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Before it became RETRO we played this funk and soul music at many of the local watering holes and shows in and around the Pittsburgh area. Then as they say
"LIFE GOT IN THE WAY"So what was the motivation after all this time to pick up the pieces and start again? After hearing groups like THE DAP KINGS, AMY WINEHOUSE along with others, and a medical crises the drummer Rick Zacour called and said "If we don't give it another shot, we'll regret it"I started calling the guys in the old groups. The first call I was shot down, seems his wife wouldn't let him come out and play,( some wives have long memories). The second call to Robert "LOOMIS" Prince ( keyboards, saxophone, and top notch arranger) hit pay dirt. He said " It's Show Time". Even though we hadn't been in touch for 20 years, we were thinking the same way. Ricky said he had been in touch with Victor Bell ( a member of the first group he played in. Victor said " He was looking for a new challenge" since the band he played trumpet in for years was disbanding.Ricky offered the warehouse of his COUNTRY STYLE FLAT BREAD BAKERY so we could practice and put it all together. At this time we would like to thank first Mike Bowen and Kevin Smith, two guitarists who helped us find out if the spark was still there. They both had to leave for personal reasons.That brings us to Don Garvin AKA Donnie G, who played with us in The JEWELTONES, The SOULSET, and BLUEBYRD (I HEAR YOU KNOCKIN' and THE PILL AND I on BUDDAH RECORDS.) He introduced us to one of our greatest inspirations, John R from WLAC Nashville Tenn. We would listen to him play that sweet soul music every night on our way home from the gigs.Donnie G (outstanding engineer that he is) also helped build THE JEREE recording studio with Jerry Reed, who helped make this all possible. Jerry gave us the chance, going back to the days when the studio was in the basement of his home. Jerry is gone now, but all the musicians, singers and songwriters will be forever grateful for his generosity and understanding.Robert "Pecky" Peckman and DONNIE "G" were members of the group "Q" back in the day. "Pecky" wrote "'Q's" big hit "Dancin Man". I told "Pecky" back then I would like to record some of his songs the next chance I got to record. I didn't think it would take 30 years.Special thanks to "Loomis" for his great arrangements of "Peckys" songs and Donnie "G" for his engineering skills. Also a big thank you to Mike Anderson for his technical expertise.
