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Valentine
and the Ticklers - Okay, well maybe not HAM, but Kansas
City's best acoustic trio definitely cooks up some good
stuff on stage. The only Kansas City act to proudly
perform an "all request" show, Valentine and the Ticklers
entertain the masses with nostalgic treats from every
generation. This three man combo includes a
story-telling acoustic guitar, a life-like saxophone and
hit-driving percussion. Here's a little bit about
the crazy guy in front of the HAM sign...
Most professional musicians
will tell you music is what they always wanted to do and
they were playing gigs at age 10. That is not my story. I
never sang (not even in a choir). I started taking guitar
lessons with my very first guitar at William Jewel College
at the ripe old age of 20. About 6 months later, in the
summer of ’73, I was ordering a sandwich in Dinkledorf's
Deli in The River Quay(now known as The River Market). A
woman asked me if I was a musician and I replied that I
played guitar. She asked if I wanted to play there for the
weekend. I haven't been out of work since.
My solo folk singing days
were great fun. As I learned more about the guitar, I
added comedy to the mix. I did some Vegas Showcases and
got a nice contract with Steak and Ale in KC and The Magic
Pan on The Plaza. By the way, I hired Melissa Ethridge to
fill in for me there. She was about $75 a night at the
time.
Being a solo act is pretty
limiting musically. I started playing a duo with John
Ricker. He was a wonderful classical guitar player who
played in dance bands on the side. We began to make enough
money to hire a rhythm section. Eventually, we became
Valentine and The Very Wealthy.
My crazy rock-n-roll days
were huge fun. We put out a record called, "Life Is A
Beach" and it got noticed! We were in Billboard Magazine
and they were playing the tune in dance clubs on the east
coast. We played Spring Break on South Padre Island. We
had a nice little college circuit going as well as people
lining up in Kansas City. Looking back it is hard to
believe I have been in concert with Eddie Money, The
Little River Band, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Nick Lowe,
The Byrds, Dr. Hook and The Medicine Show, Mitch Ryder,
Molly Hatchet, Bo Diddly, The Impressions, Betty Wright,
Bobby Lewis, Bill Haley's Comets and some I'll remember
later. It is fun being a lead singer in a popular
rock-n-roll band, but I was also the soundman, roadie and
manager. I really liked that part.
During this period, I took
a position at The Uptown Theater. I learned more about the
biz. I produced at least 4 concerts a month while managing
my band and a few others. I produced more records and
hundreds of radio and TV ads. The Uptown changed hands and
I had to go.
I bought a bar in Lee's
Summit and named it Valentine's Rock-n-Roll Sports Bar.
After 2 years of that, I discovered I wasn't a very good
bar owner. But the music kept me alive. John Ricker(Fast
Johnny) started his own band with some success. I moved on
with new players and constant reinventions. There has been
Valentine and Blind Driver, Dezi Valentine and Fatal
Valentine. Currently, Valentine and The Ticklers is my all
request acoustic trio, Valentine’s Old School Knights is
my Motown band and The Brew Jam is the 4 piece unplugged
jam band that has been playing Sundays at 75th Street
Brewery since 1994.
Looking back is fun. I
have easily played 6,000 shows in hundreds of venues with
hundreds of players. I’ve been in concert. I have produced
concerts. I have produced and charted records for my self
and others. I have owned venues.
Looking ahead is even
more fun. I still play 200 shows a year as well as book
120 shows every month for Kansas City venues. I am in the
studio every week with my own original projects as well as
some interesting clients.
I have learned two
things for certain:
1. Music is best when
it is a conversation among players.
2. I'm not so cool, but I have a lot of cool friends. |
