07/31/13 - NNHS Newsletter
One Summer Night

“Oh, the summer night
Has a smile of light
And she sits on a sapphire throne.”

- Bryan Waller Procter (a.k.a. Barry Cornwall)
(21 Nov 1787 - 05 Oct 1874)

Their one big hit single (and their debut single), "One Summer Night" (b/w "Wheelin and A-Dealin'"), reached #4 on the Billboard Black Singles chart, and #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1958.^[1]

   

Dear Jack,

  Jerry Harden, who grew up in Newport News but graduated from Hampton High in '54, has organized a sort of get-together of '50s grads from NNHS and HHS and has coaxed Stewart 'Buck' Rodgers, NNHS Class of '52, to provide music.

Jerry should have stayed at NNHS, because this flyer shows that the boy is not good at reading or writing. I told him that Stewart's name was 'Rodgers', not 'Rogers' and even wrote it down for him, yet he had these flyers made up with Stewart's name incorrectly spelled as 'Rogers'.

I have no idea how many people will show up, but the venue is a lovely restored Victorian house in Phoebus, on Mallory Street, less than half a mile off of I-64. I understand that they have fabulous barbecue, but I have not eaten there.

Anyway, it might be nice if you could send this information to the NNHS people on your email list. IN the past, I hate to hear someone say, 'Oh, I would have loved to have come (to anything) if I had only known'. So, in order to prevent that sort of sad situation, I have tried to inform friends about any upcoming performances, and it would be nice if you could help me with this one.

I am getting like the Rolling Stones, in that every time I play in public, I say that this is the last time, but something always pops up to male a liar out of me.

Sincerely,

Bill C.

Jack's note: YES! This IS short notice but for all of you out of in and out of towners who may be in the Newport News area on August 3, 2013, you can be assured of a good time as Bill Campbell plays a mean guitar, as well as Stewart Rodgers. And, many of the songs (if not most) will be from our era when songs were songs and not just a lot of banging on tin cans.

This may take the place of a NNHS Class of 1954 class reunion for this year as we ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE ONE IN 2013.

Way back in the first part of this year I was asked to obtain a consensus of all those who wished to have a reunion this year (2013). I sent emails to all you folks asking for your input. I submitted the results to the powers that be (there was an ample number of Class of '54 folks who said they would attend if one were held).

After my submission, I requested a response twice via email to the powers that be - not one reply. Not even acknowledging they had received the results of the survey. The last word from one of the powers that be was said to one of our classmates - not to me directly. "...if we wanted to have a class reunion this year that (we) should go for it." I inserted the word "we" to protect the person who told me this but the we meant that person and me - or anybody else who wanted to organize a 2013 Class Reunion. Thus, right now I have the feeling that the 2012 reunion may have been my last. Rudeness and non-responsiveness from people, I do not tolerate.

Notwithstanding the above, I do not consider this event at Victoria Station to be a class reunion, just an informal get-together of people from Newport News and Hampton classes of the 1950's.

Hope to see you there.

I trust this message finds all of you in the best of health and happiness, although I have been informed that a few of you are not experiencing those qualities at this time. For those, I offer my deepest sympathy.

I'm back!

This just in from our old classmate,    Lenny Spivak (see below message). Len lives in Boca Raton, Florida these days and he says he practices his Saxophone nearly everyday, even after all these years. For those who don't know, Len made a career out of music and played with some of the top big bands and smaller groups in our great nation while actively playing (for money). Of course, that was back when big bands and small jazz groups were in. Now, it's how loud you can bang on tin cans, yell, how big your amplifier is, etc. OH! And how ridiculous you can look as an artist.

While I am at it, please pass this to classmates and others you know who went to NNHS/HHS in the 1950's. And, for all you folks who are living alone these days, just show up and join a table of others in the same situation. Nobody is going to give a &$?* at our age - so don't be embarrassed to do so. You will get to see a lot of old friends this way.

Jack Nelson

     I played a few gigs with Stuart Rodgers around 1962-63 and he was a good guitar player. If I was there I'd like to play with him again. Give my regards to the old folks.

--- Lenny.

A number of classmates could not open the attachment to the earlier subject announcement. Thus, I have copied it below and dressed it up a little for email.

Sorry for the short notice; however, keep in mind I am just the messenger - not the producer.

Hope this helps.

Jack Nelson

A  GUITARAMA

A MIXTURE OF OLD STANDARDS, ORIGINALS & HAWAIIAN

FEATURING TWO ACCOMPLISHED & CELEBRATED ARTISTS

BUCK & BILL

STEWART “BUCK” RODGERS and BILL CAMPBELL

THE EVENT:   A GATHERING OF CRABBERS & TYPHOONS

                    OF THE 1950’s  & 1960's

WHERE:  VICTORIAN  STATION

                 36 N. MALLORY STREET, PHOEBUS, VIRGINIA

                 TEL.  757-723-5663

WHEN:    SATURDAY, AUGUST 3, 2013 

                7:00 PM UNTIL 10:00 PM

DINNER AVAILABLE 6 PM UNTIL 9 PM

NO COVER      ADULT SPIRITS

   WOWZERONI, YOWZERONI, and PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN!

  Thank you so much, Jack, Bill, and Lenny! Short notice or not, this sounds like a fabulous gathering! Y'all have a SUPER good time!
 

WAY BACK THEN:

http://www.nnhs65.com/SITE-MAP.html

     http://www.nnhs65.com/old-stomping.html

          http://www.nnhs65.com/OOSG-S-Z.html

               http://www.nnhs65.com/warwick-flower-shop.html - brand new page!

June 1947 Anchor, p.138

07/30/13