The Bedforde Set formed in Silver Spring and Rockville, Maryland, with members William Singer lead guitar, Lewis Miller organ, Norman Bull bass and Steve Schein drums.
I heard from a fan who told me they started out as the Jaguars. They also took 2nd place at the Cap Center in a national battle-of-the-bands.
“The World Through a Tear” was a cover of a Neil Sedaka song. The Jan. 21, 1967 issue of Billboard predicted the single would reach the Billboard Hot 100, but I haven’t seen any record of it in the charts. “Girl, Go Run Away” is a fine original by the band and has appeared on several ’60s garage compilations over the years. Production by Joe René.
I’ve heard of an earlier 45 by Ronnie Dean and the Bedforde Set, “Oh Don’t You Know” / “Little Girl”, but wasn’t sure if it was the same group until Bill Singer wrote to me with some information on the group and the photo at top:
We did back up Ronnie Dean and recorded some songs with him.
The way we got signed was that our manager Hirsch Dela Viez, set up an audition at a dance we were playing. RCA sent down a scout, and was impressed that we sounded good vocally live. When asked if we had original material, of course we said yes. So we went to RCA in NY and did a demo. Turned out great so we eventually recorded 6-8 songs. “The World Through a Tear” was not one of them. We came back to DC and got a call to go work with Joe Rene on a Neal Sedaka remake, “The World Through a Tear”. Went back to NY and cut the record.
It was a toss up between “Girl Go Runaway” or “The World Through a Tear” as to the first release. The publishing company that owned the rights put up 25,000 for promotion. So “The World Through a Tear” was released, backed by “Girl Go Runaway”.
Got a lot of airplay in major cities. I heard it sold around 100,000. Joe Rene wrote “Tossing and Turning”. I have some pix of the RCA sessions.
We were asked to tour to support the record, and RCA fronted the money. But, Steve and Louis had just started college, I was teaching and we had to make a decision whether or not we wanted to give up guaranteed work. Well, common sense won out. We were making a fortune playing one-nighters in the area, and were booked a year in advance. We could do four part harmonies and covers of just about everything. So, our recording days came to an end. The band disbanded in 69-70.
I went on to work for ARP instruments. Helped develop the Avatar guitar synthesizer, and became their guitar product specialist. Got to travel all over the world and retired from the music business in 1985. Bought some land in WV and built two log homes, which is the quintessential hippy dream. For the past 19 years I have worked with children with autism and have a studio that keeps me busy.
Billy Singer was from England. Probably he came to USA in 1966 or thereabouts. He lived in an apartment above a music store in Kensington, MD, where he taught guitar. I met him once, through the best friend of his future wife Rhonda Swanson.
It was the day when he first got the print of their 45, and we were in his apartment listening to it. He listened over and over and complained that he made a mistake in the break, but I did not hear any mistake then.
Last I heard of him he was jamming with the bluegrass people in French’s Store in Martinsburg WV in 1998.
Near to Billy lived another lead player, who was friend of his, Mike Dennis. Mike was in a local country rock band called “Hickory”. They opened for the Kinks in a show in Pennsylvania. The audience loved Hickory more than they loved the Kinks. After that the Kinks started making some songs with country rock elements in them. The genius behind Hickory was a big man named Dave. I think he wrote most of their original songs.
Any chance you recall where the show in Pennsylvania was where Hickory opened for The Kinks?
For the record, in April 2019 Doug Hinman, premiere biographer of the Kinks, contacted me about Hickory’s concert, and we tracked down Dave van Allen the leader on Facebook. Dave hasn’t read his messages in about four days, so we still await his answer.
Wrong, Billy was from Kensington, Md. I lived 3 houses down the street from the Singer family. A great family, BTW.
Doug here is what Billy (now calls himself “Bill”) keyed to me a few days ago:
Born in Bedford England. 6/23/45. Mom was English, dad was American. Ad was stationed in England during the war. Met my mother and was married. Came to the states in 1958.
Got a guitar in ‘59. Loved it and made a living playing music til 90.
Taught at Kensington music for Art Calevas for a few years. Still keep in contact with some of my students from that era. Lived on Kensington blvd by Einstein. Played in bands til’75.
Joined ARP instruments and helped develop Avatar guitar synthesizer. Travelled around the world as a product specialist.
Came to wv. Lived the hippy dream. 2 log cabins and 10 acres. Worked with children with autism here for 20 years. Music was a big part.
Today, retired. Have gardens, recording studio and woodworking shop. Happy and content.
Tru’s comment: (see “Marc” below) Bill DID live above the store, obviously at another time from Gary, for I visited him there in the company of Mike Dennis and Lynn Motley on the day when Bill got the first printin of his 45. Or was it Rhonda Swanson (later Bill’s wife) and Lynn Motley? Or all 3? Some combination thereof.
You have Billy confused with Gary Verano who taught at Ken-Wheaton Music on Georgia Ave who did live above the store that his dad owned. Billy moved to Kensington in 1961 or so because I lived right in front of him and used to go over his house and play guitar. He now lives in West Virginia.
My brother, Norm, worked at Ken-Wheaton for a number of years. I took guitar lessons from Gary – still have the notebooks.
>> It appears that Sedaka released his own version in 1967. << Sedaka actually charted with it in 8/65, peaking at #76 during a 9-week chart run, so it appears that the Bedforde Set version was a remake.
It’s great to see some information on The Bedforde Set, and in particular, Billy Singer. I was living and playing in bands in Washington, D.C. from October, 1966 through September, 1967. I was a good friend of Billy, and spent 3 or 4 nights a week at his family’s house in Kensington, MD. playing guitar with him. We were both big into the Ventures and Chet Atkins.
I don’t know if Billy was actually from England or not. His Mom was from England but his father was from N.Y., and although I’m not sure, I think he may have met Billy’s mother in England during WWII. I first met Billy in upstate N.Y. while on vacation in 1964 or 1965, and ended up at his house the day after I arrived in D.C.. His parents were great, and we would sit around and drink coffee and beer, and talk half the night away with his Mom. His Dad worked with the Postal Service as I recall. Billy also has a brother, Wayne.
I though it was great when the Bedforde set cut their record, and really loved “World Through A Tear”. I still have that 45. Billy said that while they were at RCA studios recording, The Youngbloods were in another studio across the hall cutting “Grizzly Bear”.
The last time I saw Billy was in Nashville in 1985 or 1986. I was living there doing session work and playing in a corporate event band, and he was in town representing the ARP company at some function. I haven’t seen or talked to him since.
Steve Schein, the drummer in the Bedforde Set moved to L.A., and became a camera operator for ABC. Steve’s brother Paul is a guitar salesman at Chuck Levin’s Washington Music in Wheaton, MD. and I’ve been dealing with him for years. I’ve asked Paul about Billy, but about all he can tell me is that he thinks Billy is in West Virginia making furniture and playing some guitar.
Billy is an excellent guitar player, and hanging around his house playing guitar and yakking with his Mom were some of the best times I ever had. It was a great time then, and I really miss those days.
Alan Kolby San Antonio, Texas
Billy or his friends SAID that he was from England, whether he was or not I don’t know. Durin early 2,000s he was jammin at French’s Store in Martinsburg WV. Broke up with his wife Rhonda Swanson Singer owin to his infidelity.
If anybody knows where to find Billy, Rhonda, Lynn Motley, Mike Dennis, or any of the band Hickory, please contact me trukeesey at verizon.net thank you, a Kings biographer Doug Hinman urgently needs to chat with them about Hickory and Kinks concert 1970.
Norman Bull’s obituary https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/reporterherald/obituary.aspx?n=norman-bull&pid=165327181
On May 18, Colorado Rock Legend Norman Claude Bull Jr 64, passed away in his home, his wife by his side. Norm was born in Washington D.C. on June 4th 1948 and was a Colorado resident since 1971. He attended Robert E. Peary high school in Rockville, MD and graduated in 1966. He then attended the university of Maryland with a major in radio and T.V. production. At age 17 he had a chart topping RCA record out as a member of the Bedforde Set. “A World Through a Tear” it peaked around no. 15 on the Billboards top 100. The flip side was “Girl Go Run Away” it sold around 100,000 copies nation wide. Before long, Norm went on to open and play with bands such as Jerry Lee Lewis, The Beach Boys, Brian Hyland, Chubby Checker, Albert Collins, The Chartbusters, The Buckinghams, Grassroots, Allman Brothers, Elvin Bishop, Stills, Furay, Messina, and Neil Young, Les McCann and many more. Soon after coming to Colorado Norm formed the band Godfrey Bottoms as well as mixing sound, multi-mic concerts indoor and outdoors, including concerts with Tim Weisberg and Jaime Brockett. From 1975-1977 Norm was the Manager and chief engineer at Biscuit City Sound Recording studios in Denver. His name credited on over 14 albums. In 1978 Norm was attending Metro State College with a double major in computer science and professional pilot. He went on to work as the assistant sound engineer at Applewood studios in Golden. He operated a 24 track computer automated sound studio. Two years later Norm was the systems operator at IBM 360. He then worked as a musician and actor at The Country Dinner Playhouse in Englewood. In addition, Norm joined the Department of Defense D.O.D Tours which involved extensive travel and music throughout the world, Hodouras, Japan, and Turkey, Greece, Italy, Spain, Egypt, Israel, Panama. He even sang his trademark song “Speedo” acapella in the great pyramid in Egypt. In 1983 Norm moved to Fort Collins and began to work at Smartz Computers and stayed there until 1996 all the while playing in bands. Norm moved to Windsor in 1994 and worked for the Windsor/Severance library district. He single handedly created the computer system from the ground up that is still in use today. In the later years he worked at Colorado Case company and designed and manufactured some of the most beautiful handcrafted instrument cases on the planet. Norm was a staple in bands such as Free Delivery, Godfrey Bottoms, Chucky and the Cyclones, High Pockets, Cage, Boomerang, The Terminators, Runners, Flying Home, Cold Gold, and The Rockhounds. When asked what animal he would be, Norm responded “a Sea Otter”. It fit. He was a journeyman musician and a swell companion on the road. A breath of east coast cynicism mellowed by the mountains and a good drink. He enjoyed himself and it was contagious. Norm was a virtuosic and lyrical bass player who was also an accomplished lead and harmony singer. He had a fantastic sense of melody and made otherwise average bands sound like recording artists by adding his crystalline soulful tenor voice to the mix. Norm was an intelligent, thoughtful lifelong friend who knew that life was much more than a quest for the material. He saw everything around him with the eyes of a true artist. Norm was a devoted and loving husband and partner to his forever best friend, his wife. Considering all of his contributions to the musical world and the adventures that entailed. His greatest accomplishment in his eyes was raising two open, honest, talented and truly loving human beings, his children. He really was a phenomenal Dad in every sense of the word. Norm will be sorely missed by all those who had the pleasure of knowing and loving him. He was truly a special guy. He was preceded in death by his Parents Norman C Bull Sr. and Mildred A Bull (Vorel) and Son Corence Clark Bull. He is survived by his Wife Cynthia Bull, his Daughter Hallie Bull, His Sisters Joan and Jean Bull, his family dog Carl, cats Pearl and Dezibull. And, Many extended family members and dear friends. A celebration service will take place Saturday July 6th at 4:00pm 2192 N Taft Hill Rd, Fort Collins, CO. Fellow musicians are invited to play. Its a Potluck so please bring what you would like to share. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the The Bull Family at 6007 Golden Willow Ct. Loveland Co, 80538
On May 18, Colorado Rock Legend Norman Claude Bull Jr 64, passed away in his home, his wife by his side. Norm was born in Washington D.C. on June 4th 1948 and was a Colorado resident since 1971. He attended Robert E. Peary high school in Rockville, MD and graduated in 1966. He then attended the university of Maryland with a major in radio and T.V. production. At age 17 he had a chart topping RCA record out as a member of the Bedforde Set. “A World Through a Tear” it peaked around no. 15 on the Billboards top 100. The flip side was “Girl Go Run Away” it sold around 100,000 copies nation wide. Before long, Norm went on to open and play with bands such as Jerry Lee Lewis, The Beach Boys, Brian Hyland, Chubby Checker, Albert Collins, The Chartbusters, The Buckinghams, Grassroots, Allman Brothers, Elvin Bishop, Stills, Furay, Messina, and Neil Young, Les McCann and many more. Soon after coming to Colorado Norm formed the band Godfrey Bottoms as well as mixing sound, multi-mic concerts indoor and outdoors, including concerts with Tim Weisberg and Jaime Brockett. From 1975-1977 Norm was the Manager and chief engineer at Biscuit City Sound Recording studios in Denver. His name credited on over 14 albums. In 1978 Norm was attending Metro State College with a double major in computer science and professional pilot. He went on to work as the assistant sound engineer at Applewood studios in Golden. He operated a 24 track computer automated sound studio. Two years later Norm was the systems operator at IBM 360. He then worked as a musician and actor at The Country Dinner Playhouse in Englewood. In addition, Norm joined the Department of Defense D.O.D Tours which involved extensive travel and music throughout the world, Hodouras, Japan, and Turkey, Greece, Italy, Spain, Egypt, Israel, Panama. He even sang his trademark song “Speedo” acapella in the great pyramid in Egypt. In 1983 Norm moved to Fort Collins and began to work at Smartz Computers and stayed there until 1996 all the while playing in bands. Norm moved to Windsor in 1994 and worked for the Windsor/Severance library district. He single handedly created the computer system from the ground up that is still in use today. In the later years he worked at Colorado Case company and designed and manufactured some of the most beautiful handcrafted instrument cases on the planet. Norm was a staple in bands such as Free Delivery, Godfrey Bottoms, Chucky and the Cyclones, High Pockets, Cage, Boomerang, The Terminators, Runners, Flying Home, Cold Gold, and The Rockhounds. When asked what animal he would be, Norm responded “a Sea Otter”. It fit. He was a journeyman musician and a swell companion on the road. A breath of east coast cynicism mellowed by the mountains and a good drink. He enjoyed himself and it was contagious. Norm was a virtuosic and lyrical bass player who was also an accomplished lead and harmony singer. He had a fantastic sense of melody and made otherwise average bands sound like recording artists by adding his crystalline soulful tenor voice to the mix. Norm was an intelligent, thoughtful lifelong friend who knew that life was much more than a quest for the material. He saw everything around him with the eyes of a true artist. Norm was a devoted and loving husband and partner to his forever best friend, his wife. Considering all of his contributions to the musical world and the adventures that entailed. His greatest accomplishment in his eyes was raising two open, honest, talented and truly loving human beings, his children. He really was a phenomenal Dad in every sense of the word. Norm will be sorely missed by all those who had the pleasure of knowing and loving him. He was truly a special guy. He was preceded in death by his Parents Norman C Bull Sr. and Mildred A Bull (Vorel) and Son Corence Clark Bull. He is survived by his Wife Cynthia Bull, his Daughter Hallie Bull, His Sisters Joan and Jean Bull, his family dog Carl, cats Pearl and Dezibull. And, Many extended family members and dear friends. A celebration service will take place Saturday July 6th at 4:00pm 2192 N Taft Hill Rd, Fort Collins, CO. Fellow musicians are invited to play. Its a Potluck so please bring what you would like to share. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the The Bull Family at 6007 Golden Willow Ct. Loveland Co, 80538
Published in Loveland Reporter-Herald on June 16, 2013
I’m from Montgomery County, MD, originally (now live in one of the 17 other Montgomery Counties in the U.S.), and I had my ears glued to Top 40 radio in the area throughout the late 1960s (and well past that, too). I remember hearing “The World Through a Tear” by the Bedforde Set on WINX for a brief time. I don’t remember the actual year and/or time of the year, but I believe I heard it in the bedroom of a house my family moved into in July 1967. So, it would have been no further back than that month.
I really liked this recording and was disappointed that yet another Washington area group had failed to make the big time with a great song. A few years ago, I bought a Neil Sedaka anthology album and found a version of this song by him on this album. The late 1960s was a time period when Sedaka was not having much success as a recording artist, at least in the U.S., but he still wrote some hits in that time period (including “Working on a Groovy Thing” by the 5th Dimension). I wondered if he wrote this song (or more likely, co-wrote it with his long-time collarborator Howard Greenfield), but I checked the credits, and it was written by someone else. It appears that Sedaka released his own version in 1967. Probably it was a “competing cover” with the Bedforde Set version, with neither one surviving as the hit. Sedaka’s version isn’t bad, but it is not as good as I remember the one by the Bedforde Set being.
If “The World Through a Tear” is the flip side of the pictured 45, would it be possible to post it here, too? Thanks for a great site, incidentally. I came here as a result of Googling the Hangmen and their song “What a Girl Can Do”. I will probably be posting comments under their entry, too.
Finally, the State/Province listing to the right doesn’t show DC. I have looked under Maryland and Virginia and found a few names from my memory (notably the Magic Reign in Virginia). I was hoping to check under DC, too, but it’s not there. Maybe due to demographics, garage bands were only in the suburbs, but I’d have thought there’d be some based in Georgetown. I’m tempted to click on Washington, just in case our nation’s capital got mixed in with the state of Washington.
I actually took guitar lessons from Bill at the Kensington Music shop from 1965-1967. He was a cool guy and most of the time I spent listening to him play. I did like their song A WORLD THROUGH A TEAR which was pretty cool and especially getting lessons from Bill and hearing it on air. Funny story that involves Bill. I lived in Kensington and went to school with Nils Lofgrin from the E Street Band. He asked me one day who my guitar teacher was as he wanted to learn how to play. I sent him to Bill and Bill said he was playing better than him after 30 minutes. I see Nils the next day and he tells me that’s his last lesson. J
Took drum lessons at Kensington music with Steve Lewis. Played with Rimy Meeker, Art Calevas, Jack White and other band leaders….
I was just randomly searching for information on Billy Singer and came across this page. If he is the same Billy Singer I knew, we worked together at Veneman’s Music in Silver Spring, MD and played together in a band called Bobby Meadows and the Whispering Strings. We played three nights a week in a bar in Silver Spring frequented by cab drivers, this was about 1971-1972. Billy played guitar, I played drums, we had a great keyboard guy named Tommy who played a big Hammond organ, and some long forgotten guy on bass. Bobby Meadows was the front man and sang.
After Billy quit working at Veneman’s, he drove a cab for a while. He and his wife Rhonda were living in a townhouse near Rockville, MD, as I recall. Billy was one of the most versatile guitar players I have ever seen. He could play anything from Chet Atkins to Jimi Hendrix and everything in between. He played an old beat up Telecaster, I remember us taking it apart and setting it on fire to burn off the finish, then he left it natural. We played together for a couple of years, and the last I heard from him, he and Rhonda had moved up to New England somewhere. I sure would like to track him down if anybody knows where he is.
I worked with Bill Singer (if it is the same Bill Singer) in a music store here in Birmingham England in about 1980. Bill managed the store, and I was the engineer.
Bill had a connection with the ARP company, and Phil Dodds who was the chief designer for ARP (Phil was a consultant on Close Encolunters and appeared in the movie).
Bill was a great guitar player, very versatile, and I remember him playing a beat up telecaster as mentioned in the last post.He also had a Peavey (T60) guitar (serial number 0001) given to him by Harltey Peavey.
Love to hear from Bill if anyone knows his whereabouts.
Hi All.
It’s nice to hear the nice things that were said of my past.. Some of whch are even true. I would love to hear from my old friends and students. For the last 18 years I have worked with children with autism in Hedgesville WV, at Tomahawk Intermediate School. I moved to WV in 1985 and built the ultimate hippy dream. Two log cabins on 10 acres out in the woods. I have a wood shop and a recording studio. I basically do tracks for singers & songwriters that don’t have bands. My phone at work is 304 754 3171. Call leave a phone no. and I’ll get back as quickly as possible.
Can’t wait to hear from you.
TakeCare
Bill
Hey,
I hope this gets to you. I would love to hear and see you. Please reply with phone no, and I will contact you. Prioof it’s me. Bob Meadow, Al Willis, Tiny, Barwood.
TakeCare
Bill
Where have the last 40 years gone? I met Norm on August 13th, 1963 and it was a date I will never forget. Hope you and your family are well, sounds like you are doing what you loved most.
Hi all, my name is Hallie and I am Norms daughter. I happen to have him on the phone while I’m writing this… He is doing good, living in Loveland Colorado. I have a myspace page set up for him, http://www.myspace.com/imaginenorm check it out. I will be updating it soon. Furthermore, you can contact him through this site. I will write again soon… -Hallie
Hi Barb,
This might take a while to get to you. I would love to talk to you after all these years. Remember..”Where Has Love Gone?” I will never forget it. My cell is 304 2684796. Please people. Don’t abuse it.
Tahnx and TakeCare
Bill
I just read Norman’s obit, what a loss for humanity! What happened to those years?
Now hold on there a minute. I met Norm on August 13th as well…and for the record, it was a date I’d never forget! What a fantastic web site. What a fabulous shrine to Billy-“Hey, Root”-Singer. And where the hell is Louis Miller? I guess he’s the only Bedforde that ended up in a witness protection program. For the rest of “The’Set”, Steve kept on moving West: Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Eastern Europe (w/Iron Maiden) Western Europe, UK, the West Indies, NY, ’til he ended up back in California. Now it’s the Sierras in a farm house twice my age, where just 10 feet behind me lie all the RCA photos and session tapes. Maybe someone can show me how to post this stuff in this here garage. Meantime, Happy Tunes & Jolly Holidays, Steve S aka Lucan aka Link Global mobile:805,444,1866
PS: I always figured Norm would have his own press agent & or firewall. Luv comrades
Barb, could you contact me at 304 2684796? Thanx
Hi Stan. I used to go to watch you guys ” the Whisperings Strings” in Silver Spring. You were the best! I was one of those long haired cabbies that watched you. I was one of the first female cab drivers in Montgomery County back then. I went from Yellow Cab to Barwood up until 1976, then I went back to California to advertising sales then came back in 1979, once again dropping back into advertising. Whenever I needed money, I would hack at Barwood. I finally left Montgomery County for the last time in 1988 and have been in advertising sales, had a book business for 10 years and am currently in my second year with another business in New Mexico chiles. I would love to know what happened to Bobby Meadows, he was a wonderful person with a terrific sense of humor. If you have any contact information, that would be great!
Best,
Stef
Southern California
Almost a truism. Nils came to me fresh from playing an accordian. He was in love with the stones, yardbirds, bascically guitar techno bands. He studied with me for about a year. I taught him how to correlate the guitar with an accordian.(Basically a sideways piano.)How to take a pentatonic blues scale and with the addition of 6ths and 9ths how a new world opens up. How to bend a not a whole tone and realize that there are other tones to be played in between.And on and on. I hear some of the stuff we played on his records. Yes, I have them all. He was always my last student on purpose and we jammed sometimes for hours. I also taught him that if he used a thumbpick as well as a pick and became fluent with both, he would never lack for work. He graduated from HS and one night went to the cellar door to see Neal Young. He connived Neal into listening to him play. Neal was amazed at the feeling that Nils was able to show in his music. From there Nils grew and grew as a musician. We lost touch for 15 years when I went to work for ARP, and I moved to Boston. The E street band were in Providence and we reconnected. We stay in touch to this day. As far as the 30 minute lesson fable, sounds good, but untrue. I am proud to have helped Nils get started in his musical career. It’s Feb 1st as I write this, and in January, I have been cotacted by 5 students that I had at Kensington Music. All of whom are still playing. Give a man a guitar and it’s a piece of wood. Show him how to use it, and the doors of creativity open. TakeCare
Hi Bill…former student Joe Mullan here…….I took lessons from you in Kensington for about 2 years in the 60’s. I have to admit, I didn’t practice much and was a very so so student, however, did take the foundation and ended up playing in bands along the jersey coast for a number of years…….and, now playing in Venice, FL. That said, I can add a bit to the Nil’s story. I sat behind Nils in a number of class’s in HS (went by alphabet) and we were friendly in HS. In hindsight, I’ll never forget the day in Mechanical Drawing class where he turned around and said “hey, Mullan, you take guitar lesson’s, right??” And, of course, I said yes and told him where and with who. That was pretty much the last I thought about it but did hear the “30 minute” lesson story at some point. I had heard from Nils about the night at the cellar door the Monday after it happened and just one correction……this happened when I believe we were all in 11th grade and he left school to hitchhike to CA soon after meeting Neil at the CD. I still remember one of our HS teachers saying “well, he’ll never amount to anything since he isn’t finishing HS.” Funny in hindsight…so, there you go, a bit of an update from a former student…thanks for hanging in there with me…
My granddaughter just refinished a cabnet (made for me in 1970) for her mother for Mother’s Day..inside she found a piece of paper saved in plastic it was signed to me by Norman Bull at the Gaithersburg Ag Center Jan 27, 1967! Wow, it brought back such fun memories I just had to see if I could find anything on the net!
Hi Steff,
I remember you from Barwood days. In fact, you were the inspiration for a song I wrote called Lonely Lady. The whispering strings never got to use it. I did give it to some friends of mine who sing it at their shows. A tune about an unknown lady who was filled with sorrow because she had lost her true love, and had to deal with the aftermath.
Bobby was always in poor health. I went to see him in the late 70’s, and he was the same old Bobby. Full of cheer and mischief. We spent a great day together and shortly after, I understand he died.Those days at Barwood, for me were some of the most happy, carefree days ever. They helped me get into country music which in turn got me into recording as a studio musician. I am on Facebook, and live in Hedgesville WV. If you do a search I’ll be there on Facebook. Love to keep in touch especially in light of what you have accomplished. (Today, I work with children with autism and use music as a tool.)
Sorry to be so late in getting back to this forum. Hope to hear from you or others fron that era.
TakeCare
Bill
Hi Bill, Do you remember me? I also taught guitar at Frank Varano’s Ken-Wheaton Music back then. I remember you, Paul, and Norm well. I also remember that band contest you won. I didn’t participate as a musician because one of the guys running it was a friend and it would have been a conflict of interest, but I did work on the stage crew. I remember that you all were far and away the best band on the show.
Rick Richtmyer, Adamstown, MD
Hi Rick, so glad to hear from you after all these years. You were my inspiration in learning the chet atkins style. I saw you playing at Ken-Wheaton and said, damn! I want to do that. So I learned how. How are you? Are you still playing? Did I see a mention of you on a Logic group web site? Love to hear from you. e-mail is current.
TakeCare
Bill
wrsinger45 [at] frontier.com
Lots to talk about. Not sure I could type the events since last we spoke; certainly not since we’ve seen each other. email me with your contact info and I’ll give you a call, or you can call me at 571-221-2436.
Still playing. Would love to hear you play again.
Say hey to Rhonda.
Hey Bill,
I had no idea I was the inspiration for your song “Lonely Lady” although in those particular times, I was going through alot of changes. I am truly sorry to hear about Bobby as he made me laugh an incredible amount of times. My sister-in-law Peggy and Anne Donnely work with autistic chiledren. Good for you that you followed your muse and took your music into the lives of others. And Barwood was a lot of fun. Do you remember Phillip Welch the driver as well as dispatcher. We’ve kept in touch although haven’t talked to him for awhile. Thanks so much for the current update. I will check you out of FB.
Take care.
Best,
Stef
Hi. Good to hear from you. Sorry it took a while to get back to you. My mom has been in decline for a while. She passed today. If you care to, friend me on FB. I am Bill Singer, Hedgesville, WV. Also my other band, the Bedforde Set has a page. I would love to keep up with you, and hear about your adnetures.
TakeCare
Bill
Bill,
I am so sorry to hear about the recent passing of your mother. My prayers are with you and all of your family.
When I tried to find you on FB, I couldn’t find your page so I will try again. I will pop up the Bedforde Set, too. Please take care.
Best,
Stef
I am saddened to inform you all that Norm passed away on Saturday May 18th, 2013. Norm fought a ferocious battle with cancer and suffered for many years. He endured chemo and radiation always with the attitude that he would not let his disease kick his ass. He will be surely missed by friends, musicians and family, and he will forever remain in my heart as a brother.
Left Olney in 1980, moved to Wyoming, then to the frozen tundra of Minnesota where I still reside. Have worked in print, TV, hospitality, health care equality improvement for the state, and even published a magazine for 3 years. Have 3 wonderful grandchildren, 2 boys ages 25 and 15 and a beautiful granddaughter who is 21. Married to my husband now for 29 years.
They started out as the Jaguars. They also took 2nd place at the Cap Center in a national battle-of-the-bands – what a heart throb that night was – House of the Risin’ Sun!
Wow, there is a connection to the Bedforde Set out here in cyberspace. As a young teen, with my little transistor radio in Falls Church, VA, I would look forward whenever your cover of “World through a tear” came on. Years later, I tried to find the song, calling the oldies DJ in Chicago who said, damn, I recognize that song, but can’t tell you who did it. He said he would ask around and to call back. He said his people think it was by Neil Sedaka. I’m a fan of Neil, although I sent an email to his fan club and they were full of enthusiasm that another band had covered a Neil song. Somewhere, later, along the way, I got a hold of your band name. I got a DJ from the great garage band oldies station, beyondthebeatgeneration (in Holland) to play your song on demand at a certain time. Later, I found online a guy who would sell me an MP3 of the song. (Youtube was still not that well populated like now). He had bought the 45 and recorded it as an MP3 so I paid him to get the song. The short of it — I really loved your “World through a tear” and was determined to have it on hand. On another note, it has also taken me a long time to get a copy of a Dr. Demento played parody of Prince’s “Raspberry Beret,” called “Buckwheat toupee.” At any rate, all the best to you guys and thanks for recording the song.