2003 MARCH 26 #085
RA #1 -- A Live Performance -- Recorded live at the Anaheim Bowl in Anaheim, California and the Canoga Bowl in Canoga, California.
Here are the liner notes from the album...
Sensational is the word for "Roy Awbrey,' and unique is the word for his accordion. Roy plays a $3,000 unit which includes his amplified accordion, an echo unit, and plays through five speakers. With all of this electronic equipment, Roy gets a "really big sound.' No other entertainer has so much electronic equipment hooked up to one accordion and the variety of sounds he gets from it really fascinates his fans. Roy gets sounds from his accordion like a violin, bassoon, piccolo, clarinet, bagpipes, bells, and even duplicates the sound of a steam engine chugging along and then letting off steam when coming to a stop.
Speaking of duplicating, Roy can turn on his organ attachment, play the rhythm bass on the left side of his accordion, and play the melody on the right side of the instrument and this combination makes the sound of the "Three Sons.' [sic] When Roy plays the song "Twilight Time,' The average fan in his audience just can"t tell whether it is the ""Three Sons' recording in the background. Roy also delights his fans with his sound of The Harmonicats arrangement of "Peg O My Heart.' He also gives off with the sound of "Glenn Miller'and "Perez Prado.' It is really amazing what this guy does with this one instrument. Between wowing his customers with his musicianship, Roy has a fast line of patter on the style of "Bob Hope.' Roy ad-libs with his customers and the next thing you know, this witty man has everyone whooping it up and really enjoying the informal party Roy gets going. Roy has over 1,500 jokes, mostly one-liners, which he keeps firing out into his audience, machine-gun style, and there is never a dull moment, mostly because Roy has jokes to fit all occasions.
Just when you decide that this hard-working entertainer has plenty on the ball, he sets down his accordion and proceeds to put on various wigs, hats, and many other unusual costumes which he uses during some of the most wild pantomime routines in the world. This really caps his show... the fantastic instrument he plays, the fast, smart patter, plus the pantomimes really amaze his patrons. They just can"t believe that one man can produce such a variety show all alone. It is really three acts all condensed into one: "Wizard of the Accordion,' ""Tops in Gags,' and "King of Pantomime.' For a one man show, Mr. Roy Awbrey is one of the greatest in show business.
Roy Awbrey • 315 E. Sutter St. • Manteca, Calif.
Even better, it was actually autographed on the back by the artist himself in pencil! It was inscribed: "To Harlin & Corinne = You're my Best Audience at the Dunes = Your Friend, Roy"
- Roger Swift
TT-10:27 / 9.6MB / 128kbps 44.1khz
from the LP, "Laugh It Up" (Life Of The Party,
RA #1)
(Image courtesy of Roger Swift)