As far as Texas recording artists stack up, Roy Head is right at the top famed for his hit “Treat Her Right,” along with his wild dance moves and microphone tricks during live performances. Born January 9th 1943 in Three Rivers, Texas, Head started his recording career with a group from San Marcos Texas, The Traits. Recording on the TNT and Renner labels they had a slew of hits ranging from rockabilly, R & B to blue eyed soul. The group was formed by Tommy Bolton along with Head. The group consisted of Roy Head on vocals, Tommy Bolton on rhythm guitar, Gerry Gibson on drums, Dan Buie on piano, Clyde Causey on lead guitar and Bill Pennington on bass. Just before their first recordings Causey joined the military and was replaced by George Frazer on lead.
The group first recorded in the late 50’s for the Tanner N Texas Recording Company (TNT) owned by Bob Tanner out of San Antonio. In 1961 the group added two saxophone players David McCumber and Danny Gomez to their lineup and started recording for Renner Records owned by Jessie Schneider also out of San Antonio. One single that stands out is the cover of Ray Sharpe’s “Linda Lu.” This cover is a bit more of a mover than the original and adds more of an almost chicano soul tone to its interpretation with honking horns from top to bottom. This tune was taped and mastered at Jeff Smith’s Texas Sound Studio in San Antonio in 1962.
In late 1963 the group met Charlie Booth at a gig in East Bernard. This meeting is what pushed The Traits to create the blue-eyed soul sound, which Head is known for so well. Booth a T.V. repairman turned Houston music promoter introduced the group to Huey Meaux. In early 1964 the Traits signed with Meaux who then took the group to Gold Star Studios in Houston, Texas. At this first recording session “Teenage Letter/Pain,” were laid down, however Booth and Meaux both knew there was more to offer from this group from San Marcos. Booth, showed a lot of interest in the band’s original tune “Talking ‘bout a Cow,” and suggested cleaning up the lyrics, which became “Treat Her Right,” and was recorded at the groups second trip to the Gold Star Studios. After many personnel changes the group now recorded as Roy Head and the Traits. One big change would come by way of a new bass player, Gene Kurtz who co-wrote “Treat Her Right.” Head was known for his wild dancing compared to James Brown’s shuffle and Elvis’s gyrations. Treat Her Right was released on Don Robey’s Back Beat label where it reached number two on the charts behind the Beatles “Yesterday.”
In 1966 Roy Head, David “Hawk” Koon, Gene Kurtz and Gerry Gibson under the recording name The Roy Head Trio recorded what I consider to be Head’s masterpiece “You’re Almost Tuff/Tush Hog”. This blazing recording was issued on Back Beat and featured Head’s vocals so far from his blue eyed soul sound that most listeners would reconsider if this were in fact Head on lead vocals. Head was in fact at the microphone and Gibson on drums, Kurtz on bass and Koon on lead guitar. This fuzz stomper was written by Gene Kurtz and happens to be my favorite recording Head was ever involved with; at times this single has a sound leaning towards the motorcycle movies of the mid sixties maybe giving reason for the title “Tush Hog”.
Last year I was able to catch Roy Head play at the Continental Club here in Austin. He shared the bill with Barbara Lynn and Archie Bell. Head didn’t play “You’re Almost Tuff” of course, but he did play “Treat Her Right”. He still has the dance moves and mic tricks up his sleeve.
LISTEN:
The Traits – Linda Lou
LISTEN:
Roy Head – You’re Almost Tuff
