Tribute to Al Dean

By Allen Pollard
Al Dean, “Mr. Cotton Eyed Joe,” passed away on Oct. 3, in San Antonio at the age of 85. He died from complications of cancer, and his last public appearance was in June.

Al’s music career began in 1952 playing local dances and parties in his hometown of Freer, Texas. In 1967, in Nashville, he recorded the old folk dance fiddle tune Cotton Eyed Joe, an old folk dance fiddle tune, made famous in the 1940s and ’50s by Adolph Hofner in the San Antonio area. The side-by-side lines of dancers kicked their legs/boots emulating being in the barnyard getting rid of cow poop then stomping their boots in step to an abbreviated polka-type beat. The dancers also shouted out various chants and they became known as “Kickers.”

Al’s version of the song became a huge Texas and regional hit and many radio stations began playing it before network news breaks. Cotton Eyed Joe was even played during breaks of the San Antonio Spurs basketball games. As well, for the last 33 years, the Cotton Eyed Joe has been played during the 7th inning stretch of the Texas Rangers home baseball games.

In 1987 the American Music Association awarded Al Dean the “Most Programmed Record” in the history of the Jukebox industry. In 1999, the Country Music Association of Texas inducted Al Dean into the Texas Hall of Fame.

Al also had a unique great voice for country music, and wrote and recorded many successful
albums and popular singles, such as Casting My Lasso, Rough-Neck-Paycheck, Let’s Go Dancing, Verge of The Blues, and many others. Al developed a special straight and perfect pitch singing style with variations of beats for different styles of the Texas two-step. He also was a tremendous yodeler and could sing and yodel with the best of ’em.

Al Dean & The Allstars band became very popular performing in well over 100 different locations and dance halls in Texas and the Southwest. The first Al Dean & The Allstars dance that I attended as a teenager was a St. Patrick’s celebration in Old San Patricio, Texas, in March
of 1965. As a young musician, I was totally impressed with the outstanding quality of the singing and style of playing by the talented musicians, plus they played most of the latest songs heard on country music radio stations.

They also impressed me with their custom-made western suits and 5-inch brim white cowboy hats and boots. I had never seen nor heard of a country band that had a girl drummer. She could even play a solo on a fast song called Draggin’ the Bow. That drummer turned out to be Maxine Dean, Al’s wife and the mother of sons, Galen and Gary Dean.

Al had worked as an oilfield supply salesman since high school to support his family and his music/singing sideline. In 1974, he made the decision to go full time in the music business due to the popularity of his music and successful record sales.

Over the years, more than 12 musicians played steel guitar in the Al Dean band. I became an “Allstar” in 1974 playing the steel guitar full time. This was a personal challenge and privilege as
my predecessor was the late Ray Smith, a very talented musician and long-time Allstar. My career with the band ended in 1978 when accepting a shift-work job at a local refinery. I continued to play special events with the band up until a few years ago when I began my DJ services (Dancehall Sounds).

As an Allstar, I was very fortunate to play dances at Schroeder Hall in Goliad, The Winchester Club in Houston, Alice VFW, the Stampede Club in Big Spring, internationally famous Farmer’s Daughter Club in San Antonio, and many other dance halls throughout the state of Texas. I also had the opportunity to travel to Nashville when Al and Galen recorded in studio B at RCA Records, where I met Buddy Emmons, Buddy Spicher, Dave Kirby, Jimmy Capps, and many other famous Nashville musicians. I also had the honor of playing steel guitar on the entire album, On The Bandstand recorded in Houston, for the Glad Music record company.

Al was easy to please so long as the musicians played the songs his way and kept the music straight without any fancy ad libs. He was very honest and always paid the musicians what was agreed. Al traveled in two different full-size buses over the years and the last bus was the most comfortable as it was fully air conditioned. We learned over the years which were the better cafes/restaurants to stop at, and which ones had the best hot coffee as we consumed many a
thermos full.

The faithful friends and following of dancing fans was Al’s most cherished reward for performing his style of music. My memories of Al will always be those of good times, lots of miles traveled, and a lifetime of music and friendship with “Mr. Cotton Eyed Joe.”

Allen will DJ a special tribute dance to Al Dean on Sat., Nov. 12 at the Gallagher Ranch Barn Dance, 1020 FM 1540 in Sandia, from 6-11 pm. Bring your own lawn chairs, snacks, and drinks. Call 361-813-8817 for information.

Bobby Lee's Nightriders

By Gary E. McKee

Almost 40 years ago, a group of four young men from Port Lavaca decided to try their hand at making traditional country music with a little rock and roll flavoring. Bobby Lee, Bill Elliott, Donnie Hons, and Joel Nava formed a band known as The Bobby Lee Nightriders. Their ages were rather interesting. Bobby was almost 40 and Bill was 33, while Donnie and Joel were still in high school. This age split proved fruitful as the older two were very familiar with the 1950s country music and rockabilly sound, and the two “kids” brought a fresh sound to the band and broadened the fan base.

Always a Singer

Bobby can remember always singing. As a child in the pre-seatbelt days, he remembers standing on the car seat going down the road singing along with his parents. Bobby’s other music lesson involved him and his uncle riding horses through the pastures singing duets.

In 1955, Bobby enrolled at the University of Texas. The first day he walked into his dorm room he spied a guitar leaning against the wall. It was love at first sight, “I’m gonna learn to play that guitar,” he thought. His new roommate, the owner of the guitar, taught him some chords and Bobby spent all his spare time humming On Top of Old Smokey and playing chords.

After becoming confident in the basics of guitar, his roommate, who was from Bermuda, suggested that they form a calypso group. This was during the calypso craze that was sweeping the country; Harry Belafonte’s Banana Boat Song (Day O!) was high on the charts. With the name Calypso Islanders they sharpened their chops by playing continuously on campus and nearby clubs. In 1957, an opportunity to audition to appear on Arthur Godfrey’s national talent show arose and they won. The Calypso Islanders loaded themselves into a car and took off for New York City. It was a great road trip, to say the least. They came in second place losing to a sound effects guy.

Reality Strikes

Bobby put his dreams of being a musician aside as he pursued the almighty dollar by working at a refinery in Port Lavaca. At a wedding reception a friend asked him to get up on stage and sing with the band. He did a Hank Williams song, and then was urged to do several more. The next day at work he mentioned it to his co-worker Bill Elliott. Bill said he played electric guitar and suggested that maybe they should start a band. However, they didn’t know any other working musicians. Then Bill remembered this guy, Donnie Hons, who played bass in his church band. Donnie agreed and then enlisted his buddy, Joel Nava who could play drums.

After a few months of rehearsals and getting to know each other musically, they scored a gig at Bea’s Keg Room in Port Lavaca that held approximately 30 people. Setting up in a corner, Bobby Lee’s Nightriders began playing Thursday nights, passing the tip jar around. 
Performing to a small audience helped them work out the kinks in the band that would only happen when playing live. Their sound kept getting better and the audience was bringing friends to hear them. Soon they had built a following as an up-and-coming band. Offers to play at public events such as street dances, weddings, fundraisers, grand opening, etc., were soon pouring in and the band played frequently. Donnie and Joel were still in high school, which Donnie said made it difficult to stay awake during first period English class on Mondays. He must have learned something in that English class as he can write a heck of a song. 

Nightriders Arrive

Somewhere along the way local dancehall promoters took notice of the popularity of the Nightriders, particularly when they hired a piano player, which greatly enhanced and broadened their set list. By 1978, with Bobby Lee on acoustic rhythm guitar and lead vocals, Bill on lead electric guitar, Donnie on bass, Joel on drums, and Bobby Smith on piano; the Bobby Lee Nightriders took the reins as the country band to hire in the Gulf Coast area.

An ad in the Victoria Advocate in 1978, announced a dance sponsored by the Young Homemakers of Calhoun County with the Bobby Lee Night Riders at the KC Hall in Port Lavaca, $2.50 admission. The Music Box at Six Mile (between Victoria and Port Lavaca) was a honky tonk where the Nightriders played regularly along with area polka bands. The Country Inn and the Sons of Herman Hall in Da Costa were frequent venues for the band. The Silver Wings Ballroom in El Campo hosted 1500 folks scooting their boots to the band, which played both country and rock and roll. In the first two years, the band managed to squeeze out two records between playing every weekend.

1980s Shuffle

By 1980, family obligations forced Bill Elliott to retire from the constant touring. Bobby Jay Vickery, an ace guitarist, stepped in with some electronics that mimicked a pedal steel guitar which sweetened the band’s sound and they continued on wracking up large attendance figures. Soon they were able to afford (Mickey) Gilley’s Recording Studio to produce their third album.

In the beginning of 1982, Donnie and Joel had decided to splinter off and form their own band, The Nightriders.

Bobby Lee changed his band’s name to Country Touch and kept on playing for 18 more years before retiring to focus on his day job.

Donnie has continued playing with numerous bands in the area, recording and pitching his songs to record companies. He recently recorded the Church Picnic Polka that has received favorable airplay in Central Texas.

Joel Nava came from behind the drums to be signed as a vocalist for the Arista Texas Country/Latin label. Releasing several critically acclaimed albums, he now focuses on producing and writing while periodically performing with his band, The Border.

In 2013, all members of the band reunited at the Da Costa hall for a reunion show. The crowd was so enthusiastic and the “ retired” musicians had such a great time that they have had quarterly reunion performances since then.

This Is Where the Cowboy Rides Away

Bobby Lee said that his final gig will be at Da Costa Hall, December 31, 2015, however, the remaining original members have vowed to continue performing in 2016, and carry on the legacy that Bobby created four decades ago. The original journey is coming to an end. But, no one has to ask, is another journey beginning? As for this writer, I sincerely hope so.
I would like to thank Donnie Hons for his assistance in this article.