BERKSHIRES MUSIC BEAT USA ! 30

episode thirty . . .

For sheer exuberance, it’s hard to match Andy Kelly! With a guitar strapped over his shoulder, his fingers flying, and his feet dancing, and his voice carrying the band with him—and his eclectic tastes—which make him a one-man museum of musical lore—

Well, why don’t we find out for ourselves what the magic is all about?

ANDY KELLY HIMSELF

So, I did! I went around on a beautiful Sunday evening, in June, up to the Lodge on the Lake, on the 22nd—and recorded Andy Kelly live with one of his bands—just one of them at a time!—the Berkshire Dance-Kings!

So, it’s with great pleasure that I introduce The Berkshire Dance-Kings!

as our Featured Artist of the Week, here on

BERKSHIRES MUSIC BEAT USA !

Located on your online dial at genechristy.com.

So, let’s start the party with the Dance-King’s opening number from the night of the 22nd__

ROUTE 66

Route 66—what a way to go!

First stop!—the “Berkshire” Bar & Grille! where we can find posted on the back wall__the lineup!

ANDY KELLY__ LEAD VOC & ELEC LEAD GUITAR
DAVE HEALEY ON BASS & VOCALS
JOHN HADDAD ON DRUMS
BEN KOHN ON KEYBDS YAMAHA ELEC PIANO PLUS VOCALS
WOODY STROBECK ON TROMBONE

And the party rolled on with a hit song by none other than Sinatra himself—as interpreted here by the smooth-as-glass vocal of piano man Ben Kohn!

FLY ME TO THE MOON

Do I remember this song? Do I ever! We had it on our set-list back in ’61 when I was playing and singing it myself with a little pick-up band—I mean, they literally picked me up and I rode to the gig with my big black 120-bass acoustic 1956 Excelsior, which provided the keyboards for the evening, for company—in the back end of a pick-up truck! I was fifteen (15) years old! That night we traveled down Rte 28 to the Stardust Lounge in Reading, Massachusetts—and the memories we made!—there, and at The Riverview, out on the Lowell Boulevard, on the shores of the Merrimack River!—wow!

In those days, we seldom rocked out—the other guys in the quartet were a lot older than me—we weren’t “allowed” to play Rock’n’Roll!–but Andy Kelly—who’s a little younger than I am—

ANDY IMPROVISING

in addition to being a jazz aficionado—–is a veteran rocker! Listen to this!

ROCKIN’-OUT MEDLEY! JAILHOUSE ROCK / SPLISH-SPLASH!

I love the beat-the-band vocal by Andy singing out front and charging into that party-up! anthem. Andy’s fearless!—he’s takin’ on Elvis and Bobby Darin both in the same medley!

ANDY’S NEWEST FAN IS FROM DOWN SOUTH!

Just for a change of pace—did I once say Andy is nothing if not eclectic?—as well as electric! Let’s check it out when Andy decides to lead John Haddad down Caribbean-way into reggae waters—

I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW

Andy did ask me one favor—he said don’t forget to mention my all-time favorite Irish screen legend—

Ah, indeed! Maureen O’Hara!

Now Berkshire County USA – – is nothing if it ain’t country!—as you can hear for yourself from the lips of a patron on the evening of the 22nd—and Andy Kelly was ready, willing and able to fulfill his wish!

HEY GOOD-LOOKIN’

GET OUTTA YOUR HOUSE! SHUT OFF THAT TV! GO SEE –AND HEAR – SOME OF THE AWESOME LIVE MUSIC BEING PERFORMED IN YOUR TOWN OR CITY OR COUNTY OR NEIGHBORHOOD—find your own Berkshire Dance-Kings!

We haven’t heard the last of Andy Kelly—not by a long-shot—stay tuned right here to

BERKSHIRES MUSIC BEAT USA !

And in a couple or three weeks time, Andy will be back with his other band—or one of them!—the Gypsy Jazz Ambassadors!

AND U DON’T WANNA MISS THAT!

Next up, next week, BOBBY SWEET & ANNIE GUTHRIE at the Spectrum in Lee—recorded live! right here at

genechristy.com

It’s the place to be! It’s TITANIC!

Meanwhile, visit the boys from the JP Murphy band at their own website at
http://www.jpmurphymusic.com/

Thanks again once more for being with us here at

https://genechristy.com/

. . . and remember, upcoming features will include such outstanding, notable, listenable performers as Tom Gardner, Dave Healey, and The Malibu Bros, this time with lovely lady lead vocalist Jeanne Laurin! Bill McElaney, currently back all the way from County Donegal and the streets of Dublin to the good ole USA after touring his home-base of Ireland—and of course—the summer season at Tanglewood, which this year, we will cover here at

BERKSHIRES MUSIC BEAT USA !

@ genechristy.com

visit our friends:

Bobby Sweet at http://bobbysweet.com/

Rakish Paddy at http://www.rakishpaddyband.com/

Eddie Dillon at http://clancybrothersandtommymakem.com/ed_01.htm

EDDIE DILLON WILL BE COMING TO THE BERSKHIRES THIS FALL! THAT’S IN THE AUTUMN OF THE YEAR! ALL YOU DEVOTEES OF THE CELTIC SCENE OUT THERE – WHO KNOW EDDIE AS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL TOURING CAST OF THE CLANCYS -STAY TUNED FOR FURTHER DETAILS, TO BE ANNOUNCED AS SOON AS AVAILABLE, HERE ON

BERKSHIRES MUSIC BEAT USA !

And don’t forget

Jessica Roemischer at http://pianobeautiful.com/

And Robin O’Herin at http://www.robinoherin.com/

And Champagne Jam at champagnejam.org

You can also follow all the doings at Tara’s Tipperary Tavern at

http://www.tarasfamilypub.com/