Formerly known as the Great Divide Rockers (with Sandy Munroe the owner of the Great Divide music store as the sponsor) the team was predominantly made up of musicians…and John Sommers (the great fiddle, mandolin, banjo player and author of the HUGE John Denver hit “Thank God , I’m a Country Boy”) was the coach and manager.

One day about nine seasons ago, John Sommers chanced upon Dave
Bluefield (former keyboardist for Three Dog Night) outside City Market in Aspen. It was in the ensuing conversation that John handed the mantel of running the squad over to David, who at the time, was coach and manager of Boogies, the perennial league standouts.

Bluefield could not ignore his deep musical roots and gladly agreed to switch teams and take over the thankless job of figuring out who gets to bat
higher in the order and how to get fourteen guys on a field that only allows ten.

Another challenge for Bluefield was fielding a complete squad of players who would actually show up to the games …yes attendance counts…because of the huge myriad of summer activities available and the biggest
challenge..how to convince spunky skilled and FAST-running younger guys to agree to play with “eroding skills” over-40 guys.

It was actually an easy choice for Bluefield in that he was a member of Network, the great 7-piece local wedding and special event band. Other members of the band already on the squad were Bo Hale, Sean Mullen ( both retired) and Steve Cole (saxophonist, centerfield and big lefty bat). Other musicians on the squad were Dennis DJ Jung( bassist,left side infield and #3 hole hitter), Dave Notor (mandolin).The team also had/has some
non-musicians Dave Dawson (pitcher, clean-up hitter), Dave Weiss (leadoff), Paul Scrivens (first base) and Michael Munro ( audio/video tech, third base). Other players that switched over from other teams in the league were Greg Shugars (recruited from Misfits), Terry Trisch and Richard Schlein
(both recruited from Boogies)

The history of the team’s performance in the regular league season includes one championship and numerous above .500 finishes. The playoffs, which take place on a weekend in August, are a different matter. Because many of the opening playoff round games start very early on a Saturday morning..waaaay to early for a late-nite musician to get up in time to attend…the team, up to Bluefield’s time at the helm, had never made it into Sunday.

Hoping to bring the winning tradition of Boogies with him, David recruited
Tudie Calderon ( strong-armed infielder and percussionist), and some
non-musicians (Jack Lewis former owner of what is now the Harleywood Cafe),
and the all-important element of young fast outfielders( Mitchell,Pete,
Brent, Jed, Chad, and slugger Dean).

So, over the years ,the team, known as Dave’s Rockers (Dave’s Dawson, Weiss, Notor and Bluefield) has performed better ..actually playing both Boogies and the very strong Maroon Creek Club deep into the regular and playoff seasons…a highlight being a 3rd place in the 2001 regular and tournament season.

Other former (and now retired) musician /softball standouts were Bernie
Mysior, Haden Gregg (both excellent infielders and former members of
Starwood the highly touted local band that garnered Columbia and Windsong
recording contracts) and Billy Conn (standout shortstop and bassist for
Treehouse).

This current season has just ended with a new sponsor …Harleywood Cafe, new colors and new attitude. Stay tuned for next yearl!

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Jimmy Dykann had his musical

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When Jimmy came to Colorado in 1972, he began a thirty year infatuation with the stories of people of the west, past and present. He spent the mid seventies playing in and out of Austin, Texas with bands and as a solo act, and always writing songs. The late seventies found Jimmy Dykann back in southern California teamed up with another singer/songwriter, Haden Gregg, whom he’d met and played with in Colorado. They recorded an album of original material with top session players, Russ Kunkel (James Taylor, Jackson Browne), Steve Lukather (Toto) and Danny Kortchmar (Taylor, Don Henley). It was an international release, and came out on Handshake Records, a subsidiary of Columbia/Sony, in 1981 as Night Plane.

In the mid-eighties Jimmy again went solo, came back to Colorado, and began opening shows throughout the state for Jimmy Buffet, Jerry Jeff Walker, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Delbert McClinton, and others. Dykann keeps a busy schedule of private and public appearances and is currently promoting his newest release Colorado: History in Song, a group of story songs about Colorado.

Again, the show was a special and musically rewarding evening.

If you did not get a chance to see either of T. Ray’s concerts, please stay tuned to this website for his next appearance. T. Ray Becker is a true cowboy, singer, songwriter and story telling talent. He often takes the time between songs to give the audience the story behind the writing of the song.

T. Ray frequently tells a story and then recites the lyrics to a song — thus giving his performance an extra measure of spirit. Check out the signature on T. Ray’s guitar. If you attend the next T. Ray Becker concert, you will learn the story of how Dr. Ralph Stanley came to autograph the guitar T’ Ray has played for 20 years and calls “Bob.” This artist is someone you do not want to miss in the close up and personal environment of Harleywood Cafe’…………. Harley

Come join us for another free concert at Harleywood Cafe’ this Friday

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T. Ray Becker’s sweat stained cowboy hat is testament to the years he spent branding calves and breaking horses from Colorado to Montana. He also has a degree in fine arts, composes rich, poetic lyrics and music, plays a variety of musical instruments and speaks intelligently about religion and philosophy. There is something both thought provoking and comforting about the way he expresses himself. You might call it “down home” eloquence.

A seasoned player, his riveting vocal and instrumental performances have carried him from the smoky blues joints of his native Chicago through the chic nightclubs of Aspen and on to much larger concert venues in Nashville, Austin, Tulsa and across the U. S. Along the way he has shared the stage with such epic talents as the Eagles, ZZ Top, Asleep at the wheel, John Denver and countless others.

No stranger to the rigors of the life “on the road,” Becker has crisscrossed the country in the tradition of Woody Guthrie and Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, with only his guitar to keep him fed. He also played the club circuit with an eight piece band. Becker’s appeal is universal, easily crossing cultural and generational barriers. Like a Norman Rockwell with a slide guitar, he paints us all into the picture.

The host of a popular Nashville’s Songwriter’s venue recently introduced Becker by saying, “OK, y’all… set up and take notice, ’cause what you’re about to experience is ‘the real deal,’ THIS is Mr. T. Ray Becker.”

In 1992 T. Ray produced an album-length recording of his music, titled “THE PRICE OF THE SONG,” and a breathtaking music video taken from one of the songs on the CD and filmed on location in the Colorado Rockies. In 1998, T. Ray’s second album-length CD was produced with the backing of fellow artist, neighbor and friend, Carl Brown. “PATHOS BILL RIDES AGAIN” features thirteen original songs, over twenty musicians and vocalist from Nashville, Austin, Tulsa, the West Coast and Colorado. The final mix was done by Grammy-winning engineer Aaron White and it was mastered by Jerry Tubb at Terra Nova Digital Audio in Austin, Texas.

The hard times, the good times, the joy and the pain of life — It’s all here. When you experience his music we think you will join his many fans in saying, “T. Ray Becker is indeed the real deal.”

More about T. Ray

Big Daddy is a virtuoso at singing and playing traditional blues. His guitar style revolves around “less is more” and he treats your ears in that fashion. He is an extraordinary musician.

Also in the Kingbees: Mike Stahl plays harp and guitar, and surprised us when he broke out the lap slide for one song. Mike’s harp playing is an essential part of the Big Daddy sound.
Dead Bob

Deborah Lasser, fresh from hip surgery, had a tremendous amount of stamina for the gig. She plays the bass as well as anyone I have had the pleasure to hear, and also provides back up vocals for Big Daddy.

Billy Jensen, what can I say. You have to hear this drummer to understand what tasteful and dynamic drumming is all about. His touch makes Big Daddy’s show work in the small environment of HWC.

Towards the end of the evening, Big Daddy was joined by Dead Bob on guitar. We love it when Dead Bob shows up, as he always provides a tasteful addition to anybody he sits in with. The crowd was truly presented with an up close, personal and entertaining evening. Thanks to everyone……… Harley

Friday Evening, Nov 7th, 2003 — 7:00pm to 10:00pm.

Big Daddy Lee and the Kingbees is a high-energy band that loves to
play blues — no — needs to play the blues! For these guys, the blues is
a passion; an addiction that can only be satisfied by a regular outpouring
of the compelling music that flows like a drug in their veins

Deborah “Legs” Lasser Mike “Dr. Feelgood” Stahl “Big Daddy” Lee Hollowell

“All real players know that the essence of the blues is “the groove”, the hypnotic beat that really is the song. When you lock onto the groove, it can be cosmic. It becomes the only thing that exists at that time”, says Big Daddy. “People have asked me about incidents that occurred during a gig, and I’ll have absolutely no idea what they’re talking about. My total consciousness becomes the music.”

Based in Carbondale, Colorado, the members are all long-time players. The bad consists of the classic blues configuration: bass, drums, guitar and harmonica. They play original and classic blues and R&B tunes in a wide range of styles, but will also reach back occasionally to pull out classic 60′s gems such as Pipeline or Secret Agent Man.

“Big Daddy” Lee Hollowell has been singing, playing guitar and performing for over 35 years. He covers most of the lead vocals and plays guitar. His cool sense of rhythm and soulful lead playing provide the spark that keeps all those bodies moving on the dance floor. Equally adept at playing slow swing, or rockin’ blues, Big Daddy likes to mix it up and play to the audience.

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The backbone of any band is the rhythm section, bass and drums, laying down the grooves upon which songs are built. Bass player Deborah “Legs” Lasser is as solid as they come, and very attractive (especially for a bass player.) She also fronts her own band, Los Gitanos. The drummer, Bill Jensen, is a talented and versatile musician. He has played locally in popular bands including Sector 7G, Third Wheel, Wanda and Her Assets, and Rockslide.

If you are looking for great music and a good time give The Kingbees a try.

For booking information contact Lee Hollowell at 970-963-1924, or
Email: browndog@sopris.net