This week we lost the namesake of my favorite band of the 1960s, Paul Revere and the Raiders. It saddens me that he is gone, along with childhood and the hope and optimism we felt back then for ourselves personally and for the world as a whole. I still feel hope and optimism all these decades later, but loss and sadness are also part of life and are not to be ignored or dismissed. They are part of the human condition, along with love, joy, creativity, and other positive experiences. It’s all life. We add the value.
Paul Revere was an extraordinary rocker, musician and, and showman. I first saw the Raiders back in my teenage years and then again about fifteen years ago. How commendable that Paul kept everything going all these years. The band retained its unique image with the revolutionary costumes and made sure the fans got to hear their favorite old songs—Indian Reservation, Hungry, Kicks, and so many more. Friends and I saw the band again earlier this year in Tampa. It was obvious Paul’s health 
was not the best, and he even joked about it, as well as his age. We saw two shows that day, and in each one he told different jokes and highlighted different songs, rather than give cookie cutter performances. A showman to the end.
Back in the 1960s my favorite of the Raiders was lead singer Mark Lindsay, who stayed with the band until the mid 1970s. This week Mark posted on Facebook and Twitter about how much Paul meant to him and the loss he feels. He said he wanted to remember the good times back when he and Paul were best friends and musical partners.
As a teenager I remember writing a story centered on how Paul and Mark got the band together in Idaho and Oregon. If you listen to their really early songs—before any of the hits, there’s a lot of saxophone, boogie woogie, and rockabilly.
Here’s to all the Raider members over the years, to Mark Lindsay, and to you, Paul Revere! You gave us some good times. I know after you rest a bit, you’ll be up and rocking again.
Cheers & Happy Reading!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic with Paranormal Fantasy Romance
The sixties was a decade in which music flourished, especially at the end of the decade. So many singers or bands with hits that are hummed even today. I must admit that I am less familar with your favorite band.My favorites of that period- though at that time, over here, we were given mostly Italian songs- were The Animals with their House of the Rising Star. But later, as a student at University, I enjoyed listening to almost all bands. And I LOVE your Country Music. Thanks for sharing the memories! I will check on Google and you tube.
Carmen
http://shadowspastmystery.blogspot.ro/
Carmen, I went back and added links to the post for the three songs I mentioned. Don’t know why I didn’t think of that. Here they are: Indian Reservation- http://youtu.be/zQ6RjP7MlXk, Hungry- http://youtu.be/iY4rIFc3JVA, Kicks- http://youtu.be/IP8G4clUJBY. I hope you enjoy them. I love the Animals’ House of the Rising Sun! What country music do you like best?
Oh, thank you! I followed the links and watched them. Beautiful. I understand why they were your favorite.
I and husband enjoy country music much. I prefer the more rhythmical, merrier songs. No special preference. Though, Kenny Rogers and of the modern times Shania Twain are favorite singers.
Oh I’m glad you got to listen to the Raider songs, Carmen. As for country music, I love some of the really old songs. Since my mother always had restaurants, there was always a juke box. I can remember some of the old songs being on the juke box. Some were by Hank Snow and Lefty Frizell. I noticed that many of my favorites are reminiscent of folk ballads– for example, Long Black Veil – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50k18gL76AU and Moody River – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zeRdkV-_VY. You sure picked a good one in Kenny Rogers– what a wonderful unique voice. I like him and Shania too.
Oh, how sad! I hadn’t heard that he’d passed away. I loved Indian Reservation and still listen to it (I buy a lot of old music in mp3 format and then load it to a flash drive for listening to in my car). I was in grade school in the ’60s, but I love that era and its music. Paul Revere will most certainly be missed. I know he leaves many fans behind. What a thrill that you had the opportunity to talk to him on the phone. A treasured memory indeed!
Indian Reservation is on my iphone too, along with other vintage music. The phone syncs in the car and I get to listen to my favorite old tunes while driving. Don’t we love that aspect of modern tech?!