Click to Listen to Elvis Presley, “Love Me Tender”
Friday afternoon North Elementary 6th Grade 1957. Our 6th grade teacher had talent contest and Ellen McCaslen sang “Love Me Tender”. I told my mother about Elvis and she went out and bought the album. Shortly after that I got my first kiss ever from Ellen.
By then KMID TV had live shows and along came Roy Orbison. See the pictures one of our early grads who wrote a bunch of Roy’s songs.
Dennis “Wemus” Grubb
Jan 6
The only one from Midland (or West Texas) who wrote any songs with, or for Roy Orbison, was Joe Melson from Midland, who was originally from Oklahoma. His family moved to Midland after he graduated from high school in OK, then he attended Odessa College for two years, stated a local band in Midland (The Cavalliers), met Roy, and they teamed up to write major rock Classics IN MIDLAND, like Only The Lonely, Blue Angel, Crying, I’m Hurtin, Blue Bayou,…..and more. I was fortunate enough to be with him in Nashville in 2018 to see him inducted into the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame………..a huge, major honor.
Peter Creasey
Edited Jan 6
What a huge tragedy when we lost Roy Orbison.
I treasure a two CD collection of his songs, “The Essential Roy Orbison” and also the video “Black and White Night” with friends Jackson Browne, T Bone Burnett, Elvis Costello, k d lang, Bonnie Raitt, J D Souther, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, and Jennifer Barnes. Both of these treasures are very special.
I always drew parallels with Roy’s music and some of the songs of The Sparkles…on a different plain, of course.
Roy was one of the greatest talents of our time…and surely of all times.
OB Jacksonjr@hotmail. Com
Jan 6
It was pioneer furniture hour on KOSA in Odessa where Roy played every Saturday 4:30 to 5:30 on TV…
W Godwin, The Rev Buck Necked
Jan 7
He was thrilled you came to see him inducted after your many years of friendship and working together
Suzi Northcutt Griffith
Jan 7
The first song I remember him playing on TV (Pioneer Furniture show) was Ooby Dooby. He would take requests that had been written in and after struggling to read, would pass off to another band member to read. I thought he couldn’t read. We later learned that he had very bad vision even with his glasses. He remains an all-time favorite of mine. Also seems like our band director, Mr. Hammer was a friend of his.
John McElligott
Jan 7
Suzi I remember that as well. Larry Parks was a drummer. I remember him and his little brother Butch being in the studio and the all night March of Dimes Telethon at KMID. Little Joe, Marshall Dillon’s girlfriend Miss Kitty of course Roy
I watched Roy and his base player “the Bopper” at KMID TV all the time live at the studio. Remember Joe Melson little brother Kenneth Melson went to MHS 10 grade briefly . Cut school one day and was killed in a truck accident along with a fellow classmate at Cowden JHS.
Suzi Northcutt Griffith
Jan 8
I do remember Kenneth. He was in a class – possibly algebra with me. I liked his James Dean look. He was very quiet and unassuming.
Arvol Brown
Jan 8
..Roy Orbison… It was 64’ish, There was a District champion ship football game between Wink and Rotan at “Neutral” Midland Memorial Stadium… Don’t ask “WHY”, guess nothing better to do, But My Ol’ Bud Buddy Boyd, Teddy Bisbee and I went to that Football game (Saturday afternoon). Again, Don’t know why but just chose to yell for WINK… We were yelling after a Wink touchdown and this guy came up behind us, taped me on the shoulder and told us to keep yelling for Wink, and Roy would buy all our popcorn or cokes we want… He pointed up to the row behind us and to the left and there was Roy Orbison, Big hair , sideburns and those thick dark shades. When we looked over at him, He gave us a Thumbs up signal…. And … Did pay for our cokes and popcorn …..
Dennis “Wemus” Grubb
Jan 8
YEP……….I definitely remember Joe Hammer, who was originally from Wink. Such a tragedy for him as well.
Dennis “Wemus” Grubb
Jan 8
The bass player in Roy’s band, The Teen Kings, was Jack Kennelley. Great guy, and long time friend of mine, who later on did a lot of TV commercials with his deep voice, and played bit parts in some movies with Clint Eastwood and John Wayne. We remained close friends until he died at his home in Colorado, about 11 years ago.
John McElligott
Feb 11
I wish someone had a picture of Kenneth Melson. ”Barley new him but his face was unique as ‘Suzi Nortcutt mentioned above. He was a chick magnet and did look like James Dean!!