Rock Robbins and more from KAAY

Much has been written on this blog about Tommy Riggs a/k/a Rock Robbins, a/k/a Tom Payton. To see previous posts type Tommy RIggs in the search window, top left, and click on search this blog. I received the following comment that puts all the "Tommys" together:

ohn Bernays
Grew up in Benton & Hot Springs, AR- Played Lead Guitar with "ROCK ROBBINS" KAAY 1966
1 message
John Bernays Mon, Oct 22, 2007 at 5:34 AM
To: leerodgers@abc-sf.com
I listen to you-all most every morning, a old Farm Boy, (Dairy Farm!)
I get up with the Chicken's after all these years! (I was born after
WW2, learned to drive in a "Poppin' Johnny"John Deere Tractor & a 1949 Plymouth, Amateur
Radio Operator since 1958 (KD5MPM) and Used To Join in the 3830 KCs
"Art Bell" Ham Gang Bang, but got Shunned after a while.
I bet you remember Rock Robbins! I was 16 years old, had a New Gibson
ES-330-TD Guitar with a Bigsby Vibrato, & I won "Battle of the Bands"
beating out Robbin's Band's Guitarist, so he Hired me On The Spot.

Here is what Charlie told us about Stax: "It was me and "Rock Robbins"
of KAAY Little Rock who are credited for Jeanne & The Darlings
'"What's Gonna Happen To Me". Rock Robbins' real name was Tom Riggs
or Tommy sometimes. He also worked as a radio DJ as Tom Payton, hence
the usage on the record label. Tom and I had an agreement such as
Lennon and McCartney... we shared credits even though one or the other
created that particular song. He totally wrote that one. My
participation was because of our sharing. Memory fuzzy about session
date. Only learnt of it happening at a later time. Neither one of us
was present, as per recollection. Perhaps mid or late summer of 67.
Song was never specifically written for any artist that I know of. Tom
had that one in mind when I met him in early '60's... Tom, being
around North Little Rock for his teen years and sporadically
thereafter, could have met Jeanne & The Darlings anytime during mid
60's... I really don't know. Most likely while working at KAAY as
"Rock Robbins" in 66 or so. Neither one of us was present during the
session. Tommy Riggs died in July 2000.
Tommy Riggs (Tom Payton) is an Arkansan singer, piano and keyboard
player who had several bands while performing around the state in the
1960s and 1970s. He also was working as a radio DJ (as Tom Jones) at
the time, on KCLA, during 1968 through 69 &As Tom Payton on KXLR in
North Little Rock in 1964, and in 1966 at KAAY]]. During this period,
he promoted himself as Tom Payton and the Kingpins, Tom Payton with
The Playboys, and several other names. He recorded while he was Rock
Robbins from KAAY on the Little Rock label "MY Records" in 1966. Two
songs from the session were released on a 45 rpm record, "My Little
Girl" and "Good Lovin'"... The other songs and all tape masters are in
private hands. Promoting himself as Tommy Riggs, he performed around
the country From St. Louis to Las Vegas before settling down in
Nashville, Tennessee and frequently playing at the Stockyards Lounge.

The multi platinum selling Alternative Rock band Evanescence has its
origins in Little Rock.


Johnny Bernay (1923-2003) was born on October 17th, 1923 in Muskogee, Oklahoma,As a School Boy with Barney Kessel, My Father was an Accomplished Jazz and Boogey-Woogey Piano Player, and a capable Guitarist. Unfortunately, while in Los Angeles, he caught the dread "Valley Fever" which caused my Grandmother, Nedra E. Bernay, to Rush him home to Muskogee, where he was Fever-Ridden & Bed Fast over a Year. His Life was Ruined after that, and he Died in Prison, on Death Row, McAllister State Prison, on December 11th. 2003. I Learned to Love Jazz from My Father, but Inherited the Brain Fever, and was BED RIDDEN for a Year in 1955-56.
Barney Kessel (1923-2004) was born on October 17, 1923, in Muskogee, Oklahoma. By age 16, as a high school student, he was emulating Charlie Christian, playing his electric guitar with local blues bands and with the University of Oklahoma Dance Band.

In 1942 Barney Kessel made his way to Los Angeles and quickly established himself as a professional musician and a guitarist to be reckoned with. His first important job was with Chico Marx. He spent a year on the road with the Marx band and when he returned to Los Angeles he began pursuing a career in which he combined studio, radio and club work. During this time he was heard on recordings that featured Charlie Ventura, Roy Eldridge and Artie Shaw along with a string of radio appearances. It was also during this period that Barney Kessel appeared in the movie Jammin' The Blues.

In 1952 Barney Kessel joined the Norman Granz Philharmonic tour for one year, returning to Los Angeles again in 1953. Then, just ten years after arriving in Los Angles, he was at the top of his form, in high demand for studio and radio work, and ready to launch a recording career that would continue for almost 40 years.

Every guitarist who came up during the 1940's acknowledged the influence of Charlie Christian. But with Barney Kessel, this influence was the driving force that propelled his interest in the guitar. Barney Kessel has said that Charlie Christian was his idol and this enormous influence was most evident in Kessel's early recorded solos, especially those made with Charlie Ventura and Artie Shaw. It was not hard to imagine the hands of Charlie Christian playing these gems.

But, as with the other great guitarists, this influence became just one component of a broader and more individual Kessel style and technique. By the time Barney Kessel was making recordings under his own name in 1953 he was having as much influence on other guitarists as Christian had had on him. And, this influence continues today. In the Just Jazz Guitar Barney Kessel Tribute issue (September, 1997), Howard Alden says, "as far as I'm concerned, in the dictionary under Jazz Guitar there should simply be a picture of Barney Kessel".

Barney Kessel was truly everywhere as a musician. People who “had never heard of him” , heard him play. If you were a fan of Ricky Nelson in the 1950's and 1960's you heard Barney Kessel's guitar. If you listened to the popular radio shows in the 1950's you heard his guitar. When you saw a movie in the 1950's or 1960's you probably heard his guitar. In fact, he may have been one of the most recorded musicians in the history of recorded music.