Beatle wigs and Female impersonators

The owner of the club in Yakima was disabled.  He was in a wheel chair.   During the time I was not playing in the group he and I kinda connected.  I guess it was because I had worked for a man like him as.  A kid.   I would drive him places,help him in the car and so on.   Some of the other band members thought he was a grouch but I liked him.  Well the Beatles had just taken America by a storm and of course everyone was talking about their hair.  He convinced us to buy some wigs and wear them while playing a Beatles song.   He would come rolling up to the. Stage saying “ put on your beatle wigs”.    We hated it and they looked awful.   We would do it a couple times a night just to try and keep him happy.   The people were really nice and they liked us a lot.    They kept telling us about a band named The Checkmates that had played there before.   They loved them but they really liked us too so we didn’t mind.   Just a couple years later we met and worked with The Checkmates in Reno but that’s another story.

The owner, Steve Burke, told us he wanted to book a Group of female impersonators in and wanted us to be their backup band.  We had little choice but to agree.  So we met with them on a Monday and rehearsed and they performed that night.  They drew really good crowds.  We would play dance music between their shows.  It was really kinda fun.  In costume they were very convincing.   Now this part of my story is a bit touchy.   For some reason the leader of the group, Lee Leonard, took a liking to me.   I. Made it clear to him right away that I was straight but he was not to be deterred.  It became a daily routine of him chasing me and me avoiding him.  It was a bit difficult because all of us lived on the second floor of the Hotel.  The other guys thought it was hilarious I didn’t think it so funny.  His room was right next door to Gary Nielands room.  I knocked on Gary’s door one day and Lee answered his door. Man he got very bold.  He kept inviting me in and I kept saying I gotta go.  No damn way was I going in that room.  I was 20 yrs old and fresh out of Holdenville Oklahoma I wasn’t ready for this.   I think they were there for two weeks he finally left me alone.

I should introduce you to the band members.  When I talk about them you should know them   Gary Nieland  is a couple years older than me,  he wasn’t real tall probably 5 ft eight.   He had a head of the finest hair you’ve ever seen.  He could comb it and get it perfect and a little puff of air hit it and it looked like a bomb went off.  He had been the drummer for The Champs for years.   He was all business.  Man he was tight.  In those days people were writing letters. Imagine that.  I went to him one night and asked if he had a postage stamp.  At that time postage stamps were 6cents.  He gave me a stamp and on payday he had it written in his book so he collected the six cents.  He now lives in Las Vegas is retired after a very successful career in business dealings including investments,real estate and music.  Has a great sense of humor and I grew to really like him.  He grew up in Salem Oregon.

Next time  Reminder letter to Pvt. Allen D.Crawford     Hey remember us?  You are still in the Oklahoma National Guard