Members News

FROM THE PRESIDENT'S PEN - SEPTEMBER 2011

I read that it has been announced that Buddy Holly’s posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame will be dedicated on 7 September, on what would have been his 75th birthday. The star will be located outside the Capitol Records building on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. I just read a humorous article on the web by Andrew Bridgman, “Buddy Holly posthumously accepts his posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame”, (www.mcsweenys.net); take a look.

Daily interest in the baby boomers, the fifties and early sixties still fills our papers. Rock’n’roll, the music of the 50s is certainly still alive and well but as I have remarked in this column before the real story of rock‘n’roll is often misunderstood and ignored. While the general Australian public is knowledgeable regarding individual early rock’n’rollers, such as The Drifters, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Bill Halley, Buddy Holly, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and some of the “teen idols”, they are largely ignorant of the breadth, diversity and true nature of rock‘n’roll. Unfortunately, this ignorance has persisted and one of the main aims of ARRAS is to keep rock’n’roll in the forefront and disseminate the true history of the music.

To this end the committee has approved expenditure to improve the quality and depth of our website. The new website can be viewed now on arras.com.au. It is a work in progress and we hope to add much more to it as we progress. Anyone who would like to help with the site, please let us know. In addition the web site will carry up to date news in the form of an on-line newsletter, which will be updated as needed.

In our next edition of Big Beat of the '50s and soon on the web site, we will have details of the AGM, which is going to be held a little later than usual, probably in the second week of February, more information asap.

I remind members concerning memberships. The honeymoon period is over. Everyone should be clear on the new renewal reminder system by now. We really cannot carry un-financial members. If you fall behind in your membership and wish to remain a member, please inform us. Otherwise you run the risk of being removed from the database.

Thanks to all members who have written in, or rung, passing on their support for ARRAS and our core activities, this magazine, the radio show and the web site; we value your comments. The society is alive and well, but to continue spreading the good word we need to grow. One way, is to enrol your friends and work mates. Show them the magazine and get them to sign up.

Keep On Rockin’

Chris Haymes
Member 1179

• Next >