191028 October 28, 2019

    (Editor's Note: In his answers to the weekly "Name That Tune" contest, Jeffrey has often mentioned that one song or another was on his band's play list. I was unaware of Jeffrey's background with bands so I asked him if he would share his story with us. This is what he sent.)

Music

Jeffrey Fussell

LHS '66 

    As far as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated with music.  I started taking accordion lessons as a pre-teen. On the advice of my instructor, I graduated from a starter model to a pro 120 bass beauty. It was an exhausting exercise just to lug it to the loft of the downtown Detroit music store for my lessons. I did not become the next Myron Floren but learned the basics of reading music.  

    Joining Epworth Methodist Church, I met drummers Jerry Brewer and Buford Cagle. I was so impressed with the drums that I began lessons with Ray Hanson at Robbins Music Store.  Ray was a drummer of stunning skill, a patient teacher, and the coolest guy I ever met. I stuck with it, practiced hard and gained a modest skill. I made the Lee Varsity Band for the concert season of my Junior year and marched in my Senior year. What I really wanted was to play the drums in a band. 

I was a fair drummer, but there were many local drummers that were way more than fair: Jerry Brewer, George Vail, Doug Cheffer, and Jimmy Corder, to name a few.  I occasionally played with some good musicians but lacked the chops to get the invitation as a regular.  However, I made many lasting acquaintances – many of which are active today.  Drum sets are particularly annoying as a solo instrument, so I began to explore the guitar with a collection of chord books and a Yamaha classical guitar.

    I came back to Huntsville after my employer went out of business in 1984. I looked up my old friend Doug Cheffer (Lee 1967).  He was playing with a group of guys and he invited me to sit in. The guitar player left the band and I offered to fill in.  I went to AB Stephens and bought an electric guitar and amplifier. Soon my brother Steve Fussell joined us and RadioX had its beginning as the Friday Band.

    Well, I saw something on Facebook which got me to wondering if we should once again come together as a group of the first graduates of Lee High School and help support another worthy cause. The Lee High Theater group is looking for sponsors to help cover the cost of getting them to Scotland for a special event being held there next August. We could either do it as a group, or if people would rather, individually.

    If we want to try to do it as a group, we really could use someone to step up and be the contact person who could coordinate the donations and insure we let them know the donation is from our group of alumni. Before you donate individually, could we decide if a group effort is more in line?  Is anyone willing to coordinate this effort? Please send in some inputs. Maybe you can talk it over at the next Lee Lunch Bunch and see what we might want to do.

LEE HIGH THEATER BOOSTER CLUB

Help Us Get to Scotland!

    We at Lee High School have been invited to perform at the world’s largest performing arts festival, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland. The American High School Theatre Festival selected our program, out of hundreds who applied, to take our talented students to perform on an international stage!

    In August of 2020 our students will embark on the performance opportunity of a lifetime. Accomplishing an international production will not only give our students valuable skills as performers, technicians, and marketers, but will help develop a deeper understanding of the arts and the vital role the arts play in education and in our world.

    We ask that you consider sponsoring our program, by donating to provide our students with this once in a lifetime educational opportunity. With this sponsorship you will help to finance our production at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, but more importantly – this donation is an investment into the future leaders of our community. Our efforts provide an exceptional arts education to our students and help to ensure the next generation of citizens, professionals, and performers. It all starts here!

    Expenses for this trip are significant and our students come from diverse economic backgrounds. We are actively seeking corporate sponsors at a variety of levels and individual donations of any size. Your gift can have a lasting impact on the amazing actors and technical crew participating in this amazing experience.

    Ready to donate today? We're on GoFundMe!

FRANK BROWN SONGWRITER'S FESTIVAL

Jim McBride

LHS '65

        BELOW IS MY SCHEDULE FOR THE FRANK BROWN SONGWRITER'S FESTIVAL. THE FESTIVAL STARTS NOV. 7, HOWEVER I DON'T PLAY UNTIL THE 14TH, 15TH, AND I6TH. WE HAD SEVERAL CLASSMATES THERE LAST YEAR.  JEANNNE AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE ANY AND ALL OF OUR FAMI-LEE THERE.

    THURSDAY NOV. 14 SUNSET CORK ROOM 7:00 P.M. 

NICE RESTAURANT IN GULF SHORES. NOT SURE IF YOU WILL NEED RESERVATIONS.

KERRY KURT PHILLIPS, JIM RUSHING JIM McBRIDE

    FRIDAY NOV. 15 MAIN ROOM FLORA-BAMA 7:00 P.M.

THIS IS THE MOST DESIRED STAGE IN THE FESTIVAL.THIS IS WHERE THE FESTIVAL STARTED 35 YEARS AGO. YOU MAY BE ABLE TO GET TICKETS IN ADVANCE, NOT SURE. COVER CHARGES IF ANY ARE VERY INEXPENSIVE.

KERRY KURT PHILLIPS, JIM RUSHING, JIM (MOOSE) BROWN, JIM McBRIDE

    SATURDAY NOV. 16 THE POINT RESTAURANT  3:00 P.M. 

ON INNERARITY POINT ROAD.  FAMILY STYLE RESTAURANT FOR MANY YEARS. THE FIRST TWO SHOWS WILL BE STANDING ROOM ONLY. NOT SURE ABOUT THE SATURDAY SHOW.

    THE WRITERS I WILL BE ON STAGE WITH HAVE WRITTEN HIT SONGS FOR GARTH BROOKS, ALAN JACKSON, TIM McGRAW, GEORGE JONES, WAYLON JENNINGS AND MANY MORE FAMOUS ARTISTS. 

Last Week's Name That Tune

    Max Kull, LHS '67, gave us the songs for this week's contest. I think his recording of #4 was a little distorted because I also knew the other four but missed #4 on his list.

    Jeffrey Fussell, LHS '66  An excellent list of songs this week. Two of these are still on our current playlist.

Crying – Roy Orbison

Tears of a Clown – Smokey Robinson

As Tears Go By – Rolling Stones

I’ll Cry Instead – Beatles

Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying – Gerry and the Pacemakers"

    Tom Davidson, LHS '69 Had the same answers as Jeffrey. Way to go Tom!

    Linda Collinsworth Provost, LHS  '66, I used to like Max Kull. I’ve now decided that he’s a sadistic show off! LOL. Where in the world did he get these songs?  I MIGHT recognize one of them....possibly “Ferry Cross the Mersey” but otherwise I’m totally lost! 

    Well, here's the #4 Mystery Song.

This Week's Name That Tune

Lee Lunch Bunch

Patsy Hughes Oldroyd 

LHS ‘65

LEE LUNCH BUNCH ‘64, ‘65, ‘66

 Save The Date!

Thursday, October 31, 2019  -  11:00 a.m.

Logan’s Restaurant

Balmoral Drive    Huntsville, AL

    Hi Lee Lunch Bunch friends. Please remember to save the date for our fall gathering. The last Thursday of October falls on October 31 this year. Yes, that is also Halloween, and if you want to come to lunch dressed in a costume, just knock yourself out and do so!

    We are so lucky to be going back to Logan’s, our old favorite place, and we will have plenty of room in the fireplace room to roam around and visit. As many of you remember, we were a bit confined at our last lunch back in April when we went to Gibson’s. Good food, but not enough space. So, we will be happy to hear from you as soon as you can let us know that you will be here.

    I will have to miss this time, for the first time ever, due to a trip that cannot be changed, but my very capable co-host, Judy Fedrowisch Kincaid, will be very happy to take your RSVP. Please put the date on your calendar and do let her know as soon as possible if you plan to come.

    Thanks and I hope you all have a really great time.

    If you are planning to attend the next Lee Lunch Bunch please text, call, or email me by Tuesday, Oct. 29th. We need to give the restaurant an approximate group number for seating and staff coverage. 

    I will respond back to each of you with an 'okey doke' or 👍 so you will know that I received your message and have got you on the list. Just need name, class year, and if you are bringing a guest....

    Hope to see a 'bunch' of you there!

Judy 'Fedrowisch' Kincaid '66

256-656-3667

njkincaid@hotmail.com

(Patsy's pitch-hitter) 

RSVP Judy Fedrowisch Kincaid ’66        (256) 656-3667 or on Facebook