James Cann; Mainly for you.!

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

James;
You mentioned Korea, ’68. I wasn't in the military, however; I was in So. Korea during parts of Feb. and Mar. of that year! Do you recall Jimmy Payne & (The Payne Gang) USO Tour coming through your location? We played all over So. Korea a total of about (3)-weeks during our 10-wk. Far East Tour in ’68. Jimmy Payne was co-writer of the Union Gap's big hit song: “Woman, Woman”, (have you got cheating on your mind?) I played a Blue Sho-Bud Steel and then there were two girl-singers, (The Jaye Sisters), the Bassman, (Gene Brantley), the Lead-Guitar, (Jim Lebak), and the teenage Drummer, (Eddie Raye). I just thought it might bring back memories! It does for me, because; I met my current wife of 34½ yrs, while in Seoul and she traveled along every where we played! It took this poor musician until Mar. ’70 to save enough money to go back to Korea alone to get married! When we returned home from our USO Tour in April ’68, our Bassman (Gene) turned around and went right back on a new tour with another group!
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“Big John” Bechtel
’49/’50 Fender T–8 Custom [X2]
’65 Re-issue Fender Twin-Reverb Custom™ 15”
click here click here

[This message was edited by John Bechtel on 23 November 2004 at 12:32 AM.]

James Cann · From: Phoenix, AZ

"Big John"

I do, indeed, remember the Payne Gang, and it was not long after I met up with my steel-playing buddy Woury. We saw you at the Camp Ross Service club, and if memory serves, in introducing you particularly, Jimmy said something about how your hair was working its way down the sides of your head! Sound familiar?
Anyway, I think you were the first live steel player I ever watched, and since I was now bitten by the bug, I was watching!

I've often wondered what happened to Jimmy Payne. I've been listening to country since then but never heard him on the radio or anywhere else. Can you fill me in?

PS: Hope you enjoyed So. Korea in the winter!

SB LDG

James Cann · From: Phoenix, AZ

Just thought of this: didn't Payne also co-write "Livin' in the Love of the Common People"?

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

James;
I remember the song “Common People”, but; not having a copy, I don't recall all the writers. Do these other songs ring a bell? “Baby Don't Cry”, “My Most Requested Song”, “If I Only Had A Chance”? He wrote a lot with Jim Glaser. of (The Glaser Bros.) If you check your E-Mail, I'll send you some additional info. concerning J.P.

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“Big John” Bechtel
’49/’50 Fender T–8 Custom [X2]
’65 Re-issue Fender Twin-Reverb Custom™ 15”
click here click here

Jason Odd · From: Stawell, Victoria, Australia

saw this:

Jimmy’s interest in country music inspired him to learn guitar at the age of sixteen. Whilst still in his teens, he and his niece, Betty, had their own radio show on station KTCB in Malden, Missouri. Encouraged by the renowned songwriter Jack Campbell, Jimmy remembers how Jack would often stop by and help Jimmy tune his guitar. Jack had written some quality songs for many people including Jimmy “You Are My Sunshine” Davis and the Singing Rambos.

It seemed like Jimmy’s musical ambitions were going to take a back seat when he was ‘called up’ by Uncle Sam for Army service. However, the opposite happened as it brought him into contact with Chuck Glaser of the Glaser Brothers. This meeting led Jimmy to becoming lead guitarist in Chuck’s band in Fort Lewis, Washington. Chuck told Jimmy to contact him when he got out of the Army and join him in Nashville.

After leaving the Army Jimmy returned to St. Louis, playing music there and visiting Nashville occasionally until Chuck secured his signature for a five-year contract with the Epic label. Before this, he had already made his recording debut in 1962 with “Ladder To The Sky” on Kark Records, with the Glaser Brothers as backing singers. Several label moves followed where he recorded “Rusty Old Halo,” “Every Little Pretty Girl” and “Don’t Try To Tell Me,” which he co-wrote with Jim Glaser. However, Jimmy’s recording success story really took off when he joined Epic Records and he entered the country charts with “What Does It Take (To Keep A Woman Like You Satisfied)” in 1966. This was followed by “Woman, Woman” in 1967 which he co-wrote with Jim Glaser. Gary Puckett and the Union Gap took it to the top of the charts, as the song became a big hit worldwide.

In 1969 Jimmy has his first hit as a singer with “L.A. Angels.” Other hits included “Ramblin’ Man,” “Where Has All The Love Gone” and “Turnin’ My Love On.” He graced the British pop charts with “Sweet Fantasy” and his popularity was sufficient to provide British album releases on the Pye, Word and RCA labels following well-received tours in the UK., at the Peterborough Country Music Festival and the Wembley Country Music Festival. In the United States he played the Grand Ole Opry, the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas and the Wheeling Jamboree in West Virginia. He also enjoyed international success with visits to Japan, the Philippines, Norway and the Netherlands.

Jimmy married Virginia Holmes in 1969, the sister of Bill Holmes, bass player with the Nashville Studio Band. The Payne’s made their home in Nashville, with their daughter Amanda, where he has his own recording studio and publishing company specializing in vintage ‘pop’ hits and new copyrights.

In 1969 Jimmy recorded the Dick Feller song “L.A.Angels” taking it to number 21 in the national charts. Other national charts records were “Ramblin' Man,” “Where Has All The Love Gone,” “Tonight's The Night Miss Sally Testifies” and “Turnin' My Love On.”

Prestigious venues Jimmy has played include the Grand Ole Opry, the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas, the Wheeling Jamboree in West Virginia, the Wembley Festival and the Peterborough Festival in England.

In 1974 and 1975 he was voted “Most Promising Artist” to the British audiences by Billboard/Music week.

Also in 1975 he graced the British Pop Charts with a Hoyt Axton song titled “Sweet Fantasy.”
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James Cann · From: Phoenix, AZ

Thanks, Jason. That does answer all the questions. I remember when I saw the Payne Gang, that Payne struck me as a very decent guy.

Big John, after looking at your email and pix, no question about it, yours is the face I remember from way back then--reminds me of a dialog from the film "The Professionals."

Ralph Bellamy: "Your hair was darker then"
Lee Marvin: "My heart was lighter then."

All the best!

SB LDG

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