BITS AND PIECES - NEWS ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE ARTISTS By Michael McDowell

ZIG ZAG: In tandem with Jeff Katz, his legacy as a producer and visionary had few peers.  Editor / Publisher Michael McDowell salutes the great JERRY KASENETZ (pictured above at left with Katz), who succumbed to injuries sustained in a fall at age 82  (Click on above image to enlarge).

FLOWERS TO SUNSHINE:

REMEMBERING PRODUCER

JERRY KASENETZ

(1943 - 2025)

Sometimes a summit meeting leads to landmark accomplishments.

In 1968, producers and Brooklyn, New York natives Jerrold "Jerry" Kasenetz and Jeffry "Jeff" Katz brought a trio of prominent rock bands (the Music Explosion, the Ohio Express and the 1910 Fruitgum Company) along with five up and coming and/or studio bands (including the Teri Nelson Group and the 1989 Musical Marching Zoo) into the studio to form a supergroup. The resultant Kasenetz-Katz Singing Orchestral Circus album featured an ambitious mix of original material and covers of classics by the Righteous Brothers, the Beatles and Stevie Wonder.

But in the song that ended side one of the LP, the Kasenetz-Katz Singing Orchestral Circus rose to the occasion in unprecedented manner. With lead vocals by the Ohio Express' Joey Levine, that track, Down In Tennessee soared with relentless optimism at a time when such attributes were found in short supply. It ultimately earned accolades from Blitz Magazine - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People as one of the three best singles of that pivotal year.

Kasenetz and Katz went on to produce a number of first rate singles for the Ohio Express, the 1910 Fruitgum Company and Ram Jam. Their Super K Productions also boasted an impressive legacy of singles by Question Mark And The Mysterians, Professor Morrison's Lollipop, the Shadows Of Knight and Crazy Elephant. Ultimately, their 1977 Heart Get Reay For Love single for Epic was covered the following year by Heman's Hermits for the great Morris Levy's Roulette label; once again earning accolades from Blitz Magazine - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People as Best Single of the Decade of the 1970s.

Sadly, Jerry Kasenetz passed away in early December in a Tampa, Florida hospital from injuries sustained in a fall at home. He is survived by his brothers, sons and grandchildren. Kasenetz was 82.

TOO MUCH HEARTSICK FEELING:

REMEMBERING THE TURTLES'

MARK VOLMAN

(1947 - 2025)

"Twelve bucks for the Crossfires? I wouldn't give you twelve cents for it!"

The scene was the monthly record swap meet in Hollywood, California in late 1980. Blitz Magazine - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People was on hand as an exhibitor, with recent issues of the magazine and a rich variety of 45s and albums available for sale.

Business was brisk that morning. So much so that several of the more collectible items (of which the Crossfires' 1964 One Potato Two Potato / That'll Be The Day single on the Lucky Token label was one) that had been on display at Blitz Magazine's exhibit had sold in short order. 

As such, Editor / Publisher Michael McDowell reached underneath the exhibit table to retrieve a few items from stock to replace the ones that had been sold. Concurrently, two of the convention's attendees stopped at Blitz Magazine's exhibit to say hello and to peruse inventory. It was at that point that one of them made the above observation about the Crossfires single. Editor / Publisher McDowell looked up to find none other than Crossfires cofounders Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan greeting him with big grins. Each was also carrying large bags full of 45 and LP acquisitions from other vendors. 

Volman and Kaylan were both avid record collectors. Over the course of the next half hour, they were eager to share their wealth of knowledge about some of the morning's acquisitions, as well as a few of the highlights of their time as the Crossfires. 

By 1965, the Crossfires had changed their name to the Turtles. They made their debut for the White Whale label that summer with their sublime (and definitive) rendition of the Bob Dylan-penned It Ain't Me Babe, and as a result were catapaulted to center stage in short order. That October, as their follow up single, Let Me Be was garnering similar accolades, the Turtles released their debut White Whale album, It Ain't Me Babe. 

To say that the album exceeded expectations would be gross understatement. Augmented by an ambitious and spirited cover of Kenny Dino's Your Maw Said You Cried in deference to their roots, the It Ain't Me Babe album boasted an extraordinary level of creativity and assertiveness via such hard hitting material as Let The Cold Winds Blow, Wanderin' Kind, Last Laugh, A Walk In The Sun and a thought provoking interpretation of the Kingston Trio's It Was A Very Good Year (also recorded by Lonnie Donegan, Chad And Jeremy and the Modern Folk Quartet) that preceeded the high drama Frank Sinatra rendition by several weeks. The It Ain't Me Babe album remains one of the folk rock hybrid's definitive masterpieces.

For the Los Angeles native born Mark Randall Volman, that change in direction from the Crossfires to the Turtles necessitated a bit of revision of his personal musical mission statement. A mutli-instrumentalist whose gifts in that respect were well suited to the garage and surf rock leanings of the Crossfires, the transition to the Turtles found Volman increasingly directing his attention towards developing and perfecting the band's impeccable gifts for vocal harmony. 

To be certain, that vision remained a work in progress throughout the band's second album. You Baby / Let Me Be largely expanded upon the direction of the first album via such memorable tracks as Down In Suburbia and Pall Bearing Ball Bearing World. 

But as 1966 continued, the singles Outside Chance and Grim Reaper Of Love found Volman's gift for rich vocal harmony bearing fruit in abundance. The release of their signature single, the monster classic Happy Together in early 1967 forever cemented their legacy in that respect. 

The resultant Happy Together album and its ambitious mix of the introspective (Like The Seasons) and the visionary (Rugs Of Woods And Flowers) helped sustain the momentum as the band found itself in transition. During that season, bassist Chip Douglas was recruited by the Monkees to produce their landmark Headquarters album. Drummer Don Murray eventually found himself replacing Ron Wilson in that capacity in the Surfaris. And Leaves co-founder Jim Pons came on board to reinforce the band's unwavering commitment to musical diversity. 

Through it all, Volman's vocal gifts, quick wit and commanding stage presence helped catapault the Turtles to an even higher level with a rapid fire series of tracks that (in some cases) defy categorization. They include She's My Girl, Sound Asleep, Can't You Hear The Cows, Umbassa The Dragon and The Story Of Rock And Roll. The Turtles arguably reached their finest moment in that respect in late 1968 with the country rocker, Too Much Heartsick Feeling. Volman's counterpart harmonies therein are nothing short of absolute, utter perfection.

At that Hollywood record convention in 1980, Volman mentioned that the one Turtles release that he (for whatever reason) did not have in his archives was their 1969 Turtle Soup album. Blitz Magazine presented him with a gift copy of the album that morning. 

By the early 1970s, the Turtles had gone on hiatus for a season. Volman and Kaylan took on the stage names the Fluorescent Leech And Eddie (later abridged to Flo And Eddie) and joined forces with the Mothers Of Invention at group front man Frank Zappa's behest. Volman and Kaylan were prominently featured on the group's Just Another Band From L.A. album, appeared in Zappa's motion picture 200 Motels and persevered for a season as Flo And Eddie for Columbia. 

Interest in the Turtles remained strong for the remainder of the twentieth century. Rhino Records undertook a long term reissue process with them that in part saw the release of many heretofore unavailable Crossfires and Turtles tracks. In turn, Bob Irwin's Sundazed label kept the band's White Whale albums in print (initially in the CD configuration) with a generous helping of bonus tracks. 

In the 1990s, Volman returned to the world of academia. He graduated as class valedictorian from Loyola Marymount University and pursued a graduate degree there in 1999. He eventually became a Professor at Los Angeles Valley College and Nashville's Belmont University, teaching a wide variety of subjects from the music business to theology. 

Concurrently, Volman pursued his love for music well into the twenty-first century. He and Kaylan headlined for years as the Turtles in the annual Happy Together tours. After ill health forced Kaylan's retirement in 2018, Volman persevered as the Turtles with legendary Detergents, Archies and Cuff Links co-founder and front man, Carmine "Ron Dante" Granito. 

Sadly, Volman was diagnosed in 2023 with Lewy's Body Dementia. Nonetheless, he bravely forged ahead, performing with Dante in the Happy Together tour one last time in the spring and summer of 2025.

Tragically, Volman's courageous fight came to an end on the morning of 05 September, as he succumed to complications from the disease. Tributes poured in immediately from many of his esteemed musical colleagues.

"I'll always remember his humor, kindness and that incredible voice that helped give us so many timely songs with the Turtles", said Monkees drummer Micky Dolenz.

"We had a lot of great times over the years".

Blues Magoos guitarist Peppy Castro concurred.

"The Magoos and the Turtles were constantly thrown together", he said.

"We were on the same bills. It spawned a lifetime friendship. They inspired the Blues Magoos' version of Tobacco Road".

Mark Volman's survivors include his daughters Sarina Marie and Hallie Rae, as well as his former wife, Emily. Volman was 78.

DAVE EDMUNDS

SUFFERS

CARDIAC ARREST

On the morning of 29 July, beloved rock and roll giant Dave Edmunds suffered major cardiac arrest at home. According to his wife Cici, a nurse edministered CPR to the 81 year old Edmunds, although he passed away in the arms of his wife.

However, Edmunds was transported to a nearby medical facility, where he was intubated and miraculously revived. Nonetheless, the medical staff has advised that there may be brain damage and memory loss. It was also said that Edmunds would not survive another cardiac incident.

Dave Edmunds' 1977 Get It! album for the Swan Song label was Blitz Magazine - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People's decisive pick for Best Album of the Decade of the 1970s. He is widely admired as one of rock and roll's absolute masters. 

Cici Edmunds has stated that she welcomes prayer and words of encouragement for both herself and her husband of forty years. Blitz Magazine - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People will report any further developments.

COMO UN ADIOS:

REMEMBERING

LOS PAYOS'

JOSE' MORENO HURTADO

(1944 - 2025)

By decade's end, the rich diversity that had characterized the musical landscape of the 1960s had begun a slow but steady decline into what visionary composer Michael Nesmith would soon astutely refer to as the Grand Ennui. 

Thankfully, there was still much to be found in the way of groundbreaking musical work in 1969. Artists as diverse as Johnny Cash, the Archies, the MC5, Steve Lawrence And Eydie Gorme, Funkadelic, Harry Nilsson and the Friends Of Distinction all turned in career highlights that year. 

However, one unlikely and unique single by a highly ambitious trio from Seville, Andalusia made such an impact during that year, that it ultimately drew high praise from Blitz Magazine - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People as part of a mutli-disc tie for Best Single of 1969. 

That single, Maria Isabel became an instant classic, as well as the signature single for the band, Los Payos. Comprised of Eduardo Rodriguez Rodway, Luis Javier Moreno Salguero and Jose' Moreno Hurtado (endearingly known as "Josele" to his bandmates), Los Payos brought a healthy and inspired dose of relentless optimsim into an increasingly despondent musical landscape with that single (their third for the Hispavox label). 

Therein, the three protagonists endeavored to gain the attention of the song's main character, only for her to dismiss them out of hand as they took it all in stride. That landmark moment was captured on a sublime black and white video in 1969. Renowned composer, guitarist and vocalist Jose Feliciano was inpsired by Maria Isabel to the degree that he recorded his own rendtion of it for his El Fantastico! album in 1970. 

Over the next several years, Los Payos added to their impeccable legacy with such first rate singles as Pequena Anita, Un Tipo Raro, Senor Doctor and Vuelve Junto A Mi before calling it a day in 1976. Meanwhile, Rodway had cofounded the highly influenial band, Triana in 1974, while Salguero concurrently made his mark in the like minded Alameda. 

In turn, Hurtado went on to enjoy a long and prolific career in comedy. Hurtado eventually worked for a season as a sports commentator on the radio program, El Pelotazo. He also became a record producer, primarily directing his attention towards up and coming artists. 

Towards the end of the twentieth century, Los Payos reunited to reprise Maria Isabel before a highly appreciative television audience. Sadly, that reunion proved to be short lived. 

Tragically, Hurtado had suffered from various health concerns in recent years. He succumbed to a lingering illness on 18 July.

"Rest in peace, dear colleague Josele", said Rodway.

"I will never forget (you) and the times lived, as well as the work we did together. My condolences to family and friends".

Memorial services for the beloved musical visionary were held at the Cemeterio de San Fernando in Seville on 20 July. Hurtado was 81.

THE NIGHT OF LUV':

PATTY BRARD'S

PANTER PARTY

REUNITES THE GREATS

Sometimes a summit meeting is answered prayer.

Such was the case in Amsterdam on 14 March, when nine of the giants of the Netherlands' most treasured vocal groups joined forces to celebrate Luv' co-founder Patty Brard's seventieth birthday. 

With such monster classics as Trojan Horse (issued on Polydor in the U.S.), Casanova, You're The Greatest Lover and Saint Tropez to their credit, Luv' (Brard, Jose Hoebee and Marga Scheide) and their producer, the late Hans van Hemert firmly established themselves as one of the twentieth century's premier vocal trios. Sadly, Hoebee's health challenges have prevented them from persevering as a unit for the time being. 

Undaunted, and with her seventieth birthday approaching, Brard called upon veterans of several other pioneering vocal units to join forces for a one-off summit meeting. That event, Patty's Panter Party took place before a capacity crowd at Amsterdam's Ziggo Dome on 14 March. 

Chief among the other participants was Babe lead vocalist Marga Bult. Together with Rita van Rooy and Margot van de Ven, Babe established one of the most impressive legacies in all of music with such game changing singles as Dolly The Doll, Explosive, (Don't You Ever) Shop Around, Boomerang, Shocking, Indian Habits and their utterly stupendous Together In Love Again. While Babe has been on a professional sabbatical since 1986, Bult, van Rooy and van de Ven remain close.

Also participating in the summit meeting were veterans of several other beloved vocal groups. They included Rowan Moore of Centerfold, Caren Wood of Maywood, Anita Heilker and Esther Oosterbeek of the Dolly Dots (whose 1981 Keep On Doing It single saw release on Atlantic in the United States), Caroline De Windt and Jetty Weels or Mai Tai, and Laura Vlasblom and Mandy Huydts of Frizzle Sizzle. 

"Thank you for a fantastic birthday party", said Brard.

"Nothing but love!"

"You and your entire production team threw a great birthday party", Bult added.

"Made so many people happy!"

To quote a classic cut from the 1978 debut album by Luv', it was a Dream Dream come true.