It’s doubtful anyone ever daydreamed about the “Tighten Up” rock shredder approaching the late “Hooked on a Feeling” blue-eyed soul… — It’s doubtful anyone ever daydreamed about Black Keys guitarist Dan Auerbach approaching the late B.J. Thomas to collaborate on a project. But it wasn’t so far-fetched. The above candid verifies the stubbly singer-songwriter gave the “Hooked on a Feeling” blue-eyed soul stylist an exclusive listening party inside the former’s Easy…

Replacing Glen D. Hardin in the TCB Band in 1976, Memphis Boys, Nashville A-Team, Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and Pro Tools studio… — Tony Brown waited — and waited — for a clinically depressed Elvis Presley at his final, ultimately scrapped recording session. He supplied acoustic piano for Presley’s last sold-out tour. Having ascended to the producer’s seat, Curb Records refused to reimburse him for Wynonna Judd’s quintuple platinum debut. George Strait’s manager…

The 26th edition of the volunteer-driven, community-wide event is free to all ages in the northern-most city in Berrien County, Georgia. — The 26th edition of the Alapaha Easter Passion Play that perpetually packs the rafters of the Hwy. 82 gym in Alapaha, Ga., debuted in glorious Technicolor one week prior to Easter. The magnum opus of the late Marian Dixon was sidelined by COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021.

The “Tarzan” bird man’s severely truncated stature did not deter him from being a Ripley’s Believe It or Not! phenomenon. — Carnival sensation Johnny Eck’s severely truncated stature did not deter him from being crowned “The Most Remarkable Man Alive” in the 1930s by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Prompted by a dose of eBay browsing serendipity, a twilight expedition to the retired Tarzan Escapes actor’s modest Baltimore home is fondly…

A Georgia optometrist by day nourishes his musical chops as soon as the sun goes down, counting Stevie Ray Vaughan as a direct inspiration. — “Here comes the sleepless nights, the booze, the fights, and all that you put me through.” Matt Dixon has a day gig as an optometrist. Evidenced by two full-length albums [e.g. 2012’s Walk on By] and various singles [2019’s “Rockabye Baby”] in his back pocket, he nourishes his musical chops…

Elvis’ final TCB Band pianist Tony Brown unravels the boy from Tupelo’s career discontent, evident in the Colonel’s poor music publishing… — With the trailer for Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis biopic building anticipation as to how Tom Hanks and the fresh-faced Austin Butler will interpret their legendary alter egos, a summit with Elvis Presley’s final TCB Band pianist Tony Brown is imperative to unraveling the boy from Tupelo’s career discontent. …

15 Big Ones, intimidating drummer Dennis Wilson, baby brother Carl Wilson and more backstage exploits with the ‘Curse of the Komodo’ writer — The Steve Latshaw Interview I wanna hear how your fascination for “America’s Band” originated. I was 16 years old in 1975, part of that mid-’70s second generation of fans, when I became captivated by the Beach Boys sound on the radio. But it wasn’t a Beach Boys song. It was “Beach Baby” [No. 4…

Examine Sumter, South Carolina high school football coach and social studies teacher W. Scott Jones’ debut novel “A Storm in the… — Sumter, South Carolina high school football coach and social studies teacher W. Scott Jones’ debut novel A Storm in the Carolinas surveys the trials of fledgling Baptist preacher Storm Sanderson amidst the Vietnam War and desegregation. It comes thoroughly recommended. Art lamentably mirrored real life when Jones had to embrace…

Denny Sarokin, also known by the stage name Dennis Larden, was the Garden Party singer’s right arm in the Stone Canyon Band’s second lineup — “Don’t pass me by, I’m a sailor on a darker sea, can you shine a light on me?” Denny Sarokin, whose stage name was Dennis Larden, furnished the second lineup of Rick Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band with lead guitar, uncredited production, eight compositions including half of the neglected…