We are remembering one of Houston's most famous night clubs...
Brian Cutaia
Hey Gary,
My name is Willie Ornelas and I worked at the Dome Shadows for a pretty
good while. I am a drummer and I worked there with "The Jokers", "Jesse
Lankford and the Symbols", "Leo Grimaldo and the Symbols" "Jerry La
Croix and the Dominoes", Buddy Wright and the Wright Sounds" and I can
remember the names of quite a few of the musicians if you need any
names. Llet me know if I can help.
Best to all,
Willie Ornelas
I played organ (Hammond b-3) and piano (club furnished) in 67-68 with Bobby Bradshaw, Leo O’Neil, Charlie Watson, Bobby Brown, Phil Mathis, etc. I don’t remember all of the horn players at that time.
Bert Fanette Gary, I have to typed up a paper about my experience there and send it to you when I have a little more time. It was fun times. Walt Boenig
I worked at the Dome Shadows in 1965 with Jesse Lankford and Bobby Bradshaw and the Jokers.
I am a trombone player and still playing.
I worked there one Monday night (the Jokers off night) with Buddy Wright and the Right Sounds and Marshall liked the trombone and had the Jokers hire a trombone and they hired me.
Walt also emailed to let me know that Bobby Bradshaw, band leader at the DS, passed away a couple of weeks ago. Very sorry to hear that news. Our sympathy goes out to his family and friends.
Hey, I picked up three new emails:
Hey I worked at the Dome Shadows before Willie Ornelas, with Leo
O'Neil as band leader, Jesse Lankford, Bobby Bradshaw, and Bobby
Bodine as lead singers.
In a day or two I will remember all of the other musicians.
Wow, what a trip to blog on the Dome Shadows.
I live in LA and I'm still very good friends with Willie Ornelas, and
I admit it.
Peace,
Tony Braunagel
Hi,
I played sax and sang with the Jokers in 1970, and with Good Stuff in
1971. The Jokers had Phil Mathis, Ikey Sweat, Bobby Brown, Bobby
Bradshaw, Bill Hershey, A.W. Johnson, maybe Kit Reid, and Leo O'Neil.
I remember some great nights, and some really weird ones too.
Good Stuff had me, Bill Hershey, Tommy Cashwell, Dennis Dyer, Steve
Lustgarten, Steve Shirard, Dean Stipp, Ron Hobbs, somebody I can't
remember.
Greg Gonzales
I played at the Dome Shadows from 1971 to 1977, with Tommy Cashwell and "Good Stuff" and Bill Hershey and the "Hershey Candy Company". The Dome Shadows took on a life of its own. I don't know anyone who didn't enjoy that place or that era, including the musicians. I also worked with Leo, Bill, Greg and others at Astro World in a Dixieland band-the "Do Da Daze", during the DAZE! It usually was after working the Dome Shadows the night before! I've got nothing but great memories from that period and good musician friends and others to share the old times with. (And a couple of X-wives who I doubt share my enthusiasm from those days).
Dean Stipp
My name is Erin O'Neil Wallace and I'm the daughter of Leo O'Neil. As a child my father would bring me and my two younger brothers to the Dome Shadows when he had rehearsals. We loved to go during the day. I can remember my brothers and me crawling around collecting money. It was amazing that so much change was dropped on the floor and no one picked it up. We would leave there with very full pockets and it would keep us entertained while dad worked.
Erin Wallace
Bill Hershey
Johnny Garcia
Hi, my name is Johnny Garcia. I played sax and sang with the Jokers from the beginning. We originated in Palacios, TX. We had a hit song, "Everyone Knows" which went to #1 on radio station KILT in the early 60's. We were one of the first bands to play at the Dome. Members were Phil Mathis, Bobby Bradshaw, Lucio Sanchez, Bobby Brown, and myself. There was a bass player named Don ?. Don't remember his name. But we were there before any of the guys that are on the e-mails from former musicians who played at the Dome.
Johnny Garcia
My name is Heather Hershey-Anderson. My dad is Bill Hershey and my mom is Jackie Billups-Hershey. My dad played the Sax and my mom waited tables. So I have heard the best stories from both sides. If it wasn't for the Dome Shadows I wouldn't be here today. The Dome Shadows was more than a club. It was like a home to a lot of different people. I have meet a lot of wonderful people who came out of this club. And there are some of them who also helped raise me. Some of my first great memories are hearing my dad and The Hershey Candy CO. Growing up listening to such great music has made be such a better person. I so happy to see someone has done this for the Dome Shadows. It's a place that never shall be forgotten. Keep the music and the memories alive forever no matter what!!!!!!!
Love to all,
Heather
This is Bobby Kimball, and I worked so many incredible nights at
the great "Dome Shadows". What an fantastic time I had there. Most of
the nights I worked there, i was playing keyboards and singing with
"Allen Wayne and Machine", but on other occasions, I brought a solo
band over and had the time of my life.
A lot of water has run under the bridge since those days, and I
became the lead singer of the LA band called "Toto". We had a few hit
songs that I'm very proud of, and now, I'm working on a solo CD to be
released sometime in early 2009. Due to touring duties, I'll have to
take my time on this CD. If you liked the 80's music, you'll love my
new solo CD. I want to bring real music back to life with my work,
and it's what I sing/play best. I can't really see trying to copy or
emulate what's happening on the radio now.
Thanks for putting up this wonderful site, and I feel bad for those
who never got to experience "The Dome Shadows" great nights of
entertainment. My best to you all, and I'll try to find some photos
to post on this site................Bobby Kimball
A liitle older and wiser.
Hey Gary:
Charles McBride here, in Nashville. I was a 16 year old Blues & Rock guitarist in Houston when I was invited to
sit in at The Dome Shadows with Jesse Kankford's band that included Trent Poole & (I believe) Wayne Brooks on
B3. Also a great horn section. This would be 1969. A great half-hour for a young guitarist transitioning from the
rock world (Catacombs Club) to the grown-up world (Roulette Club on Kirby). Very kind people. I met Bobby Bradshaw a few years later at the Village Inn where he was working with Dean Scott. I just wanted to say that, while we were not close friends, I did consider him a friend and he was one of the most decent & agreeable people that I have met in all my years in the business. A real gentleman. He seemed to have a gift for making people at ease- whether they were 17 or 70. He will be missed.
All the best,
Charles ( "Charlie" ) McBride
I played drums for The Ezra Brook Band from
Brownsville. We only played one show at Dome Shadows opening for Steppenwolf in Oct.1978. We had switched agencies from Gene Odom to John Blomstrom who seemed to get us all the cool gigs. We did a lot of shows with Lic, Steve Long Band, Fools, Texas and some opening shows with Buddy Miles, Savoy Brown,and Riot.
Thanks, John. It was fun.
Robby Settles
