THE YEAR
WAS ABOUT 1969, the dwindling days of the 60s Decadent Decade in
America. My girlfriend and I had just moved back to Southern
California from a year working in Huntsville. And at that time
I was still living in the Decadent Decade, a path I would follow
for almost another 20 years before Jesus Christ would come front
and center into my life.
She and I had toyed with the fascination of the swinging lifestyle, and when we got settled back in Southern California there was a new movie which had become sort of an anthem for that lifestyle. That movie was "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice" and starred Natalie Wood, Robert Culp, Elliott Gould, and Dyan Cannon. It was about two Southern California couples, good friends, who decided to walk on the wild side by trying the swinging lifestyle.
Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (November 19, 1968) Cast interview on the Tonight Show
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TnplvKM4IY
We did venture into the packed Hollywood theater, found the movie interesting, and went home. A few weeks later we met a couple, nice people, friendly - and the husband said, "We saw you at the movie a couple of weeks ago, what did you think of it?" By "the movie" I knew exactly which movie he meant, and I replied, "It was an interesting view of the lifestyle, nice cast, and had some pretty good comedy in it also."
Because they were so outgoing and friendly, we became friends and they invited us to go with them to a night club in Studio City called The Swing, interesting name, describing the atmosphere within the club. It was a very nice club owned by a man, Greg McClure, and his wife.
McClure was known for the movie he starred in - The Great John L - the story of John L. Sullivan, a late 1880s American heavyweight boxing champion. Greg had other parts in movies, but that was his one shining moment. Matter of fact, I remember well seeing that 1945 movie as a kid - and then when my brother Bob and I would box, I called myself the Great John L. - except I always lost to Bob.
That made the club all the more interesting, and we found it to be full of nice looking couples and it had great music, a handsome lead singer/guitarist, who reminded me of Sidney Poitier, named Dillard Crume, who provided some of the best music of any club we had visited. And he turned out to be a very nice, humble man who was very easy to like as a person. He was not like many rock style lead singers who strut around in latex pants. He was a perfect gentleman - and my girl friend and I took an immediate liking to him. Matter of fact, I think she had a crush on Dillard, not that I would have blamed her.
Another interesting fact about The Swing, almost every weekend, the well known actor (westerns, war movies, crime, etc.), Leo Gordon, would come in, and sit by himself at the bar. He never bothered anyone, never talked with anyone that I noticed, just seemed to enjoy the music and atmosphere - and he most likely was a friend of Greg McClure, since they both were actors. About 10 years ago I became friends with Leo Gordon's daughter on Facebook when she shared a post about her dad. I shared with her how he was always a quiet gentleman.
During our first year back in Southern California, we lived in Van Nuys in the San Fernando Valley. And during that year The Swing was our go-to night club, several times a week. We were drawn to two other couples, as well as the couple who had invited us to the club originally - and most nights we four couples would sit together. Dillard took a liking to our group and during his breaks, he would come over and sit with us. We all highly respected him, mainly because, as talented as he was, he was humble - not seeking to be admired as a rock star, but as a friend with friends where he could relax and be himself.
After a year my girlfriend and I moved to Orange County because of my work and did not get to The Swing very often. After a while she and I decided to go our own ways, so we split and I got busy with my life, working for an East Coast computer company. My long time friend, Larry Lummis, and I split the Southern California area, he taking the northern half and me taking the southern half, with our office near LAX airport.
Our office consisted of Larry, Roy our field engineer, Jan our secretary, and me. Jan was the nicest, sweetest lady anywhere. One day we were talking. She had known and liked my ex-girlfriend, so we talked about some of the night spots we had frequented. Since it was Friday, I suggested, "Would you like to see some of them?"
So that evening we started visiting some of the night clubs from my previous life with my ex. I think The Swing was maybe the second club we visited. When we walked in, Dillard was still playing a set. And I did not know he noticed us at the table. But as soon as the set finished, he walked straight to our table and joined us. We chatted for a while, then Dillard surprised me when he said, "Bill, this lady does not belong here."
I looked at Jan, realizing what a sweet, naive lady she was - and immediately agreed with my friend Dillard. We left and as I understand it, not too much longer after that Dillard also left. From what I have read, Dillard turned down an offer from Greg McClure to buy into the club. Yes, he was that good an entertainer and could draw a crowd into the club most every night.
I was always convinced that, to Dillard the gig at The Swing was just that - a job. His agent booked him into the club, it was steady work with an audience which loved his music and liked him - so he stayed, I think for a couple of years.
One of the songs which Dillard sang often was "Amen" from the movie "Lilies of the Field." It was a Gospel song written for the film by Jester Hairston. When Dillard sang it at the night club and people were dancing, I often wondered, "Do they know they are dancing to a Christian Gospel song?" But that gave me a hint about Dillard's background.
After that night when Jan and I visited The Swing, I never saw Dillard again, and often wondered what had happened with him. About 15 years ago, I began to google his name - and was so happy when I found that he had gone back to his roots and was recording Christian music.
Then maybe 8 years ago, I saw a Facebook post advertising Gospel Concerts by his daughter, Melanie Crume. I immediately messaged her and we became Friends. That is when I learned that my Friend, Dillard Crume, had gone all the way back to his roots and was part of the Soul Stirrers, a Gospel music family with his brothers.
God has a way of bringing us full circle, so it was no surprise that the last part of Dillard Crume's music career was with the Soul Stirrers singing Gospel music. The Soul Stirrers were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000. And that he was promoted into the presence of our Lord in 2008.
For a long time I have intended to put my memories of my friend, Dillard Crume, into writing. Today I sat down and took a walk down memory lane. The most rewarding thought today is that, since I became a Christian believer in 1987 - one day I will see my Friend/Christian brother, Dillard, again and he will still be singing praises to our Lord. Thank you, Lord, and Melanie Crume for the inspiration to write these memories, Bill
She and I had toyed with the fascination of the swinging lifestyle, and when we got settled back in Southern California there was a new movie which had become sort of an anthem for that lifestyle. That movie was "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice" and starred Natalie Wood, Robert Culp, Elliott Gould, and Dyan Cannon. It was about two Southern California couples, good friends, who decided to walk on the wild side by trying the swinging lifestyle.
Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (November 19, 1968) Cast interview on the Tonight Show
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TnplvKM4IY
We did venture into the packed Hollywood theater, found the movie interesting, and went home. A few weeks later we met a couple, nice people, friendly - and the husband said, "We saw you at the movie a couple of weeks ago, what did you think of it?" By "the movie" I knew exactly which movie he meant, and I replied, "It was an interesting view of the lifestyle, nice cast, and had some pretty good comedy in it also."
Because they were so outgoing and friendly, we became friends and they invited us to go with them to a night club in Studio City called The Swing, interesting name, describing the atmosphere within the club. It was a very nice club owned by a man, Greg McClure, and his wife.
McClure was known for the movie he starred in - The Great John L - the story of John L. Sullivan, a late 1880s American heavyweight boxing champion. Greg had other parts in movies, but that was his one shining moment. Matter of fact, I remember well seeing that 1945 movie as a kid - and then when my brother Bob and I would box, I called myself the Great John L. - except I always lost to Bob.
That made the club all the more interesting, and we found it to be full of nice looking couples and it had great music, a handsome lead singer/guitarist, who reminded me of Sidney Poitier, named Dillard Crume, who provided some of the best music of any club we had visited. And he turned out to be a very nice, humble man who was very easy to like as a person. He was not like many rock style lead singers who strut around in latex pants. He was a perfect gentleman - and my girl friend and I took an immediate liking to him. Matter of fact, I think she had a crush on Dillard, not that I would have blamed her.
Another interesting fact about The Swing, almost every weekend, the well known actor (westerns, war movies, crime, etc.), Leo Gordon, would come in, and sit by himself at the bar. He never bothered anyone, never talked with anyone that I noticed, just seemed to enjoy the music and atmosphere - and he most likely was a friend of Greg McClure, since they both were actors. About 10 years ago I became friends with Leo Gordon's daughter on Facebook when she shared a post about her dad. I shared with her how he was always a quiet gentleman.
During our first year back in Southern California, we lived in Van Nuys in the San Fernando Valley. And during that year The Swing was our go-to night club, several times a week. We were drawn to two other couples, as well as the couple who had invited us to the club originally - and most nights we four couples would sit together. Dillard took a liking to our group and during his breaks, he would come over and sit with us. We all highly respected him, mainly because, as talented as he was, he was humble - not seeking to be admired as a rock star, but as a friend with friends where he could relax and be himself.
After a year my girlfriend and I moved to Orange County because of my work and did not get to The Swing very often. After a while she and I decided to go our own ways, so we split and I got busy with my life, working for an East Coast computer company. My long time friend, Larry Lummis, and I split the Southern California area, he taking the northern half and me taking the southern half, with our office near LAX airport.
Our office consisted of Larry, Roy our field engineer, Jan our secretary, and me. Jan was the nicest, sweetest lady anywhere. One day we were talking. She had known and liked my ex-girlfriend, so we talked about some of the night spots we had frequented. Since it was Friday, I suggested, "Would you like to see some of them?"
So that evening we started visiting some of the night clubs from my previous life with my ex. I think The Swing was maybe the second club we visited. When we walked in, Dillard was still playing a set. And I did not know he noticed us at the table. But as soon as the set finished, he walked straight to our table and joined us. We chatted for a while, then Dillard surprised me when he said, "Bill, this lady does not belong here."
I looked at Jan, realizing what a sweet, naive lady she was - and immediately agreed with my friend Dillard. We left and as I understand it, not too much longer after that Dillard also left. From what I have read, Dillard turned down an offer from Greg McClure to buy into the club. Yes, he was that good an entertainer and could draw a crowd into the club most every night.
I was always convinced that, to Dillard the gig at The Swing was just that - a job. His agent booked him into the club, it was steady work with an audience which loved his music and liked him - so he stayed, I think for a couple of years.
One of the songs which Dillard sang often was "Amen" from the movie "Lilies of the Field." It was a Gospel song written for the film by Jester Hairston. When Dillard sang it at the night club and people were dancing, I often wondered, "Do they know they are dancing to a Christian Gospel song?" But that gave me a hint about Dillard's background.
After that night when Jan and I visited The Swing, I never saw Dillard again, and often wondered what had happened with him. About 15 years ago, I began to google his name - and was so happy when I found that he had gone back to his roots and was recording Christian music.
Then maybe 8 years ago, I saw a Facebook post advertising Gospel Concerts by his daughter, Melanie Crume. I immediately messaged her and we became Friends. That is when I learned that my Friend, Dillard Crume, had gone all the way back to his roots and was part of the Soul Stirrers, a Gospel music family with his brothers.
God has a way of bringing us full circle, so it was no surprise that the last part of Dillard Crume's music career was with the Soul Stirrers singing Gospel music. The Soul Stirrers were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000. And that he was promoted into the presence of our Lord in 2008.
For a long time I have intended to put my memories of my friend, Dillard Crume, into writing. Today I sat down and took a walk down memory lane. The most rewarding thought today is that, since I became a Christian believer in 1987 - one day I will see my Friend/Christian brother, Dillard, again and he will still be singing praises to our Lord. Thank you, Lord, and Melanie Crume for the inspiration to write these memories, Bill
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