New Orleans Looking Forward to 4th Annual Ponderosa Stomp

August 23. 2004 --

i was in new orleans this weekend visiting with dr. ike. he and the mystic knights of themau may put on the ponderosa stomp each year during jazz fest.
           the stomp is becoming an event that "the swamp dogs" of the big easy look forward to with great enthusiasm.  dr. ike, like it or not, is becoming well know himself (dr.ike likes his privacy). the good doctor has his own practice in the city.
           he is getting the 2005 stomp ready to go. he has to book well in advance to get all the acts together for jazz fest.
           it's interesting to know that some of the ole timers haven't worked in over fourty years, they don't think they can still perform. the good dr. tells them it's a big rock a billy reunion all your ole buddies will be there and in some case's you'll be on stage with many of them at the same time. when he assures them the public they knew fourty years ago still wants to see them perform they can't wait to get to the stomp.
           a lot of planning goes into one of these events, i didn't realize just how much planning it takes. as the artists get older most of them are in their late 60's and 70's, their health may keep them from appearing. you book them and by show time they may be sick and can't attend.
           one of the favorite stomp performers paul burlison passed away after the 2003 show. he played lead guitar for johnny burnette, who recorded for coral records. johnny and his brother dorsey and paul burlison made up the johnny burnette trio. they had hits with "the train kept rollin" "honey hush" "dreamin" "your sixteen" and other hits on liberty records. dorsey had a big hit on era records with "the tall oak tree", both dorsey and johnny passed away several years ago.
           dr. ike mixs in blue's and jazz and some country at each event and it goes over well. new orleans likes all types of music and can't seem to get enough of any one kind.
           i couldn't help but notice his tee shirt with the excello label on it which was home based in nashville in the 50's. it had lazy lesters record "sugar coated love" on it. now that's a tee shirt well worth having no matter how much the cost. blue tee and that orange record label. i ask him why some well known rock a billy and blues artist haven't been on the stomp. he informed me that some artist who haven't had a hit since 1958 or 60 want $25 to 35 thousand for one night. dr. ike said i tell them i want you for one night, not the full month.
           this is a fun event were not out to break the bank, however all the artist who perform do so at their satisfaction. everyone is treated fair. we are not building sstars or eegos, our aim to give the artist a chance to perform where they might not have one. and for the artist to feel they were treated fair for their performance. the fans love to see these ole rock stars of yesterday. as long as the event works out the way it has in the past we'll do our best to keep it going. so far it's been a happy family reunion everyone swapping stories about where they worked on tours 40 years and some of the crazy things that happened way back when.
           one blues artist that has become a favorite is barbara lynn from beaumont, texas. she had a big hit on jamie records in 1962 with "you'll lose a good thing". she wrote the song after a love affair went bad. a broken heart is never good thing but at least barbara had the satisfaction of getting a hit record out of it. she had other hits with "second fiddle girl" "your gonna need me" "i cried at laura's wedding" and "oh! baby" she has recorded for tribe and atlantic records. today ms. lynn lives in texas and still performs.
           the rock a billy hall of fame always has a list of performing artist who will be on the show and you can check the mysic knights web site for updates. so make sure you have your calander checked for the ponderosa stomp 4 during the new orleans jazz fest in the spring of 2005. last year's event was at the rock n bowl on carrollton ave. remember "you'll never grow old" if you love rock n roll and thats "a double portion" if you love rock a billy and blues. -widmarc clark.