During
the early days of Rock-‘n-Roll, high school kids around America joined
with friends to form a band. In those days the essentials were a drummer, two or
three saxophone players, lead and base guitar players, one of which
doubled as lead singer. The mix of youthful enthusiasm and a couple of
Saturday morning practices produced instant Rock-‘n-Roll. My
fifteen minutes of Rock glory came in the early 1960’s playing with two
bands. Actually they were variations of the same band under
different names. I was one of three sax players with “The
Fairlanes” and “The Nobles”.
We mostly practiced, but did play a few dances and even a “Battle of the
Bands”. I left the Nobles in 1962 and filed those memories
fondly with the memories of other high school activities.
I
was shocked recently when my old friend and fellow Nobleman Bill Murray
contacted me. Bill was a founding member of The Nobles. Bill
not only still plays drums, he is still playing for The Nobles.
Forty years later The Nobles are still in existence and in fact have
become the longest running and most successful band in New Orleans
history.
The
Nobles were honored in 1999 when all 63 current and past Nobles were
inducted into the Louisiana Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
This
page was last updated:
15 July, 2009