What Happened to Black Oak Arkansas?

[@Sternodox]

My Dad drove BOA's tour bus for years. My future wife was their office manager. My brother did maintenance on their compound, which was right next door in the tiny community of Oakland, Arkansas. I used to lay in bed and I could hear Tommy practicing drums. And Ruby Starr (real name Connie) lived right across the road and we became very good friends. R.I.P.

[@williambaxter4628]

Thanks. Loved your comments.

[@dondrysdale7297]

just if you might not know: Tommy had left the band and town by literally sneaking out of the band,contract, and whatever town they were in when they were sleeping. it had to do mainly with their hash consumption being to much for him, however, with Pat Traveres next, he encountered drug issues again. i'm sure he had regretted doing it musically, but we had Tommy come to town to do a drum clinic and he said he thought Traverse was the best he was in musically, which i was surprised by, and he said you can't be a good drummer AND a drug addict when one kid asked him about that.

[@hbbeverly]

Wow, you were a witness to Rock and Roll history!

[@stephensims5844]

BOA I grew up knowing them as a great American band from my home state Arkansas USA 🇺🇸

[@CordellLanemusic]

My neabours pops is Buch Stone there manager. I see them every week. Tommy is still on tour. Love Jim dandy.

[@GTX1123]

If you watch early Van Halen videos from 1978-79 you can clearly see where David Lee Roth got his stage persona from. In some of those videos he's wearing white spandex and no shirt just like Jim Dandy did. W that costume, his long hair and some of his stage moves, from a distance you'd think it was Jim Dandy. Of course Dave took it to an entirely different level...

[@garystover7129]

Absolutely. I've thought that since Van Halen first hit the scene.

[@SuperPapa44]

DLR ADMITTED that he got a lot of what he did on stage from him.

[@gltglt8624]

Sounds like they petered out

[@anthonyintexas]

When asked about DLRoth , Jim Mangrum said: "He's done me proud."

[@TheTayedrums]

EXACTLY..I KNEW AND SAW THIS BACK IN THE 70'S....LOL...LOL...LOL BUT OF COURSE!

[@Inkfliktedtattoosandpiercings]

I live in Paragould Arkansas 30 minutes away from Black Oak Arkansas. Been a BOA fan since I was old enough to realize what music was. I remember play the pink 8-track of High On The Hog all the time. I currently have 4 copies on original vinyl along with all the rest of their albums.

[@T.McGarry]

First live concert I ever saw - B.O.A. opening for Humble Pie, at Madison Square Garden in 1973. Tommy Aldrich was incredible. Jim Mangrum's voice sounded shot, but what a high energy front man. DLR copped his wardrobe, stage antics, hairstyle and as seen here - swordplay.

[@stephenmorton8017]

i saw that tour in Pittsburgh. first concert too. Jim Dandy to the rescue.

[@SteveDossin-xq5cl]

Second time I saw Grand Funk Railroad Black Oak Arkansas opened with the original drummer Wayne (Squeeze Box) Evans at the Home of Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium, could have been 1972. Tommy Aldridge joined shortly after.

[@randynewton832]

I saw them open for humble pie Detroit Cobo Hall same year!

[@pacwest1000]

Tommy Aldridge is such a badass, unbelievably tight and inventive drummer, right there with the best ever!!

[@nazfrde]

@@pacwest1000 I saw them in like 1976, and somehow wound up with a pair of Tommy Aldridge's personalized drumsticks. They're long gone now.

[@Newtsche]

Surprised at so many comments in four days. BOA seemed to set the stage for Southern rock, a guilty pleasure to a Midwest kid back in the day. "Don't Confuse What You Don't Know" showed Lynyrd Skynyrd the way IMO, raunchy, manic guitar driven pure energy. Thanks for this trip on the Way Back Machine.

[@stephenmorton8017]

agreed.

[@lensquires6580]

Thank you for the great video! Had BOA on my 8-Tracks in the 70's! "Go Jim Dandy, Go!" His voice and lyrics still etched in my mind. No one could play a Wash Board like JD! "Keep The Faith"! ✝❤🎸

[@whathappenedtothem_]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@LoriVFenske]

I loved this this band. Back in the 70s there was so much good music being put out every week. You couldn’t buy every album you wanted. But I bought their album and I listened to it over and over!❤

[@whathappenedtothem_]

Rock on!

[@davidflint12]

Saw them live in the mid 70s. Great live show

[@marklaumond5241]

They opened for Beck Bogart and Apiece at winter land in San Francisco in 1973 I'll never forget it one of the greatest shows I've ever seen

[@davidflint12]

@@marklaumond5241 👍👍👀

[@markjohnson9485]

I love these guys. They were one of the greatest bands ever. Watching them on the midnight special or Don Kirschner's rock concert was fantastic !!!

[@ThomasRogan-gc5pi]

They were definitely a high energy band! 😵‍💫😂

[@nofortunatesonII]

I saw them in concert in the 1970's. Very LOUD concert.

[@Gunsandfun1961]

Wow, you must be as old as me 😂😂😂

[@nofortunatesonII]

@@Gunsandfun1961 Judging by your user name, I am actually a little older.

[@Gunsandfun1961]

@nofortunatesonII Thats OK, we both know good stuff when we hear it....

[@lilyhickman9746]

i’m from black oak. jim lives across the street from my grandfather. he’s kind of reclusive so i don’t see him much. you’d think he’d still be rich but he’s living as simple as everyone else.

[@Malama_Ki]

Penicillin and Valtrex is expensive!🤣😂🤷🏼‍♂️

[@Lemonheater2010]

our band opened for them in july 2016 in scranton arkansas.. wondering what kind of show I was going to see them perform since they are so much older than the glory days , little fatter and more wrinkled , I was blown away by jims performance... long story short , the guy was born to rock and roll and youll see just that watching him perform... I was getting flushed in the face watching jim get down on his wash board and run the crowd in a small bar called friendlys tavern... jims a true performer.. no riding the fence..

[@MichaelSSmith-hs5pw]

In an interview, David Lee Roth finally admitted, after years of denying it, that he totally stole Jim Dandy’s act. Stole the way he dressed, his mannerisms, his swagger, his strut, and his hairstyle. There would be no David Lee Roth without Jim Dandy period!

[@tracejohnson5519]

Jim Dandy was okay with it.

[@bassqueen7134]

2 of my kids first concert they were soooo AWESOME. They had more energy than 20 year olds. One of the highlights of my life. Heartbroken to have lost them.

[@ColKorn1965]

Good Lord, seeing Jim and his buddies on the "Ready as Hell" road trip was one of the highlights of my life!!!!!

[@edwardestes8038]

Back in the mid 80s my friends band called Runner warmed up Black Oak at the Midway Ballroom in Cedar Lake Indiana.Runners line up were all from NW Indiana and i was their lighting director.They had a great following and showmanship was so good Jim asked if they could travel around with their tour and keep warming up the crowd.That night Jim was in the back dressing room slamming chugs of Jack Daniels and who knows what.I bought a ball cap and Jim signed it on stage while in song.Midway hung out into the water of Cedar Lake and was such a great venue for years up until it was tore down in 1987.So years later i met Jims niece who lived in Cedar Lake and got to know her briefly.Paula Mungram was her name and we went out a few times in 2005.Then at the time i was just too busy for my work .

[@hbmogtenor]

My Uncle Terry was the lead guitarist for that band in 2000-2004

[@richardtaylor8595]

One of my all-time favorite bands. I could tell a story about them, but it would take too much space in this comment section. Great band and great people. When Electricity Came to Arkansas is one of the best songs ever.

[@pacwest1000]

What a teaser.

[@anthonyintexas]

I started the chant of When Electricity came to Arkansas to make a band come back for an encore by beating the backs of the seats in the row in front of us& singing " YEAH, yeahah yea yeah!! Everybody!!" Tons of people joined in & the band came out and said"What is that noise? We've never heard that before! ..............the band? DURAN DURAN

[@modularmuse]

No mention of the late, great, terrifying Shawn Lane? He was turning heads burning up the fretboard at age 14 with them, for two years I think. One of the best guitarists to have lived, and he played piano and keyboard about as well as he played guitar.

[@richardperusse4299]

i agree 100%

[@meauxjeaux431]

HELL YEAH !!!!! I SAW SHAWN WITH BOA IN THE LATE MID 70S, WHEN HE WAS 16. COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT I WAS SEEING. IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS YOU NEVER FORGET EXPERIENCING. THE STORY JIM TOLD THE AUDIENCE WAS THAT HE WAS IN A RECORD STORE AND HEARD SOMEBODY TEARING IT UP IN THE BACK OF THE STORE. JIM ASKED THE STORE OWNER IF HE COULD GO IN THE BACK AND CHECK HIM OUT. THE REST IS HISTORY. JIM SAID THE BAND SCHEDULED THEIR TOURS AROUND SHAWN BECAUSE HE WAS STILL IN SCHOOL. YOU HAVE TO ASK YOUR SELF... "WHAT IN THE HELL WAS SHAWN'S PARENTS THINKING, LETTING HIM TOUR WITH BOA OF ALL BANDS ?" SAW JIM ABOUT 20+ YEARS AGO, AND ASKED HIM ABOUT THE "KID". JIM SAID... "OH, SHAWN ? HE WAS A SIGHT TO BEHOLD WASN'T HE, WITH THOSE BRACES AND ALL. HE STILL LIVES UP THE ROAD..... GOT A BELLY NOW." JIM WAS RIGHT.... HE REALLY WAS "A SIGHT TO BEHOLD !"

[@grene1955]

I saw them at the California Jam in 1974...they were awesome!

[@jazzpunk]

Watched that on TV back in the day...still enjoy watching it on YT. Daughtry's bass tone is "dirty". :-)

[@TheTayedrums]

@@jazzpunk YEAH THAT WAS A GREAT-GRAND PERFORMANCE...CAL JAM I WAS GREAT IN SO MANY WAYS...

[@docheine]

David Lee Roth had to be stealing this guy’s schtick!

[@JohnDoe-ny1wp]

@docheine I'm glad I read the comments because I was just about to post the same comment. Cheers

[@kevincutway]

DLR used to follow BOA when they played WHISKY A GOGO . He met with Jim mangrum several times . Used a few of his stage poses for his own on a few VH albums

[@kevincutway]

I've met Jim a few times . His stories are always amazing to hear

[@Skycladatdusk78]

Dave is a mix of Jim and Don Rickles.

[@bob4analog]

Yup! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zprbk5loptWZpcksi=Mp9_un7m3-LApjn9

[@kevinhodgson8508]

Phenomenal Band ! ... Totally Unique !

[@briankehew579]

They have had such a big family of cool musicians coming. Always based around Jim and Ricky Lee. I was honored to work with a bunch of them on the 2013 album and I think it has some of their best material. I love it when older bands still have it!!

[@golfhound]

Between 2013 and his death I met Buddy Church and bought his solo album. Buddy died of cancer in 2019. Truly a nice guy. He own some very beautiful special model Fender Strats.

[@desvega5849]

No mention at all of Shawn Lane joining the band as a child prodigy and going on tour for a few years in the late 70's?

[@diarrhea_splatter]

My thoughts exactly!

[@Chrisbell804]

Diddo

[@jazzpunk]

I have played with a local guy (keys/violin) that was in that version of BOA with Shawn Lane...you'll never convince him that anyone could compare to Shawn. :-)

[@montananative2414]

I saw them play in early 1980....with Shawn Lane at Edgewater and Parr bar in Winter Park Florida. I believe that some of the early footage of him playing was shot there. He was truly ahead of his time as most people there were dumbfounded at his playing.

[@rebeccasciutto2722]

I saw them in concert the fall of 1972. They were great. I loved the lead singers story telling and his deep voice. First concert in went to at the Dane County Coliseum in Madison, WI. It wasnt the last one i went to there either.

[@memphokid]

I grew up with Shawn Lane in Memphis and it was a very big deal when he joined Black Oak Arkansas and toured with them at age 14. Hal McCormack is a tremendous guitarist, from Memphis, that never got paid while being in the band, left BOA after being in the band for 10 years. At least you mentioned Hal in your piece.

[@ronroskowske6047]

My band opened for them when Shawn was in the band-wow!!

[@denverrandy7143]

I grew up in Memphis aswell.Was "Bad dog McCormick" the same guy that was on Rock 103 radio station or just coincidence? Thanks man.👍

[@gwag8410]

I saw Black Oak, several times, as a matter of fact it was my first concert, me and my best friend traveled from south Arkansas to Shreveport to see them when we were 13 or 14. I saw them play at the Oklahoma Jam in OKC several years later.. Van Halen played that day too, they were really getting big by then.. not long after I saw them in Little Rock, out in a big cow pasture, there , the 14 year old guitar player was with them then, and he did a great job… I didn’t remember his name though…

[@johngreen8756]

Shawn Lane was an awesome guitar player. I saw him play around Memphis many times....

[@markhicks5962]

WTF. Is with these guys playing for yrs and not getting paid? That ain’t no dam good there. Sounds like Jim Dandy to the bank! Go Jim Dandy Gooooo

[@ldmasterlast]

I had the good fortune to meet and talk to Jim Mangrum, Rickie Lee Reynolds, and Sammy B. Seauphine several times backstage at different shows. The first time I saw Mr. Mangrum I was providing stage equipment for some opening acts for a show BOA was doing at Carlyle, IL. in Oct. of 2016. I was there early and brought my stuff inside when I see a van pull up pulling a trailer and backing up to the door. Out comes Jim Dandy, stage ready, by himself, and starts pulling amps out. I said, "hey, let me do that". And so I got to be roady for a day. Then the next night they played at my friend Rotten Rod Carlock's infamous RottenWeen party and I provided every amp on stage and so got to talk with them again. Got to be their "stage manager" that night.... I've had the opportunity to go back stage at other shows since through Rotten Rod who has been friends with Jim Mangrum for a long time. I got to see Rickie Lee's last show in Granite City, IL.

[@GreenManalishiUSA]

I remember that BOA was huge in the early to mid-1970s. Compared to other groups, they didnt sell a ton of records, but they were a big concert draw, and they used to appear on TV a lot. I think that part of the fun was watching Jim Dandy acting cocky and outrageous. He wasn't much of a singer, but he had (and still has) truckloads of frontman charisma.

[@trafyknits9222]

I met BOA in 1971 when I was working at a resort on Beaver Lake (AR). One of their guitarists played my old Yamaha FG-180. It was pretty cool to meet these guys.

[@soundhealer6043]

Interesting there is no mention that Aldridge joined Pat Travers after the BOA stint, and appears on the legendary live album "Go for What You Know'.

[@atatterson6992]

Probably cause the video is about BOA and not Aldridge

[@soundhealer6043]

@@atatterson6992 he mentioned every other project he did after,just not Travers.

[@TheTayedrums]

@@soundhealer6043 exactly

[@Beckola44]

I saw Black Oak Arkansas open for Black Sabbath at Winterland in San Francisco back in 1971. Thank you for the video.

[@TheTayedrums]

THANKS FOR THIS INSIGHT...THEY ALSO OPEN'D FOR THEM IN 76...now i know the link between them--what happened in 1976 boa was booked to do cobo hall in 76 as a top bill..but i guess tickets did not sell well i had bought one-returned it for a refund.. a few months later they opend for sabbath!

[@TooSkinnyKenny]

B.O.A. was probably too gritty for mainstream success but their best songs like "Happy Hooker", "Gettin' Kinda Cocky" and "Moonshine Sonata" are just awesome and I've been loving them over 20 years.

[@billblueaec]

I have seen them 2 or 3 times back in the 70's , best live show ever, Best song is LORD HAVE MERCY ON MY SOUL , from Dothan Alabama and I am 72 years old and still listen to that great song !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@bjones8470]

The very first concert I ever went to was The Guess Who and Black Oak Arkansas at the Denver Coliseum in 1972. I was 8 years old. The only thing I remember from the show was at the end of the BOA set the two guitarists smashed their guitars together, that and lots of hair. I’ve tried to find a record of the show but have been unable

[@eddieboggs8306]

I remember them doing that and a big name Rock Magazine condemned them for doing it once. The magazine said a guard at the show got hit by a piece of wood from the guitar and took them to court. Said they shouldn't hide behind their Lawyers . The who had done the same and got glorified by the rock magazines. I remember Deep Purple at the California Jam ending a concert by stomping a base guitar neck till it broke and tossing it out into the audience!! I drew up thinking someone would be seriously hurt! No criticism to them! Did anyone else notice how Midwest and Southern bands got grief and flack from the critics more than the Northern or Western bands?

[@thomastarwater2989]

Black Oak Arkansas unleashed their studio album “The Devil’s Jukebox” in 2023, made up of cover versions of songs made famous by other artists. “Sympathy For The Devil” was by The Rolling Stones, and “California Dreaming” was made famous by the Mamas and the Papas. Jim Dandy Mangrum is still fronting the band after almost sixty years, and he now plays rhythm guitar. BOA remains one of my favorite bands, and their album “Street Party” the first I ever added to my album collection when I was way younger. Still have it.

[@markobrien690]

Good old Jim showed up an hour late for a show at a big club I worked at in West Palm Beach, in the early 1990's. He rolled out of the limo onto the asphalt and lay there laughing for a while. He stumbled into the place and looked around, said there were a lot of ugly women in there. Then he fell down and stumbled back out to his ride and left. The band was pissed and quit. No show and just as well, that Jim Dandy is a turd.

[@dfrasu]

It was about 74. I had the distinct pleasure , when I was in rock ‘n’ roll bands in Seattle, to hang out at a really great groupie house up on Queen Anne Hill. We were gigging every night locally and lo and behold, who shows up at the front door to party? Black Oak Arkansas. I dropped acid with Black Oak Arkansas, yes I did. Yes it was one of the greatest parties I’ve ever been to just them just us and a lot of women.

[@pacwest1000]

Hard to beat that one. What the scene like in Seattle back then?

[@dfrasu]

@@pacwest1000 well, it was pretty much Seattle hippies. What does that mean? Well, a lot of rock ‘n’ roll, bands and cover bands, but the Pacific Northwest had its own thing the Kingsmen, the wailers all these great rock bands, so it was kind of a mishmash of all that. I played in some really great clubs there that had been ballrooms for 50 years parkers ballroom was huge in the 30s through the 70s. they named it the Aquarius. It had huge globes of the galaxy hanging down from the ceiling said about 500 people so we open for people like tower of power, blah blah blah and lotta loung bands, and gold chains. I did that stuff too. to I was in my late 20s and was in a band called Bazarak. And so so so many others period. . Showbands, hippie, bands, soul bands. I sang well and played tons of instruments so I could usually always get a gig someplace. In the university district at that time, the weekends were just an open party and they closed the streets. Right by UW. It was awesome. You probably know all this stuff anyway since you’re handle is Pacwest 1000 I have so many bad stories lol. I’m 74 and I’m glad that they made it so long and had such a fun career. The thing I remember about them was they were perfect. Their shirts were ironed. Their jeans were immaculately, ironed, and pressed, and … It wasn’t the whole band, but I do remember sitting on the couch with one of the members we had just dropped some acid… at one point he grew horns lol. Yeah, it was like that it was one night in my life and I remember so much of it in detail. It’s kind of creepy.

[@edljnehan2811]

Slade opened up for Black Oak in 1975 k e i l Auditorium St Louis Missouri Tommy Aldridge was one hell of a drummer and it was easy to see where David Lee Roth picked up some of his antics from Jim Dandy

[@olly8]

Halls of Karma... A masterpiece IMO- especially when listened to with headphones on!! Love the album where each purchaser got a deed for 'one square inch' of land in Black Oak Arkansas. Lost mine in a house fire. Far out, man!🤘

[@williambaxter4628]

Got mine, Framed, on my wall. They mean a lot to me

[@usaturnuranus]

Halls of Karma was easily my all time favorite BOA song. Lucky enough to have seen them twice live in the early and mid 70s, they were on fire as touring band!

[@juliusbishop3629]

Saw them in 79 with Nantucket and Mother's Finest. Great show.

[@TheTayedrums]

WOW,,,,,,with Mother's Finest...thats a great story......GREAT!!

[@TheCommonSenseProfessor]

I went to church with Harvey Jett. He played in the praise team and did an awesome job. He passed away last year.

[@StanKeszka-zt6vh]

Super band . I have seen them onse in 1984 . Fantastic , loud too concert . I will love them for ever .

[@mynameismok8424]

The reason Aldridge had to sneak away is because the manager threatened to break his arms if he left the band.

[@MRosati5000]

I hope he found Pat Travers after that, they were good.

[@mikekeeler6362]

You don't leave Black Oak Arkansas they're like the mafia try to leave when you're in trouble

[@gregoryleo4640]

@@MRosati5000 No, after that Tommy Aldridge moved to Chicago. Tommy played drums in a band named d'Thumbs, which also included Cliff Johnson (later Cliff started Off Broadway) on vocals, and Pete Comita on guitar, and Jon Brant on bass, both became members of Cheap Trick.

[@Stuscott404]

Saw them in Boston twice in the 70s. Saw them a few years back in Palm City Florida. In the 70s they were fabulous live band. High energy as Jim said.

[@Rockzilla404]

I saw Black Oak open for Grand Funk Railroad in Atlanta in the early 70s. I was in elementary school at the time and I remember my parents dropping me off and picking up at Atlanta Stadium. Black Oak was awesome!! Jim Dandy was definitely David Lee Roth before David Lee Roth..

[@allrightnow3653]

LOL I was there, too! Our Language Club at Milton High School went to the concert in a school bus as a field trip.

[@Rockzilla404]

That was a helluva field trip!! 👍

[@TheTayedrums]

@@allrightnow3653 do you mean the infamous concert where grand fuck cut their first live album at...???? grand fuck kicked ass...nobody fucked with them!! they even blew zepplin off ythe stage lol...lol...lol

[@markpr73]

What is the song interpolation they’re doing in the middle of the triple-guitar EBow solos? I know I’ve heard it before but can’t place it. This has to be the best version of this song that I’ve ever seen and definitely one of BOA’s best live performances.

[@xScooterAZx]

OMG! My old pals!! This even has my dear friend Ruby Starr!! I'm tearing up. Jim Dandy Mangrum. He used to give bone crushing hugs. lol. I'm sorry,but BOA and Grey Ghost (Ruby's band)were very old friends,and I kinda got excited there for a minute. Oh the memories. Thank you,thank you,thank you!!

[@whathappenedtothem_]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@P61widow]

They use to come through Sioux City all the time. Years ago I met Tommy Aldridge at a drum clinic. He told some great Ozzy stories. But for some reason he would not talk about BOA.

[@Wizardboots]

Bassist George Hewett lived in my hometown Fort Smith Arkansas... him and the guitarist from his other band Grey Ghost recorded one of my bands at their studio in Van Buren. He has a very southerner, dry no bullshit way of speaking... funny guy too.

[@philovance1940]

I believe James Mangrum was born in Michigan but family moved to Arkansas when he was 2 yrs old.

[@frankcabibi4212]

Awesome band....Rock supergroup ! I got to see them a couple times in early 70s in New York City and in New Jersey. HIGH ENERGY !!! Love the music!

[@whathappenedtothem_]

Rock on!

[@rickyjoejohnson4886]

How could anyone just dismiss BOA first album. It was loaded with some of their best songs. Uncle Elijah, and Lord Have Mercy On My Soul.

[@froglobster]

How about doing Frank Marino And Mahogany Rush- that would be some nice Canadian rock history indeed!

[@Fat12219]

Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush ! Ya ,ya !"

[@johncole015]

David Lee Roth assumed Jim Dandy's appearance and ran it into the ground.

[@thaycollis]

More like rode it to stardom

[@whyis45stillalive]

Saw them at a tiny bar, across 41A from Ft. Campbell, KY, in 1986. Jim's son was their drummer. Great small show. Only about 20 people fit, in the audience.

[@billstill1794]

Saw them way back in the 70's in Harrisburg, Pa. They rocked!

[@edljnehan2811]

I was front row Kiel Auditorium St Louis Missouri when Slade opened up for Black Oak😮

[@perkins1439]

What are the most incredible things about Elvis Presley is how many musicians he inspired in groups he spawned

[@SSJIndy]

I still have my 'One Square Inch of Heaven' certificate. I need to go visit my property one of these days.

[@PedroBrando]

You might have to pay about 50 years of property tax.

[@pacwest1000]

about $2.75@@PedroBrando

[@stevenowilson]

Me too, should be quite the party

[@k.evanrude1133]

If you would consider a vid on Frank Marino and Mahagony Rush, that would be AWESOME!

[@AFloridaSon]

Definitely don't hear enough about Mahogany Rush anymore. Sadly, they seem largely forgotten.

[@doknbox]

I met Jim when I had him play at the Princess Theater around 2007 or 2008. The whole band was there and they put on a great show.

[@nodemever3291]

I had the good fortune to catch Ruby Starr and Grey Ghost opening for Black Oak Arkansas in Dallas in 71 or early 72 knock out show Southern Rock at it's finest I was 21 then and still listen and love this under appreciated but top shelf band Rockin in the Southern sun Ruby was killing it put on a great show and then came back out to do a couple of duets with Jim what great stuff what a great night

[@robertcalva3773]

Fascinating! I always wondered what happened to them.

[@billybobsnorton9196]

I saw BOA in Hattiesburg, MS, in 1972. Goose Creek Symphony opened for them and blew a hole in that stage and BOA fell right into it. I saw them again at a show in Asbury Park ,NJ. They opened for Jojo Gunne. They had a couple of good songs, but I just wasn't that impressed. I had seen Deep Purple the week before with Ten Years After. That show was amazing! One of the top four shows that I have ever seen. Seeing Led Zepplin at Madison Square Garden was a real experience!

[@pacwest1000]

that is fucking awesome Billybob

[@Dstrbrdgrnd]

I saw those groups myself. Most at Pirates World in Dania, Fla., it was an amusement park where a concert ticket got you on all the rides for free, most prices were $2.50! Saw Humble Pie open for Ten Years After in ‘69(just after Woodstock), saw Zeppline’s first American tour. I saw Spirit (before they were JoJo Gunne) open for the Allman Bros.(right after their Fillmore performance) at Miami Jai-Alai Fronton. Those were some great days to be a long haired hippy and have such great musicians to entertain us👍👍🤠

[@stevebrothers9470]

Wow, this comment from Billy Bobs Norton brings back some memories. Concerning BOA, I gotta admit I was never a fan, BUT Mangrum's longevity and resilience does sorta win me over. I'm glad that they still rock and best wishes to them in all of their various incarnations. !

[@markmaccabees]

NO ONE who went to their shows ever left disappointed. They sold out every show

[@OspreyFlyer]

I saw Jim "Dandy" Mangrum perform at the Sunset Grill in Tulsa in the early 90s. Not sure if other members of BOA played with him. He's a character, lol.

[@willperryman4559]

Wow, this is my first time seeing this, bit I was friends with these guys and they used to stay at my house in Memphis in 1968 and another house in Paragould Arkansas .. I went on the road with them to GulfPort Mississippi and on to New Orleans and Hot&Nasty was ON🔥 I saw Jimmy playing in a club in Cincinnati in the early 80’s and they were not the the OG’s of the group, but, “Jim Dandy” still wore his white tights 😜😎🎶😎 I did play with them a lot in Memphis and they opened up for Johnny Winters at a Blues Festival outdoors and we used to play at Overton Park on Sundays as a hippie jam band, they went to LA with Butch, their road manager, and I was invited, but chose to go to San Francisco instead with my wife who was pregnant at the time. I’m glad to see this history of Nobody Else and Black Oak Arkansas 🎉🎶🕊️💜🕊️🎶🎉

[@jameswestmoreland9717]

We used to have big fun imitating Jim Dandy whenever they came on the radio. I had really long hair at the time and physically more flexible. Lotta fun.

[@doubletapgaming1189]

I saw them at the August Jam in Charlotte NC. in 1974.... Great band,...

[@spiritmediumdaniel7161]

Tommy Aldridge left to eventually play with Pat Travers, then went on to play with Gary Moore then with Ozzy and other bands.

[@flyingo]

Interesting. I had always wondered about BOA. I got my start in radio as a DJ because of their first album. I had won a copy in a call in contest and talked myself into a job when I went to the station and picked it up. Damn.. that was a long time ago.

[@pacwest1000]

Saw them open for BOC in 1977 at the Jantzen Beach Arena in Portland Oregon - three guitar attack and tight as hell!

[@pacwest1000]

They really sounded great and they were followed by BOC with their new laser show - lasers shining on a big disco ball - it really was a great light show.

[@markhicks5962]

I’ve seen them more times than I can count, when I was much younger I/we went to every concert here in Huntington W.Va. and Charleston as well and we saw everyone but no matter who was playing Either Black Oak or Golden earring was there to, but I was very surprised that Black Oak was still at it in 2019, they played at a bar here about 1980 or so.

[@markhansjahrling5648]

Seen them at a Roller Rink back in the 70's ... Was Amazing ! And I am a Huge Aldridge Fan ..... Very Humble He is ...😉 ☺️ 🇺🇸

[@andrewpaul4446]

I was told that studio guitarist played with Black Oak Arkansas on Black Betty. His name was Stan Nixon.

[@tyronesharp9205]

Johnny Bolin is the brother of Tommy Bolin

[@jacktorrance2633]

Did they have their own version of that song? The group Ram Jam covered "Black Betty" in the 70s.

[@josephsmith393]

Didn't mobile, Alabama guitarist corky Hughes play with boa at one time?

[@thomasmorrismusic]

We saw them nearly every year in the early 70's at NMSU in Kirksville Mo - later I got to meet them in Wheeling WV - They played the U.S. Festival for 75K and were proud of that - Great Band - I hope that they saved enough to live on - Butch Stone managed them until they would not listen .

[@russellesimonetta9071]

Grandpa,s rocking on!uhh, maybe ten years ago I was otr truck driving and stopped in Bentonville Ark for a reset. Went into the truck stop, got coffee and stoodin line to pay. There was this old guy in front of me with spandex pants and a cut off Levi,s jacket with BOA on the back. So I just hummed Jim Dandy to the rescue under my breath and he spun around and said that's me!!!

[@williambaxter4628]

Good one.

[@zzyzxx13]

I remember seeing a lot of concert ads in the L.A. Times' Calendar section back in the 70's for Black Oak Arkansas and Wishbone Ash. I would see their albums in the record stores, but I never heard them played on L.A.'s rock radio stations. I guess I never understood both bands' popularity. Maybe it's a regional thing. Growing up in SoCal in the 70's, none of my friends had any of their albums in their record collections, much less talked about them.

[@tats7859]

They played at the California jam in 74...

[@harryayre9050]

I saw BOA at the Shrine Mosque in Springfield Missouri and I vaguely remember one of the guitar players smashing his accoustic guitar on Jim Dandys back!, he braced himself and bam! destroyed the guitar! Anyone else remember that? around 1975 or so, that had to hurt😮

[@mitchlemons8379]

They still perform last I heard. Johnny Bolin (Tommy Bolins brother) was playing drums. Seems like they play every year in Iowa at the Tommy Bolins tribute concert.

[@chetcarman3530]

Stealing a PA would never bring 26 yrs & any sentence as huge as 26 years would never be totally suspended.

[@PedroBrando]

Elvis Presleys father had to do several years because he wrote a check about 50 cents more than his account balance. They used to throw the book at you in the old days.Horse thieves were hanged until 1900.

[@timmothymonaghan5236]

i saw BOA Great Band !!!!!!!!!! Still have my BOA Albums Great Southern Band

[@jameshowland7393]

That first album sure was a friggin hit with me and my friends!

[@johnlund2654]

Thanks for the video. I saw them at the California Jam in Ontario CA 76 I think

[@whathappenedtothem_]

Cool!

[@jamesteddy1379]

Tommy Aldridge played with Pat Travers after leaving Black Oak, I think !

[@eduardoprieto5267]

They had a 15 yr old Shawn lane playing a gig in laredo back in the mud 70's.

[@paulkcormier]

GREAT STUFF TY ALOT HOW ABOUT NEW ENGLAND? STARZ ? SHOOTING STAR ? TY

[@Mick.Fitzmaurice]

I seen these guys several times in the mid 80s at Blue Lake, Ar. It was a big secluded party spot mainly comprised of bikers. A local band named Ransom was always there and always opened for them.

[@joedapro7236]

I saw them in 1974 in OKC! Their back up band Dr. Hook! That was one of the loudest concerts I have witnessed. We were too close to the main speakers, had to place my hands over my ears to survive the sounds 😉! I has a few of their albums as well!

[@Kevin_747]

Used to catch BOA on KAAY Beaker street in the early '70s. It was on AM radio and a powerful signal. Those days were clouded with herbal smoke. Great band and great times.

[@loboblanco4426]

Tommy Aldridge wanted to leave the band over drug use to go and play with Ozzy? Their intake must have been huge!!!

[@allenvestal4474]

I am so freaking old, I do not remember if I saw them live.

[@themobseat]

So...are they still active? Did they retire after their guitarist died? What Happened to Black Oak Arkansas? You didn't answer your own question.

[@ronaldhillhouse8860]

Jim is still touring as BOA with the gal towards the end of the video and some young guys from her other band. They are on Facebook.

[@robertlinscott1551]

I love the song Uncle Elijia, or however you spell it.

[@f311er]

Take a drink every time he says, “Black Oak Arkansas” 🤣

[@markhicks5962]

Man I used to listen to and go to BOAs shows when Uriah Heap was around, a cat named Mick Box on the guitar and David Byrne ( sp?) On vocals man those were the days! I saw a band with Uriah Heap called Wild Turkey and bought a album at the concert of them called “ Battle Hymn “ sorry to go off track but the memories are really flowing lol. Not hard to talking to ppl who know this stuff because all of my crew have all kicked the can…

[@loneranger2adelphia]

I saw them perform at a large pool party in Dallas in the mid eighties. Jim Dandy had an electric stage presence unlike any lead singer I've seen. His eyes scanned the crowd and you were afraid to meet his gaze.

[@tomk4590]

I saw BOA perform at a high school c. 1972. This was in Wisconsin, so almost no one knew who they were. BOA have been almost entirely forgotten. You don't even hear them on classic rock stations. I first heard them on Beaker Street, an underground radio show out of Little Rock. The DJ played whatever he felt like (man, do I miss that), with sound effects between songs. With AM radio, when the local stations shut down, on a good night you could pick up stations from all over. BTW, David Lee Roth stole all his moves - & the tight white pants - from Jim Dandy.

[@rogindaUP]

No mention of the Quilt Album? With what were probably some of their most important/ poignant tunes? Seems somebody missed something somewhere.

[@lessevdoolbretsim]

Shawn Lane told me him and Billy Bats (the keyboard player) used to do some crazy stuff together on stage with BOA.

[@user-pc5jp7ld6j]

Didn't mention Shawn Lane.

[@alan98bert]

My first concert was Black Oak Arkansas in 1972, I was 12 years old.