January Meeting

ARCA wishes all of its members and friends a Happy New Year! Our next meeting is January 20th. We gather at 2 pm for refreshments and music conversation. The business meeting is at 3 p.m.

Visitors are welcome to drop by and meet us! We’re at the Homewood Library, located at 1721 Oxmoor Road, near Homewood Park. We meet in Room 110 in the lower level.

ARCA Christmas Party

There is no business meeting in December. Instead we’ll be gathering for food, fun and fellowship at our annual Christmas party on December 15th.

Specific details are in your ARCA newsletter. We hope to see everyone there!

November Meeting

Our next meeting is November 18th. We gather at 2 pm for refreshments and music conversation. The business meeting is at 3 p.m.

Visitors are welcome to drop by and meet us! We’re at the Homewood Library, located at 1721 Oxmoor Road, near Homewood Park. We meet in Room 110 in the lower level.

October Meeting

Our October meeting (Sunday October 21st) is at 2:00 PM for refreshments, socializing and trading. We’ll have a business meeting at 3:00 PM. Visitors are welcome to drop by and meet us! We’re at the Homewood Library, located at 1721 Oxmoor Road, near Homewood Park. We meet in Room 110 in the lower level.

September Meeting

Our next meeting is September 16th. We gather at 2 pm for refreshments and music conversation. The business meeting is at 3 p.m.

Visitors are welcome to drop by and meet us! We’re at the Homewood Library, located at 1721 Oxmoor Road, near Homewood Park. We meet in Room 110 in the lower level.

Annual ARCA Picnic

Instead of a normal meeting in August, we have our annual picnic. This year's picnic is at Rickwood Caverns on August 11th. There will be plenty of food, music & fellowship. Don’t forget your swimsuits! Please consult your member newsletter for details.
Our next regular monthly meeting will be on September 16, 2012.

July Meeting

Our July meeting (Sunday July 15th) is at 2:00 PM for refreshments, socializing and trading. We’ll have a business meeting at 3:00 PM. Visitors are welcome to drop by and meet us! We’re at the Homewood Library, located at 1721 Oxmoor Road, near Homewood Park. We meet in Room 110 in the lower level.

June Meeting

Our next meeting is June 24th. We gather at 2 pm for refreshments and music conversation. The business meeting is at 3 p.m.

In our January meeting, Rick Hester didn’t have time to discuss Rooster and the Townsmen. This meeting, he’ll wrap up his discussion of The Epics and cover his years with Rooster and the Townsmen. BTW Rick played lead guitar with them from their first practice on August 20, 1964 until 1969 (except active duty Jan.1, 1966 to Apr. 18, 1966). Gary Swatzell filled in for Rick on guitar for the 4 1/2 months he was on active duty. Rooster and the Townsmen recorded 3 records.

Visitors are welcome to drop by and meet us! We’re at the Homewood Library, located at 1721 Oxmoor Road, near Homewood Park. We meet in Room 110 in the lower level.

Thanks For A Great Show!

ARCA thanks its special guests (Lee Masters, Marc Phillips and Roscoe Robinson), dealers and of course, all of customers who made our 31st Annual Show a success! The show continues to grow and attracted customers from across the U.S.A and as far away as Germany.

We want to hear of your experience at our show and welcome your suggestions/comments. ARCA maintains a mailing list for individuals wishing to be informed of 2013 Show information. To be added to the list or to send us comments, please email AlaRecordCA@gmail.com.

Important Travel Info for Coming to the CD & Record Show

Good news, the road construction on I 59/20 has been delayed! All lanes will be open this week and no detours will be necessary. See you at the show.

DJ Lee Masters to be Honored at the CD and Record Show

Lee Masters is one of the most durable DJs in Birmingham.  Born and raised in Birmingham, Lee started his radio career in 1973 at WERC, then moved to WYDE.  He left the state for a few years and worked in Nashville, Memphis and Corpus Cristi.  However, he returned to Birmingham in 1981 and worked for Kicks 106 as Rock and Roll Jones.  In 1983, he went back to WYDE and helped to start the Oldies format working with ARCA. 

He worked at WVOK from 1986 to 1990.  In 1986 he was asked by the PD to develop a Sunday night program.  Lee had always been a fan of local music and Birmingham and the surrounding areas had tons of it, so Lee started a program called, "Whatever Happened To....?"  Each week would have a different guest who was in a local band in the 50s and 60s.  Guests included Henry Lovoy, Bo Reynolds, Bobby Marlin and Rooster Gallagher.  The show only ran for fourteen weeks, but it helped to spotlight some great musicians that might have otherwise been forgotten about.

The next year, 1987, Lee helped develope and then emceed the "Reunion of Sons and Daughters of the 60s" concert which featured local bands like the Distortions, Rockin' Rebellions, The Townsmen, The Hard Times and many others.  The benefit helped to raise money for children of slain police officers.

For the next several years, after leaving WVOK, Lee moved around, since radio was becoming more and more automated and fewer and fewer DJs were needed.  He currently works for 105.5 news radio WERC, sort of where it all began, only without music; what a shame for that.

Please come and meet Lee Masters Saturday beginning around 10 am as he is honored by ARCA for all he has done for Birmingham radio and promoting the local music of the past.

May Meeting Is Our Record Show

ARCA will not have an official business meeting in May. Instead we will be hosting our annual CD & Record Show on May 18 & 19th. SEE YOU THERE!

April Meeting

Our April meeting (Sunday April 15th) is at 2:00 PM for refreshments, socializing and trading. We’ll have a business meeting at 3:00 PM. We'll be finalizing plans for our May CD & Record Show.

March Meeting

Our next meeting is March 18th. We gather at 2 pm for refreshments and music conversation. The business meeting is at 3 p.m. Visitors are welcome to drop by and meet us! We’re at the Homewood Library, located at 1721 Oxmoor Road, near Homewood Park. We meet in Room 110 in the lower level.

Marc Phillips to appear at CD & Record Show as 'Hotel' is honored

Marc Phillips, who was the lead vocalist, main songwriter and keyboard player of the Birmingham pop band Hotel will be appearing at this year’s CD & Record Show as ARCA honors Hotel. Hotel was formed in 1973 by area musicians and, after a few initial personnel changes, solidified its most recognized line-up by 1976. That line-up included original members Marc Phillips on keyboards and Tommy Calton on guitar. The band was rounded out with Lee Bargeron (keyboards, guitar), Mike Reid (guitar), George Creasman (bass) and Michael Cadenhead on drums. All members added vocals which contributed to the strong harmonies, sometimes 6-part, that were a staple of Hotel’s music. The musicianship was outstanding and the music was well polished and produced.

Hotel toured the southeast and opened for some great national acts. In 1978, they signed with Mercury Records and recorded their first single, “You’ll Love Again.” It reached #71 on Billboard and caused people to take notice. In 1979, they recorded their first album, simply entitled “Hotel,” which included two more single releases, “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming” and “Hold On To The Night.” Both releases reached the Hot 100. All three songs were written or co-written by Phillips.

By 1980, music, in general, was changing; New Wave was now the ‘IN’ thing. Hotel didn’t move that way, but did try to make their music a little bit edgier. That same year, they released their second album, “Half-Moon Silver” with one single release, the title track. Though the single reached the Hot 100, which makes four total songs to do so, nothing had yet hit the Top 40. Mercury did not promote the album or the band and the second album sold less than the first and Mercury dropped them. Both albums, however, contained great music and deserved better promotion. The musicianship and vocals were as good and polished as any band in the country.

Hotel stayed together touring the club circuit, but but disbanded in 1982. Phillips and Calton quickly formed the Calton-Phillips Group, which later changed its name to Split the Dark. The band parted ways in 1988.

The various band members are currently spread all over the country, with Phillips remaining right here in Birmingham. Marc is very active in various Christian ministries and his church and still records music. He loves to talk about his days with Hotel and does all he can to keep the music alive.

Come and meet Marc on Saturday, May 19 at 10:00 at the Alabama Record Collectors Association’s 31st annual CD & Record Show at the Bessemer Civic Center, just off I59 at exit # 108. After a short ceremony honoring Hotel, Marc will be available for autographs, photos or just chat. He should also have CDs for sale. He has remastered both Hotel albums onto CD

No February Meeting (Work Day)

We don’t have an official meeting this month. Instead you’re invited to our annual social at Fred’s house on the 18th at noon Don’t be late or you’ll miss lunch! There's a good chance there may be some music at the gathering.

BTW we may do a little work preparing for our CD & Record Show.

Members of The Epics talk with ARCA members

ARCA member Rick Hester led this month's meeting by giving us a history of his first band, The Epics. He was assisted by fellow bandmates, Ross Gagliano and Joe Ardivino. Rick was the lead guitarist for the band, while Ross played drums and Joe was the lead vocalist. They each spoke to one of the biggest crowds we've had at ARCA in a while. It was a very informative and interesting recounting of their days in the early 60's band from Phillips High School in Birmingham. The band made a total of three records, two of which were produced by Ed Boutwell. You can hear two of these songs in the player on the left side of this page.

Other members of the band included Terry Ryan on guitar and bass (whose brother Jerry was a founding member of Three on a String), Jim Anderson on Trumpet and Bob Sheehan on Sax. The Epics were probably the first Birmingham band to include a horn section, which helped to expand their playlist, especially with R&B and early Motown songs.

The band worked steadily every weekend for a couple of years. Terry Ryan then left and Wayne McPherson came aboard on bass. Rick Hester left and was replaced to Danny Chadwell. The Epics changed their name to the Soul Brothers. Rick went on to play with the Townsmen. After a short stint with the Soul Brothers, Joe Ardivino went to Fox and the Huntah's and Ross Gagliano with the Rockin' Rebellions.

It was great to have these three Birmingham music icons to come and speak to us. This is the kind of program that ARCA has every month, so please check us out. We also welcomed several new members this month.

Rick Hestor to Speak at Our January Meeting

Rick Hester will be speaking at our January meeting. He’ll be sharing memories of his playing time with The Epics. The Epics was one the Favorite groups of Birmingham teens in the early to mid 60s.

We gather at 2 pm for refreshments and music conversation. There will be a short meeting at 3 p.m. preceding Rick’s talk. Visitors are welcome to drop by! We’re at the Homewood Library, located at 1721 Oxmoor Road, near Homewood Park. We meet in Room 110 in the lower level.