American guitarist
Musical artist
Alvin Wayne Casey
(October 26, 1936 ? September 17, 2006) was an American guitarist. He was mainly known for his work as a
session musician
, but also released his own records and scored three
Billboard
Hot 100
hits in the United States. His contribution to the
rockabilly
genre has been recognized by the
Rockabilly Hall of Fame
.
[1]
Early life
[
edit
]
Casey was born in
Long Beach, California
and moved to
Phoenix, Arizona
when he was two years old. His father played the guitar and tried to teach six-year-old Casey to play, but when he realized his son's fingers were too small, he gave him a ukulele instead. At the age of eight, Casey switched to the steel guitar and began taking formal music lessons. By the time he was 14, he was playing the steel guitar for various clubs in Phoenix, and in his later teens he performed five to six nights a week. When Casey was 20 he became serious about playing a traditional guitar.
[2]
[3]
Career
[
edit
]
"The Fool"
[
edit
]
In his teens, Casey joined a local group, the Sunset Riders, and worked with vocalist
Jody Reynolds
. Around 1956, Casey crossed paths with
Lee Hazlewood
, a
Coolidge, Arizona
radio DJ who was looking for a singer to record his song, "
The Fool
". Casey suggested his schoolmate and friend
Sanford Clark
for the lead vocals. Casey played guitar for the recording and suggested a guitar riff which he had taken from Howlin' Wolf's song "Smokestack Lightnin". "The Fool" became a national hit and reached number No. 9 on the
Billboard
Top 10 pop charts. It also put the Phoenix music scene in the national spotlight. Due to the song's success, Casey went on a week long rockabilly tour with
Carl Perkins
,
Gene Vincent
,
Eddie Cochran
,
Johnny Burnette
, and
Sonny James
, traveling the country in Sanford Clark's Ford Mercury.
[4]
Duane Eddy and the Rebels
[
edit
]
In 1955, Casey met
Duane Eddy
and joined his band, Duane Eddy and the Rebels. For five years, Casey worked on and off with Eddy's band and performed for the
Alan Freed
and
Dick Clark
shows. Casey was also part of the backup for other Eddy recordings, playing bass, piano, and rhythm guitar. Casey wrote one of Eddy's earliest hits, "
Ramrod
" (1958), and when Eddy performed the song on
American Bandstand
he was flooded with requests for the single. "Ramrod" peaked at No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 17 on the Billboard R&B charts in 1958. Casey also co-wrote another Eddy hit, "Forty Miles of Bad Road", which peaked at No. 9 on Billboard's Hot 100 on July 27, 1959.
[5]
In 1958 he also played guitar on
Jody Reynolds
's hit song "Endless Sleep".
Al Casey Combo
[
edit
]
In the early 1960s, Casey began working with his own ensemble, the Al Casey Combo. With this group he scored three instrumental hits: "Cookin" (U.S. No. 92, 1962),
[6]
"Jivin' Around" (peaked at No. 71 on the
Billboard
Hot 100 and No. 22 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop charts in 1962),
[7]
and "Surfin' Hootenanny" (U.S. #48, 1963).
[8]
The
Surfin' Hootenanny
album featured Casey mimicking the styles of
Dick Dale
,
the Ventures
, and Duane Eddy. Drummer
Hal Blaine
and organist
Leon Russell
played on many of these recordings; the backup vocal group, named the K-C-Ettes, were in fact
the Blossoms
. Casey recorded many of his albums with Stacy Records, which folded in 1964.
[4]
Studio session musician
[
edit
]
In 1958,
The Arizona Republic
noted that Casey performed on 95% of recording sessions held in Phoenix that year.
[9]
In 1964, he gave up touring and began to play a variety of music styles for studio sessions. In 1965, Casey moved to Los Angeles and became part of the group of session musicians which became known as
the Wrecking Crew
. He worked with this group for 18 years playing a variety of music styles including jazz, country, rock, and pop.
[3]
As a member of the Wrecking Crew, he worked for artists such as
the Beach Boys
,
Phil Spector
,
Elvis Presley
,
Glen Campbell
,
the Association
,
the Monkees
,
Johnny Cash
,
Eddy Arnold
,
Simon & Garfunkel
,
the 5th Dimension
,
Harry Nilsson
,
the Partridge Family
,
Frank Sinatra
, and
Nancy Sinatra
. During this time, Casey also worked for three years as a member of the band on
The Dean Martin Show
.
[10]
Guitar teacher and music store owner
[
edit
]
In the late 1960s, Casey owned a music store in Hollywood called Al Casey's Music Room.
[3]
On August 3, 1967,
George Harrison
went with
Neil Aspinall
to Western recorders studio to gate crash a session with
Lou Adler
and
John Philips
.
Mike Deasy
, one of the session players, was playing a prototype
Bartell
Fretless Guitar that Harrison was very interested in. Aspinall immediately ordered one of the new 'Secret' guitars from Al Casey. It was Casey's wife Maxine who delivered the Bartell to Harrison on
Blue Jay Way
. A couple of weeks later Casey took out an advertisement in the
Los Angeles Free Press
saying, "George Harrison got the first guitar, maybe if you hurry you can get the second one!" The Bartell became one of the rarest Beatles guitars and was played by both
John Lennon
and George Harrison on
The Beatles
'
White Album
? it sold in 2020 for $300,000.
[
citation needed
]
In 1968, Casey loaned his red
Hagstrom Viking
II guitar to
Elvis Presley
for his
'68 Comeback Special
.
[
citation needed
]
In 1983, Casey moved back to Phoenix where he taught guitar lessons at
Ziggie's Music
and performed for occasional shows.
[
citation needed
]
Later recordings and legacy
[
edit
]
Casey continued recording into the 1990s, including an LP release,
Sidewinder
, for
Bear Family Records
. In 2001, he played guitar, dobro, mandolin, and banjo on Al Beasley's
A Rainbow in the Clouds
album, recorded live at the
Kerr Cultural Center
in
Scottsdale, Arizona
. He was a featured guitarist on the
Exotic Guitars
series of albums on the
Ranwood Records
label.
[4]
In 2005, Casey was inducted into the Arizona Music Hall of Fame.
[11]
[10]
He was also inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
[12]
Casey died on September 17, 2006, in Phoenix, Arizona.
[13]
In 2008, Casey, along with many of his fellow studio musicians, was featured in the documentary film
The Wrecking Crew
.
Independent Record label,
Fervor Records
, has placed many of his recordings in TV and film.
Discography
[
edit
]
|
|
|
|
|
|
Al Casey
|
Nola
b/w
Shine on Harvest Moon
|
|
Old Timer Records
|
S8151
|
1955
|
If I Told You (Wouldn't Know It All By Myself)
b/w
The Pink Panther
|
|
MCI
|
45-1004
|
1956
|
Guitar Man
b/w
Come What May
|
|
Dot Records
|
45-15563
|
1957
|
(Got The) Teen-Age Blues b/w The Adventures of Frank N. Stein
(Record Label Shown as Al Casey and the Bats)
|
|
Highland
|
M-2033
|
1958
|
Surfin' Hootenanny
|
LP, Album, Mono
|
Barry
|
B-319 (C)
|
1963
|
LP
|
Stacy Records
|
STM 100-1
|
LP, Mono
|
Stacy Records
|
STM 100-1
|
LP, Album
|
Troubadour
|
TRL E 1232
|
7"
|
Discostar
|
1066
|
7"
|
CNR
|
A 9028
|
7", Single
|
CBS
|
1237
|
LP, Album, RE, Unofficial, Pac, Mono
|
Stacy Records
|
STS-100
|
Unknown
|
CD, Album
|
Sundazed Music
|
SC 6114
|
1996
|
LP, Album, RE, Red, Gre
|
Sundazed Music
|
LP 5026
|
LP, Album, Gre, Mono
|
Sundazed Music
|
LP 5531
|
2016
|
Surfin' Hootenanny/Easy Pickin'/ Doin' It/ Monte Carlo
|
7", EP
|
Philips
|
434818 BE
|
1963
|
Sidewinder
|
CD, Album
|
Bear Family Records
|
BCD 15889 AH
|
1995
|
Juice/A Fool's Blues
|
7"
|
Dot Records
|
45 15524
|
1956
|
Willa Mae/She's Gotta Shake
|
7", Single
|
Liberty
|
F-55117
|
1957
|
Come What May
|
7"
|
Dot Records
|
45-15563
|
1957
|
The Stinger/Keep Talking
|
7", Single, Promo
|
United Artists Records
|
UA 158
|
1959
|
Guitars, Guitars, Guitars/The Hearse
|
7", Single
|
CBS
|
1304
|
Unknown
|
Jivin' Around
|
CD, Comp
|
Ace
|
CDCHD 612
|
1995
|
Surfin' Hootenanny
|
CD, Comp, RE
|
Stacy Records
|
STS 100
|
1995
|
A Man For All Sessions
|
CD, Comp
|
Bear Family Records
|
BCD16579 AH
|
2001
|
Artist
|
Album
|
Format
|
Record Label
|
CAT#
|
Release Date
|
Al Casey Combo
|
Jivin' Around/Doin' the Shotish
|
7', Single
|
Barry
|
B-3124X
|
1962
|
7"
|
Stacy Records
|
936
|
Cookin'/Hotfoot
|
7", Single
|
Stacy Records
|
925 X
|
1962
|
Cookin'
|
7", Single
|
Barry
|
B-3109X
|
1962
|
Laughin'/ Chicken Feathers
|
7", Single, Promo
|
Stacy Records
|
950
|
1962
|
Doin' It/ Monte Carlo
|
7", Single, Promo
|
Stacy Records
|
956
|
1963
|
Indian Love Call/Full House
|
7", Single
|
Stacy Records
|
961
|
1963
|
Al Casey with the K-C Ettes
|
Guitars, Guitars, Guitars/Surfin' Blues (Part 1)
|
7", Single, Promo
|
Stacy Records
|
964
|
1963
|
7", Single
|
Barry
|
B-3218X
|
1963
|
Surfin' Hootenanny/Easy Pickin'
|
7"
|
Discostar
|
1066
|
1963
|
7"
|
CNR
|
A 9028
|
1963
|
7", Single
|
CBS
|
1237
|
1963
|
7", Single, Red, Promo
|
Stacy Records
|
962
|
1963
|
7", Single
|
Barry
|
B-3196X
|
1963
|
7", Single
|
W&G
|
WG-S-1645
|
1963
|
7", Single
|
Pye International
|
7N.25215
|
1963
|
Al Casey With the K-C Elites/Al Casey Combo
|
What Are We Gonna Do in '64?/Cookin'
|
7", Single
|
Stacy Records
|
971
|
1964
|
Chet Baker (with Al Casey)
|
Blood, Chet, and Tears
|
|
Verve Records
|
|
1970
|
Duane Eddy and His Rockabillies Featuring Al Casey
|
The Ford Single
|
7"
|
Sleazy Records
|
SR52
|
2013
|
Don Cole, Al Casey
|
Snake-Eyed Mama/Kiss of Love
|
7", Single
|
RPM Records
|
45x502
|
Unknown
|
Lee Hazlewood & Al Casey Combo
|
Farmisht, Flatulence, Origami, ARF!! And Me
|
CD, Album
|
Smells Like Records
|
SLR 031
|
1999
|
Various
|
Almost Big Hits of 1962, Vol. 8 (Original Recordings)
|
|
Six Week Smile
|
|
2013
|
Various
|
Mid-Century Sounds: Deep Cuts From the Desert (Vol. 1)
|
CD, Vinyl, LP, Whi + LP, Comp, Bla
|
Fervor Records
|
FVRLP001
|
2017
|
Various
|
Amazing Hits of the Transistor Era Vol. 1
|
12xFile, MP3, Album. 256 kbps
|
Fervor Records
|
|
2007
|
Various
|
Amazing Hits of the Transistor Era Vol. 2
|
13xFile, MP3, Compilation, 256 kbps
|
Fervor Records
|
|
2007
|
[14]
[15]
Collaborations
[
edit
]
With
Glen Campbell
With
Jennifer Warnes
- I Can Remember Everything
(Parrot Records, 1967)
With
Nancy Sinatra
- Sugar
(Reprise Records, 1966)
- Nancy
(Reprise Records, 1969)
With
Michael Nesmith
With
Delaney & Bonnie
With
Bobby Darin
Tv and Film
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Dixon, John P. (March 1995).
"Al Casey Biography"
.
Rockabilly Hall of Fame
. Retrieved
29 March
2013
.
- ^
Samson, Larry (July 18, 1984). "Al Casey: When Rock Was Young".
Arizona Republic
. p. 188.
- ^
a
b
c
Garcia, Gilbert (1997-11-20).
"Mighty Casey"
.
Phoenix New Times
. Retrieved
2018-02-09
.
- ^
a
b
c
"Al Casey"
.
The Independent
. 2006-09-20.
Archived
from the original on 2014-01-21
. Retrieved
2018-02-13
.
- ^
"Duane Eddy Forty Miles Of Bad Road Chart History"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
2018-02-13
.
- ^
"Al Casey Combo Cookin' Chart History"
.
Billboard
. Archived from
the original
on May 11, 2018
. Retrieved
2018-02-13
.
- ^
"Al Casey Combo Jivin' Around Chart History"
.
Billboard
. Archived from
the original
on May 11, 2018
. Retrieved
2018-02-13
.
- ^
"Al Casey"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
2018-02-13
.
- ^
"This Casey Scored a Hit - On Guitar".
The Arizona Republic
. June 1, 1958. p. 36.
- ^
a
b
Bommersbach, Jana (April 11, 2005). "
'05 Honorees Made Mark in Music, Writing, TV, Film, Radio".
Arizona Republic
. p. 79.
- ^
"Al Casey - Arizona Music & Entertainment Hall Of Fame"
.
Arizona Music & Entertainment Hall Of Fame
. Retrieved
2018-02-13
.
- ^
"Rockabilly Hall of Fame: Al Casey"
.
www.rockabillyhall.com
. Archived from
the original
on 2019-01-28
. Retrieved
2018-02-13
.
- ^
"Al Casey's Obituary on The Arizona Republic"
.
The Arizona Republic
. Retrieved
2018-02-13
.
- ^
"Al Casey (2)"
.
Discogs
. Retrieved
2018-02-05
.
- ^
"Al Casey Combo"
.
Discogs
. Retrieved
2018-02-05
.
External links
[
edit
]
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International
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National
| |
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Artists
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