The Gracie James Band

The Gracie James Band
1985-7
While I lived in Prescott, I certainly had the opportunity to play a lot of different kinds of music. The Gracie James Band can be best described as a society group with Guy Lombardo overtones. Gracie, a colorful pianist, would book me to play bass next to the statue of Rough Rider "Bucky" O'Neil in the courthouse square, or at the Moose Lodge, or the Hilton Hotel in Scottsdale. The music was always the same 50 songs: "Alley Cat", "Josephine", "Tie A Yellow Ribbon Around The Old Oak Tree" and other similar fare. Her style was like that of Joanne Castle from the Lawrence Welk television show. Playing with Gracie was fun because she was so full of energy. The old folks loved her. I can agree with that!