Leonard passed away suddenly, Saturday June 26, 2010 at St. Joseph ’s Hospital in Elliot Lake Ontario
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Miscellaneous Memory Dumps
Here's one from Davey Dobson...
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Sent: Friday, January 14, 2011 11:52 AM
Subject: A newly discovered memory
My memory was jarred into remembering something last night that I had
forgotten, here's how it goes:
Nick St. Nicholas, Bass player of Steppenwolf band and others was born in
Germany but raised in Canada.
Many years ago in the middle 60's (Between marriages) I used to go out with
a girl called Maren Kassbaum. Maren was a German beauty, blue eyes, blonde
hair and a shape even Hitler would kill for. She was a pianist and played
for the National Ballet school and the Royal Conservatory of music.
The part that I had forgotten was that one of her brothers was
Klaus Karl Kassbaum who later became Nick St Nicholas of Steppenwolf..
Added details:
I met her parents often and her father, who was a German U boat commander
during WW2, was the nicest chap that one would ever meet.
Another memory recovered from the scrap heap
Dave D.
-----------------------
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2011 11:52 AM
Subject: A newly discovered memory
My memory was jarred into remembering something last night that I had
forgotten, here's how it goes:
Nick St. Nicholas, Bass player of Steppenwolf band and others was born in
Germany but raised in Canada.
Many years ago in the middle 60's (Between marriages) I used to go out with
a girl called Maren Kassbaum. Maren was a German beauty, blue eyes, blonde
hair and a shape even Hitler would kill for. She was a pianist and played
for the National Ballet school and the Royal Conservatory of music.
The part that I had forgotten was that one of her brothers was
Klaus Karl Kassbaum who later became Nick St Nicholas of Steppenwolf..
Added details:
I met her parents often and her father, who was a German U boat commander
during WW2, was the nicest chap that one would ever meet.
Another memory recovered from the scrap heap
Dave D.
Old Willowdale
To: Patrick Foldes
Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2011 3:01 PM
Subject: Old Willowdale
Howdy Patrick
Sun is finally out here today - been a while. The City of Moose Jaw has a special snowplow policy for this time of year. Wait until spring.
Thought you might enjoy this site - can't remember if I sent it to you. I'll have him post a few more of us at the old house in Willowdale.
- Richard Dowson
http://rstrathdee.com/willow/photosHepburn.htm
Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2011 3:01 PM
Subject: Old Willowdale
Howdy Patrick
Sun is finally out here today - been a while. The City of Moose Jaw has a special snowplow policy for this time of year. Wait until spring.
Thought you might enjoy this site - can't remember if I sent it to you. I'll have him post a few more of us at the old house in Willowdale.
- Richard Dowson
http://rstrathdee.com/willow/photosHepburn.htm
Black & White Photos
Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2011 12:20 PM
Subject: Black & White Photos
Hi All,
I am sending along some black & white photos taken 1954-1956 time span. The pic of "Barbara" I am not sure of her last name. Do any of you know her?
Cheers
Bev (Fielding) Spencer
[To see all of Bev's pics, go to this page: http://rstrathdee.com/willow/photosHepburn2.htm - Russ]
Subject: Black & White Photos
Hi All,
I am sending along some black & white photos taken 1954-1956 time span. The pic of "Barbara" I am not sure of her last name. Do any of you know her?
Cheers
Bev (Fielding) Spencer
[To see all of Bev's pics, go to this page: http://rstrathdee.com/willow/photosHepburn2.htm - Russ]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sent: Monday, January 24, 2011 3:52 PM
Subject: Circle M Photo
This photo was taken at the circle M Ranch riding stable in the summer of 1957, I have several others taken that day by Rick Carson?
The people on the rail are Left to right Richard Dowson. Bono, Art Johnson John Dowson and his first wife Carol-Anne. Yes I remember that day well. On one of the other pictures taken on the same day has Rick in the picture.
If I recall it was early in August. I was in my fourth year apprenticeship for steamfitter and was playing in the clubs at night, with Vic Costantino, Ray Kushner and subbing on bass with Terry Roberts.
But I didn't quit my day job and finished my trade and wrote the exam in August 1958, and then I quit and traveled with Tommy Danton.
In fact at the time this photo was taken I was playing at The Horseshoe Tavern on Queen street with Terry Roberts when Richard visited us playing a saturday afternoon gig, and the guy next Richard at the bar drank a full bottle of beer at one go and fell right off the barstool.
-. John Dowson
End of The Edison Hotel on Toronto's Yonge Street
Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2011 11:38 AM
Subject: SAD NEWS AGAIN
SAD NEWS THE EDISON HOTEL ON YONGE STREET AT THE CORNER OF GOULD STREET BURNED DOWN ON JANUARY 3 2011.
KENNY HEPBURN PLAYED THERE WITH ALEX LAZAROFF AND THE REBELS, I JOINED THE BAND IN 1960 AND WORKED AT THE CLUB FOR SEVEN MONTHS.
When Tommy Danton and the Echoes played the Zanzibar and Gordon Lightfoot was at the Silver Rail between sets we'd rush down to the "Eddy" for a glass of ten cent beer. Mr. Rotenberg the owner, would stand on the sidewalk and call in customers. The beer parlour in the back was a regular watering hole for band members from The Zanzibar, the Silver Rail, The Bermuda club, The Coq, D'or and the Brown Derby.for a 10cent glass of beer. We'd mix with the rummy's and other floatsome, between sets, barf on the floor and then try and walk out for our next set. Many times we'd just leave Gordy Glass there on the floor and perform the next set without him, "he went home ill" we'd say. When the Willowdale gang came to see Tommy Danton they'd go down to The Eddy for a cheap buzz and Kenny Hepburn would sit there and drink a coke because he was only 18 years old.
During my tenure at "The Eddy" many of the legends played there and our band The Rebels played the dance music between their sets. There was Bill Haley and the Comets, Woody Herman and the Third Herd, Dwayne Eddy, Dizzy Gillespie, The Diamonds, Tommy Ambrose was The Rebels, featured vocalist and "Katy Murdoch" the last of the Red Hot Mama's was also our female vocalist. Plenty of the greats played there.
- John Dowson
Subject: SAD NEWS AGAIN
SAD NEWS THE EDISON HOTEL ON YONGE STREET AT THE CORNER OF GOULD STREET BURNED DOWN ON JANUARY 3 2011.
KENNY HEPBURN PLAYED THERE WITH ALEX LAZAROFF AND THE REBELS, I JOINED THE BAND IN 1960 AND WORKED AT THE CLUB FOR SEVEN MONTHS.
When Tommy Danton and the Echoes played the Zanzibar and Gordon Lightfoot was at the Silver Rail between sets we'd rush down to the "Eddy" for a glass of ten cent beer. Mr. Rotenberg the owner, would stand on the sidewalk and call in customers. The beer parlour in the back was a regular watering hole for band members from The Zanzibar, the Silver Rail, The Bermuda club, The Coq, D'or and the Brown Derby.for a 10cent glass of beer. We'd mix with the rummy's and other floatsome, between sets, barf on the floor and then try and walk out for our next set. Many times we'd just leave Gordy Glass there on the floor and perform the next set without him, "he went home ill" we'd say. When the Willowdale gang came to see Tommy Danton they'd go down to The Eddy for a cheap buzz and Kenny Hepburn would sit there and drink a coke because he was only 18 years old.
During my tenure at "The Eddy" many of the legends played there and our band The Rebels played the dance music between their sets. There was Bill Haley and the Comets, Woody Herman and the Third Herd, Dwayne Eddy, Dizzy Gillespie, The Diamonds, Tommy Ambrose was The Rebels, featured vocalist and "Katy Murdoch" the last of the Red Hot Mama's was also our female vocalist. Plenty of the greats played there.
- John Dowson
Al Hepburn
Sent: Wednesday, December 22, 2010 7:57 PM
Subject: Al Hepburn
Been sacanning some old slides - the guy second from the right is Al Hepbrun - at the 7L7 Rodeo we put together in May 1959. He rode - and was bucked off.
Enjoy
Richard Dowson
Subject: Al Hepburn
Been sacanning some old slides - the guy second from the right is Al Hepbrun - at the 7L7 Rodeo we put together in May 1959. He rode - and was bucked off.
Enjoy
Richard Dowson
Richard James
Sent: Tuesday, December 21, 2010 6:14 PM
Subject: Re: Richard James
Howdy Patrick
Sad news indeed. He was such a vibrant guy in his day. His hair containted more oil than Johnny Ryan's 52 Ford Hardtop.
I remember our great treks to the Glendale looking for girls. James always believed that if we met girls during a horror film they would look to us for protection. It is something I never believed and I was right.
The guy with glasses was probably Danny Sage - but may have been Q Ball (Paul Andrews). He disliked both and in particular, Danny Sage, Ralph's younger brother.
I'd love to get Nancy's phone number if you have it. I'd give her a call.
It would be good if you could stop in and visit with him.
Keep me posted
- Richard
Russ - Richard James lived on the second block - north side of Byng Avenue - next door to Rond Drury and just down from Bob Falconer - he worked his entire life with McLean's publishing (McLeand's Mag) - except for a season at the Womans' Golf Course in Thronhill
- Patrick Folkes----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, December 19, 2010 4:05 PMSubject: Richard James
Hi Richard: Nancy, Richard's wife, phoned this afternoon. Says Richard is in Bradford Valley Nursing Home, Bradford, as of a couple weeks ago. He has gone downhill very rapidly with Alzheimer's. She said some days he is completely prostrate,nothing works, the next he is still able to walk. She also said he talks a lot about Folkes and Dowson, so I guess we are still in his long term memory. This is what prompted her to phone me. Sounds like she is having a terrible time, sold their house and took a three-bedroom apartment in Bradford with the view that Richard would be able to stay with her. But his decline has been so precipitous that that didn't happen. He still recognizes her and the one daughter who lives not far away. I got the impression that he may not be around that much longer. Nancy mentioned that Richard keeps talking about somebody who wore glasses and that he hates his guts. She asked me who I thought this might be, but I said I couldn't recall anybody of the old Willowdale crowd who fit this description. Maybe it was an old teacher or somebody at work. Anyway, this is such gloomy Christmas time news. Alzherimer's is such awful shit. I' m thinking that if the weather is agreeable I may go down and see Richard. Haven't seen him in the flesh since 1964 or '65. What a bummer it all is!!
Grandpa - what did you do in the war
Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2010 1:16 PM
Subject: Grandpa - what did you do in the war
Hi Russ
Had a thought last week - considered sharing it with you because of your Willowdale Blog.
My 17 year old grandson asked me about my early life and what I'd change - if anything. Interesting questions from an interesting person. He attends Athold Murray Notre Dame College out here in Saskatchewan - ever though he lives in Edmonton.
I fumbled a little but did tell him about one thing I would change.
When we were kids in old Willowdale there was the joke - "Grandpa, what did you do in the war?' - for those he didn't go.
Any way - I do wander - what would be interesting is a question of the old Willowdale crowd directed to young people - "How would you change things if you could - given your years of experience?" or something like that.
It certainly wouldn't be that I'd send more time f#$%@* texting or on the Internet!
So - if you get a chance - I encourage you to ask your old crowd what they might do to change the world - or to change their life if they could go back.
Might just be fun.
All the best
Richard
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