Clipping and photo from the New York Times dated
Tuesday, August 24, 1965 with the title
“Changes-Some Subtle, Some Abrupt and Flamboyant are
Evident Nearly Everywhere Along the Jersey Shore.”
“Go Go” girls do the Frug in Tony Mart’s, the
biggest nightspot in Somers Point.
The club has seven large bars, 20 cash registers and
40 bartenders and bouncers.
This photo focuses on two go-go girls dancing on a
stand near the bar; however, of greater historical
significance are the backs of “Levon and the Hawks”
playing on the center stage.
To the right is the back of the B-3 organ and
saxophone player, Garth Hudson; and to the left, are
the shoulders and heads of Robbie Robertson and Rick
Danko in the front of the stage.
Display advertisement that proclaims that “Tony Mart’s
Home of the Great Bands in Somers Point brings the
greatest package ever presented at Tony Mart’s”
including the Female Beatles, the phenomenal
entertainers, Phil Humphrey and the Fendermen, Levon and
the Hawks, and Conway Twitty.
|
 Display
advertisement from the Ocean City Sentinel dated
September 2, 1965 which lists “Mitch Rider and the
Detroit Wheels” as headline performers appearing at Tony
Mart’s that Labor Day Weekend. Just prior to that time
in mid August of 1965, Bob Dylan, himself, and the
Albert Grossman organization of New York actually
contacted Levon Helm at Tony Mart’s. Tony Mart,
himself, did due diligence by making the necessary
contacts and was able to verify that these calls were
truly authentic and that the offers made by Dylan and
his management, were, in fact, a terrific opportunity
for his beloved “Levon and the Hawks”. Sadly and with
much disappointment, Tony Mart threw a party for The
Hawks, complete with cake, and gave them a wild, rocking
send off to Woodstock.
Fortunately, he was able to get rockin’ “Mitch Rider and
the Detroit Wheels” to replace Levon and the Hawks for
the huge Labor Day weekend in 1965.
“Levon and the Hawks” were not heard from for many
years in Somers Point until “Music from Big Pink” was
released and became an all time rock n’ roll
 An
add from June 30, 1965 in the Atlantic City Press which
features a picture and headline of Conway Twitty
performing along with “Levon and the Hawks”. During an
interview with Levon Helm, years ago, Levon clearly
explained that it was Conway Twitty with his
longstanding relationship with Tony Mart who actually
steered “The Hawks” to Tony Mart’s and told him “ Go see
Tony -Tony will put you to work.”
This was in the approximate time period of late 1964 to
early 1965 when “The Hawks” left their namesake and
prior bandleader, Ronnie Hawkins, a famous Canadian
Rockabilly performer and returned to Levon’s home in the
east Arkansas and Memphis area. At that point they
became “Levon and the Hawks”.
|
