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Ray Ragsdale
was my inspiration ...
(click to enlarge)
THE
SAINTS
(1956
Worth County High School Prom - Radium Springs Casino Ballroom)
L to R:
Reamon Beaty, Trumpet; John Fuqua, Drums; Joe Bowdon, Alto
Saxophone; Randy Hobbs, Electric Guitar and Margaret Johns,
Pianist |
REAMON
BEATY AND THE STARLIGHT QUARTET
Part of
the Reamon Beaty and the Starlighters Band
(photo
taken at the WALB TV station when we played on the old "Night
Train" radio program on Monday nights from 9 to 12:00 M.N., when
WALB radio was broadcast from a studio in the back of the TV
station)**
Center: Reamon Beaty
L to R: Angela Simmons, Carol Starnes, Mary Simmons, Lari
Bachman
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In an August 9,
2007 email to the Albany High Times, Reamon Beaty writes:
I graduated in 1958
from AHS. I should have graduated in 1957, but was told in the last
quarter of the year that I had failed a six weeks Freshman English
grammar class, and would have to stick around another YEAR in order to
graduate!!!
I organized a band
called "The Saints" in 1956. We played for the Worth County High School
Prom held in the Radium Springs Ballroom in May of 1956. In 1957, I
reorganized my band and renamed it, "Reamon Beaty and the Starlighters".
The only time we ever played for AHS was for Homecoming Dance in 1957 or
1958. We did play in chapel for a talent show the first year we
organized, and in the cafeteria before school for someone running for
Student Council. We also played for the New Year's Dance at the Hassan
Temple in 1957 or 1958. I didn't keep records, but we played for the
Teen Club at the old City Park, for a Flower Club Dance at the Pavilion
at Radium Springs, the Prom at Colquitt High School, and lots of other
places in and around Albany.
Ray Ragsdale
was my inspiration for starting my bands. When he moved, I organized!
He went on to make a fortune in show business, and I became a Baptist
Minister of Music. I am now in my 50th year of directing choral and
instrumental music in Baptist churches in Georgia, Texas and Alabama.
After being gone from
Albany for 20 years, I moved back to Putney for 5 years where I served
the First Baptist Church of Putney as Minister of Music. During that
time I directed the orchestra for two productions at the Albany Little
Theatre: "Anything Goes", and "The King and I".
Joe Bowdon
became a heart surgeon, living in August GA when I last saw him around
1983. He used to play drums in a band made up of heart surgeons who
called themselves "The Pacemakers"!
Randy Hobbs
became a Pentecostal Evangelist, and died of a heart attack in the
1980's. I don't know what became of John Fuqua and Margaret Johns.
I haven't seen or
heard from any of the ladies since graduating from AHS except for Mary
Simmons. In 1971 or 1972, I led music in the revival services for the
First Baptist Church of Ashburn GA, and Mary attended the services one
night, introduced herself to me, said she lived in Ashburn and was
married to a Veterinarian in Town.
**The photographer at
the TV station said he would photograph us if we came dressed up one
Monday night. He charged a dollar a piece for the photos, and I was too
broke to buy but one copy. I wish I could have afforded to buy copies
of the band, who sat behind the girls and me. I know Randy Hobbs was
there, but I don't remember the young boy's name who played the piano.
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