Goldmine Magazine

Rockabilly Fest 2001/Oct. 5, 2001

The home of rockabilly is now officially declared to be in Jackson, Tenn., which lies between the country licks of Nashville and the blues spirit of Memphis. This is the home of Carol Perkins, where he parked his guitar between gigs.

Earlier this summer, local businessman and rockabilly lover Henry Harrison put together a three-day music festival at the Jackson Fairgrounds Park for this second annual event of pompadours and poodle skirts. Technically, it lasted four days (June 28 through July 1), with the first day being a trip to Graceland in Memphis and the opening of The Rockabilly Museum in Jackson. The music began on June 29 (almost 40 music acts performed during the three days of concerts).

The Rock And Roll Trio, Bill Haley's Original Comets, Stan Perkins, D.J. Fontana, Ace Cannon and lots more cranked out their music. Plenty of up-and-coming acts came to sing and play in hopes of giving their own career a boost. David Crimmen made the trip all the way from San Francisco to pick his own rockabilly style. Lesley Baker came down again from Canada to sing at her second Rockabilly Fest visit. Other fans and musicians traveled from England, Norway, Holland, and Sweden to listen and participate in this rockabilly bash.

June 30 began with Sam Phillips, the founder of Sun Records, hosting a luncheon for several music fans and members of the media. After the meal, attendees could ask Phillips questions.

The next event was the attempt to set the world's record for the most drum kits playing simultaneously. By my own count, there were about 60 drummers present. Johnny Rabb, known as the world's fastest drummer, was in attendance ready to lay down a beat along with the rest of the drummers. Stan Perkins (Carl's son) came out on stage and started the song, "Blue Suede Shoes," which started the drummers drumming. Phil Spector would have appreciated this true wall of sound on that cement floor. After one practice run, Perkins kicked into the song for a second time.

More acts then followed for the rest of the evening and finished up on July 1. It was quite the event, with TV cameras from the local stations and PBS filming the entire show. Although the turnout was low, about 400 on Sunday, everyone there seemed to be in that rockabilly spirit and had a good time.

-Guy Lee

Rockabilly Fest 2000/July 28, 2000

Jackson, Tenn., celebrated the groundbreaking of the International Rockabilly Hall Of Fame with a three-day long concert at the Jackson Farmer's Market on the weekend of April 14-16, 2000. The concert's lineup included many rock 'n' roll pioneers as well as a new generation of rockabilly artists.

One of the outstanding younger rockabilly acts who deserves mention is San Francisco's Dave Crimmen, who not only plays rockabilly music, but also is a talented songwriter whose songs sound as if they caught an express train in the mid-1950s and just barreled on through the '60s, '70s, '80 and '90s to arrive fresh in the year 2000.

According to Harrison and McVey, they're planning on making this an annual event and the planning has already started for next year.

-Fetzer Mills

From: Fetzer Mills, Jr.

Goldmine Magazine, May 2000

Dear Dave,

I listened to your CD last night. I loved it, particularly because the songs were all originals. Most of the new rockabillies just replow the same old ground. It's refreshing to hear some genuinely new rockabilly music.

Your songs have the feel of the 1950's. I've heard a few other new rockabilly songs and they all end up obviously being filtered through all of the music that's passed since 1959. Your songs sound like they highballed it in on an express train from 1956 with no stops in the 60's, 70's, 80's or 90's. You're a hell of a good songwriter. You're also a fine musician. I really enjoyed listening to it.

All the best, Fetzer