By Chris Murphy
2023 is a new year to open your eyes and ears to some of the most amazing music ever. The roots of Rock and Roll start here in Modesto in 1938, when the Maddox Brothers & Rose music hit the airwaves of KTRB. This bass-slappin’ Hillbilly Boogie would be the foundation of the music we love today.
Our area has other pioneers of Rockabilly. Sadly, we just lost the legendary Roddy Jackson due to complications from a surgery he had. Hailing from Merced, he was a member of Kent Witt & the Downbeats, Modesto’s first rock and roll band in the late 50s. As a member of the Merced Blue Notes, he started recording for Specialty Records and even penned the hit, “She Said Yeah” with Sonny Bono that would be recorded by Larry Williams, The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and others. It was featured in a Martin Scorsese commercial for Chanel.
Multi-instrumentalist Roddy taught music most of his life, up until the month that he passed away. He was effervescent and super friendly. Throughout his life, he rocked the stage from the USA, across Europe and represented our area proudly as the Central Valley Fireball. He toured Europe on the Rhythm Riot tour and in 2007, he released the Central Valley Fireball that ran right up the charts, and according to Roddy, beat Elvis who was at #5. Roddy was always up for a good jam and loved to play, playing recently here in Modesto at Eric Benson’s Blue Monday shows at Urbano.
Roddy Jackson will be missed but his legend will live on. His peers in the industry have been celebrating his talent and music. We send our love out to his wife Kate and his fans around the world.
You can get his music here
A GoFundMe is being set up for a future Celebration of Life
www.gofundme.com/f/roddy-jackson-celebration-of-life-fundraiser
January is going to be a Rockabilly Ruckus!
The legendary Reverend Horton Heat will be invading Modesto with his bassist Jimbo and his band. This is an event you do NOT want to miss and you will be crying if you do. The paint will peal and the floors will rock as the Reverend brings his Psychobilly Freakout, Liquor Beer & Wine and other rockin’ hits to the stage of Rancho Fresco Cantina. “Reverend” Jim Heath says he owes a lot to Maddox Brothers and Rose for leading the back pack in the 40s and 50s, paving the way for many a young rocker, even Elvis Presley and his band the Blue Moon Boys. Jimbo is a Fred Maddox fan as well and you won’t want to miss Jimbo’s slappin’ bass show.
Opening this show will be the Surfrajetts, an all female surf band that has been hitting the stage on tour for the last couple of years, showcasing at Tiki Oasis and many more festivals. You will be diggin’ their instrumental hits and make sure you get dressed in your go-go get ups.
Opening the night will be our own Tiffany Rose and the Black Heart who will get you singin’ and dancin’ right out of the gate. Get tix ASAP as this will be a rockin ruckus sell-out!
It will be an epic music night in Modesto. You won’t want to miss it
