uinely good and caring guy. “He loved music and he loved guitars, but


mostly he loved people. He really did.” Cowpens-based singer-songwriter


Matthew Knights said he, too, has fond memories of Childress. A few years ago, Knights — along with Turner and local musicians Freddie Vander- ford and Shane Pruitt — formed a group called Mill Billy Blues that shared the stage with The Sparkletones twice at The Showroom at Hub-Bub in Spartanburg and once at the Chapman Cul- tural Center. “It was a real honor and a real privilege to


play with Howard and those guys,” Knights said. “He was always so open and would let you right in and would just encourage you so much. … Howard just stayed young with (music) and really enjoyed playing.” In August 2018, The Sparkletones played a


sold-out concert at the now-defunct Frank’s Cof- fee and Music Hall, an intimate performing space in the Gramling community of Inman. It wound up being Childress’ last full concert with the group.


“Howard had been in the Music Hall


maybe three, four or five times prior to perform- ing there that night, and he was just always so gracious,” said Frank Beeson, who operated the venue with his wife, Amy. “I never dreamed, with the size of our place, that we would actually be able to host something of that caliber. “It was a memorable show. The place was


packed. In fact, we had to turn people away. But for those who were there, it was like they were 17 years old again. It took them right back to the day when ‘Black Slacks’ was on the chart. And the band was so good.” In a statement, Childress’ daughter, Kim-


berly Childress Ward, and his son, Dean Chil- dress, wrote: “In addition to his love of family, our daddy’s passion for music was as strong as anything, and he was proud to be part of Spartan- burg’s rich music history. He was always happiest with a guitar in hand and when playing with oth- ers.


“Our family would like to thank everyone


for their immense outpouring of love and support during these past several months. Daddy always said that he admired the special bonds shared be- tween generations of musicians in our commu-


Buffalo Hut Coalition 1986: Greg Yeary, Dave Haddox, Michael B. Smith


From 1986-88, Haddox played drums with


KUDZOO editor Michael Buffalo Smith, along with Greg Yeary and Joey Parrish (and later, Lee Ridings) in the Buffalo Hut Coalition. A new ver- sion of Buffalo Hut in 1992 found Haddox, Smith and Parrish joined by the late Steve Harvey. Dave was a local legend, having taught


drums to many of Carolina’s best drummers, in- cluding a 15-year-old Paul Riddle, who would find fame as an original member of the Marshall Tucker band. In interviews, including one with Modern Drummermagazine, Riddle always men- tioned Haddox as “my drum teacher.” Haddox was skilled at playing virtually any


type of music, and was also a fine keyboard player, providing the music (along with wife In-


nity. We have truly felt that bond and are blessed beyond measure.”


-Dan Armonaitis www.themusicadvocate.com


DAVID HADDOX


Spartanburg, SC- David Haddox of Spartanburg, SC died on Monday morning, December 9, 2019, following a lengthy battle with cancer. Dave began playing drums at an early age,


and over the years, he played with a wide variety of artists including Jerry Lee Lewis, Bill Ander- son, Billy Crash Craddock, the Mighty Clouds of Joy and The Soul Survivors (“Expressway to Your Heart”), with whom he survived a tragic accident with a logging truck.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91