About Me
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Hi All,
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of beloved Wayne 'Bear' Sauls. Bear left us on Wednesday November 26, 2008 at 12:04 am. As you know most musicians don't have insurance. To help Bear on his journey we are asking all who knew and loved him and the music of Eric Quincy Tate to please attend the benefit jam on Tuesday December 2nd - 8:30 pm at:.........................................................
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The Northside Tavern
1058 Howell Mill Rd
Atlanta, GA
404-874-8745
http://www.northsidetavern.com/.............................
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.......................................................Wayne
"Bear" Sauls
1948 - 2008Wayne "Bear" Sauls was born in 1948 and by the age of thirteen, the beginning of the sixties, he was performing professionally. In his career he had the opportunity to share the stage with such greats as the Allman Brothers, Charlie Daniels, Warren Haynes, David Allan Coe, and the Nighthawks, and many more. Bear was one of those fortunate musicians who lived, played, and survived through the birthing of this new sound in music. Throughout the years, Bear established a style that has been copied but never duplicated.Bear's childhood in Marietta, Georgia, was surrounded by music. His family was full of musicians, so it was natural that he would continue the tradition. In fact, when Bear was three years old, his mother, a flat-picking bluegrass guitarist, put a guitar in his hands and encouraged him to learn the art.As lead guitarist for Eric Quincy Tate, Bear rode the wave of some of the greatest years of rock and roll. He joined the band in 1973 and performed nationally as well as recording on such labels as Atlantic, Cotillion, Capricorn, GRC Records, SLI Records, and Chikin Scratch Records. In the early eighties he formed the Stone Mountain Band with long time friends Lou Thorpe and Ray Jarrell. The band played southeastern venues opening for artists such as Bo Diddly, Johnny Winter and Frank Zappa. Through the remainder of the eighties, he played lead guitar for one of the hottest country bands of the day, David Allan Coe. Bear traveled internationally with Coe's band until the late eighties when he formed The Bear Facts Band. For the remainder of his life, Bear continued to play and tour with The Bear Facts Band, becoming a mainstay at Daytona's annual Bike Week. This past year Bear was awarded the City of Atlanta's "Phoenix Award" for cultural contributions to music.Bear lived an exceptionally rich life and overcame the odds many times, more than ever expected. He was, and still is, loved by all who knew him, and even by a few who only knew of him. Musicians who had the opportunity to share the stage with him will remember his fierce, undiluted stage presence. He had a way of looking at fellow musicians that would inspire them to explore their instruments in ways that they never imagined. His performance onstage was like his performance in life: unrehearsed and yet perfect every time.
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From the loins of ZYDEFUNK, KING JOHNSON , ERIC QUINCY TATE and SEAN COSTELLO we have a band that belts out the blues, croons the funk and twangs the roots !!! Drummer and lead vocals from Eric Quincy Tate DONNIE MCCORMICK, THE CHICKEN COOP PLAYER, bassist CHARLIE WOOTON from ZYDEFUNK, guitarist OLIVER WOOD from KING JOHNSON/WOOD BROTHERS and guitarist SEAN COSTELLO got something going on... what the four of these guys bring to the table will always be unique, raw and with their own individual flavor combined all in one. No set list and ad-libbed - Donnie, Charlie, Sean and Oliver have been listening to each other for years! Any" chance" we get the privelege of hearing all of them on one stage (or in our living room) is a real treat. They called it a side project and played a couple of gigs at Fuzzy's and the Northside Tavern in Atlanta. The folks down at the 550 blues in Macon gave them their first debut "a write-up in the Eleventh Hour and a review in Amped." It has been over a year since then, and they have been back at the 550 blues four times this year and performed at the Bragg Jam. This project is taking off!!! Thank God they are recording a c.d.CHECK OUT THEIR UPCOMING SHOWS!
Here's some insight, from the band members themselves, into how this magical four-some came together and about the mutual respect they share.From Donnie McCormick, "I rent an old warehouse loft space a couple of blocks from Northside Tavern, a local blues dive bar and my neighgborhood watering hole. One night six or seven years ago I was walking up to grab a cold one, and when I got to the top of the hill I heard this voice- this seasoned, soulful, junkyard voice coming at me. Man!! 'Who the hell is that?!' I'm sayin' to myself. Then came the wailing guitar licks. Memphis came to mind. By now, I'm pickin' up my pace. I knew everybody who was singing the blues at the tavern, but WHO the hell was this? 20-year-old Sean Costello. That's who. Sean has a gift, and he's now sharing it with me. Man oh man. Why does Coop Da Ville work? Mutual respect is what makes this band not only work, but be able to dish out some pretty interesting riffs. We do what good musicians are supposed to do, and that's compliment the other players to the best of their ability. Let the other guy shine. I've known Oliver Wood since he was a boy, really, and he always had that special touch on the guitar. He was doing sessions for me 20 year ago. The fact that he's grown into a wonderful vocalist and songwriter is icing on the cake. He's the real deal, and it's an honor to share the stage with him any time. Charlie Wooton? Well it's like looking into a mirror. He's the image of me 30 years ago. Energy, drive, and in charge of his instrument. Destination? The top. I love this guy with all my heart and I'm glad I can be a part of his relentless persuance of the same dream that all of us as players hope to realize. Charlie's a heavy-weight contender and a good friend. We're making it up folks. We hope you like it. This band is therapy for me. I'm lovin' it."Now from Sean Costello..."I heard about Donnie for years before I had the chance to meet him. Since then I've been lucky enough to play with him quite a bit and develop a friendship that is very special to me. Donnie is the most magical performer I have ever seen; he never ceases to amaze. He's constantly in the zone, always in the pocket on several levels. Always creating - writing, painting, sculpting, performing - complimenting whatever is going on around him musically. His singing and songwriting are up there with anyone. I feel like I'm apprenticing with a master, soaking up as much as I can. Every time I get to play with him is a highlight in my career. I have been a fan of Oliver Wood's playing since he was with Tinsley Ellis, when I was in high school. I paid close attention to his work with King Johnson. I think I learned what I know about funk guitar from watching and listening to him. I find myself thinking, 'What would Oliver do?' more often than I'd like to admit. I think he is the finest guitarist-singer-songwriter in town. He has achieved equal mastery of his instrument, voice, and the craft of songwriting. A balance that I strive to achieve. I started with Coop Da Ville filling in for Oliver. Getting to play with him is something I always hoped to do, it's very fulfilling to have the opportunity. I have know Charlie since I was maybe 15. I used to sit in and do shows with Fishmouth Fools way back when I first started playing professionally. I was always impresseed with his total oneness with his bass, but more so with the fact that he has a very personal sound, something that defines all my favorite musicians. I am very grateful to Charlie for helping me play outside of my comfort zone. I have always had my own band and primarily played in situations that were strictly Blues, R&B, Rock&Roll, or Jazz. Charlie used to hire me for free form instrumental gigs that were largely World Music based. When he first hired me to sub for Oliver, I was nervous about filling in a four hour gig with no rehearsal, and me not ever having heard the band. But he said, 'Just be there, you'll be fine.' His advice about playing with this line-up was, 'Sometimes you can just groove a while,' which I found to be very profound."Here's what Oliver had to contribute on his fellow bandmates: "I've always looked up to Donnie McCormick (though I'm a bit taller). When I was in my 20's he let me record with him and sit in on gigs. To play in a group with him is my dream come true. He's my musical mentor (he's a mentor to all of us.....a tor-mentor). Treats us as equals, yet he's miles ahead. He's the warmest human - and on fire when he plays. If we just had an ounce of his soul. He is the epitome of an arist, and I'm just an apprentice - he's teaching me about the moment. Sharing musical moments with Donnie is the best feeling in the world. I've always known Charlie as an amazing bass player. But playing in a band with him has shown me his many other strengths: He is a complete musician - singing, writing, listening, and improvising. he's always growing and evolving. I feel a strong bond between us. We come from the same generation of Atlanta musicians. We've both been ambitious band leaders and faced the same struggles of the business. I admire Charlie for his musicianship, but also for his passion, his leadership, and unlimited energy. He has an amazing gift for bringing musicians together - whether the cause is humanitarian or just to make great music. The group was Charlie's creation - and I'm blessed to be a part of it. I remember saying 10 years ago that Sean was 'amazingly good for his age.' Now, he's my favorite guitar player in town. I'm a huge admirer. Sean has been a student of only the coolest music ever made. Unlike most of us, he has somehow filtered out everything impure - and his music comes out sounding traditional yet fresh, refined yet raw. His repertoire is vast and unique, and his execution is effortless. When I'm tired of my own playing (and everyone else's) I listen to Sean for inspiration. His musical purity draws me in. I'm honored to play with him- I knowI'll learn a lot.Charlie has this to say about Coop Da Ville: "The first time I heard his name I was playing a gig at Poppers with Fish Mouth Fools. When we got there, there was a disheveled drum kit on stage. The manager said, 'Oh, Donnie McCormick played here last night, just put his drums in a pile over there.' The mystery of Donnie McCormick entered my mind that night. I asked around about him and people gave me a look like, 'You don't know who Donnie McCormick is? Shame on you.' Well, the more I learned about the legend, the more I wondered what he sounded and looked like. I was playing a gig one night and in walks this biker looking gentleman paying close attention to me. At the break I asked someone who this person was, and they replied that it was Donnie Mac. I don't remeber if I talked to him that night, but I do remember what it felt like on stage with him for the first time - anxious, nervous, and frightened! I don't know how I made it through the gig. Donnie and I became acquainted, but didn't become true friends until the love of my life Traci Barnett brought us together. My favorite thing to do with Donnie, besides play music, is just to sit with him. It reminds me of being with my Papa (the greatest man to ever live). If Oliver Wood was a girl, I would fall in love with him just so he could sing me to sleep at night. His voice and guitar playing are like a warm blanket on a cold evening. Sometimes it's hard to play with him because I just want to listen. I wrote a song for my band Zydefunk and it wasn't sounding right. Oliver and Paul Linden sat in with the band one night and Oliver played slide on the song, and the song came alive. That song was Chocolate Chip, Zydefunk's now most requested song. Oliver and I have played quite a few gigs together, but Coop Da Ville is very personal and it's Ours. I've always had it in the back of my mind that Oliver and I would ahve a band together, whether Oliver knew it or not. My dream has now come true. One night at Northside Tavern, I was checking out Sean's show. He took an eight round solo on a shuffle and every round sounded like a new song. His phrasing and melodic ideas amaze me to this day. When I try to come up with a sweet and memorable melody I think, 'What would Sean play?' But, it never comes out as good as him. Sean and I had a band called Magic Bus Ride, which didn't last long. I missed playing with him. Coop Da Ville has brought us back together, and I couldn't be happier. I watched him go from a nervous boy into an anxious young man. What's gonna happen when this 25-year-old man with an 80-year-old soul matures even more? I will be watching, and so should you! It's gonna be scary."
