Page 162 - South Mississippi Living - May, 2017

LIVING HISTORY local tunes
Rock
andRoll’s IMPACT ON THE COAST
story and photos courtesy of Walter J. Blessey, IV
During the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s there were numerous musicians who banded together to form several distinct bands that primarily played what became affectionately known as Rock and Roll. Most of the musicians of that era had other jobs and played music as a hobby and for extra money. Many of the players were sons of musicians who had played in Dixieland and Jazz bands. To give recognition to all who played Rock and Roll would fill up a volume. This story is meant to give the reader a look back at those years to get a glimpse of a few of the musicians with whom I played music.
My first memories of Rock and Roll were the records of Bill Haley and Buddy Holley. Rock n Roll was a catchall for combining the sounds and words of Dixieland, Jazz, Country and Western and Rhythm and Blues. The Gulf Coast was blessed to have an array of talented musicians who played the various styles of music.
As a young boy, my parents had me take piano lessons from one of the nuns who taught at Sacred Heart Academy. My father, Walter III, had played trumpet and trombone in a Swing band in the 1930s. His younger brother, Earl, was also a talented trumpet player.
In the sixth grade, four of my young friends
— one a first cousin — got together to form a group called the Hi-Five. Larry Mattina played drums; Richard Creel played trombone; Earl (Bun) Blessey, my first cousin, played guitar; Kenny Harder, Bun’s first cousin, played alto sax; and I played the piano. We played at a few late Saturday afternoon dances for kids at the old Meaut Community Center on Lee Street close to the football stadium. As I recall the admission
in 1951 was ten cents. We hoped that at least 50 kids would show up so each of us could make $1.00. The next summer we raised the entrance fee to 25 cents and we played at other venues
for several summers. We practiced in the garage behind Larry’s home on Holley Street. It was a convenient location because I lived across the street and the other three lived just blocks away.
In 1954, I was asked by Johnny Elmer to join the band he had just organized in Gulfport. Johnny needed a piano player and a bass player. I convinced my dear friend, Salvadore “Penu” Taranto, a bass player and a Rhythm and Blues and Country and Western singer, to go with me to meet Johnny and to meet his new group. We became instant friends with the group Johnny had put together. Johnny played drums and was the lead singer; Ray Dubuisson played trumpet; Kenny Rich played tenor sax; Byron Broussard
JOHNNY ELMER’S ROCKETS
Left to Right - Richard Fortner - Guitar, Penu Taranto - Bass, Byron Broussard - Alto Sax, Johnny Elmer - Drums, Walter Blessey - Piano,
Kenny Rich - Tenor Sax and Ray Dubisson - Trumpet.
162 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • May 2017
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