[Ric12String]

In the late 1950's, the sounds of American rock ‘n’ roll and rhythm and blues artists began to arrive on the shores of the British Isles. The music of artists like Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Eddie Cochran, Buddy Holly and Muddy Waters began to inspire young British musicians to attempt to recreate those sounds they heard. Finding it difficult for them to authentically replicate this new musical art form, which was quintessentially the reflections of American youth growing up in the 1950's and influenced by the rebellious images of James Dean on the big screen, and Elvis on the TV, the British took the best of the elements from those American influences and applied their own musical leanings, such as skiffle music, pop, and music hall stylings and created a new sound that was truly the best of both worlds.

Although the Tornados

TheTornados (link)

(with their instrumental hit, Telstar) and Dusty Springfield

Dusty Springfield (link)

(with her hit, I Only Want To Be With You) are often considered to have been the earliest of the British acts to have had hits in the United States, the floodgates opened once the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Showon February 9, 1964. With that historic event in American pop culture, the British Invasion was well underway.

The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show

With the arrival of Beatlemania in the States, American radio stations, and the kids buying the records, couldn’t get enough of the British acts with their fresh guitar-driven sounds and rich vocal harmonies. Other Liverpool bands, such as The Searchers, and Gerry and the Pacemakers, launched the new sound that was quickly dubbed “Merseybeat.”

But, bands from other parts of England, as well, also scored big hits across the Atlantic on the American charts, such as The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Yardbirds, The Kinks, The Dave Clark Five, Herman’s Hermits, Freddie and the Dreamers, The Animals, and The Hollies. Ireland sent us Them and launched the lengthy career of frontman Van Morrison. The Moody Blues, Spencer Davis Group, The Troggs, Donovan, Peter and Gordon, Chad and Jeremy, and Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders were other British Invasion bands that proved to be great successes on the American music scene.



England, with London as the epicenter, became the leader not only in music, but also in fashion, with the trendy boutiques of Carnaby Street dictating fashion styles in the States as well. It was the era of “Swinging London” and Jean Shrimpton and Twiggy became household names. Mini-skirts and the dangerously naughty micro-skirts were all the rage.

It seemed that, during the mid-Sixties, America was crazy over almost anything British.

[Ric12String]

And Gretsch guitars were on prominent display during the British Invasion. George Harrison, who initially sported a Duo Jet in the band’s Hamburg era, but was quickly attracted to the big 17-inch Country Gentleman played by his guitar hero, Chet Atkins, and later a Tennessean, was easily the most visible Gretsch player of the British Invasion.





But, many other Gretsches were seen in these British bands. Remember the arpeggiated Am chord which opened the Animals’ song House of the Rising Sun? That was Hilton Valentine playing his Gretsch Tennessean.

Hilton Valentine playing his Gretsch Tennessean

.



Or do you remember Gerry Marsden fronting his band, The Pacemakers, on the song Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying?

Gerry Marsden and the Pacemakers

.

[Ric12String]

And Brian Jones, of the Rolling Stones, famously played a 1963 Gretsch Double Anniversary.

Brian Jones and His Double Anniversary Guitar

Or Derek Leckenby, lead guitarist of Herman’s Hermits, played a Tennessean on many of the band’s earliest hits, like I’m Into Something Good.

Derek Leckenby Playing His Tennessean

[Ric12String]

And Brian O’Hara, of the Fourmost, played a Country Gentleman which was rumored to have been given to him by George Harrison after George purchased his own Tennessean.

The Fourmost

And, a bit later, around 1970, Pete Townshend was given a 6120 by Joe Walsh, which he used extensively on the albums Who’s Next and Quadrophenia. But, John Entwistle beat Pete to Gretsch by playing a Gretsch bass, a 6070 model.



The sounds of the British Invasion, and the British players who used Gretsch guitars, clearly made a huge impact on the United States and the music that we began to produce here. Before long, inspired by their counterparts in the British Invasion, Gretsch guitars were showing up in numerous American bands, from The Byrds to The Monkees to The Buffalo Springfield, and countless others.

[Ric12String]

Join us, on September 14-16, 2012, at the Northern California Gretsch Roundup as we celebrate the music of the British Invasion.

And, to help us celebrate this amazing era of music, we will be joined by one of the British Invasion’s biggest stars, and a man who has become a pop and rock industry legend, Peter Asher, one half of the million-selling British duo, Peter & Gordon.



Beginning in 1964, Peter and Gordon rode a wave of hit records, many of them penned by his sister’s (Jane Asher) boyfriend, Paul McCartney. They had four gold records (A World Without Love, Nobody I Know, True Love Ways, and Lady Godiva), had other hits (e.g., I Go To Pieces, I Don’t Want To See You Again, and Woman), and made frequent television appearances, both in the UK and in America.

When Peter and Gordon’s recording career began to lose steam, Peter Asher, who had maintained a close relationship with Paul McCartney, became the A&R man for the newly-formed Apple Records where he signed James Taylor to his first recording contract. Asher later left England and Apple Records to move to California where he managed Taylor’s career and produced a string of hit records, not only for Taylor, but for other artists like Linda Ronstadt, J.D. Souther, Andrew Gold, and Bonnie Raitt. He continued to be active during the 1980's and 1990's producing records for Cher, Neil Diamond, Ringo Starr, Randy Newman, Kenny Loggins, and 10,000 Maniacs. In 2010, he produced a live DVD/CD package for Carole King and James Taylor, Live At The Troubadour, and was the musical director for the 2012 Academy Awards Show.



At the Roundup, Peter Asher will be available for a bit of informal conversation, autographs, and then he will share with us some tales from his career with Gordon Waller, his close connection to Paul McCartney, and his management of James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt, among others. And, then, accompanied by his musical director, Jeff Ross, Peter Asher will play some of his hit songs.

The evening promises to be a very memorable one for all in attendance.

So, plan now to share along with other GDP’ers in this extraordinary weekend of music and friendship in a setting of great natural beauty at the Clair Tappaan Lodge as the Gretsch Summer Camp celebrates the British Invasion!


Date: September 14-16, 2012

Place: Clair Tappaan Lodge
19940 Donner Pass Road
Norden, CA 95724

[Ric12String]

This event is not specific to either the Gretsch-Talk or the Gretsch Pages sites. In fact, it has a very equal mixture of G-T'ers and GDP'ers. So, please do not allow any parochial feelings about the other site to affect your decision about whether to attend this event. Just plan to come and make friendships with other people who love Gretsch guitars and their history.

This is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime event that will go down in the lore of Gretsch guitars and the post-FMIC era of the company. It also presents a great opportunity for each of us to meet a man who was right in the middle of the British Invasion! Paul McCartney lived in Peter Asher's house and dated his sister, Jane Asher! How much closer to the middle of the British Invasion can one be? LOL

I would encourage each and every one of you who live in California, Oregon, or Nevada, or further locales if you don't mind a little bit of travel (and for an event like this, you shouldn't) to plan to attend this event. You will have the time of your life making new friends, playing and listening to great music, meeting Joe Carducci and many other Gretsch personalities, and perhaps walk away with some very special Gretsch schwag.

Please feel free to send me an email to make inquiries about any aspect of this event. Please email me at [my screen name][at][yahoo.com] (be sure to remove the brackets).

I hope to see many of you there.

[Ric12String]

The Clair Tappaan is a historic lodge now owned and operated by The Sierra Club. Lodging is hostel-style accommodations with rustic style beds with mattresses. Guests supply their own sleeping bag or sheets/blankets. There typically are extra blankets, however, in the event that the temperatures dip during the night. Room sizes range from small single rooms to dormitory-type rooms with multiple bunk beds. Hot showers are available in centralized restrooms.
As with any hostel-type of accommodations, guests are asked to perform a light, quick, and easy chore (such as sweeping the dining room, or carrying serving dishes to the kitchen, etc.) after breakfast and after supper.

The Lodge also has a library, which will be available for acoustic guitar jamming or, if no musicians are present there, for reading or quiet time. There is also a lovely area in front of the lodge (actually on the backside of the Lodge) where lunches can be eaten or just chat with other Roundup guests. Day hikes can be easily made from the Lodge as well. Take a break from the music and get in touch with Mother Nature in the forest surrounding the Lodge.

Temperatures in September are still quite warm during the day, but the temperatures will drop down into the 40’s or high 30’s at night. Bring short sleeve shirts for the days and sweaters or windbreakers for evening.

Three meals are included in the price of a night’s lodging. Breakfasts are usually hearty with eggs, potatoes, pancakes, fruit, etc. Lunches are brown bag lunches with the Lodge providing the ingredients, such as cold cuts, cheese, PB&J, fruit, chips, cookies, and drink. Evening meals are a variety of hot entrees depending upon what the Lodge has planned, from chicken to pasta to Mexican fare. The food is hearty, good, and plentiful. Vegetarians will also find plenty to eat.

Lodging at the Clair Tappaan is available at $55 per night (plus taxes). Again, this includes three meals a day. Reservations should be made in advance by calling the Clair Tappaan Lodge by calling (800) 679-6775.

Also, visit the Lodge’s website at http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/lodges/ctl/ where you can book your stay at the Lodge online.

[rcboals]

Just made my reservations for me and my buddy the almost famous finger style player Kenny Croes. I have heard such great fun things about this roundup in the past. What a deal $60.00 a night with three meals included. I can't afford to stay home at that price. Anybody that doesn't know there is no place more beautiful and spectacular than the High Sierras in September. Getting to meet Peter Asher in person is going to be awesome what a talented man, all the great groups he has produced wow! Of course I'm secretly hoping he brings his younger sister Jane Asher with him.

[nicko10_5]

Thanks for that great roundup of British acts. Hope the meet goes well.

[MelWaldorf]

HUZZAH!!!

Sounds like a great weekend - marked on my calendar already.

[PacRat]

I want ta go . . . I wonder what air fare would be from Phoenix

[Uncle Daddy]

Lock up your daughters, and hide the beer!

[rcboals]

Originally Posted by PacRat

I want ta go . . . I wonder what air fare would be from Phoenix

You would fly into Reno should be pretty cheap. Rent a car and drive to up to Truckee

[bobkat]

Originally Posted by PacRat

I want ta go . . . I wonder what air fare would be from Phoenix

Mee toooooooo!!!

[Ric12String]

Roundtrip flights on Southwest from Phoenix to Reno are reasonable, particularly if purchased online with their "web price." It can be done for less than $350 if purchased right now. (I am not sure whether prices go up or down as you get closer to a date of departure.) And, if several people are arriving at the same time, you can chip in on the cost of a rental car and drive up to the Lodge in about 45 minutes. rental car rates are typically less on weekends than during the week when business travelers want to rent the cars.

[Ric12String]

So, we have created a Playlist of suggested songs for the Roundup. Check out the Playlist by clicking here.

I am hoping that there are some G-T members who are giving serious consideration to attending this event. It promises to be a great time. All levels of playing experience are most definitely welcome, and you won't find a nicer bunch of people than at a Roundup! So, come on out and join us.

[Uncle Daddy]

Does anyone still make slightly grainy guitars in black and white? Perhaps a special edition that's slightly out of focus?

[Uncle Daddy]

Here's a list of items to make the British more welcome.

Tetley tea
Tetley beer (not much difference!)
Newcastle Brown ale (locally called "Bottle of dog")
Marmite
HP sauce
The Sun newspaper
Branston baked beans
Steak and kidney pie
Kippers
Cricket

and finally...free Gretsch guitars!

[TV the Wired Turtle]

What about some Spotted Dick?

[Tony65x55]

Originally Posted by TV the Wired Turtle

What about some Spotted Dick?

Coming or going?