GOODFOOT

Many of you may not know the origin of Good Foot. Memories are hazy and old but we’ll try and do it justice. Sometime in Denton Texas 1988, (North Texas State University at the time) Dave Mora (Dallas), Luke Hendon (NYC), and Paolo Castagnoli (S. F.) crossed musical paths . In other words, a living room jam at someone’s crib. A true musical chemistry was born as Hendrix, Freddie Hubbard, and Isley Brother classics were rocked out in great volume. Guitarist Rod Franco (Nebraska), percussionists Kevin Baker (Dentonite), Ivor Weiner (S. Africa) and Gary Ferrel (Missouri) rounded out the crew. Who was to sing? Luke had the soulful voice and Kevin had the original ideas and quirky lyrics so why not the both of them? The sound was percussive rock with a groove.

Local jams began at the Sammy House (pre-Delta Lodge) backyard where packed crowds danced all night till Denton cops intervened. Good Foot then graduated to clubs and continued in such classic local venues as the Library and the annual Fry St. Fair (the one that was actually on Fry St.) The jams subsequently moved down I35 to a small warehouse district in Dallas called Deep Ellum. There Good Foot played at such venues as 500 Café and Club Dada.

In 1989, the first edition of Good Foot disbanded. Good Foot was eventually reformed, this time with a horn section. North Texas music students Kent Stump (Colorado) on T-Bone and trumpeteer Danny O’Brien (Dallas) came into the fold and were up to the task. A demo was recorded with Shelly Carroll on sax and things were ready to roll.
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New musical influences came about as well as Good Foot took to the influence of the 1980’s D.C. go-go funk. Artists such as Chuck Brown, Trouble Funk, and E.U. were constantly on the turntable. James Brown, Sly Stone, P-Funk, and various Latin and African grooves were also in the air. Percussionists Chris Axelrad, Alan Emert, and Phil Hernandez interchanged in the lineup to enhance the groove. The new Good Foot sound was less edgy, more polished and ready to take it to the stage.

1990 would prove to be a breakout year as young saxophonist Art Hays (Detroit) was discovered through mutual friend “Charles”. The horn section was now set and Good Foot went from opening act to headliner in Dallas and Denton venues. Ft. Worth was soon invaded with the funk as Good Foot became a regular at the Hop and eventually the Main Street Festival. Professional management and bookings with Phyllis Arp ensued as Good Foot began to hit the roads of Texas. Austin would become a popular stop with the help of friends such as Bad Mutha Goose and Retarded Elf. Austin gigs at the Continental Club, Mercardo Caribe, and Liberty Lunch were a monthly success. Strung Out on Beef was recorded later in 1990 at TM Studios in Dallas. It came out on tape and brought sales and notoriety.

In 1991, friend and ex-Good Foot percussionist Ivor Weiner took over Good Foot management and booking. Good Foot showcased the funk at SXSW in Austin. Major record labels such as Capricorn and WEA soon began to take notice. The Good Foot Hung Low Horns were recognized by the Dallas Observer as the Best Horn Section in town. They later recorded with Bad Mutha Goose on their major label debut. Gigs expanded to Houston (Fitzgerald’s), Nacogdoches (Crossroads) and regionally Fayetteville, Little Rock (Juanita’s), and Shreveport. Soon a bus was purchased to help in the many travels and that’s when the real fun began.

One of the most successful stops in Good Foot’s tenure was Mississippi. From Jackson (Hal & Mal’s) to Oxford, frat parties to clubs, the people of Mississippi were full into the funk and rollicking times of Good Foot. The highlight was a music festival in Jackson that included Al Green, Los Lobos, Tito Puente, Sun Ra, Thomas Mapfumo, and the Mississippi Mass Choir. Good Foot was on roll so to speak and unfortunately, that’s exactly what would happen.

In July 1991 on a warm clear day returning from a college gig at Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the Good Foot bus gave way to suspension problems and rolled on a Newton, Mississippi highway. The band was on the way to a PBS recording session in Jackson, MS. for a youth educational piece on voting called You’ve Got That Right. The band and equipment amazingly suffered only minor injuries. The gig was done (in pain) and Good Foot returned to Texas swollen and bruised. The wreck seemed to take the sails out of the momentum of the band and in the beginning of 1992, Good Foot called it quits. Members went their own ways to other bands, other towns, and other careers. Bands such as Whitey, Beef Jerky, and Mingo Fishtrap would emerge to carry on the torch of Denton funk. A reunion in 1994 brought almost everyone together again as back to back gigs in Denton and Dallas gave everyone one last good funkin’ time.

As of 2007, members of Good Foot are: Paolo Castagnoli (drums) Assistant Principal Scarborough High School, Houston TX., Music- drummer/ House Band/ Planeta Bar-Rio www.bar-rio.com, Gary Ferrel (percussion) private lessons, Art Hays (sax) NYC music producer and writer, Luke Hendon (guitar,vocals) guitar teacher, Phil Hernandez (percussion) jingle writer, Dave Mora (bass) counselor/ Music- David & Javier acoustic duo, Danny O’Brien (trumpet) Music- Brave Combo, Kent Stump (trombone) music engineer Crystal Clear Sound/ Music- guitarist/singer Wofat.