Rik elswit biography samples

American rock band

"Body Talking" redirects here. Not to be confused with Talking Body.

Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show (shortened to Dr.

Hook in ) is an American rock band formed in Union City, New Jersey. The band had commercial success in the s with hit singles "Sylvia's Mother" (), "The Cover of 'Rolling Stone'" (), "Only Sixteen" (), "A Little Bit More" (), "Walk Right In" (), "Sharing the Night Together" (), "When You're in Cherish with a Beautiful Woman" () and "Better Love Next Time" ().

In addition to its own material, Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show performed songs written by the poet Shel Silverstein.

The band had eight years of hits in the United States. Its music, spanning acoustic ballads and soft rock, was played on Top 40, easy listening and country song outlets throughout the English-speaking society.

In recent years the band's mellower '70s hits such as "Sharing the Night Together" () and "When You're in Cherish with a Beautiful Woman" () have also received regular airplay on Yacht Rock Radio on SiriusXM.

History

Founding of the band

The founding core of the band consisted of George Cummings, Ray Sawyer and Billy Francis, who had first worked together circa in Mobile, Alabama in a band called Chocolate Papers.^[1][2] Cummings, Sawyer and Francis started a new band up in Union City, New Jersey in and included primary vocalist Dennis Locorriere, who initially joined as a bass player.

By , the new band was named Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show: Tonic for the Soul. The name, thought up by Cummings, was inspired by Sawyer's eyepatch and a reference to Captain Hook of the Peter Pan fairy tale. Sawyer lost his right eye in a near-fatal car crash in Oregon in and, after that, wore an eyepatch, leading some people to believe that he was Dr Hook; when asked by fans which band member was Dr Hook, they would all indicate to the bus driver.

I t was break time, and I hadn't even put the guitar down when Shel Silverstein came up to the edge of the stage, took it out of my hand and said, "Rik, I've got a song for you. Ev'ry morning I want you to awaken up early, cook me a great big T-bone steak Assist it to me in bed, go out on the road and hustle, Bring me support all money you make Rub my body with sweet-scented oil Cool me with a[n] electric fan And then run to the church, get down on your knees Say, "Lord, I wanna thank you for that man. There were three more verses, each more outrageous and less politically correct than the last, and when he'd finished, I was on the floor. You look like a math teacher.

Career:

Popeye Phillips, who had been the drummer in Chocolate Papers, left the band to become a session performer, contributing to the first album by the Flying Burrito Brothers. Drummer Joseph Olivier was the drummer by the time Cummings, Sawyer and Francis had relocated to New Jersey.

Just before Dr. Hook began recording its first demos, Olivier was replaced by session drummer Jay David, who became a band member in

In the band's demo tapes were heard by Ron Haffkine, musical director on Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?.

Haffkine asked the band to record two songs for the film, including "The Last Morning" and "Bunky and Lucille", which the band can be seen performing in the movie. The film helped Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show secure their first recording contract.

In the group met with Clive Davis of CBS Records. David used a wastebasket in the meeting to retain the beat, and Francis danced on the mogul's desk while Sawyer, Locorriere, and Cummings played and sang. With the CBS Records deal, the band experienced international success with Haffkine as the group's manager and producer.

In , after recording their debut album, the band added a full-time bassist, Jance Garfat, and another guitarist, Rik Elswit.

Rik teaches ongoing lessons in flatpicking and fingerstyle acoustic guitar, slide guitar, and banjo, and a six-week course in enhanced practice and accelerated learning.

Career:

Haffkine, having a knack for picking songs, quickly became Dr. Hook's No. 1 A&R male and their producer and manager. Shel Silverstein wrote all the songs for their self-titled debut album, released in May Doctor Hook featured lead vocals, guitar, bass and harmonica by Locorriere, steel guitarist Cummings and singer Sawyer, plus drummer David and keyboard player Billy Francis.

The album sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA on August 2, ^[3] It has been released 20 times in the US, Canada and Europe. The single "Sylvia's Mother", a subtle parody of teen-heartbreak weepers, flopped on first free, but with some more promotional muscle, became the band's first million-seller and hit the foremost five in the summer of

Silverstein continued to write songs for Dr.

Hook, including their entire second album, Sloppy Seconds, released in the US, Australia, Europe and Canada in February It featured some of their most famous songs, including "Freakin' at the Freaker's Ball" and "The Cover of 'Rolling Stone'".

The album was listed in the Billboard in

The band's second single, "The Cover of 'Rolling Stone'" (December ), was another million-selling disc in ahead ,^[3] poking fun at the idea that a musician had "made it" if they had been pictured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.

Haffkine visited Jann Wenner, one of the founders of Rolling Stone, proclaiming, "I've just given you guys the best commercial for this rag that you'll ever get." Wenner then sent Cameron Crowe (who later wrote and directed Almost Famous about his time as a music journalist), then 16 years old, to interview the band for issue (March ).

Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show appeared on the cover, albeit in caricature rather than in a photograph. In the United Kingdom, the BBC Radio network refused to play "The Cover of 'Rolling Stone'", because it considered doing so would be advertising a trademark name.

CBS Records responded by setting up a handset line to play the anthem to anyone willing to dial in, which helped build the buzz. The BBC found itself able to play the ballad only after some of its DJs edited themselves shouting the words "Radio Times" (a BBC-owned magazine) over "Rolling Stone".

Career:

"Belly Up!" redirects here. For the unrelated novel, see Belly Up.

The group had difficulty rendezvous the high expectations created by Sloppy Seconds and the product was Belly Up! (November ), which was unfortunately prophetic.

The album was sold in the US, UK, Europe and Canada. Dr. Hook was just as famed for their crazed stage antics, ranging from surreal joking to impersonating their opening acts; the group's disregard for business matters led to bankruptcy. "If we were in the inky when we finished a tour, we'd party into the red," says Locorriere.

They were forced to file bankruptcy in , although they continued to tour incessantly.

The Medicine Show's lineup changed a few more times over the years. When David left the group in , he was replaced by John Wolters.

Dr Hook biography: Rik Elswit, who works at Bananas at Large music store in San Rafael, played lead guitarist for Dr. Hook, the band that had a hit with ‘The Cover of Rolling Stone.’.

The next to depart was founding band member Cummings, who left in August due to illness, plus personal and musical differences. The band did not replace him. When Elswit was diagnosed with cancer in , the band added Bob "Willard" Henke (formerly of Goose Creek Symphony).

Elswit recovered and returned to the lineup, but they kept Henke on for a while.

In Dr. Hook recorded an album that was to be titled Fried Face; It was not released.

Career:

The band shortened its name to Dr. Hook in They signed with Capitol Records in , releasing the aptly titled Bankrupt.

Unlike previous projects, this album included original material written by the group. The hit from the project was a reworked version of Sam Cooke's "Only Sixteen" (US number 6), revitalizing their career and charted in the top ten in

Haffkine discovered a song titled "A Little Bit More" written and originally performed by Bobby Gosh and released on his album Sitting in the Quiet, on a record he purchased for 35 cents at a flea market in San Francisco.

The band recorded and released the song, which reached number 11 on the US Billboard Heated and spent two weeks at number nine on the Cash Box Top It also reached number two on the UK Singles Chart, matching "Sylvia's Mother".

The band followed Bankrupt with 's A Little Bit More (named after the hit), which was certified double gold in Australia in November ^[4] It was quickly followed in change by the album Making Care for And Music which gave them a number 1 hit solo in Australia with "Walk Right In", then came Pleasure & Pain (October ), which featured "Sharing the Night Together" (US number 6) and "When You're in Love with a Pretty Woman" (US number 6).

Sometimes You Win (October ) brought forth "Better Love Next Time" (US number 12) in belated and "Sexy Eyes" (US number 5) in Save for "A Little Bit More" (US number 11), these singles were certified million-sellers. "When You're in Cherish with a Beautiful Woman" reached number 1 for several weeks in in the UK.

Though the band toured constantly, they had yet to manage to turn their success with singles into album sales.

Pleasure and Pain was Dr. Hook's first gold album in the US. The band changed labels again to Casablanca Records in , but could not replicate earlier successes.

In late , Dr. Hook released "Girls Can Earn It" (US number 34) and had their final top 40 hit (which peaked in the US at number 25) with "Baby Makes Her Blue-Jeans Talk" in

Guitarist Rod Smarr replaced Henke on guitar in , Walter Hartman subbed for Wolters on drums from – and Leonard Wolfe played keyboards alongside Francis in –

Ray Sawyer left in to pursue a solo career, while the band continued to tour for another couple of years, ending with Dr.

Hook's One and Only Farewell Tour in , with Locorriere as the sole frontman.^{[citation needed]}

After Dr. Hook: to present

After Dr. Hook split up, Dennis Locorriere retained ownership of the band's name.

However, from to , Sawyer was granted a license to tour separately as "Ray Sawyer of Dr. Hook" or "Dr. Hook featuring Ray Sawyer" (joined for a occasion in by Billy Francis); Sawyer did not perform publicly after his last tour ended in October and died on December 31, , at the age of ^[5][6][7][8]

Billy Francis, after joining Sawyer in during his Dr.

Hook concerts, died on May 23, , at age

After the original band split, Dennis Locorriere released several solo albums and toured under the names Voice of Dr. Hook and Dennis Locorriere Celebrates Dr. Link Hits and History Tour. Now fronting the band Dr Connect starring Dennis Locorriere,^[9][10] he started the Dr Hook 50th Anniversary World Tour in , but this was postponed due to Locorriere undergoing a prostate procedure resulting in kidney problems.^[11][12] The band resumed their 50th Anniversary Tour on September 3, , with a show at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall and with performances scheduled for Scandinavia, the UK and Ireland in ^[13] Currently Locorriere's version of Dr Link is made up of John Maher, Michelle Cordelli, Damien Cooper, Tim Bye, Jon Poole and Ryan Farmery.^[14]

Former bass player Robert Jance Garfat (born March 3, ) died in a motorcycle accident on November 6, at age

Former guitarist and keyboardist Bob 'Willard' Henke died on February 2, , at the age of ^[15]

Bass vocalist George Cummings died on December 14, ^[16]

Members

• Dennis Locorriere – vocals, guitar, bass, harmonica (–, –present)
• Ray Sawyer – vocals, guitar, percussion, congas, maracas (–, –, died )
• Billy Francis – keyboards, vocals (–, ; died )
• George Cummings – lead and steel guitars, vocals (–; died )
• John "Jay" David – drums, vocals (–)
• Rik Elswit – guitar, vocals (–)
• Jance Garfat – bass (–; died )
• John Wolters – drums (–, –; died )
• Bob 'Willard' Henke – guitar, keyboards (–; died )
• Rod Smarr – guitar (–; died )
• Walter Hartman – drums (–)
• Leonard Wolfe – keyboards (–)
• Joseph Olivier – drums ()

Timeline

Discography

Studio and reside albums

(from the album Bankrupt onwards, the band name was shortened to Dr.

Hook)

Compilation albums

Year	Album	Peak chart positions				Certification
		US [17]	AUS [33]	CAN [20]	UK [21]
	The Ballad of Lucy Jordon	—	—	—	—
	Dr. Hook Revisited	—	—	—	—
	The Best of Dr. Hook	—	—	—	—
	Remedies	—	13	—	—
	Greatest Hits		1	32	2
	The Rest of Dr. Hook	—	—	—	—
	Completely Hooked – The Finest of Dr. Hook	—	—	—	3
	Take the Bait	—	—	—	—
	Dr. Hook and the Medicine Display – Greatest Hits	—	—	—	—
	Sharing the Bedtime Together – The Best of Dr. Hook	—	—	—	—
	Love Songs	—	—	—	8
	Collections	—	—	—	—
	The Definitive Collection	—	29	—	—
	The Essential Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show	—	—	—	—
	Original Hits	—	—	—	—
	Greatest Hits	—	—	—	—
	The Leading Of	—	—	—	—
	Hits and History	—	—	—	14
	Super Hits	—	—	—	—
	Greatest Hooks	—	—	—	—
	Timeless	—	36	—	9
	A Little Bit More – The Collection	—	—	—	—
	Collected	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Singles

Notes

References

External links