Imagine, if you will, an alternative reality where Black Oak Arkansas (BOA) frontman and washboard virtuoso Jim Dandy is Santa Claus, streaking through the winter sky in a red-leather duster festooned with raccoon tails, bringing joy to all mankind and nasty Southern guitar jams to all the good little boys and girls of Memphis. If that’s your kind of rock-and-roll fantasy, the next best thing might be a visit to Murphy’s Irish Pub Sunday, December 21st for IATSE Local #69’s 10th Annual Holiday Bash, benefiting the Church Health Center.
Everybody knows it’s the people working behind the curtain who make Peter Pan fly and Tinkerbell sparkle. This year, the stage technicians’ union hopes to make holiday magic of a different kind with a concert by BOA stalwarts Dandy and his longtime partner in rock, guitarist Rickie Lee.
Ward Boult
Jim Dandy and Rickie Lee
Dandy’s story is classic rock. He was born James Mangrum, but his father sometimes called him “Dandy,” a nickname derived from the Lavern Baker hit song “Go Jim Dandy Go!” Years later, Elvis Presley contacted Dandy to ask why the outrageous, raspy-voiced singer didn’t perform a cover version of his namesake song, and the rest is history. In 1973, BOA’s version of “Go Jim Dandy Go!” spent 15 weeks at number one, and shortly thereafter the group was on tour with Black Sabbath.
The IATSE #69 benefit also features a raffle for Memphis Grizzlies tickets and supporting performances by the Electrick Nobody, the Candy Company, and Raymond’s Last Day.
