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red dog 1

(31,011 posts)
Sat May 10, 2025, 06:44 PM May 10

Pose a question about a band

Last edited Sun May 11, 2025, 02:50 PM - Edit history (1)

Karen Carpenter originally played drums in "The Carpenters" (she was a skilled drummer), but after a while, her brother Richard and manager Sherwin Bash persuaded her to stand at the microphone to sing the band's hits while another musician played the drums.
What well-known drummer served as the band's other drummer for many years? (answered)

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Pose a question about a band (Original Post) red dog 1 May 10 OP
I used to know this one Earl_from_PA May 10 #1
What semi-famous musician and band leader was in a Billy Bob Thornton movie and died on stage during a music show? Eko May 10 #2
Hal Blaine Did all of The Carpenters session recording work, but... Brother Buzz May 11 #3
That is how I remember it... GReedDiamond May 11 #4
Along with Earl Palmer, I assume Brother Buzz May 11 #6
KISS - fancy kit not required when you have the talent JoseBalow May 11 #8
In my mind, Levon helm was the quintessential KISS drummer Brother Buzz May 11 #9
Levon left The Band for a short time VGNonly May 12 #10
Before The Band broke up? Brother Buzz May 12 #12
After they left Ronnie Hawkins VGNonly May 12 #14
Here's a fun nugget Brother Buzz May 12 #18
That's a HOOT! VGNonly May 13 #19
Miss Vicky, or something. I passed on that spectacle. Brother Buzz May 13 #20
Ding! red dog 1 May 11 #5
And arranging the music Brother Buzz May 11 #7
Jim Gordon played for The Carpenters for two albums. VGNonly May 12 #11
Joe Osborn could have taken the victory lap for The Carpenters success, and he did play bass on EVERY album Brother Buzz May 12 #13
Jim Gordon played drums with everyone VGNonly May 12 #15
This message was self-deleted by its author Abolishinist May 12 #16
I saw the Beach Boys in December of 1964. Abolishinist May 12 #17
I would guess Glen Campbell. VGNonly May 13 #21
That's right, it was Glen Campbell. Abolishinist May 13 #22
Before The Rolling Stones became famous, what cereal did they record a jingle for? red dog 1 Saturday #23

Eko

(9,194 posts)
2. What semi-famous musician and band leader was in a Billy Bob Thornton movie and died on stage during a music show?
Sat May 10, 2025, 07:42 PM
May 10

Brother Buzz

(38,413 posts)
3. Hal Blaine Did all of The Carpenters session recording work, but...
Sun May 11, 2025, 12:44 AM
May 11

Cubby from the Mickey Mouse Club did the live gigs. He was a very accomplished drummer.



Side note: Hal Blaine, after studying Karen, suggested she sing an octane lower. A lot of push-back from the family, but she ultimately did, and later went on to say, “The money is in the basement”.

GReedDiamond

(5,442 posts)
4. That is how I remember it...
Sun May 11, 2025, 01:46 AM
May 11

...as a drummer, Hal Blaine is one of my idols.

And I remember "Cubby" as Cubby on the Mickey Mouse Club, and as The Carpenters' live drummer.

Brother Buzz

(38,413 posts)
6. Along with Earl Palmer, I assume
Sun May 11, 2025, 03:48 PM
May 11

I don’t know his name, but a younger professional dummer quipped in the film, The Wrecking Crew, “I discovered much latter, my ten favorite drummers from my childhood were all the same drummer”

Unlike Hal Blaine and his insanely huge drum kit on wheels, Earl Palmer subscribed to the KISS (keep it simple, stupid) philosophy on drum kits.



Oh, Earl Palmer got Hal Blaine started in session work when his schedule was constantly full and started passing dates over to Blaine.

Brother Buzz

(38,413 posts)
9. In my mind, Levon helm was the quintessential KISS drummer
Sun May 11, 2025, 05:54 PM
May 11

He was a very effective drummer without playing hard, and he had a lot of fun doing it.

As a kid, Levon got invited into radio station, KFFA in Helena, Arkansas to catch King Biscuit Time. He immediately noticed the drummer, James ‘Peck’ Curtis was having all the fun and decided, then and there, to switch to drums.

Note Pinetop Perkins playing the piano.



Brother Buzz

(38,413 posts)
12. Before The Band broke up?
Mon May 12, 2025, 11:27 AM
May 12

I immediately started riffing on chewing gum, but that was later.

VGNonly

(8,095 posts)
14. After they left Ronnie Hawkins
Mon May 12, 2025, 05:43 PM
May 12

but before The Band, sorry about that. They did some sessions, then worked with Dylan. Levon got somewhat disillusioned with all the hype over Dylan (long story) and quit the band for about a year or so. Levon took a job on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. The band then regrouped. In 67 Music From the Big Pink was recorded and released. That's when they were formally called The Band.



Brother Buzz

(38,413 posts)
18. Here's a fun nugget
Mon May 12, 2025, 10:58 PM
May 12

Tiny Tim recorded with The Band at the Big Pink. Dylan invited Tiny Tim to Woodstock to pick his encyclopedic brain of early popular music to find something he might record. I understand Tiny Tim recorded with The Band before Dylan actually laid anything down on tape, and by all accounts, The Band had a blast doing it.



VGNonly

(8,095 posts)
19. That's a HOOT!
Tue May 13, 2025, 12:06 AM
May 13

What was the name of Tiny Tim's wife? They were married on The Tonight Show.

Brother Buzz

(38,413 posts)
20. Miss Vicky, or something. I passed on that spectacle.
Tue May 13, 2025, 01:24 AM
May 13

He was an odd duck by every measure, but he was a genuine walking, talking encyclopedia of early twentieth century popular music.

red dog 1

(31,011 posts)
5. Ding!
Sun May 11, 2025, 02:48 PM
May 11


Cubby O'Brien still works regularly, playing drums for various touring Broadway shows.

Brother Buzz

(38,413 posts)
13. Joe Osborn could have taken the victory lap for The Carpenters success, and he did play bass on EVERY album
Mon May 12, 2025, 12:19 PM
May 12

Jim Gordon, boy howdy, that was a sad story.

Fun side note: Joe Osborn, Ricky Nelson's bass player, deserved to take another victory lap for pulling a demo tape of ‘Travelin’ Man’ out of a trash can and bringing it to Nelson.

VGNonly

(8,095 posts)
15. Jim Gordon played drums with everyone
Mon May 12, 2025, 05:51 PM
May 12

except for Hal Blaine. It's been said that Hal Blaine played on 35,000 sessions!

Response to red dog 1 (Original post)

Abolishinist

(2,533 posts)
17. I saw the Beach Boys in December of 1964.
Mon May 12, 2025, 09:45 PM
May 12

(I was minus 5 years old at the time).

Who was playing bass?

Abolishinist

(2,533 posts)
22. That's right, it was Glen Campbell.
Tue May 13, 2025, 09:21 PM
May 13

I have this thing I call one guy, one mic, one guitar, i.e. a solo singing guitar player without any backup. Glen Campbell singing Wichita Lineman is in my top 3. Most of the time he had backup, but (at least once) he did it solo on The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, unfortunately not the best audio but he was SO good.

at 8:45

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