About Me
(Bio in progress) The Rebuilt Carburetors was originally formed in the early 80’s by Mike Cross in Corpus Christi, TX after a split from the band Gun Shy. The members included guitarists Billy Dickey, Jeff McCarley and Don Butler, Billy Cardiet - drums, Rocky Benton - harmonica/lead vocals and Mike Cross - acoustic guitar/bass guitar/lead vocals. Several of Mike’s original songs were recorded at Hacienda Studios and Beck’s Studios and later re-recorded at Hacienda (with the help of Rick Garcia & family). But it goes further back than that. My musical involvement with Mike Cross began around 1981 when I was asked to set-in for Linda Flores’ band’s keyboard player at the Travel Lodge - Corpus Christi. Mike and I hit it off and began a friendship that will last a lifetime. Our thought was that someday we’ll play in a band together. That didn’t take too long as "Linda O’Neill and Potluck", I was in later, was looking for a bass player. Mike auditioned and easily secured the job. That band included Rocky Benton, guitarists Kip Kramer and Allen Hunt on guitar, Wayne Roth - sax, John Beaty - drums. The next change came as Mike was playing in a band called Gold Rush at the Gold Mine in Callalen, TX (CC, TX) asking me if I would join them to replace their keyboard dude - Dusty. Then the band Gun Shy was formed to begin as a house band for the new Doc Holliday’s in Corpus Christi. That band included Patsy McKeehan, Jeff Crocker, Chris Maddox, Chris’s girlfriend - Britta and Billy Cardiet. Gun Shy evolved to the core group to include Debbie Townsend - lead vocals, Mike Cross, Billy Dickey - lead guitar, Pat Whitenton - drums, myself (Dan Woods) ..boards and Randy Todd - sound engineer. This was a happening/tight band that did some head turning. Gun Shy was the first band in Corpus Christi that played at the Bayfront Auditorium (theatre) backing up Donny and Marie Osmond. Another big deal for this band was playing for Ronald Reagan’s presidential campaign at the International airport next to Lee Greenwood singing "Proud to be an American". Mike Cross left Gun Shy forming the Rebuilt Carburetors with Debbie and myself trying to keep Gun Shy going. My friend, Kathy Manning gave Mike and me the money to produce an album which was titled "Strong Hearts" around 1984. This album was to feature Mike Cross’s originals from both bands Gun Shy and the Rebuilt Carbs adding a couple of other songs not previously recorded. The funds ran out but all that is needed today (twenty years later) is mastering and production of CD’s. Three of those songs will be added to my play list with Mike’s permission. As the co-producer of this album, these eight songs are, without a doubt, the best to come out of Corpus Christi, Texas (IMHO). Many years have passed since the dissolve of the Rebuilt Carbs. In 1987, Mike and I were re-united in a house band called "The Boomers" w/ Danny Saenz, Sam Stevens (bass) and Steve Tirpak on drums. Then in 1988, landed in the best dance hall band in South Texas - Country Breeze w/ Bob & Kathy Benoit. In 2001, we formed a trio w/ Rocky Benton, myself and Leslie Fiscus (Debbie’s daughter) and Blaine Center trading off doing the female vocals doing a mixture of blues, Motown, country and rock using midi recording technology to record bass/drums/keys to back up Rocky’s harmonica leads and my keys while filling up the vocals w/ 2-3 part harmonies. Also included in the trio - Travis Watson - sound engineer. That lasted about a year and the name of that band was/is "The Rebuilt Carburetors". :) Did I mention that Rocky Benton, Mike Cross and I are die-hard Dallas Cowboy fans? When the Dallas Cowboys lost their song in the early 80’s, I told Mike, "We need to write a song for the Cowboys." Well, I did it in 2000 with a little South Texas flavor handing it to Jerry Jones at the grand opening of Andrews distributing in Corpus Christi. Included in that recording is Johnny Saenz - accordion (played w/ Selena), Darrel Sorrows - guitars, Leslie Fiscus & Mike Anderson - vocals and myself doing bass/percussion on a Korg Triton Pro. Final vocals, a different cow bell (need more cowbell!) and final mix-down/mastering were done at Hacienda Studios with the help of Rick Garcia. With a losing season that year, a song just wasn’t their priority. This song has been played on several radio stations in the Coastal Bend area and also on the Dallas radio station, "The Ticket". Today (2008), I am the contemporary Christian band leader at Portland 1st United Methodist Church and reviving the Rebuilt Carburetors in a single gig. Thanks for the read and please post a hello. God Bless.
