| October 5th, 2005 12:43 PM |
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| Lil Brian |
From today's Omaha World Herald:
Rainbow Rowell: They weren't the stars - they were just the Stones
BY RAINBOW ROWELL
WORLD-HERALD COLUMNIST
Out-of-town bands usually didn't stop by Johnny Ray Gomez's TV dance party, "Dancestand." But this band was desperate.
The Rolling Stones couldn't give away tickets to their Omaha show back in June 1964.
When their promoter called Johnny Ray, the popular 20-year-old host of "Dancestand," he was happy to have the band on the show.
"Dancestand" was an Omaha version of "American Bandstand" that aired every Saturday afternoon on KETV Channel 7, just after Dick Clark's show.
Johnny Ray was the host, and there were about 10 regular dancers. Every week, the show spotlighted dancers from different local high schools. (Fans of the movie "Hairspray" will recognize the format of "The Corny Collins Show.")
Johnny Ray spun records and counted down the week's most popular records. Sometimes his band - Johnny Ray Gomez and the U-Neeks - would play. The show lasted only two years because Johnny Ray and the band went on the road. (Johnny Ray, now 62, still performs with the Johnny Ray Gomez Show when he can.)
The "Dancestand" dancers were thrilled that the Stones were coming, Johnny Ray remembered. Not that anybody really knew who the Stones were then. The kids were just excited that something new was happening on the show.
"It took me by surprise, really . . . that they wanted to be on the show," Johnny Ray said. Paul Anka and the Beatles weren't exactly begging to get on "Dancestand."
The Stones' visit to Omaha has gone down in the rock 'n' roll record books as one of their worst touring experiences. Only about 650 people came to the show at the Civic Auditorium Music Hall, a cop tried to take their whiskey, and, according to Keith Richards, the local girls were less than cooperative.
But Johnny Ray didn't see any of that surliness.
The Stones seemed to be having a really good time when he met them. "They liked being there. This was their element."
The Stones hung out in the studio for his entire show and watched the dancing. "They loved the pretty Omaha-Council Bluffs girls."
During his on-air interview, he asked them about their current single, "Not Fade Away" - which peaked at 48 on the U.S. charts - and about what they were planning to play that night.
"The conversation would always lead back to the girls."
The Stones were so grateful to Johnny, they gave him free tickets to that night's show.
He had a nice time, but he had to leave early. Johnny Ray Gomez and the U-Neeks were booked that night at the Mediterranean, a steakhouse at 44th and Dodge Streets.
Did his band draw more people than the Stones that night? Johnny Ray is too much a gentleman to say.
"Possibly," he laughed.
(photo added to article - thanks to Lil Brian)
[Edited by Gazza] |
| October 5th, 2005 04:09 PM |
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| Ten Thousand Motels |
1964 was a long time ago. |
| October 5th, 2005 11:10 PM |
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| voodoopug |
quote:
Ten Thousand Motels wrote:
1964 was a long time ago.
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| October 6th, 2005 01:38 AM |
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| corgi37 |
I was 1. |
| October 6th, 2005 03:16 AM |
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| Voodoo Scrounge |
My dad was 7 |
| October 6th, 2005 01:17 PM |
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| Joey |
I was born that year !!!!
Word |
| October 6th, 2005 02:40 PM |
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| stonesmik |
The sperm in my fathers scrotum wasn't ready yet. |
| October 6th, 2005 10:08 PM |
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| king bee |
Lil Brian
Hello. I just joined tonight and noticed you posted that article from the Omaha World Herald. I am from Omaha. You from around here? That article was pretty amusing to read before we started work today.
Randy |
| October 7th, 2005 05:01 AM |
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| Lil Brian |
King Bee Randy- Yeah, I'm nearby and very ready for Omaha (and Denver)! At the bottom of this post, click on PM and you can send me a private message off-line. Welcome to Rocks Off.
Jay |
