Smokey Joe’s Band

By Jane Sibley

           In many religions and cultures, people recognize the magical, mystical, or just plain lucky characteristics that the number seven embodies.  The band that performs the intricate, demanding and high-spirited music for Little Theatre’s upcoming production of Smokey Joe’s Café proves the legends surrounding the number seven to be true.  This septet of talented musicians has been practicing together for months with the objective of presenting a fantastic show for local audiences to enjoy.

            The leader of the band is Bob Thomasson.  He serves a dual role in this production as both pianist and musical director.  This play is Bob’s third foray into Little Theatre territory, and he considers himself still to be “under the tutelage of Victoria Thomasson and Raymond Crawley.”  He organized the band and says of the other musicians, “I requested their services, and, thankfully, they all accepted.”

            Raymond Crawley also wears two hats in relation to Smokey Joe’s.  He plays auxiliary keyboard which includes organ, strings, synthesizer, and electric piano. Raymond states that he has worked for a number of years on a lot of shows, and “it’s great to be back with these guys.”  His second role with this show is as vocal director, and it is in this capacity that Raymond works to insure that the harmonies theatre-goers hear are mellifluous. 

            The guitarist in the band is Watt Meadows, and he has played music for thirty years.  In the 1980s and 1990s, Watt was a member of two hard rock bands, Teaze and Hardknox.  Since 2000, he has been half of the acoustic duo Meadows and Taylor.  Watt was the guitarist in Little Theatre’s Beehive (2004) which featured the direction of Vicky and Bob Thomasson.  Watt explained his reasons for accepting his current assignment:  “I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work with Bob and Vicky again.  I enjoy the band atmosphere, and I’ve made friends for life.  It is truly a good time and a lot of hard work.”

            John Sibley plays saxophone in the band, and he has been playing his chosen instrument since 1969.  He has played alto, tenor, baritone, and soprano sax during performances, but the hallmark of his saxophone collection is still the Selmer Mark VI tenor saxophone that his father purchased for him in 1973.  In junior high school and high school, John’s teachers were James Arrowood and Robert Wall.  John continued playing sax in college, his first two years at Radford, in the concert, pep, and stage bands under the direction of Bennett Lentczner.  He transferred to Virginia Tech for his last two years where he played in the symphonic wind ensemble and the pep band.  There he took saxophone lessons from Dr. David Widder who still teaches at Tech.  John is appreciative of these four directors from high school and college whom he describes as being talented and dedicated.  Also during his high school and college years, he played with the Boston Continentals, Janis Martin, and Turner Park.  After college John stayed extremely busy raising a family and running his own business, so his saxophone playing was limited to practicing at home.  In 2001, Kenneth Cranford organized the Piedmont Community Band, and John once again played saxophone with a large group of other musicians, including his wife and their daughter Joanna.  From 2003 until 2005, he was a member of the Halifax Community Jazz Band which was organized by Steve Chafatelli.  This band featured John’s daughter Charlotte on keyboard.

Smokey Joe’s Café is John’s first theatrical production experience since he played for The Boyfriend, directed by Norman Todenhoft, when John was a student at Radford. When asked why he became a part of the Smokey Joe’s Café band, John said, “Hearing the many sax parts this musical features enticed me as a challenge to improve my skills and restore my passion for playing.  I’m indebted to my Lord Jesus Christ for having the ability to play.  I’m very grateful to Bob and Vicky and my fellow band members for helping to bring together such a challenging and enjoyable musical production.”

            Another long-time musician in this group is Danny Thomas, the drummer.  He began playing percussion at C.H. Friend Elementary School with Jimmy Tussey as his teacher.  He was a member of the band at Halifax County High School under the direction of Robert Wall.  In addition, Danny lent his services to Crimson Flash and the Janis Martin band.  From 1980-83, he was in a jazz band with Rudy Tyson.  From the age of twenty-two until the present, Danny has been the assistant drummer at the South Boston Church of God.  He is most proud of the fact that he taught his two sons, Derek and Daniel, how to play the drums.  Danny is thrilled to be a part of the Smokey Joe’s band and says of his experience, “It’s good to be back with some of these guys I’ve known all my life.”

            Tony Thomas is the band’s bassist, and he excels at playing four-, five-, and six-string bass guitars.  He has been a member of several local bands including Renegade and Solomon Grundy which also included Bob Thomasson.  Tony is now the bass player for Big Bertha and the High Risers.  Smokey Joe’s Café is Tony’s second experience with Little Theatre, as he played bass in Pump Boys and Dinettes.  He had such a good experience with that play that he “jumped at the opportunity to be a part of another production.”  Tony stresses that his family is most important in his life, followed by work, coaching, and music.  He now enjoys coaching his daughter Beth and her teammates in softball.  Of Smokey Joe’s Café, Tony says, “This is going to be a really great show, and I’d like for everybody to come out and see it.”

            The youngest member of the band is Chris Walton, the percussionist.  His youthfulness does not equate with inexperience, however, because Chris cannot remember a time in his life when he did not play music.  He is an accomplished keyboardist in addition to his being a dexterous percussionist, and he has played in numerous bands.  Chris was the keyboard player for Mike Carrado, an alternative band that opened for groups like Edwin McCain and Hootie and the Blowfish.  At the present time, Chris plays keyboards for New Soul, a band that specializes in jazz and rhythm and blues and also features Raymond Crawley.  Chris is the keyboardist for the Voices gospel choir at Halifax County High School, and he further uses his God-given talents by serving as the Minister of Music at Jeters Chapel Baptist Church.  In prior years, Chris participated in the Little Theatre productions of Sojourner Truth and Bye, Bye, Birdie.  He emphasizes that he liked the atmosphere surrounding these endeavors, so he decided to “join the other fellows” in the Smokey Joe’s band.  Chris further states, “I am having a great time, and I’m ready to do the show.”

            All of the seven members of this band work together beautifully, and their synergy is apparent.  Their determination to cooperate for the common goal of performing to the best of their abilities and their enjoyment of the hard work are both testimonies to their professionalism and dedication to the task at hand.  As Bob Thomasson says, “I really enjoy working with everybody.  The journey is what it’s all about.  The shows are the icing on the cake.” 

Watt Meadows is already bemoaning the end of the show:  “It’s going to be such a letdown when it’s over.  I want it to go on and on!”  Make sure that the end does not come without your being a part of the experience.  All shows will be performed at the Prizery in the Chastain Theatre.  On April 18, 22, 25, 26, 29 and on May 1, 2, and 3, the curtain opens at 8:00 p.m.  On April 20 and 27, the performances will be at 3 p.m.  General admission tickets are $15.00 each, and student tickets are $5.00 each. Tickets can be purchased at The Prizery box office in person, via telephone by calling 572 – 8339 Monday – Thursday evenings from 5:00 – 7:00 pm, or on-line at www.hclt.org.  Mark your calendars now so that you will not miss this once-in-a-lifetime theatrical event.