The Moanin' Glories

I lived a couple of doors north of you on Ridgewood, my sister Janet, went to Southeast with you. When I was at Robinson, I got a little respect for knowing you, or at least living that close to you. I always enjoyed your music the time I got to go to the Cotillion for the battle of the bands, or you were rehearsing in the garage. I write for a weekly newspaper in Amarillo, TX. Janet, and our older brother Roy, live in Plano, TX. I won't be able to make it up to Wichita for the show, although we all get back there pretty regularly. As a bonus, if the Joe Sauer that is in your band the same Joe Sauer that went to East High from about 1968-71, I was in a drivers' ed. car with him one summer, the summer Jimi Hendrix was supposed to come to Wichita, but Joe was one of the about 47 people who had bought tickets, so the show was canceled.
Best of luck,
Greg Rohloff

Hello~
So glad you have posted info on your band. My mother is a HUGE fan!!! Too many stories of the Cotillion/Battle of the Bands. I'd love to get her more info or if you know where I can purchase a copy of the cd you made a few years back. Will you perform again? Is there another site I should be checking out?

Thanks!

Second Generation Fan
Becky

Rebecca, I haven't looked at this website for a long time which explains the year long delay in responding. I don't know if any of the other guys in the Moanin' Glories have responded to you. I have copies of the live CD from a couple years ago and would be glad to send you one. They are $12 plus shipping which is about $1. You can contact me by email and we can make arrangements if you are still interested. Now, what is your mother's name. Those days at the Cotillion were so much fun for us all. We hope to have another reuninon in a year or two. Unfortunately, Joe Sauer just is now recovering from a heart attack. He's doing fine for now. I am planning to play with Marc and a couple other guys at the Orpheum in Wichita on the Saturday after Thanksgiving for a Christmas benefit show. Thanks for your interest.
Karl Berkebile

Karl, you may not remember me, but I remember you and your group. Ritchie and I were really close as children, but as teens he followed his talent and passion for music. I wasn't as gifted but was a drummer wanna be. It's nice to see something about the group. You were really the best in Wichita! I miss Ritchie. He lived a hard life after the group broke up. The last time I saw him was 1985 at my dad's funeral. Take care! Long live rock!!

Hey Karl! The renunion sounds great. I know Ritchie would be thrilled. However, he isn't the last Kunkle guitarist. My middle son, Stephen, took up guitar at about age 12. Hes's 22 now and is truly gifted. I see a lot of Ritchie in him. He's currently in the Army(at Ft. Hood) and is going to Afganistan later this year. When I hear him play memories of Ritchie flood my mind.

Hi,, I have 4 45's of the Moanin' Glories 3 are promo copies and one is with the blue label, as on this site.
I have listed them on EBay if your interested.

Hi, Karl,
I met you maaaany years ago (early 70's) at your parents' home along with John Badwey and his daughter Robin. We all lived in Great Bend. (He was the sports writer for the newspaper) Some folks from Great Bend High School contacted me a few days ago to see if I knew how to locate Robin for a reunion. My Mom remarried and we moved away, so I lost touch with Robin. Do you have any idea where Robin might live? (I think her dad passed away in 1988.) If you can help I will pass the info on to the folks at GBHS. Thank you! Barb Mason Caudle

I was surprised to see someone is trying to contact me. I currently live in texas and I believer I remember you, Barb...Wasn't your mom and my dad friends...maybe even date? You are welcome to contact me...Sincerly, Robin Badwey (P>S> dad did pass in 1988)

mischka32(at)yahoo.com

Get hold of Karl Berkebile and get a decent picture of the Moaning Glories on here. There was a "flyer" that has them all and the text that said, Outstanding in their field. It's a great picture of all of them. I was in and promoted several bands during the time and the Moaning Glories even played for the last 9th grade to graduate from Minneha. I will miss Richie. Went to Southeast with him and he had a style like no one else. Very sorry to hear of his passing and his passing did not sound well which is very sad.

I don't have the email for Karl but get a hold of him and see if you can get this picture of all of them standing out in field of I believe sunflowers. It was an important, great time. S.Angle

Hodge-Where the hell are you? I'm back in OKC. email me and I'll give you my phone #.
Hoppy

Hoppy,
Just lost my job. Want to start a band with a old deaf guy? I'm livin' in Wichita. When I saw the Stones last year, I thought we should have been opening for them...
It's been a long time comin' brother.

OMG, Rick and Hoppy! It is so good to see that the two of you are still out there. I found your posts by trying to figure out whatever happened to Little John. I ended up marrying my BFF Larry 26 years ago. We left Wichita, moved to KC, and then 20 years ago moved to the San Francisco area. Larry is still in the music biz - and still friends with Mike Finnigan (Finnigan & Wood). I recall those Crank days so very well. I think I still have some of those old CRANK stickers. I also remember that awesome show (wasn't it in Oklahoma City?) with Frank Zappa. It was a highlight. -Jan

Hoppy and Rick,

I am so glad to see ya'll are still kicking. I am still in Dallas. I still see Karl. We need to get in touch!

Email me: hedna@earthlink.net

"Lime Bob had two good times and he knew it." Richie, circa 1967

Rick,
I can't believe that I found you on a page about old Wichita Bands. Those times that I got to spend with you and Cathy Ring and the guys from your band were a lot of fun even if I was just pretending to be a roadie. Our trips to K.C. were always an adventure!
Take care,
Bob

Is this the Hoppy? : ) Would love to chat if this is the real Kenneth S Niles...If you remember me : ) It's been a long time...

Rick,
How are you? It's been a couple years now since I saw you. Please get in touch. I'm still in Dallas playing weekends at Gator's in the West End. Give me a call or an email. I'd love to talk to you. I live in Euless and am listed.
Karl

I remember Crank opening for the Grateful Dead in Wichita at Century II. You mention Riverside Park...do you remember Redneck? Sundance? The old Phone Booth bar? I don't know what's made me so nostalgic lately, maybe old age or something, but those were good days. Crank, the Moanin' Glories...sheesh...it seems like a lifetime ago but at the same time just like it was yesterday.

It is so bittersweet reading about The Moanin' Glories and my father, Ritchie. I'm so proud of him and all his accomplishments and I know that he would be so thrilled to be on stage with the rest of you as you are inducted into the KS Music Hall of Fame. From the earliest I can remember, my father always had a guitar in hand and was playing rock, country, and the blues. The stereo was on everyday in our house. I grew up listening to the best music and to this day, those tunes bring memories of happy times and put a smile on my face. That was when he was most happy and carefree. He was a great father and had a wonderful sense of humor. But, he was a lost soul too and I didn't realize until many, many, years after I became an adult, that he was struggling with so many demons. He was a dreamer, an artist, a poet, and always so optimisic about the future. On the other hand, I think he was really sad and hugely disappointed after the break up of the band and the connections lost to dear friends. I think it ate at him like a cancer, and eventually got the best of him. I wish I could be in Lawrence on Saturday to see all of you and listen to the music my father helped to create. I know he'll be watching and listening from above with a smile on his face. To all of the band members & Ritchie's close friends, I would love to see any memorabilia and keepsakes that you might have. I have one of the 45's and used to have a calendar from the tour in Japan but it became lost over time. There are a few pictures of him I come across now and then, but would love to see any others you could share! Have a great time on Saturday! (ginaclaire@gmail.com)

Karl, Marc, and Andy,
I was very pleased to see of your induction to the Hall of Fame. Would have enjoyed going up to see you. My days of working with you, Karl and Marc are very fond memories. Andy, I was only sorry that the concept of 2 bass players never caught on, we could have done well.
Gina Bell,(you'll always be "The Bell" to me),
It was so good to see your words.Terri and I talk of you often and
have so many good things to remember. I do have pictures of Ritchie from our road years and even some recordings from concerts and clubs. So much was lost when he passed on, but you know heaven has never been the same since he arrived, after all, each of us changed being around him. He did love you and your mom so much. We had many conversations before we both got lost in the desert and never came back the same.
Jan and Larry,
Sounds like a great life you are having. San Fran is our favorite part of the world and it really worked its magic on us. D. Oropeza is around here somewhere, we just run into each other every few years. He is doing good work for the community, and I don't mean the Hawaiian. Seems to have lost that alias. Did we really survive that cold winter night walk on highway 50 coming back from the Great Bend Crank gig, when Dan ran out of gas in the Pinto? The concept of a trucker stopping for the two of us, with me in platform shoes, hair longer than I even like to remember, and glitter eye liner, dropping us off at a truck stop in Hutchinson now seems like something out of Fear and Loathing, but it was our life as Smichney recalled. Ritchie played good that night. Steve Miller in a gorilla suit, Wishbone Ash, and Boones Farm for everyone. Did Dan really drive?
Bob Reimer,
To hear from you was so special. Do you think the Ring family ever figured out where the cement bus stop and 20 real estate signs came from in their front yard? If that wasn't a sign of true infatuation for someone, what else could there be? We were
coming back from KC recently and I thought about the guy who dozed off in front of us on the Turnpike, on the way back from the KC Pop Festival, I believe, slid into the guard rail, and showered us with sparks. Glad we all lived through that moment.
Headna,
I loved it when Mel answered the door. "No she didn't come home!"
He was just "so Mel". Come home for a visit and see us too.
I miss seeing all of you! Can't hear much of anything, so the phone ai'nt great, so send an email if you get a minute.
Take care
Rick
r.hodge58@yahoo.com

Hey Andy, I remember seeing you guys at some teen activity center in Wichita around 1970. Some of the things I remember were you guys doing a hell of a version of "Midnite Rambler" with Karl playing the hell out of the harmonica! and the black tuck&roll Kustom PA cabs with Altec horns added. The same horns you sold to Joe Sauer. We used those horns a lot when I joined up with Joe,Ron Schauf,Gail Gilbert, and Bob Mitchell. I was drumming for them for a while in the early 70s. I still play here in San Diego. Hope you are well, Todd

3-5-10
Dear Gina

I knew the band briefly from both Hays and Wichita, and they were not only good musicians, but also good people.
Since each band member is given a personal award, you and your mother should DEFINITELY come up for the induction and receive your dad's award in his place.
The Inductions are a great night, and they have become a reunion night for bands and crews that were always on the road at the same time and couldn't go hear each other.
Please come; I know you'll connect with old friends and fans who appreciated your father's music and will have a great time. The unplugged event at the holidome tonight is more laid back, but just as much fun, too. I hope you decide to attend!
Sincerely,
Beth