Southern Rockin’ At the Handlebar Dec. 28: Garfeel Ruff Reunion
Garfeel Ruff: Drummer Alan Pearson; Guitarist Rickey Godfrey; Bass Guitarist Frank Wilkie; Guitarist Buddy Strong; Keyboard Player Ronnie Godfrey
2009 Homecoming Jam - Greenville S.C.
Woo woo! Greenville, you better make room for the mighty large talent that’s heading your way. These guys are the soul of the south. They put the rock in southern rock, and they are coming together to pound it ‘til you bleed.
Then, just when you’re ready to call Uncle, they’ll jump to a soul-bending bluesier groove that leaves you lusting for more. For one night only, the Handlebar is hosting the jam of jams, the fourth annual 2009 Homecoming Jam featuring the Upstate’s finest in southern rock, soul blues, funky country AND the first reunion in almost ten year’s of S.C.’s favorite sons, Garfeel Ruff.
The line-up for the Dec. 28th event includes a who’s who in S.C. music:
Marshall Tucker Band will be well represented with former MTB bass player Tim Lawter; Ronald Radford, MTB guitarist, keyboard player (1993-1995); bassist Frank Wilkie, who took on the heavy task of replacing Tommy Caldwell after his untimely death in 1980; Tony Heatherly ; and Ronnie Godfrey, MTB keyboard player (1981-1984).
Donnie Winters, with brother Dennis formed the ultimate Southern rockin’ Winters Brothers Band during the seventies. On his own, he leans toward Americana, but who knows what he’ll bring to the stage of the Handlebar?
Greenville-based Marvin King and 13-year-old son Marcus (Marcus King & the Blues Revival) will showcase dual lead guitar work to shout out a message of rockin’ revival. Yeah!
Word has it, Michael Buffalo Smith will also be joining in the jam. A blogger (gritz.net), author (”Carolina Dreams: The Musical Legacy of Upstate South Carolina”), stage and commercial actor and musician, this MTB historian has shared the stage with the Charlie Daniels Band, Marshall Tucker Band, Molly Hatchet, Southern Rock Allstars and more.
Other musicians slated to appear include Scotty Hawkins (Reba McIntyre, Brooks & Dunn, One-Eyed Jack); and Mark McMakin (Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’Blues, Hard Rain).
All this is well worth the price of admission and your time, but add Garfeel Ruff to the mix, and it’s a no-brainer. Get your tickets now!
Garfeel Ruff Comes Home
The self-titled LP released in 1979 (Capitol Records).
If you were anywhere near the Upstate in the late 70s, you already know how huge Garfeel Ruff was and now the band members are as excited as their fans to be coming home.
During a telephone interview with Frank Wilkie, I can hear the excitement and anticipation as he talks about the reunion.
“Garfeel Ruff has always been my heart, my passion,” says Franklin Wilkie. “We were really influenced by George Martin [longtime record producer for the Beatles], and intent on achieving certain goals musically. Unlike other bands, we had definite sound parts. Not that we never jammed, we did, but we were practice fanatics. We worked on vocals for hours.We worked everything out and you could hear the effort that went into it. I think this reunion is way overdue.”
Ronnie Godfrey, lead vocalist and keyboard player for Garfeel Ruff said, “We were just very, very good! We played the hell out of our music; we practiced all of the time and worked our asses off to get what we wanted and boy did we ever become a great band!!
“It’s really going to be great to see the guys, rock some and have some fellowship! Of course my man Scotty Hawkins will be there to take the great Alan Pearson’s place on drums and it’s just a chance to groove with some extended family and, of course, my woommate Rickey. I know Al will be there in spirit as well. I miss him so much!
“I was just 22 when we started and 27 when we broke up. I was married with a small child and subsequently got divorced during that period and I think I probably grew up, as much as any musician can grow up, during that time. I learned that attitudes are more important than facts and it’s not what happens to you in life, it’s how it affects you! I also learned something that I kind of already knew. If you figure out what you want, visualize it, dream about it and think about it all the time, you can make it happen!!!
“Over the 30 years or so since we broke up, we have played together in all kinds of combinations and in all kinds of situations! In 1980, we decided to make the “Born To Play” record. There were some songs which were left over from the five years we were together and we just wanted to do it. In 1986, I believe, we did a big reunion concert in Spartanburg and the police crashed the thing and started, for some reason, to arrest people. The church makes sure the cops and politicians stay stupid up there in Spartanburg. The Pharisees run the town!”
Ronnie Godfrey isn’t known for his reticence.
Buddy Strong, who played guitar during the Garfeel Ruff days is a successful engineer today. He owns Southeastern Studios in Easley, S.C. Although he hasn’t played live since the last Garfeel Ruff reunion, he often plays guitar parts on Studio projects including MTB’s latest record, The Next Adventure and Ear Candy, Chocolate Thunder’s CD, which was produced by Frank Wilkie and recorded at Southeastern.
“It’s going to be fun,” he tells me. “The other guys in the band are all monster players. I love it.”
When I ask Buddy what he felt the reason for Garfeel Ruff’s great appeal during its five-year run, he echoes what the others have told me, “We treated it like a job. We worked constantly. We would record our live shows and then listen to see how we could improve. We worked hard!”
Guitarist Rickey Godfrey is grinning from ear to ear when he tells me, “I’m very excited about playing with the guys. We’ve remained good friends, all of us, and having one of the best drummers in the United States, Scotty Hawkins, playing with us, makes it even better.
“Our plan at the homecoming jam is to not only feature the band, but feature us as writers, so, we plan on doing five Garfield Ruff favorites, doing one song apiece written by each individual member.
“All of us are a lot more mature than we were back then, and we are better listeners, and certainly better musicians. I know, myself, as a guitar player, that I’m a much better player and musician than I was back then. Now, when I play, I think a lot more about what I shouldn’t do, rather than what I should do.
“I’m a lot calmer person, too, and I think all of us are more flexible as people.
“It’s also gonna be a pleasure to hear some other really great musicians at the jam. Marvin King, and Ronald Radford, for instance, are two of the best guitarists I know … with unusual talent.”
“The only sad thing I suppose is that we wish Alan Pearson were alive to be there with us, it’s amazing to me that’s it’s been almost 14 years since he died, but Scotty was groomed by Al on how to play drums and be a good musician. As a kid of eight or nine years old, Scotty used to come out and hear us all the time, so he really looked up to Alan.”
“I’m a little nervous. Buddy Strong and myself haven’t played guitars together in over 20 years, except for a 30 minute show we did in Spartanburg in 2001; so, both of us are gonna have a private rehearsal together.”
Old habits die hard.
If You Want To Go
2009 Homecoming Jam & Garfeel Ruff Reunion
What: Fourth annual year-end jam and concert, organized by bass player Mark McMakin, featuring some of the S.C. Upstate’s finest in southern rock: ex-Marshall Tucker players Frank Wilkie, Tim Lawter, Tony Heatherly, Ronnie Godfrey; Ronald Radford; Donnie Winters; Marvin King and 13-year-old-son, guitar wizard Marcus King; and the long-awaited Garfeel Ruff reunion - Rickey Godfrey, Ronnie Godfrey, Frank Wilkie, Buddy Strong and sitting in for the late Alan Pearson, Scottie Hawkins (How fitting, huh?).
When: Dec. 28, 8:30 p.m.
Where: The Handlebar, 304 E. Stone Avenue, Greenville, S.C.
How Much: $11 ($2 extra at the door under if you’re under 21)
Information: MySpace.com/ MarkMcMakin; 864-233-6173
Rickey Godfrey has posted additional image on his Facebook fan page.
©2009 Dariel Bendin. This was originally published at darielb.wordpress.com with additional Q&A with Ronnie Godfrey. A shorter version was also published in the Dec. 17, 2009 - Jan. 14, 2010 print versions of Coast magazine and Alternatives NewsMagazine.
