We could understand Ricky Lynn  feeling the need to go out on his own, and we'd accepted that he was taking our crew and manager with him, but that was the extent of our capacity for forgiveness in that regard. To his credit, when Rick Miller saw our reactions upon telling us about possibly breaking up the band to go with Ricky, I believe he was so moved that he knew right then that he wouldn't be able to do that to us. But, why not? It was the music business. Everyone would get over it and move on, right? There was just one problem. Rick Miller had a conscience. 

Ultimately, it was Rick's conscience that told him not to sell out. He would not be leaving Savvy to go with Ricky, nor would he be firing all of us to make room for Ricky's new band buddies. For one thing, it wouldn't be consistent with his recent stand regarding being loyal to Rich Mauch. There were plenty of reasons that going with Ricky would have been the wrong thing to do, and thankfully, Rick Miller had thought of them before it was too late. But Rick also knew that feelings had been hurt when he'd told us about his thoughts of replacing us with Ricky's band. Emotions were running at an all time high. We would later learn about one more important factor in play.  Years earlier in his career, Rick Miller had made a promise to himself that if things weren't working out in the music business by the time he reached 30 years old, he would get out.  It was as simple as that. Ricky's leaving had created a terrible, and unfortunate string of events that culminated in making Rick remember that promise. Was it time for him to make good on it? Would it be better for everyone involved if he just walked away from the entire mess?

Rick Miller pondered on it for a day and then made an important decision. Still only being 29, and not wanting the Savvy name to end on someone else's terms, he called a meeting for the following day. By then, I was so sick of the whole situation that I seriously considered not even going. I'd learned that with these guys, just when you think something couldn't possibly be worse, it is. I was sick of bad news, and threats of people quitting, firing someone, or worrying about getting fired. I was an emotional wreck. But Rick did say he would be cooking hamburgers outside on the grill, so I decided to at least get a free last meal out of the deal. 

This meeting would prove to be the first step in turning things around, getting everyone back on the same page, and putting Savvy back together again. Rick had given a lot of thought to the matter and had concluded that he wasn't ready to give up on Savvy, but did feel he needed to take some time away from the band. When we asked how long, he simply replied, "Until I'm ready." It was better than the other options we'd been talking about. Plus, we all felt we could benefit from a break, after all that had gone down. In all the years we'd played together, we'd never dealt with anything near this taxing or problematic. It was as if we all were suddenly forced to see each other's dark sides at the same time. It wasn't pretty. Rich Mauch had a word for how we'd all been feeling for the previous couple of days; "Glossy!"

After munching on home cooked burgers in the back yard, we assembled in the living room once again to decide on what our next steps would be. Ricky's last night with us would be during the Labor Day Telethon. That was a special traditional event which was also for a great cause, so we decided to make that the final gig with Ricky. Then after the telethon we would take off for two months. I didn't mind so much because I had the second income from the Ronald McDonald shows to support me. Rick had an income from the club to carry him. RJ was living with Marilyn, and she wasn't going to let him starve, so he would be okay. So it came down to Dan and Rich. How would they get by? Dan had some money put back, and Rich was living with Jan and Wayne, Rick Miller's sister and brother-in-law. They were co-owners of Savvy's Nightclub and worked at the club too. They would find something for Rich to do at the club during the time off. So it seemed everyone would be able to handle the hiatus. 

For the second time in a week, I felt that a huge weight was off my shoulders. Things seemed to even get back to normal, which was a good thing. We still had another month together and it was important that we all try to get along. There was a lot of tension between RJ and Ricky, but they stayed far away from each other, barely speaking, so it wasn't a problem. Ricky started wearing a cowboy hat, which I knew was his personal statement about the changes that were coming. He wore it on stage and off, which set him apart from us even more even at a glance.  

Ricky in his cowboy hat, which he wore for most of his final month with Savvy.

Things had really been messed up. Friendships had been ruined. Bridges had been burned. Some chose to forgive and others would forever hold a grudge. Then something happened that would top off the whole fiasco with a thorny crown of irony. We'd been so busy with band meetings and freaking out that we'd almost overlooked being nominated for the Best Regional Album by Buddy Magazine. Before Ricky's bad news, this would've been huge for us. However, under the circumstances it was barely going to be a footnote in our band's history. It was decided that Ricky and I would go to the Awards Banquet to represent the band. That would mean I was going to have to rent a tuxedo.

The Class Reunion of  Northside High (class of '73) was held on August 12th in Saginaw, Texas. The event took place at a building normally used for 4H Club meetings. Since many of the people from that graduating class were cowboy hat-wearing, beer drinking cowboys, it was appropriate. Out of everyone at that event, I was the only guy with long hair to attend. It was really long, too. Most of my classmates knew I was in a band, and some had even come to Savvy's at one time or another. There were a few, though, who just didn't seem to know what to say to me. Unfortunately, not everyone had grown up yet, and there was a drunken brawl or two before the night was over. That was my cue to leave. 

I took Rhonda with me. Some people attending were; Reece Pettigrew, Jimmy Mask, Debbie Papajohn, Chetta Hayes, Jimmy Murray, Coy Farmer, Steve Kemp, Joe Jernigan, Joey Jameson, Bari Bay, Elias Mercado, Jo Ann Maldanado, Yolanda, Krisha McMurray, Sara Bell, Nancy Yeargan, Ted Hedrick, Tim Howell, Randy Patterson, Tommy Bailey, Toni Bullard, Steve Pokluda, Claudia Roden, Sharon Anderson, Rose Watson, Morris Thompson, and many more. The vice principal's wife, Ms. Berg, told me that she not only remembered me, but could recall the tux I'd wore at the prom. I did the whole top hat, gloves, and cane thing.

 [In 2004,  our 30th Reunion would be a picture-perfect model for what a reunion SHOULD be. It was wonderful, and as a result of that event, many of us are now staying in touch on a regular basis.]

On August 22, 1983, Buddy Magazine held the Buddy Awards at Tangos, a club in Dallas. There was a $50 per person cover, which might have been why the rest of the band passed. I guess Buddy Magazine had find the money somewhere to pay for those tiny acrylic cubes they call awards. Our pals from Waco were kind enough to transport Ricky, Laurie, and me to the event in one of their limos. We started off at the Pre-Awards Party at Poor David's Pub where we saw Johnny Red and the Roosters, and Phil York. Then it was on to Tangos. Once there, we met up with Larry and Deana Patton. It was a formal event, so we rented tuxedos. I looked like a waiter, more than a potential award-winning rock star. 

Ray Wylie Hubbard was the MC. Point Blank played a great set, and Ricky later sat in with them on a jam session. He also sat in with Karen Bella. Mark Stevens (of Stevens & Pruitt / Mark E. Baby fame) and local TV personality Jocelyn White were the presenters for our award. Savvy tied with the Juke Jumpers for the BEST REGIONAL ALBUM category. Ricky and I went up to accept the clear, acrylic cube, and we both had an opportunity to say a few words. I don't remember what Ricky said, but here was my speech;

"In the words of world famous clown, Ronald McDonald, 'When you're up you're up. When you're down you're down. But when you're only half way up, you're neither up or down.' This is UP! Thank you!" 

I knew there were at least five people in the room who would get it.

That's me with Ricky's gal, Laurie, dressed for the Buddy 
Awards. Ricky took the photo. At $50 a ticket, my rented 
tux was my date.

August had started with two weeks at Savvy's in Ft. Worth, the Buddy Award Banquet, followed by 5 nights in Waco. By the time we were two weeks away from the breakup, Tolbert Pittman and Joel Parks were permanent fixtures in my house. I was numb to the whole thing by then, and was just looking forward to getting it over with. On August 29th we played a Frat Party in Denton for Sigma Phi. 

After the Frat Party we had two nights off. Instead of relaxing, I was once again finding myself tormented with worries about the future. We had played our last full night at Savvy's together with this lineup on August 22nd. The next time we would play there would only be for a final set or two during the telethon. The finality of it all was setting in. I was truly dazed and confused about everything.

Savvy's demise had become a public Soap Opera of sorts, and more people were joining the cast with every passing day. My old childhood friend LD Lumpkin was both thrilled -- and frightened nearly to death to suddenly find himself in a supporting, and reoccurring role. We'd grown up less than a block away from each other and he'd wanted to be in a band since the days when he'd seen me playing with Don Hudson and the Royal Kings. I had a few years head start on him, but he was never too far behind, playing in one band or another around town. At one point during the period when Ricky had me thinking I was going to be in his new band, he'd asked me if I knew any available keyboard players. I suggested Dan Kostura, joking that he came with a ready-made band. Ricky didn't see the humor. Then I thought of my old pal LD. Ricky had met LD a few times, but wasn't sure if he had the experience they were looking for. Still, he was willing to let him audition. That same night, I just happened to run into LD's girlfriend, Pat, at Savvy's. I pulled her aside and asked if she knew where LD was, and that I had had something very important to discuss with him. He was playing a gig in Chorpus Christi, so I swore Pat to secrecy and explained the situation. It was important that LD get in touch with me ASAP in order to get a chance to audition before the keyboard position was filled. 

Here's how LD remembers it:

"Mystery was playing in Corpus Christi when my girlfriend Pat called to say that she'd seen Steve Jones at Savvy's, and he told her that Ricky was leaving Savvy to form a new band, and that he and Steve wanted me to audition. The news was overwhelming. First, to hear that Ricky was leaving was surprising, because from my point of view, Savvy was successful and poised to take the next big step. Second, Ricky was like a rock and roll God to most of us. I couldn't believe that he would consider me for a spot in his new band. Third, to be in a band with my lifelong friend Steve Jones made it seem like I had hit the rock and roll lottery. As I recall, I called Steve soon after and he confirmed that yes, Ricky was leaving to put together a new band, and that Ricky was talking about bringing him along too. 

At some point during July of 1983, Ricky or Hud contacted me to arrange an audition at Pantego studio.  Mystery had a three night gig in Wichita Falls and I told them I could audition on Monday night when I returned. When I mentioned that I was looking forward to the opportunity to possibly be in a band with both Ricky AND Steve, I was told that Steve would not be a part of the new band.  I was disappointed that my fantasy of Steve and I playing in the same band was not going to happen.  I must admit that I had sort of counted on Steve to be my advocate regarding being accepted into the band.  I was excited and disappointed at the same time.  During my subsequent auditions with Ricky's band I would learn from Ricky that he'd never really considered Steve for the new group, but had been 'leading him on'  in order to guarantee his loyalty and silence. Ricky didn't want the other members of Savvy knowing what was going on, but because Steve lived with Ricky, there was no way to keep it from him, and no other way -- according to Ricky -- to keep things under wraps... 

That Sunday night in Wichita Falls is one I'll never forget.  It was during the second set of the night when my band Mystery broke up.  We had just played Two Tickets to Paradise by Eddie Money.  After the song ended, I was busy changing from guitar to keyboards, when on the other side of the stage, the manager approached our bass player, Jim Hill, and told him there was an emergency phone call for him.  I didn't see any of this and was unaware that there had been a phone call.  What I did see was Jim running out of the club.  Nick Schepis, our guitar player, told the crowd we would be taking a short break.  I went outside and found Jim crying uncontrollably at the side of the club.  He had received word that his father, a well-respected, well-known pastor in Arlington, had committed suicide earlier that evening.  Denial and shock filled us.  No one knew what to say.  Jim briefly relayed what he knew.  That his father had told his associate pastor to preach the Sunday night sermon.  While Jim's mother was at church, Mr. Hill went into the garage and shot himself.  He left a note describing his long battle with depression.

Fortunately, my girlfriend Pat was at the gig with us that night and had brought her car.  Still decked out in my stage garb consisting of Spandex pants, leg warmers, various bandanas and wristbands, Jim, Pat and I set off for Arlington in her Trans Am to take our grieving friend home.  I had Pat get out my drivers license because I knew that I would be exceeding the speed limit and I fully expected to get stopped.  Sure enough, a DPS officer pulled us over.  I can only imagine what he thought when he saw us.  I explained what had happened and he let us go with a warning to slow down.  We arrived at Jim's parent's house to find five or six police cars and an ambulance in front. Their garage doors were open and officers and technicians were milling around. We couldn't help having one desperate last hope that it had all been some kind of horrible mistake, but sadly, before Jim could get out of the car, the coroner wheeled the body out on a gurney and took Jim's dad away from his house for the last time.  Jim got out of the car and stepped into a nightmare.  I asked if he wanted us to stay, but he declined.  He walked into the garage and on into the house.  Pat and I went home.  Jim called me several hours later at about 6am and wanted some weed.  I had a little and took some over to him.  The weed probably helped me a lot more than it did him. And then there was the irony of the whole thing...  Yesterday, we were rockers in Wichita Falls.  Now, life had changed forever.  

I stayed with Jim for several hours until the early afternoon.  The audition with Ricky was scheduled for that night. There was no way to be that close to someone when they are having the worst day of their life, and not be affected too. I was in no mental, emotional or creative state to be able to perform my best, but this was a big opportunity for me and there was no backing out.  Words can't describe the surreal feeling I had when I got to the studio and saw Ricky, met Joel Parks - the drummer, and Tolbert Pittman - the bass player.  I had a brand new Prophet 5 keyboard and had not had the chance to explore the sounds and nuances of the new contraption.  We jammed a little and then the real test began.  Ricky had a new original and he wanted me to come up with a keyboard part.  So it sets up like this: the night before I am in Wichita falls, there has been a suicide, I am working on 4 hours sleep, I have a new keyboard, I am intimidated by the studio, Ricky, Hudson, the other band members.....and I am expected to come up with a keyboard part for an original song....in front of everybody.  There was alcohol and weed available, but I declined.  The last thing I needed at that point was an altered mental state.  I did come up with a keyboard part that I liked.  I didn't get much feedback from Ricky or Hudson, so I didn't know how I had done.

 At the end of the audition, I was thanked and shown the door.  I would continue to "audition" for another whole month.  In fact I wasn't told that I was in the band until one week before the first gig." -- (memories of L.D. Lumpkin)

Savvy was booked for a two-night engagement beginning September 1st at the Caddyshack Club in Abilene. There was just one minor problem; the PA system that we normally used for our road gigs wasn't available. At the eleventh hour we found ourselves scrambling to try to locate a PA system for the trip. My old friend, LD Lumpkin saved the day. It was like a modern-day version of the cavalry coming to the rescue, only instead of horses -- they showed up in an old beat-up yellow school bus. Ricky knew that LD still had access to Mystery's PA, and the bus they'd used to travel in, so he asked LD if we could rent the system and if he could deliver it to Abilene for us. The timing seemed to work out, and LD managed to recruit a friend of his to help him wrangle the equipment, and make the trip with him. Years later, LD would confide in me that he'd been extremely stressed about the equipment working properly, and getting it all set up for us. To him, Savvy was still a pretty big deal and he didn't want to be responsible for anything screwing up our gig. But the sound system worked just fine and LD did in fact do a "solid" for Savvy.  LD would also later add that his helper almost didn't make the trip because he took so long to find a vein to inject himself with crystal meth. 

Photo taken out the rear window of Ricky's Cutlass shows
LD Lumpkin driving the Mystery School Bus, filled with PA 
and light equipment, to the last Savvy road club gig in Abilene.

Besides the last minute hassles of trying to locate a PA for the tour, the other big news from that trip was our search for decent lodging. On the first night, we stayed at the Sunset Lodge. It was simply awful, and infested with roaches. The following day, we tried to move to the Royal Inn, and then the Kiva, but both places told us that our hair was too long, and that they'd recently had problems with bands tearing up rooms and being disruptive. Unbelievable! We ended up staying at the Lamplighter Inn, a place infested with crickets. It came down to roaches or crickets and we decided to take our chances with the crickets, which turned out to be a bad choice. At least roaches aren't noisy. I walked across the street to a computer store to kill some time. Ricky stayed mostly to himself.

On the 3rd of September, 1983, we played an outdoor concert on a bridge over the Brazos River in Waco for a Baylor Fraternity. It was a big mess from start to finish. A guy from a Waco lighting company named Steven was just having all kinds of problems getting the lights in place and working. Everyone was giving him a really hard time. To make things tougher for him, the movie "Clash of the Titans" had been out recently and RJ pointed out that he looked a little like one of the Claymation characters from the movie. Needless to say, his nickname became Clash. I'm sure he wondered what we were talking about. It was good for a few laughs, and was an example of how cruel we could be sometimes at the expense of others.

The Savvy Boys show up to play the Baylor Frat Party on the bridge over the 
Brazos River in Waco.  

The problem seemed to be that the small utility building on the bridge was locked, and without a key, there would be no power for the equipment or lights. Finally, RJ and Rick (Frat Rick from Waco) broke into the small building and power was turned on. The stage area was extremely small. The keyboards and drums were set up in awkward positions due to limited space. I found out that one of the Waco Frat guys had started dating Peggy, a girl I'd dated from Waco. That explained why he'd been getting a little glossy when I'd come to town lately. I made a mental note to talk with him to let him know it was absolutely cool, and not to worry. I was pretty much becoming full time with Rhonda by then, anyway.

The bridge over the Brazos River, where we played our last concert as Savvy with Ricky.

I ended up riding with Ricky to the Waco gig. We had a really good talk. He was soul searching about his relationship with Laurie. He also told me that he was glad when I stopped seeing Sherry because she'd been "too pushy."  That had been a really odd way of putting it. I felt there was much more to that story than he was willing to get into at that place and time, and I didn't blame him. At least that was the paranoid gut feeling I'd had at the time. But that was OLD business. It was rock-and-roll, babe. NBD.  

The words we spoke weren't near as important as the fact that we were talking at all. By the time we got back into town after driving in from the Waco gig, it was officially September 4th - the day the Telethon was to begin, and the next to last day of my partnership with Ricky Lynn Gregg.

Ricky and I are in position for our famous "back bend" bit. I would stand back to 
back with Ricky as he played a fiery lead, and he could lean back against me as I 
leaned all the way forward until my face met the floor. I'd raise up and back down 
and he trusted I wouldn't let him fall. From the front it appeared that he was just 
falling and rising effortlessly without ever missing a note. Since the breakup, I
found the photo to also be representative of Ricky and I going our separate ways
after some of the best years of my life.

CHAPTER 49:  AIN'T NUTHIN' WRONG!

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