Greetings Gene Clark Fans! We're sending the <img height="22" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5e9922_bbb9a23c29c9407f8a31e2fc45adead6.png_256" width="22"> L O V E <img height="22" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5e9922_bbb9a23c29c9407f8a31e2fc45adead6.png_256" width="22">  to you with another issue of Echoes!

NEWS

This month:

• This month we have two "photos of the month" for you courtesy of JOHN DELGATTO at Sierra Records. These photos of were taken by Byrds manager Jim Dickson when Bob Dylan appeared on stage with the band 53 years ago on February 26, 1965 at Ciro's Le Disc in Hollywood, CA. Bob played harmonica with the Byrds on a song by Jimmy Reed called 'Baby, What You Want Me To Do'. While most are familiar with the photo on the back of the Mr. Tambourine Man album, these previously unpublished photos were taken at the same show. Thank you to John Delgatto for sharing these with Echoes' readers!

• Echoes was saddened to learn about the passing of musician and activist HUGH MASEKELA on January 23, 2018. Hugh arranged the horns for 3 Gene Clark songs, "Back Street Mirror", "Don't Let it Fall Through" from Sierra Records' The Lost Studio Sessions 1964-1982 and "Yesterday, Am I Right" (currently unreleased). You can read his obituary here. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and fans.

• Gene's Gear is here! Our first installment on the guitars Gene had throughout his career.

• 5 Questions with JOHN YORK

According to David Clark's book Hours of Joy, A True American Stroy, Gene purchased his first guitar sometime in 1962 at the famed Jenkins Music Company store in Kansas City, MO. Gene had invited his brother David to come along with him and Gene's girlfriend at the time, Gay Lindsey, to purchase a guitar. Gay was very supportive of Gene's music career and helped with the purchase of the guitar. So what ever happened to it? Read on to find out.

Gibson Dove Guitar (1962–1996) The Dove was Gibson's second square-shouldered dreadnought, after the introduction of the Hummingbird in 1960. First made in 1962 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, it was based on the Martin D-style dreadnought. (Source: Wikipedia) Right, Jenkins Music Store, Kansas City, MO.

David Clark:
"As far as the guitar I mentioned in the book (Hours of Joy, A True American Story), it was a six string Gibson *Hummingbird. Gene did not travel much with it because he did not have a suitable travel case for it for air travel. When he joined the New Christy Minstrels, Randy Sparks insisted on a uniform look for the group and thought the Hummingbird out of sync with the groups image, so Gene was either furnished, or purchased a Martin, also a six string as seen in one of the most notable promotional photos of the group, which is on the cover of their The Definitive New Christy Minstrels album."

[*N.B. – after checking with Gene’s other brother, Rick Clark, it is more likely that Gene purchased a Gibson Dove rather than the Hummingbird mentioned here and elsewhere. Gene's Martin will be covered in a future "Gene's Gear" article.]

Out on the Side

Other Gene Clark related news:

​​​​​​In The Plan

• “Gene Therapy” a Gene Clark podcast – topics & music specific to Gene’s career
• "Who's Who" List of people associated with Gene Clark
• "Backstage Pass" - Echoes is always looking for recollections from fans who met Gene at show and maybe even snapped a photo or two. Email GeneClarkWebsite@gmail.com if you have anything you'd like to share.
• Guest Blog Spot - Do you have a talent for writing? Have you always wanted to write about your favorite Gene Clark album, or share your interpretions of his songs? If you would like to submit an interesting blog piece about Gene Clark for our website, please contact Echoes at GeneClarkWebsite@gmail.com with your pitch, Echoes would love to hear from you!

SPECIAL FEATURE

The Story of Prince Valiant and the Cookie Fairies!

The period after Gene’s departure from the Byrds was a very exciting and experimental time for him. Being on his own, filled with an endless supply of inspiration to write songs, he seemed keen on trying different things out and had various projects going on.

One song Gene wrote during this time was for a couple of young girls known as “THE COOKIE FAIRIES”. Later, he also wrote songs for The Rose Garden and an instrumental piece for a public service education film featuring Things To Come (but that’s another tale for another time). This month, Echoes is delighted to speak with “Cookie Fairy” CANDIE CALLAWAY MULLINS to bring you their "Fairy Tale"!

Once upon a time...

Carol Millsip and I were classmates at Santa Barbara High School and graduated in 1965. We were originally a threesome with our friend Phil Mendoza doing appearances as a dance trio miming top-10 hits for conventions.

A dream comes true

We loved to sing along with all kinds of music from The Beatles to Bob Dylan. We dropped Phil, became a duo, and set off on our own. Our friend and classmate Madelyn Silver Palley was a teen reporter for the Santa Barbara News Press and got to interview many new rock groups in Los Angeles. She and Carol went to one of these interviews with The Byrds. Carol came back saying "if they can make it...so can we"!  We made a "demo" using a record with "Beatles" background music. Madelyn took it to a guy she knew in L.A. who was looking for girl singers. He had his boss, Jack Millman of Music Industries, listen to it and somehow he heard promise in our very rough harmonies. We signed a contract (our parents had to sign) and were thrilled!

Finding a Prince at the [Hamburger] Hamlet

Jack (who had been first trumpet with The Stan Kenton Orchestra) found our "key" on the piano and had us write songs...bad songs. He said we would do better if we got someone else to write for us. As it turned out, we happened to see Gene Clark eating lunch outside at Hamburger Hamlet on Sunset Blvd. We crossed the street and took a chance. "Would you be interested in writing song for a new girl duo?" Gene was so gracious and invited to come inside for coffee and conversation.  He said he was venturing into some new areas including producing new music and gave us his phone number!  A couple of days later he came to our manager's home not far from Gene's place up Laurel Canyon. to begin a new project.

Fairies "Don't Know What You Want"

Carol and I sang over the Turn! Turn! Turn! album from beginning to end. Gene was very excited about our harmonies and timing. That week we all got together at Music Industries and Gene told us he had a song in mind for us he just needed to write it and we could begin practicing. Within a week he was back with a recording of  "Don't Know What You Want" and a practice acetate of him playing the song [with] a guitar, solo. One [for] each [of us] so we could practice at home. We did a lot of singing with Gene standing between us going back and forth with the harmonies and timing. His enthusiasm was uplifting and gave us a reason to work hard.  

Origin of the name "Cookie Fairies"

We had been "The Army Brats" until after making many trips to Canter's, we decided to become "The Cookie Fairies".  That was due to our signature on the bags of cookies we brought to Chris Hillman and Mike Clarke for weeks [from] "Your Local Friendly Cookie Fairies". We would knock or ring the doorbell and run away! It seemed perfect. Our friend Madelyn had the addresses and phone numbers for scads of musicians. Mike and Chris were the easiest to locate. What fun!

The Cookie Fairies appear in KRLA's The Beat, August 27, 1966. Note also the band Things To Come, who also worked with Gene on a soundtrack for a public service educational film called "Marijuana" in 1968.

Making magic

Finally we got to the part where we practiced with studio musicians. Gene said he would like to have The Byrds do some of the background stuff eventually.  We went into Columbia Recording Studios (same one Donovan used) with Gene, Billy Elder and studio musicians. Carol and I did one take and one "voice over" on the vocals, Gene added a bass boost by pounding on a wooden podium and Billy added a triangle! It turned out great for a first time outing. We all watched the recording etched onto an acetate. Meanwhile, The Beach Boys were recording part of  "Good Vibrations" in another studio. They came over and wished us "good luck"!

Memories

Gene was always a perfect gentleman at all times but was also very witty and fun loving at the same time. I guess my favorite memory would be the last time I saw him in 1966, it was at his home on Stanley Hills Drive where we had a nice and caring conversation about the past year. I told him to go ahead and record "Don't Know What You Want" if he'd like and he said, "I'll never record it because I wrote it for you". So kind and considerate. I will always hold him in my heart.

And they lived happily...

Carol and I went our separate ways. I last saw her in 1970 at City College in Santa Barbara. She later was married and moved to Canada with her son.  Madelyn moved to London to attend the London School of Economics, got her degree and still works in entertainment in Santa Barbara, CA. You could say she was our Brian Epstein. I never continued in music but married a musician in a bluegrass band! I became an electronics tech and am now retired. I have two talented daughters who live in Los Angeles and are accomplished singers and musicians. One is a graphic designer and the other is in business collections. It is always a good idea to get your degree and also enjoy your music!

Echoes would like to thank Candice Callaway for sharing her recollections of The Cookie Fairies and of working with Gene Clark!

JOHN YORK

JOHN YORK is a singer-songwriter, bassist and guitarist who worked with the Sir Douglas Quintet, Johnny Rivers and The Mamas and the Papas. He briefly joined GENE CLARK, Skip Battin & Ed Hoh as part of the second Gene Clark Group in 1966 playing the Whiskey A-Go-Go for a brief run early in March 1967. Shortly after, he became a member of The Byrds replacing Chris Hillman from 1968–1969. In the mid-1980s, John toured with Gene as part of the 20th Anniversary Tribute to the Byrds ensemble and along with Pat Robinson and Gene Clark also formed the group CRY (Clark, Robinson, York). He continues to make appearances with other artists such as Carla Olson as well as appearing as a solo act. For information on tour dates and more visit  www.johnyorkmusic.com.

1. When was the first time you met Gene?

I think I first met Gene when I was hired to play in his band at the Whisky with Clarence White and Eddie Hoh in 1967.
 

2. What is your favorite Gene Clark story/memory?

I have so many memories of Gene it is impossible to pick my favorite. Writing with him in his kitchen might be my favorite

4. Favorite Gene Clark Song/Album?

So many great songs..."She Don't Care About Time" has been a favorite for years. Lately I've been partial to "Spanish Guitar."

5. Complete the sentence:

I think Gene Clark should be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame because... 

Gene's songs are his heart-felt gift to all of us. It is only right that we acknowledge the value of that gift while we still can. 

(Photos: top, John York at the Gene Clark 50th Anniversary Tribute, February 25, 2017 by Joaquin Montalvan. Bottom, Rick Robers, Gene Clark and John York, by William E. Allen.)

Ciao for now until next month!

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