I’ve been sorting through a lot of videotapes, as I continue to work on this big documentary of mine. If it’s not one thing, it’s another thing that distracts me from the task of making faster progress with the editorial process. Hi8mm videotape, which was the primary format for production of this project during the 1990’s, has been a real nightmare to deal with. When I finish this project, I could probably write a book on just the tech challenges I’ve had to deal with – tape drop-outs, sound synch issues, PCM audio playback problems, and so much more. It would have been nice if I had the budget to shoot everything with Betacam SP back then, but I didn’t always have that luxury. Digital video in 2008 is soooooo much easier to deal than the various formats I’ve used in the course of this project. Kids starting video today probably don’t realize how easy they’ve got it….
in spite of all the headaches I’ve had to deal with, I do get a lot of gratification looking at the footage that I’ve captured that nobody else has. I’ve been able to gather some great stories from many people that are no longer with us, and that feels absolutely wonderful.
Today, I’ve decided to share a portion of my interview with Pat Mason, who died in 2001 at the age of 93 years old. This is a little story Pat shared about working with Little Richard and Fats Domino in Yakima, Washington during the 1950’s. This is from an interview took place at Pat’s home in Seaside, Oregon in October 1996.
Pat Mason was one of the most influential booking agents in the Pacific Northwest. In fact, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Richard Berry could all thank Pat Mason for setting up their very first shows in that region, as well as countless other musicians too numerous to mention. Willie Nelson was hired by Pat as a disc jockey for a radio station in Vancouver, Washington. Gene Vincent spent a year living in Pat Mason’s basement. Paul Revere & the Raiders hired Pat Mason as a tour manager when they became big rock stars signed to Columbia Records. After Jack Ely left the Kingsmen, it was Pat Mason that talked Jack into assembling “Jack Ely & the Kingsmen” to cash in on the public appetite for “Louie Louie.”
I’ve got some great stories from Pat, and this little clip is the tip of the iceberg. Perhaps after I finish this LOUIE project, I’ll allow some of this material to be used for another project. Or maybe I’ll just include these interviews as part of the bonus material for the eventual “MEANING OF LOUIE” DVD package. We’ll see…
You can read all about Pat’s amazing career at the Rockabilly Hall of Fame page.
http://www.rockabillyhall.com/PatMason.html
So interesting to read your stories on Pat Mason. We bought his Seaside home in 2016 and remodeled it, leaving as much of the original as possible. Would love to hear more on him and his family. Thank you