WOODROSE was formed in the early 1970's in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In 1976 when "Outlaw" Country Music was still going strong, we reformed and our new lineup was: Howard Brady(Lead Vocals/Accoustic Guitar),Tony Moser(Bass/Vocals),"Jimmy" James Shultz(Lead Guitar/Vocals),Russ Campbell(Pedal Steel/Guitar/Vocals)and Mike Banks(Drums).
In 1972, a few wanna be musicians got together and decided to form a blues/rock band. We didn't know a lot of musicians on the local scene, so we called a few of our freinds and asked them to join. The original members were Tom B.(Bass), Tony Moser (Guitar/Lead Vocals),Tommy Morrison (Lead Guitar/vocals),David Dodson (Sax),Mike Banks (Drums),and Sammy Morrison (Percussion/Vocals).When it came time to come up with a name, we were all blank. Tom started talking about an interresting tropical plant that had mystical halucinagenic seeds. He said it was called the Woodrose plant. Intrigued by this, we unanamously agreed it would be the perfect name for the band. WOODROSE was born.
We played a few gigs here and there but the gigs weren't very good and neither were we. After about a year or so, we called it quits.
Then, in late 1973 or early 1974, I was paid a visit by a couple of my freinds, Howard Brady and Lee Bonner, who approached me with a crazy idea...play bass guitar in their new band. I asked what kind of band and they said country/bluegrass. Having always been a blues/rock guitarist, not owning a bass, let alone ever playing one, I hesitated. But it didn't take long to figure out that this could turn into something. After all, the "Outlaw" craze was upon us and nobody was playing it. The guys said they had access to a bass for me to play until I could get my own. It killed me, but I broke down and traded my Les Paul in for a really nice long neck Guild bass. The 3 of us and my buddy Tommy Morrison started putting some songs together. Now we realized it would sound better if we had a drummer. That's when I gave Mike Banks a call.
It was time for the name game again and I brought up my old band name. It was official...we would be called WOODROSE.
The guys didn't think Tommy's guitar style was working for what they were trying to do, so we let him go. For the next two years, WOODROSE was:
Howard Brady(Accoustic Guitar/Lead Vocals),Lee Bonner(Electric Guitar/Vocals),Mike Banks(Drums)and myself - Tony Moser(Bass/Vocals).
We covered everyone!: Willie & Waylon, Hank, John Prine, Eagles, Guy Clark....you name it.
In 1976 we decided to enter the Rock World "Rock Olympics" and came in first place in our division. (Rock World was a music store on 23rd and Penn in OKC) Our prize was a really nice keyboard, but we didn't have a keyboard player and couldn't use it, so we talked them into trading for a Tapco 16 channel Sound Board. At this time, we decided to hire a full-time sound man and a roadie. Our sound man was a real nut and a good freind. I liked to call him "Chump". His real name is Jack Newman.(A real pro) Jack came from Ford Audio in OKC. He made sure we always sounded good. Jack also mixed the sound at all of studio gigs, as well as the Katt's "Home-Grown" shows. (I need to get some of those original masters from him!!) Tim Blake a.k.a. Timmy Toes was a struggling musician in OKC who became a very good fan and freind. We decided to give him equal pay, like Jack, if he would head up the Roadie duties. He'd always make sure we were set up and would work with Jack to make sure all of the mikes (10-12) were pe-set and ready for the show.
Howard & Lee had written a few tunes which were added to the play list.(No Concern, The Singing Cowboy & The Fancy Dressed Gambler) We all put the finishing touches on a couple songs Howard & Lee were working on.(Rodeo Queen, Climb The Mountain & One Block South of the Bus Stop Blues)
As Howard liked to tell it, "Tony and I were sitting in the dining room with a bottle of Mad Dog 20/20, pickin' and grinnin', when the walls fell down and it felt like we were sittin' in the country. (That's how we wrote: You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone To The Country.) Howard wrote a beautiful song called (Butterfly Lady) that just blew you away. The only copy I have of that is from an old, stretched out cassette tape. But, I'm putting a copy on the site.
Anyway, we played every little Dive in the State of Oklahma for the next few years. Some were fun...others weren't! I don't know if all you Okies remember any of these places, but some of our favorites were: Orange Blossom Express(OKC), Longbranch Saloon(OKC), Schollar's Inn(Edmond, OK) and my favorite: Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa.
In 1976, We thought we needed a more polished sound, so we changed up the song list a little bit and brought in "Jimmy" James Shultz who played a pretty mean Les Paul. After a few months, we liked the new sound, but Lee's guitar style on lead just didn't fit. He was one of the best rythm players I've ever played with. But his style & Jimmy's just didn't work together. After some bitter words were exchanged (very unfortunate)Lee left the band.
By now, we thought we had the perfect sound, but it still lacked something. So we brought in a Pedal Steel player from just outside of Chicago by the name of Russ Campbell. We also thought of a totally different twist...a Female Vocalist. That brings in Mary Reynolds. I'm sure some of you know Mary, she is still playing & singing all over the country and has released some of her own recordings. After about a year, Mary would leave to persue her own thing. That leaves us with the last lineup of WOODROSE that I thought was really good!: Howard Brady(Accoustic Guitar/Vocals),"Jimmy" James Shultz(Lead Guitar/Vocals), Russ Campbell(Pedal Steel/Electric Guitar/Vocals), Mike Banks(Drums) and Tony Moser(Bass Guitar/Vocals).
We were playing every weekend and practicing every night while trying to hold down our day jobs.
We did some recording at this time, with the intent of putting out an album...we never did. Some of the songs were recorded at "West Winter Studios" in Blanchard, OK. We did a few "all-nighters" there. Some of those songs never had the lyrics added to them. We did some at "Lyle McPheeters Studio" in Moore, OK.(No Concern & Survive) We played the KATT's "Home Grown Show" two years in a row.(1977 & 1978) Both were recorded at "Media Sound Studio" in OKC by Dick Wilkerson. The "Home Grown Show" was (and I think still is) a radio show put on by Radio Station KATT FM-100 in Oklahoma City, which featured local talent in the Oklahoma City market. You would go in to the studio and record a live show for playback on Wednesday nights at Midnight. I had a lot of fun doing those shows. The KATT was always good to us.
In 1978, with problems brewing from within, Russ would leave the band. Shortly after, Jimmy would leave. Howard, Mike and I brought in Bobby Galloway, a lead Guitar player. He was really good. We played a few places, but just couldn't get anything going again. (Bobby did some recording with us.) In 1980, Russ and Jimmy came back. Things seemed to be going ok, but I don't think we had our hearts in it, like we had in the past. Then we had more internal problems and this time, I decided to leave the band. It was a good run!!! Eight years of music and a lot of partying. Not long after I left, Mike, Jimmy & Russ would leave.
Howard rounded up new musicians and carried on with the WOODROSE name and did quite well.
Tony Moser
(For later recordings of Howard and the New Woodrose see www.soundclick.com/woodrose)
No. After starting the band in 1972 and enjoying every minute of it, I decided to leave the band in 1980.
Willie & Waylon, Eagles, Poco, Bob Wills, Guy Clark, Hank Williams Sr.
