Jerry Jeff Walker, el Macombo

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Although a great fan since the mid '70's I had the pleasure of seeing Jerry Jeff Walker only a couple of times. Both times were in Toronto, both on account of the women in my life who knew I was a fan. Once at the Horshoe Tavern during the "Man Must Carry On" era (mid '70's, a really crazy exciting time) and a second time at the el Macombo in '82 with my wife Kate who has been the excitement in my life for more than 40 years!

I've recently scanned the slides from the el Macombo show and have shared them with fans on Facebook.

As I didn't recognize the bandmates he has with him in this photo album (definitely not the Gonzos) I asked for help on the The Jerry Jeff Walker Gonzos Facebook group. 

Jeff Martin replied "That's the Bandito Band with Bobby Rambo - Guitar, Ron Cobb - Bass, Steady Freddy Krc - Drums, Reese Wynans - Keys, and Leo Leblanc - Pedal Steel". He added that "If there were horns it was Tomas Ramirez." I noted there are two guitars in the photos and wondered who the second person was. Mike Dunham says, "Other guitar player/steel is Michael Hardwick". Many thanks to both for filling that information in for me.

Freddie Krc (who really ought to know -- he was there in the band) also replied: "I was playing the Horseshoe Tavern show. That was the Bandito Band. Dave Perkins, Bobby Rambo, Reese Wynans, Leo LeBlanc, Tomas Ramirez, Ron Cobb and me. I wasn’t there in 1982. Michael Clark was the drummer from 1980-1982. I was back in the band 1983-85."

I recall that Kate and I were only recently married (August 2, 1980) and at the time we lived in our first home (Bruce & Teresa) in London. We would have rented a car to drive to Toronto for the show as we didn't own a car. It was worth the drive. 

We recall that there was some problem at the border with the band.  Bow Raps confirms our recollections and added: "I was there at the good ol’ el Macombo. There was to be 2 shows that afternoon, evening, if I recall. But he was there early enough but the band was held up at the border. Man, what a scene outside when some fella was tossed out on his ass. Just because of of the holdup. Fantastic show. We went up stairs outside his dressing room and he autographed my hat. The highlight of the evening was when he played Backsliders Wine." For me the highlight of the evening was "Layin' My Life on the Line" -- a song about touring, singing and making a commitment to your audience. It's a tune with some melancholy to it, it pulls at your heart strings.

P.s. After posting the above it came to me that we had also seen Jerry Jeff at the Ray Wylie Hubbard 70th birthday bash at the Paramount Theatre in Austin November 12, 2016 where he came on stage to sing a few tunes with his old friend who authored "Red Neck Mothers" made famous on the "Viva Terlingua!" album recorded live in the Luckenbach dance hall back in the days of the Gonzo band.

For more information on Jerry Jeff Walker see this excellent article, Mr Record Man: Jerry Jeff Walker, from Lone Star Music Magazine and explore the Jerry Jeff Walker Topic on Youtube. Within this blog there are several entries on topic as well. He was, and remains, a big influence on our lives.

This note composed '22/11/23, slides scanned at that time.