My first years of life were spent in Cleveland, Ohio. This would have been from 1951-58 when the vaudevillian concept of variety shows took to the dance floors of night clubs across the United States. Television was becoming an entertainment force with which to contend, but still Americans enjoyed nights out on the town filled with revelry and entertainment.
During those years my parents worked most weekends in this club circuit performing their juggling act. As a child I remember hearing the names of certain other performers popping up in my parents' conversations, and on occasion some of these acts would even stop at our house to visit.
There were quite a number of nationally known performers living in and around Cleveland at the time. Over time acts would cross paths and form friendships. One of my favorite acts was Paul Kohler. He had established himself as the national xylophone champion in 1937 and had been a hot ticket on the show circuit for many years.
I was fortunate enough to see Kohler's act on a few occasions. Being a child at the time, I particularly liked his Christmas show where he would dress up in a bear costume and play his novelty xylophone numbers. He'd be billed as "The Kohler Bear" and why wouldn't a kid like that? For me though, his best musical novelty was when he'd play a flashy xylophone (or marimba) with dazzling lights using lighted percussion mallets. It was pure eye candy combined with musical virtuosity.
After we moved to San Diego California in 1959 the night club and show circuit basically dried up for my parents During those few years my father began encouraging my younger sister to enter talent contests in the region. With a unique act that combined acrobatic dancing with juggling and magic tricks, my sister started winning most every contest she entered. Eventually her act made it to the top state competition in Sacramento.
There's not much I remember about that contest that probably was in 1962. My sister didn't win, but she came out as a finalist. What I do remember is a teenage drummer who wowed the crowd with his drumming. Beyond that--and what really captured my appreciation--this drummer had his kit and sticks painted with colorful fluorescent paints which, when the stage lights were doused and the stage was illuminated by black light, created a psychedelic display that drove the audience wild.
As I figured was his due, that young drummer captured the top place in that talent show. The name of that drummer was Dennison Jackson and he was the inspiration for my most recent Battle of the Bands...
Battle of the Bands Results
I figured this would be just a silly slow summer Battle, but actually it was one of the closest races I've seen from beginning to end. Going in I had no idea who would win this pairing and judging from the responses I'd say this was as much a vote on instrument preference as it was on artists talents (which both artists have an abundance of in my opinion).
Close race that this was I ended up with the deciding vote. It was a tough one for me, but based on childhood sentiments and a musical preference for xylophone I gave my vote to Paul Kohler...
Final Vote Tally
Paul Kohler 9
Dennison Jackson 8
Next Battle of the Bands on Sunday September 1st
Yeah, it's almost fall. I remember having this lament not so seemingly long ago, but it was really a year ago. No point in saying much more than that.
