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Check out the really old recordings below if
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A note on my early years in Venice, California...
Actually I thought about this
after seeing a website with some historical information about
the musicians of Venice, California at
http://www.virtualvenice.info/index.htm
and realized I should mention
some of my very earliest endeavors in the music scene.
Roughly around the late 60's I was getting the
chance to play in some better caliber bands as my skills
increased. One of the earlier bands worth mentioning would
be the 'Canaligators' which included the two
guys that started the band, 'Clyde "Hook" McGuire' and 'Butch MudBone'
with songs that were based on blues, country and boogie woogie
music. 'Hook' had only one arm. He was an accomplished harmonica player
with a gritty bluesy voice that people seemed to love. Hook
and Butch started out on the Venice boardwalk around the late
sixties. Our
first public performance as the Canaligators was at a place
called 'The Other Side', a night club in the evening and an A & W
restaurant during the day which was located on the boardwalk by
the Venice Pier I actually had a job at the A & W back then too.
Anyway I parted ways with the Canaligators quite some time
before they actually became kind of well known in the
bay area and since then had several drummers along the way, including
one of the members from the
'The Bantams'. They were one of the first
boy bands that had a popular hit song with Warner Brothers back in
the mid 60s.
Anyway one of the high points for the 'Canaligators' was quite
some time after I left the band. They managed to make it
on to a nationally syndicated TV show called the 'Midnight
Special' one summer night. Apparently there was some sort
of incident according to someone who was there that night by the
name of "Louise" who was sort of the 'unofficial' official
photographer for the band during the early seventies (1973-74).
Well the guys being seasoned street performers and playing in
small clubs, they had access to the taping of the show and managed to
entertain the studio staff out in the parking lot during a power
outage. Because of this stroke of luck the producer
offered them a spot on the show and the 'Canaligators'
(listed under the name of 'Uncle Crusty' that night) made their debut performance
on national TV thanks to that freak incident.
Hook passed away in the early 90's this information was
provided by his daughter-in-law.
Butch Mudbone still performs in his own original blues band.
As far as I know he currently lives somewhere in Memphis,
Tennessee.
A short mention for the band 'Grandpa Snazzy' which was founded by ex-'Sweetwater'
band member Richard Carlysle.
He was the
electric guitarist for the 60's folk rock band 'Sweetwater' in
his earlier years. They had at least one nationally released album or more and performed at Woodstock
as one of the opening acts, but I don't believe Richard was
with the band at the time they played at Woodstock.
Another excellent guitarist I would like to mention was Ian Stewart
from the band 'Wildweed'. He took guitar lessons from the
great jazz guitarist Herb Ellis and I will always
remember his progressive rock lead guitar style. I got the
chance to jam a few times with a Venice icon
Slavin
David
who was a friend of
James Armstrong's from way back,
they had a band together. By
the way 'Slavin David'
can still be found performing in the Los Angeles from time to
time. Click on his link to get more info.
Then there was the late
Sam
'Bluzman' Taylor who gave me the
opportunity to jam with his band on a song or two at the Taurus Tavern
where I also met guitarist
Coco Montoya. This was
in Venice, California way back in the 70's. Coco also use to
work with John Mayall & Bluesbreakers long ago.
All these bands had different varying styles, some were either blue grass, rock,
blues or a mixture of it all. Then there were some other bands
with unique and progressive styles that helped me improve here &
there. Unfortunately most of
them never lasted very long. For example the band 'Faction' which was
formed by the late
Don Carter. He was also a successful actor
and friend of mine, he starred in the Disney movie "Superdad" and the
cult classic "A Boy And His Dog" among many other movies that
he appeared in back then.
His brother
Ed Carter played bass guitar for the 'Beach Boys' during a
period of time and also played music with my friend Gary Spain
long ago in the early 70's. Anyway the band 'Faction' consisted of Don Carter,
Terry Henderson and a bass player, whose name
I no longer remember. After this band
ended I
stuck around a bit longer to join Don Carter's next band which
included my
friend Gary Spain, who joined as our bass player. These bands however short lived
managed to help shape my experience and become a more versatile musician
along the way. This was the end of the 60's and the
beginning of the 70's, what a great era.
The first steady working band I was with was called 'Night Hawk'. They were playing
at some of the local clubs in the Venice bay area and this
particular spot is where I first grew up in Venice, California.
This little area in Venice was called 'The
Square'. It was at the end of Washington St. and the Venice Pier
in Venice, California. They happened to be
performing in a local bar directly under the place where I
use to live. It was on the corner of Washington St. and Speedway.
At one time the place was called Duffy's Tavern (I use to live
directly above the place).
The
year was roughly 1968-69. I don't really remember who
owned the bar at this time but it was
under a different ownership by then. After watching
the band perform a few times and talking with them they decided to give me a chance to
audition. Anyway I managed to land the job as their drummer
and
we
managed to record at the only professional recording studio in
Venice at the time, it was called Spectrum Studios. Later on I would record there again with
Jesse "Jade" Anderson for his
original song called
'Paint By The Numbers'
registered at BMI. Spectrum Studios was above the A & W
restaurant on the corner of Washington St, by the pier and the boardwalk,
those were the hippie years I reckon.
There were so many more bands before this time, but
things were looking better and bands were lasting longer as
my skills and experience increased.
It really wasn't till years later when I met the band members of 'Dirt Cheap' with Curtis Crotzer, Lenny Hatch and James Armstrong
that I started playing more frequently and getting paid as well. After being
separated from the band due to a commitment with the US Air
Force and before returning to 'Dirt Cheap' I found myself in another band that I auditioned
for when I ran into an old
bass player friend of mine Larry Grimm. That's when I was introduced
to Jesse 'Jade' Anderson. At the time he was known as Jade Anderson,
then later on he changed his name to Jesse Anderson!
This turned out to be another long time friendship and music adventure.
I really started to work steady, playing small clubs and private party's
all along the
California coast and also incorporating band members from the
band 'Dirt Cheap' to work with Jade. One of the first clubs
we worked in
regularly was at 'The Burning
Tree' in Santa Monica, California. Roughly around the years 1976-77,
the club still
operates to this day however it is under different ownership after all these years
but to my knowledge they no longer support live music...ugh!
One of my passions besides music is working with computers.
I'm an experienced Windows 10 computer technician and ex-customer
PC support
person for a company called Wellpoint in West Hills, CA. I have been studying and using computer systems going
back to the Apple IIe, with many years of troubleshooting. I am skilled
with digital music software and interfacing midi and analog to
digital converters. Using audio and video editing software
for my own small demo production studio.
I still devote time to various music projects with friends, playing drums
or bongos at some of the local establishments here
in the Antelope Valley located in Southern California
where I currently live.
I imagine there aren't many people
who will actually visit this site because their aren't really any
major links that lead here from anywhere, but everybody
and anybody is welcome.
By the way I will update this site from time to time so please
visit again. I try to add more content to the
web pages when possible. Please excuse any grammatical
errors you find. I will fix them over time. Love
for the music inspired me to create this site, so I hope you will
enjoy some of the songs that are posted here.
Thanks again... Robert Heinze
Donations welcome: RocknRobert.com via PayPal!
A note on some of my departed musician friends who have passed away...
Don Carter...
Actor & Guitaritst Passed Away Around 1978
Larry Grimm...
Vocalist & Bass Player Passed Away 1995 (Date Unknown).
Sonny Boyer...
Tenor Saxophone Player Passed Away Around 1999? (Date Unknown).
Lenny Hatch...
Vocalist & Guitarist Passed Away Aug. 12th 2003
Bill Harwood...
Vocalist, Guitarist, & Harmonica Player Passed Away Nov. 13, 2005
Sam
'Bluzman' Taylor...
"Legendary Blues Artist"
Vocalist & Guitarist Passed Away On Monday Jan. 5, 2009
Ray Olson
Bass player for 'Dirt
Cheap' & the 'Skylight' band, passed away Nov. 4th, 2010
They will all be missed very much by there friends & loved ones!
I will miss my
brother Alan very much, he passed away on Oct.2nd 2011 after
getting married to his long time friend Lena Matthews the day
before!
Perry Pineda &
Robert Heinze
Well if you like crazy
jungle type drums, then maybe you might like this song, original
intro written by Perry Pineda and then I added some
percussion and some of my solo drumming!
'Jungle Bob'
Synth keyboard
intro by Perry Pineda
'The Robert Heinze Band'
written by Perry Pineda
_______________________________________________________________________
NIGHT HAWK (appox.1969-1970)
Matthew Egan -
vocals, rhythm & lead guitar
Dave Crepeau -
lead vocals (on this song) & rhythm guitar
Dave's wife -
vocals & bass guitar
& myself on drums.
Here are some
older songs recorded at Sprectrum Studios in Venice, CA. which use to be
above the A & W restaurant on the beach near the Venice Pier
around 1969-1970 converted to digital many years later.
In Chicago
written by Dave
Crepeau
Going Down The Road Feeling Bad
written by Woody
Guthrie
Keep On
Rockin Me Baby
written by Matthew
Eagan
Dry
Your Eyes
written by Dave
Crepeau
_____________________________________________________________________
Faction (appox. 1970)
The band Faction
started in Pacific Palisades where child actor Don Carter, who
was in numerous motion pictures & commercials including the cult
movie called 'A Boy & His Dog'. His older brother Ed
Carter played bass guitar for the Beach Boys at one time!
Not the best quality but really nice energy. This was just
a rehearsal jam to warm up it's called...
'The Faction Jam'
Don Carter - lead
& rhythm guitar
Terry Henderson -
lead & rhythm guitar
Robert Heinze -
drums
Bass player -
unknown at this time
_____________________________________________________________________
James Armstrong and DICE (Approx.1976)
James Armstrong - vocals & guitar * Bob
Issitts - bass guitar * Curtis Crotzer - vocals, harmonica &
rhythm guitar Robert Heinze - drums
Click on this link to hear a rare original song recorded
over 30 years ago from a Teac A3340 4trk reel to reel with James
Armstrong's band called 'Dice' & his original song!
'No More 8 to 5'
Recorded during rehearsal, featuring Curtis Crotzer
singing his original song with 'Dice'
'Road Music'
Covering a Rolling Stones song
written by Mick Jagger!
Featuring Curtis Crotzer on
vocals & harmonica.
'Miss
You'
Sons of Sam with James
Armstrong (Approx.1977)
Click on this link to hear a song over 30 years old re-mastered
& restored somewhat, this is a cover song of Stevie Wonder's
'Superstitous'
Performed by the
'Sons of Sam' back in the late '70's, Bobby Taylor on vocals, his
brother on backup vocals, James Armstong on vocals & guitar and
myself on drums. Of course the two brothers are the sons
of the late Sam 'Bluzman' Taylor,
thus the band name, and not related to the homicidal maniac of
the same era...(heh heh).
Click on the link here for an original rap
song from long ago...
'Welcome To This ParTay'
Here is an original song from the 'Sons Of Sam'
representing the beginning era of disco & funk, recovered
from a very old rehearsal 2-track1/4 tape session from the mid 70's. Listen to a
funky rap song, it's called "Welcome To This ParTay"...
_______________________________________________________________________
FIDEL (1979)
After Dirt Cheap disbanded and Jesse
Anderson was working elsewhere, I guess that most of my music connections were drying
up in the West L.A. bay area and for once most of my close
friends were doing other music projects so I Joined this band in
West Hollywood somewhere around
1978 to 1979, one of the guys had a studio on the corner of
Hollywood Blvd. and Vine St. The music was sort of new
wave and original sounding to me. The band did not last
very long but we did try to record a few songs. The
quality is not the best but I really liked these songs.
'I
Thought You Were Different'
'Oh Dear Love'
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ICE CREAM (1978)
I really disliked the name of this band,
thought it was too corny...heh,
but definitely had fun working with these two very good
musicians from Hollywood, CA! When the last band I was in was
coming to an end the bass player from the band 'Fidel' invited me to
start a band with his friend. I can't remember there first
names anymore, but their last names were 'Flynn' & 'Chover'. They liked doing
new wave type rock music live, but these first two songs were written by the singer
and are more like traditional pop
songs. The quality is not that great but these are
original songs for anyone to check out. Updated
mixes 4-10-2019
'No More Lonely Nights'
'Ladie's Fool'
'Daddy Of Rock & Roll' "Live"
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