Booker T. Jones

Looking forward to seeing Booker T. Jones in Boston soon – one of
my favorite musicians EVER and king of the Hammond B3 organ.



Check out Steve Cropper talking about his time at Stax Records.

Learn about the Hammond B3 organ from this GROOOVY video.

Diggin' the organ? Here are some previous organ posts, but this scene from 1944's Bathing Beauty starring Ethel Smith is a hoot.

Booker T. Jones

I saw one of my favorites at The Narrows in Fall River last night – a new venue for me. It’s about an hour from Boston but a breeze coming home. I will definitely be going back. You can bring your own food and drink. Tables are reserved but seats are first come first served. Booker T. Jones read from his new memoir, had a brief QA with the audience, and jammed with his son and 2 other fabulous musicians. What a blast to hear him play his Booker T. and the MGs greats right there on his Hammond organ. He talked about recording Dock of the Bay, which was the last time he played with Otis Redding. While he sang it, the audience joined in with the whistling that occurs at the end of the song. I’ll never forget that. Check out this joint. Learn about Stax Records.

Hip Hug-Her, 1967


Soul Limbo, 1968


Time Is Tight, 1968

Paul McCartney at Fenway Park

My friend Glenn was in the 5th grade when The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964. Like many kids then, his world changed after that broadcast. He bought a cheap organ, then eventually bought a Hammond organ, then started singing in a band at 16 in 1969. The name of it was "The Sidewalk Society." How 1969 was that? 😆 We finally saw Sir Paul in person. Click on pic to make it big.

Glenn still has his Beatles scrapbook and Beatles bubble-gum cards.

Here are school pictures of Glenn in the 1960s during Beatlemania.



Above, Glenn and the crowd sing along with Paul and his band.

They performed my favorite Wings tunes from my grade-school years:


Jet, Wings, 1973


Listen To What the Man Said, Wings, 1975


Let 'Em In, Wings, 1976

The Hammond organ

A swell documentary for all you groovy cats and chicks.

Booker T. Jones

I'm so grateful to have seen Booker T. Jones once again last night at my favorite venue. Being at TCAN is like being in someone's basement with great artists performing just feet in front of you. Hearing his groovy organ playing the songs I love left me grinning throughout the whole show. Click on the photos to make them bigger.

Growing up in Memphis, he started in the biz at 15. Besides the Hammond, he also played his guitar for a number of tunes. Several standing Os were given along with tons of love. Thanks, Booker T.



Booker T. recorded Green Onions in 1962 at the age of 17.

Billy Preston

Learn about Preston and the Hammond. 1950s: with Nat King Cole; 1960s: on Shindig!; 1970s: Will It Go Round in Circles

Martha and the Vandellas

A great find for me is a live tv performance that I didn't see the first time around. Often, groups/singers lip-synched or lip-synched to a live recording. If you dig Motown/Soul, you're going to love this 1966 performance. There's even a Hammond and a Leslie speaker.

It's a Beautiful Morning

During a recent visit to Oahu, my host surprised me with a show featuring Felix and Gene from The Rascals. They wrote so many groovin' tunes and played and performed with so much energy.
Check out this guy talking about Felix and the Hammond.

Felix and Gene perform at The Blue Note. Click pic to make big.


Honolulu Lulu, Jan and Dean, 1963