Rapid City Journal from Rapid City, South Dakota • 32

8 THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015 BLACK HILLS TO GO Tribute to American music icons SOUND CHECK tax you Potter Whether or at "A $35 Family you're Tribute with a tax to Theatre, fan for of American 632 dinner. Elvis or Call St. Music Celine Joseph Icons 415-5593 Dion, St. Dinner for there's Tickets Show" are reservations. something at $20 The with for ON THE RECORD THE GREAT OUTDOORS Rockin' island style with 'OPO There was a group called Ruby with a lead guitarist by the name of Randy Oda.

Did they cut an album with a song called "Coming Back to Was John Fogerty of CCR backing this group in some way? Randy Oda did indeed play in a band called Ruby, but he was joined by Tom Fogerty rather than his brother John. Tom Fogerty was a founding member of Creedence Clearwater Revival and played guitar on the band's 13 Top Ten hits and five Top Ten albums. He left CCR in 1971 to concentrate on a solo career. After releasing a few solo albums in the early '70s, he formed Ruby with guitarist Oda, bassist Anthony Davis, and drummer Bobby Cochran. They released two studio albums, "Ruby" in 1976 and "Rock and Roll Madness" in 1978, before disbanding.

A compilation album called "Precious Gems" was released in 1984. Oda and Fogerty recorded an album together called "Sidekicks" which was released two years after Fogerty's death in 1990. We could not find a song by the name of "Com- Bradford ing Back to Brady You" but we did find one Bradford Brady called "Running Back to Me" from their first album. In recent years, Randy Oda has reunited with bassist Michael Politeau and his brother, drummer Kevin Oda, to reform the band 'OPO. Not only is the band's name an acronym for its members (Oda-Politeau-Oda), it also means "to lay a foundation" in Hawaiian.

The band is about fun and love or, as their website puts it, "Slip on some flip- flops, get your favorite drink, put on your sunglasses and crank up the volume it's time to rock island style with 'OPO." I have been looking for a song for more than 30 years. It was sung by Van Morri- son on "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert" in the early '70s. The only words I remember from the song John sounded like Maron "Flamingo flat." Can you help me find John Maron this song? From 1973 to 1981, "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert" was the favorite late -night choice for rock fans wanting to see current acts performing in concert. In a 1974 episode, Van Morrison played an extended version of "Flamingos Fly" in which he sang the line "Way over yonder in the clear blue sky, Where flamingos fly" over and over. The song would show up three years later as part of Morrison's 1977 album, "A Period of Transition." Can you tell me how many versions of Todd Rundgren's "Hello It's Me" exists? I heard another version on the radio recently.

THE CONNECTION ARMY-NAVY STORE ANN KNIVES MILITARY SUPPLIES BOOTS THE KIDS ADULTS CAMOUFLAGE CLOTHES ARMY POLICE GEAR KARATE SUPPLIES GUARD SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE! THECONNECTIONARMYNAVY.COM FORCE MARINES Hours: Sat 9:4.30 817. Main Street Rapid City. SD. SATURDAY, JUNE 27 Walk to Defeat ALS, at Memorial Park Bandshell in Rapid City. Check-in begins The first version of "Hello It's Me" was recorded by Todd Rundgren's first band, The Nazz.

The group formed in 1967 and released two albums before Rundgren's departure in late 1969. "Hello It's Me" was included on their 1968 album, "Nazz." and was a minor hit in the U.S. After leaving The Nazz, Rundgren released two albums under the name Runt before releasing his masterpiece, in 1972 under his own name. For this album, he rerecorded "Hello It's Me" with a bouncier sound in contrast to the ballad recorded by The Nazz. The new sound worked as "Hello It's Me" reached No.

5 in 1973. What's the name of that song? Where are they now? What does that lyric mean? Send your questions about songs, albums, and the musicians who make them to Bradford Brady and John Maron are freelance music writers based in Raleigh, N.C. at 8:30 a.m., and the walk starts at 10 a.m. Call 274-0230 for more information. SATURDAY, JULY 11 CASA Spearfish Canyon Half in Spearfish Park.

The run begins at 6 p.m. Preregistration by June 25 is recommended. Call 722-4558 for more information. SATURDAY, JULY 25 Moon Walk: Custer's Expedition in 1874, in the western Black Hills. The walk begins at 7 p.m.

Call 343-1567 for more information. SATURDAY, AUGUST 29 Moon Walk: Geologic Slides a Mile Wide, in the northwest corner of the Black Hills National Forest in the Bearlodge Mountains of Wyoming. The walk begins at 7 p.m. Call 343-1567 for more information. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 Moon Walk: Fire Lookout Towers and Their Keepers, in the southern Black Hills.

The walk begins at 7 p.m. Call 343- 1567 for more information. Hill City Farmer's Market Saturdays June thru September 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Back yard of Jenny's Floral 2 Jenny's Floral Jenny's Floral 2 528 Mb Rushmore Rd Hill 243 Elm Street Custer, SD 57730 Hill City, SD 57745 605-673-8549 605-574-8549.