MULESKINNER
Clarence & Peter Rowan
MULESKINNER |
 MULESKINNER |
Peter Rowan writes in the liner notes to the "Muleskinner" studio album re-release on "Ridge Runner Records":
Some few months after Richard Greene and I had left "Seatrain", Clarence White had left "The Byrds", Bill Keith had left "Kweskin's Jug Band", David Grisman had left "Earth Opera" and just produced the first Rowan Brother's album, Richard invited us all to play on KCET television in Los Angeles with "Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys" as a sort of "Father of Bluegrass and his Sons" show. Well, Bill's bus broke down in Stockton, California, and we had to do the show on our own.
This show was released on video by Sierra Records.
Four songs were completely edited out of the final television broadcast tape in order to make just a 30 minute program. The complete show (including the four deleted songs) was released on CD again by the great Sierra label.
 Video |
MULESKINNER - Live VHS and CD |  CD |
|---|---|---|
|
- MULESKINNER: Live (Sierra SHV 1001 (VHS) - Sierra SXCD 6000 (CD)) With Clarence White, Peter Rowan, David Grisman, Bill Keith, Richard Greene & Stuart Schulman. Guest Maria Muldaur.
Tracks:
Bonus tracks on live CD:
|
Shorty after that show MULESKINNER had a one-record deal with Warner Brothers. A month later the group (minus Bill Keith) did a radio show and appeared a full weekend at the "Ash Grove" as the "Bluegrass Drop Outs"
 The last BYRDS show |
A list of Byrds shows 1973 can be found on Raoul's great Byrds Flyght web-page.
Within a couple of weeks of these final shows the rumours of original band reforming were confirmed with an album being recorded at Wally Heider's Studio.
From late 1972 to early 1973 Gene Parsons recorded his first solo album "Kindling" for the "Warner Brothers" label. Clarence plays acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin & vocals (on "Drunkard's Dream" with Ralph Stanley!). Other musicians on that album were Roger Bush, Gib Guilbeau, Andy Newmark, Bill Payne, Vassar Clements & Nick DeCaro.
From March 27, to April 14, 1973 MULESKINNER recorded the studio album for Warner Brothers. They called John Khan in from Marin County to play bass and they finished the entire recording in two weeks. The album was a brilliant mixture of old and new, and Clarence played both, electric and acoustic. The original "Warner Brothers" album was too long in coming out and too quickly dropped from the catalogue. "Ridge Runner Records" from Fort Worth, Texas re-released the album 1978 and finally again the great Sierra Records released the album on CD.
Peter Rowan writes in the liner notes to the "Muleskinner" studio album re-release on "Ridge Runner Records":
"We finished the entire recording in two weeks. We played as we felt it, coming out of a bluegrass-rock tratition in those early days of the 1970's. Clarence's gentle soul was our unifying force, holding our music together; we had all the time in the world and no idea how quickly things would change.
 WB & Sierra |
MULESKINNER - studio album |  Ridge Runner Records |
|---|---|---|
|
- MULESKINNER: A Potpourri Of Bluegrass Jam (WB 2787 - RRR 0016 - Sierra 6009) Produced by Richard Greene & Joe Boyd. With Clarence White, Peter Rowan, David Grisman, Bill Keith, Richard Greene John Kahn & John Guerin.
Tracks: Side B: Runways Of The Moon / Roanoke / Rain And Snow / Soldier's Joy / Blue Mule
|
 Clarence & Byron Berline |
 BOB BAXTER GUITAR WORKSHOP |
John Henry / Willow Garden / Hard Hearted / If You Ever Gonna Love Me
Wicked Path Of Sin / If I Be Lifted Up ...
Country Gazette went into the studio to record their second album "Don't give up your day job" produced again by Jim Dickson, which was released 1973 after they'd toured Europe and U.K. in September, October and November 1973. Gazette line-up with Byron Berline, Roger Bush, Kenny Wertz and Alan Munde with a lot of guests: Clarence White (on 5 songs), Herb Pedersen, Leland Sklar and ex-Flying Burrito Brother Al Perkins.
On April 7, 1973, Clarence was invited to the "Bob Baxter Guitar Workshop" TV show. Show host Bob Baxter talks to Clarence about his picking style and Clarence demonstrates some riffs and songs. Roland White joins for a few songs on mandolin near the end and finally Byron Berline on fiddle and Alan Munde on banjo.
Again John Delgatto of Sierra Records released that TV show 1998 on f together with the only existing live performance by Gram Parsons. Title of this video is "Gram Parsons + Clarence White: Together Again For The Last Time"
| CLARENCE WHITE - Video |  Video |
|---|---|
|
- CLARENCE WHITE: Together Again For The Last Time (Sierra 1002) With Clarence White and Bob Baxter Guests: Roland White, Byron Berline & Alan Munde.
Songs:
Second part of the video is Gram Parsons & The Fallen Angels
|
2005 Sierra Records released the "Bob Baxter Guitar Workshop" on DVD with the addition of the 1961 appearance on the Andy Griffith TV show and their 1965 guest spot in a 1965 Hollywood film titled The Farmer's Other Daughter and a photo album of stills featuring Clarence and the Colonels (1950s to 1973).
 |
CLARENCE WHITE DVD |
|---|---|
|
- CLARENCE WHITE: Various (Sierra DVD) With Clarence White, Bob Baxter, Roland White, Byron Berline, Alan Munde, Billy Ray Lathum Eric White, LeRoy Mack, Roger Bush, Donavan Cotton, Ernest Ashwroth, Richard Greene & Andy Griffith.
|
 THE WHITE BROTHERS |
 Alan Munde, Roland White |
The Dillards had been scheduled to do a tour of England, Holland and Sweden during May 1973. Then, just two and a half weeks beforehand, they cancelled. Eddie Tickner, who was Clarence's manager, suggested that THE NEW KENTUCKY COLONELS take the tour instead. The band was Clarence, Roland & Eric White including Herb Pedersen on banjo.
One of their gigs was in "Het Turfschip" in Breda. This show took place on May 11, 1973 and again there was a live broadcast on the VPRO- Friday-evening radioshow.
Herb Pedersen had to leave in Holland right before the group headed for Sweden. Country Gazette was not working at that time and Tickner was able to send its supberb banjo player Alan Munde to join the White brothers. Roland knew Alan from Nashville playing with Jimmy Martin.
2013 Roland White released a CD with a show from Holland with Herb Pedersen on banjo!
 |
THE NEW KENTUCKY COLONELS - CD |
|---|---|
|
- THE NEW KENTUCKY COLONELS: Live in Holland (Roland White RW0001) With Clarence White, Roland White, Eric White & Herb Pedersen.
Tracks:
|
 THE NEW KENTUCKY COLONELS |
And a performance from Sweden was released by "Rounder Records" as "The White Brothers (New Kentucky Colonels): Live In Sweden, 1973".
 |
THE WHITE BROTHERS (New Kentucky Colonels) - album |
|---|---|
|
- THE WHITE BROTHERS: Live in Sweden, 1973 (Rounder Records 0073) with Clarence, Roland & Eric White, Alan Munde
Tracks:
Side B: I'm blue and lonesome/Alabama Jubilee/You won't be statisfied that way/Soldier's joy/Black mountain rag |
Note: Both "The White Brothers: Live In Sweden" album (recorded May 1973) and the Country Gazette swedish TV show (recorded Jan. 1975) were recorded at the same venue, the "Mosebacke Etablissement" in Stockholm. Here are some pics from the "Mosebacke".
 Clarence White |
 Eric & Clarence White |
 Clarence |
 THE NEW KENTUCKY COLONELS |
John Kaparakis remembers in Etsuo Eito's "Clarence White Chronicles":
 THE WHITE BROTHERS |
Clarence was very much impressed and touched by the crowd response and the reception given to him and the New Kentucky Colonels. It was a great first-ever bluegrass festival appearance for him -- the audience just LOVED him and their music. Many musicians before and since Clarence White have been searching for that "crossover" sound, a new type of music which will appeal equally to audiences in the bluegrass, folk and country markets. No one has yet found it. Clarence White would have been the first, had he lived."
In June THE KENTUCKY COLONELS (Clarence, Roland and Eric) appeared together with Del McCoury & The Dixie Pals at the "Red Fox Inn" in Washington, D.C.
 Clarence White |
There were plans of an all star world tour 1973. "Warner Bros. Records" set up a mini-tour which was billed as a "country-rock festival" package. The all-day, all-night affair consisted of Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris, Gene Parsons, Clarence White, The Kentucky Colonels (Clarence, Roland & Eric White), Country Gazette and also Sneaky Pete Kleinow, Chris Ethridge and maybe a few others - all of whom had signed record contracts with "Warner Bros.". There were two test shows on the East Coast with that bunch of people the first weekend of June, which got fantastic critics. One in Annapolis, Maryland and the other in Philadelphia.
 Clarence White |
Note: The last public performance given by Gram Parsons was with Clarence White on guitar and Gene Parsons on drums among others at the Tower Theatre, Philadelphia in June 1973. Gram and Clarence had planned to perform and record in the future together with Gene playing drums and singing vocals.
Chris Darrow recalls doing a Clarence White gig at the "Ash Grove", a month or so before Clarence died. Just one night, apparently. Chris was substituting on fiddle (for Gib Guilbeau), he recalls. He remembers there being a bass and drummer. Chris recalls it as a White "solo" thing (albeit, with a band), not a New Kentucky Colonels thing.
Clarence got a recording contract with "Warner Bros." to do three solo albums, in which he had a free hand to express the greatness he had inside him for music, musicians and arrangements. Plans were made for the first release to include both bluegrass and rock material.
When Clarence White started to record his first solo album Byron Berline, Roger Bush, Herb Pedersen, Roland White helped him recording a few songs. Additional musicians were Leland Sklar, Ed Green and Ry Cooder. Produced were those recordings by Jim Dickson. They recorded "Never ending love", "Last thing on my mind", "Alabama jubilee" and "Why you been gone so long". Those songs were recorded June 28-29 1973. The songs were released by Sierra Records on the album "Silver Meteor".
Note: At least three more songs were recorded for Clarence's solo album "Lost highway", "Waterbed" and "Lucky me". "Lost highway" was released on the Sierra release "Flatpick - Special limited 2CD set" 2006, the other two songs are still unreleased!
2010 Sierra Records released the "Silver Meteor" album on CD with additional 14 bonus tracks feat. Clarence White, Country Gazette, Linda Ronstadt, Herb Pedersen, Sneaky Pete Kleinow etc ...
 original LP |
CLARENCE WHITE - recordings for solo album |  CD plus bons tracks |
|---|---|---|
|
- SILVER METEOR: The Everly Bros., Clarence White (Sierra 8706) Clarence White recordings for solo album: Produced by Jim Dickson. With Clarence White, Herb Pedersen, Byron Berline, Lee Sklar, Roger Bush, Ed Green, Roland White & Ry Cooder. Never Ending Love / Last Thing On My Mind / Alabama Jubilee / Why You Been Gone So Long
The Everly Bros. (feat. Clarence White & Gene Parsons) - single from 1969:
Other songs NOT with Clarence: Bonus tracks on CD:
Michael Dinner: The Great Pretender / Paul Siebel with Clarence White: Pinto Pony
|
 Bernie Leadon & Clarence White |
Clarence White died on Sunday, July 15 1973 at the age of twenty-nine.
Wayne Moore remembers: "The day Clarence was killed he had been playing at a club called "BJ's" in Palmdale, California. His brother Eric was playing with his country band there and Gib and Clarence happened to stop in and got up to jam. Roland and Eric were with the group Kentucky Colonels but I don't know if that was the group that was playing that night or not. I asked Gib about it but he couldn't remember who the group was either, he didn't know the other guys that were playing."
The funeral was held five days later, with Gram Parsons and Bernie Leadon leading the mourners in singing "Farther Along".
Clarence's dead came at the beginning of a new career which promised to encompass his unique perceptions of both contemporary and traditional music forms.
CLARENCE WHITE
Note: Picture above photo art by Pam Rice ... compliments of Tony Rice.
Clarence White's dad and Tony Rice's dad were friends. Tony played many times around the house with Clarence. Tony had a reel to reel tape recorder and they used to turn it on just to play it back and see how they sounded.
Also Clarence sat in with J.D. Crowe and the New South at the Lexington Holiday Inn. Tony let Clarence use his guitar to set in.
Marty Stuart's musical tribute to the Byrds' guitarist Clarence White, titled "Hummingbyrd" won Stuart his fifth Grammy on Sunday (Feb. 13 2011) in Los Angeles. Stuart's tribute resulted in his third career win in the best country instrumental performance category. The song comes from his latest album, Ghost Train (The Studio B Sessions). "It really means the world to me to be recognized by my peers for this piece." said Stuart. "My main electric guitar belonged to Clarence White, the great guitarist for the Byrds. After Clarence's death, I bought this guitar from his wife. I've played it on a lot of hits and on a lot of records, but I've never felt like -- to the Clarence White fans who watch me or who actually watch the guitar -- I've laid down a profound instrumental that pays homage to Clarence. I wrote this song and gave it a title that pays tribute to Clarence. I consider it my B-bender recital piece."
On June 7, 2012 Eric White (brother of Clarence & Roland White) passed away. He was born July 9, 1942.
2013 Byron Berline & Jane Frost wrote a fantastic book about Byron Berline's career! A MUST HAVE for every Country Gazette, Flying Burrito Brothers, Dillards, Clarence White, Gram Parsons .... fan!
Forty years of journal entries document the L.A. recording industry from the Rolling Stones to the Byrds, and Alvin and the Chipmunks. They include hilarious stories of being one of the most sought after session players on the west coast, by three time National Fiddle Champion, Byron Berline, a Flying Burrito Brother who founded Country Gazette, The L.A. Fiddle Band and Sundance. His avoidance and survival of the drug-filled music industry, is amazing and heart lifting. His stories of the road are hilarious and the detailed journal entries are a researchers dream. From earthquakes to scoring motion pictures and having some of Charles Manson's Family in his home, this autobiography is the account of an Oklahoma farm boy's life and career -- from entering the University of Oklahoma on a football scholarship and graduating with a javelin in one hand and a fiddle in the other. It continues through acting in movies and his time playing/recording with Bill Monroe, Mickey Mouse, Linda Ronstadt, Emmy Lou Harris, Vince Gill, Mark O'Connor, Doug Dillard, Rod Stewart, Ann Murray, Earl Scruggs, and the Eagles, to his spiraling success as a musician, husband and father. Byron Berline, A Fiddler's Diary, is a peek inside the music industry as only an "A" list insider could explicitly describe. For baby-boomers, it is a dance down memory lane, with all the music and recording artists we love. His story is abundantly entertaining with enough documentation to be considered a reference work. Byron continues to tour, run his Doublestop Fiddle Shop and produces about twenty shows a year at his Music Hall in Guthrie, Oklahoma, as well as being the founder of the annual Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival and Guthrie's annual Western Swing Festival. Byron continues to perform, record and write, with the same intensity and enthusiasm he has always maintained. He remains... "one of the most inventive fiddle players." In February, 2013, Grammy nominated, Byron Berline, received his highest recognition to date, being inducted into the National Fiddler's Hall of Fame. In genuine humble response, he invites everyone to, "Stop by the fiddle shop and say, HI" |
 A Fiddler's Diary |