Bobby was born Robert Joseph Bare on April 7, 1935 in Ironton,Ohio. His mother passed away when he was 5 years old and his sister was adopted. Bobby always had a dream to become Hank Williams but then he passed away and he shifted all his talent in other directions.

Bobby started songwriting and secured an early morning radio spot, and later worked on television in Charleston, West Virginia. He moved to California and impressed Capitol Records, recording for them in 1955. After receiving his draft notice in 1958, he wrote a parody of Elvis Presley going into the army, "All American Boy".

Bare was travelling to Nashville to record the follow-up when he heard Billy Grammar's "I Wanna Go Home" on the radio. He admired the story of the country boy going to the city ("By day I make the cars/By night I make the bars") so much that he recorded the song as "Detroit City". Bare's record made number 16 on the US charts and won a Grammy. He had his biggest US hit (number 10) with "500 Miles Away From Home". His fourth pop hit (number 33) came with "Miller's Cave". In 1970, Bare moved to Mercury Records and found success with two early Kris Kristofferson compositions. Chet Atkins invited him back to RCA, where he signed on condition that he could produce his own records.

Later in 1973, Bare released a double album of Shel Silverstein songs, Bobby Bare Sings Lullabys, Legends and Lies. Not only did the album represent the beginning of a collaboration with Silverstein, it was arguably the first country concept album, adding fire to the outlaw movement of the '70s in the process. The record was a hit with country audiences as well as rock fans, gaining airplay on FM radio stations. The following year, he had his first number one single with "Marie Laveau." Bare released another record of Silverstein songs, Bobby Bare and the Family Singin' in the Kitchen, in 1975. Unfortunately, the singer's oldest daughter died shortly after recording the album; she was only 15.

Despite the fact that his work was consistently critically acclaimed, Bare's record sales began to slip in the early '80s, as the 1982 Silverstein collaboration Drinkin' from the Bottle, Singin' from the Heart and his 1985 record for EMI failed to launch any major hit singles. Nevertheless, Bare continued to retain a devoted following in the U.S. and the U.K., and his influence on contemporary country music remains evident. In 2005, the Dualtone label coaxed Bare out of retirement and released a new album, The Moon Was Blue. ~

lIn the days of old music was used to lift spirits calm the heart and tweek our imagination. Now of days music is just screaming noise and you can't understand the words or its such a tear jerker that it won't hold most peoples interests. What ever happened to the days when music made you want to get up and dance or smooch in the back row of the movie show. Outside of just a select few new artists the music of the day is dead to me. I find myself of late listening to the oldies music channels or the classic country radio stations. Yes for me it is a trip down memory lane. Having a memory lane full of music is a safety net for me as well. Some of my most happiest memories are surrounded by music. I would dance in my den as a child to all kinds of rock and roll music. Then my daddy would teach me to do the Texas Two Step to the sounds of Loretta Lynn, George Jones, Merle Haggard and many many more country entertainers.

When my friends and I would get together for sure you would find the rock and roll 45's laying out all over the place. We taught ourselves to twist, to shimmy, to swim, and to pony and jerk. The music of today is not consistent with trying to find an all out audience.

No one was telling the world population to go out and kill a cop or blow something up.
We enjoyed our neighbors and I can remember a lot of outside parties on the patio with everyone brought a dish and the kids provided the music and no one complained because everyone understood the words and it wasn't profanity or proclamations of death. It was a time of happiness and friendliness and dancing the night away.

I miss this most of all, the smile you would see come across a friends face when they heard that first note of their favorite song hitting the turn-table.
We would burn mosquito fires and set up card tables outside and we were allowed to stay out way after dark as long as we were all together. Most mom and dads from the neighborhood would stick around and when we would look up they would be out dancin' in the street. You just don't see that anymore. I have taught my children to dance and enjoy music for the freedom it brings to our inner self but I have also taught them to decipher between the right and wrong kinds of lyrics and what is acceptable and what is not.


I am not just pointing fingers at top 40 music or gangster rap my feelings encompass country music as well. Profanity and sexuality I guess know no boundaries. We used to laugh about country music saying that the cowboy always lost his girl, his truck and his dog, but if you played the record backward the cowboy would get it all back. Now country is about holding up convenient stores and tattoos and in some songs death and destruction.

I guess by now you can tell I long for the old days, that's why I love the old music and support it so much with this web site. Leave me a comment and let me know if you feel the same way. I enjoy meeting people with the same interests as myself.

This was a very big time for music. There were major changes going on. From the break up of bands to the up and coming disco craze. Where was the music industry headed? Even though there were major disruptions going on the industry managed to come through with some top hits for that era. Top rock bands were making the charts with songs like; “December, 1963(Oh What a Night)”,” Bohemian Rhapsody”, “Hotel California”, and of course one of the most famous songs of all time “American Pie," which was dedicated to the death of “The Big Bopper," “Buddy Holly” and “Ritchie Valens, all of them were killed in a plane crash on February 1959.

That was not the only huge loss for the 70s. Who could forget the death of Elvis? He is still remembered and loved to this day. His death is one of the most tragic for this era. The world was at a true loss on August 16, 1977 when Elvis' body was found. He reportedly died of an overdose. His body shows this, but was that the real reason? Many still believe that they still see Elvis today. He has had such an impact on people’s lives that he is still loved and remembered by millions.  

Despite these tragedies, music lived on to flourish and bring us into a whole new area. It made way for 80s and the disco and pop era. Places that you can find your 70s memorabilia are websites such as www.oldies.com, Amazon.com, and Ebay.com.  If you want to download and listen to your favorites there are plenty of free sites that allow you to listen and download. 

Jazz as a genre of music, based on European harmonies and west-African rhythms, originated in New Orleans in late 19th Century, started in black ghettos, drawn on gospel and black spiritual songs. Later jazz spread over, became popular and was the dominating music in so-called "Swing Era" - early 30s of 20th Century. There is no final definition of jazz yet. In general, jazz is a polyphonic musical performance, without the prominent arrangement, with propulsive rhythms and deliberate squeezed pitch, and unlimited improvisations. Some small jazz groups played without any arrangement, creating music while they played.

In contrast to the small combos, music played by big stage groups was highly arranged and typically was notated. An ensemble with 12 or more musicians performing jazz or associated music may be named a Big Band. However “Big” refers more to the popularity of the band rather than the number of pieces or performers in group. Jazz ensemble, jazz orchestra, jazz band or dance band are the same terms referring us the Big Bands.  Started from 1935, Big Bands Era had a great musical, social, cultural and spiritual influence on entire generations, including us.

Charlie Spivak, Howard Delaney, Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra and many others you can name here. These are the representatives of a live art, the style or the genre of art not having yet an exact definition while having the exact destination in our heart and mind. There are very interesting websites dedicated to continuing the traditional popularity of our history-related sounds of big bands, sharing the great hits of all times.

The Surf Ballroom is located in the small town of Clear Lake, Iowa.  Situated about midway between Des Moines, Iowa and Minneapolis, Minnesota, this town of about 8,000 thrives on the north shore of Clear Lake.  This landmark ballroom has hosted most of the big bands of the 30s and 40s, as well as the rock and roll of the 50s and 60s.  Today, this historic ballroom hosts some of the biggest names in the music industry.

The Surf Ballroom was built in 1933.  The ballroom  was destroyed by fire in 1947, but was rebuilt bigger and better across the street a year later.  The venue has an amazing 6,000 square foot hardwood dance floor and seating capacity for 2,100 people.  It was named the Surf for its beach type decor, complete with palm trees and beach murals.  It also has a lounge area where you can view hundreds of photos of the famous entertainers who have played the Surf.

Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Les Brown and Benny Goodman all played here, but the Surf Ballroom is probably most remembered as being the last place Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper played at the Winter Dance Party in 1959.  They boarded a plane after their performance which crashed in a field in northern Iowa.  This day has been called "the day the music died."  Though rock and roll lost three great talents, the Surf Ballroom continued to play host to the hottest names in the business.  Jan and Dean, the Everly Brothers and Santana have all played here.

The music goes on even today.  Every other Sunday the big bands once again take stage and crowd the dance floor.  All genres of music, including rock and roll, country and jazz continue to entertain and set the background for a night of music and dancing.  The Surf Ballroom was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Okoboji, Iowa in 1998.