Branson seems to be a magnet for Geezer Groups – both performers and audiences – so it’s no surprise that Bill Haley’s Original Comets have been performing this season at the Andy Williams Moon River Theatre.
A few months ago, I bought four tickets to this show at a charity auction so today we took in the matinee performance along with our friends Ron and Barb. Andy’s theatre is very nice and not huge which was a good thing today because the crowd was sparse – maybe 150 max – but still rockin’ and rollin’.
Marshall Lytle on bass and Joe Ambrose on sax
Only three of the performers were ever true Comets – Marshall Lytle, Dick Richards and Joe Ambrose – but they have added a piano player and guitarist to round out the group.
Marshall Lytle was the spokesman for the group and introduced Joe Ambrose as the “baby” at age 75! Marshall is 76 and Dick Richards on drums clocked in at 85. All of them were fantastic musicians but Dick Richards’ drum solo that went on for several minutes was my favorite. How the guy had the energy to play was beyond me.
The talked about their time with Bill Haley starting in the early 50′s but what they didn’t mention (per Wickipedia) was that in 1955, they left over a salary dispute and formed their own group called the Jodimars. Never heard of them. Apparently this group is one of about six that has branded themselves as Original Comets. Oh well, it sells tickets in Branson and they seem to love the place – they’ve bought homes and settled in for the long haul.
After the show they gathered in the lobby to greet their fans while they also sold and autographed Comets merchandise. I certainly didn’t need or want a t-shirt or CD but it was fun to see them interact with the fans, many of whom were eager to part with some bucks for these guys.
Here’s hoping I’m having half as much fun as they are having when/if I’m ever 85.
