse, please visit the "Bobby L and Smokehouse" link of this site.
Leo Goff - Bass Guitar & Vocals
Mike Forrest - Lead Guitar
John Burgess - Drums & Vocals (formerly Daren Dortin and Charles Carrington)
Me - Lead Vocals, Keyboard, Lead Guitar, Saxophone, & Harmonica.
After several years or working together, Smokehouse disbanded. Fortunately, I was offered a job as singer/guitarist
for the Memphis Blues Society Jam band (which lead me to my contacts for cutting my CD).
The Blues Society was putting together a promotional CD to give to new members. I was asked to be on it, so I wrote a
couple of songs.
We cut them at Three Flights Up Recording Studio (here in Memphis). It went so well that Steve Davis, owner, wanted to
do a CD on me!
Most ot the members of The Blues Society Jam Band played on the tracks of the CD.
The Memphs Blues Society Jam Band
Dave Bennett - Bass Guitar
Johnny McDaniels - Drums and Percussion
John Sanders - Keyboards
Lee "Scrap Iron Raines" - Harmonica
Me - Lead Vocals, Keyboard, Lead Guitar, Saxophone, & Harmonica.
The Bobby Lawson Band - Reforming!
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