BISBEE MUSIC HALL OF FAME 2015 POSTHUMOUS INDUCTEE
Tom Cook
Born on January 17, 1931, in Michigan, Thomas Dale Cook, started his jazz career in high school but eventually moved his family to San Francisco, where he pursued his music career.
There he worked his way into what was known as the “Society Circuit,” where musicians were under pressure to know a standard repertoire and adapt to any key without notice. Or to find another job. This experience pushed him to excel and led to his performing on the Marvin Gaye Show in the mid- ’60s. He performed with many bands in his lifetime, including a touring country music band his wife, Mary, and son, T.J. (Thomas Junior), the eldest of their four children.
Tom moved to Bisbee more than once but finally settled here in 1994. He played in venues all over town with many of Bisbee’s finest musicians and spent the last 14 years of his life leading the Cool Jazz Trio with singer Nancy Weaver and bassist Paul Lewis. They played weekly at Cafe Roka for many of those years. His local collaborators were numerous: trumpeters Tony Roberts, Jerry Stafford, and Jay Dusard, guitarists and bassists Scott Baekeland and Dylan Charles, drummers Adam Ambrose, Steve Foss, among others.
Tom was always open and generous with his knowledge of the guitar. He made no claims to greatness but exhibited his virtuosity every time he picked up a guitar. Although he was primarily a jazz guitarist, he was nonetheless completely comfortable playing country and blues guitar, and could play a Latin ballad to bring tears to your eyes.
Tom continued playing professionally until shortly before his death on May 21, 2012.
Therefore, for his contribution to the Bisbee Music scene, Tom Cook was posthumously inducted into the Bisbee Music Hall of Fame on October 4, 2015.
Accepting a certificate on Tom’s behalf was Tom’s son, TJ Cook and daughter Lauren.
BISBEE MUSIC HALL OF FAME 2015 POSTHUMOUS INDUCTEE
Kent Markle
Kent Markle was born in Dayton, Ohio on September 18, 1955. At an early age, he moved to Tucson with his parents and graduated from Sahuaro High School. He was an All-State basketball player and played at the University of Arizona. There, he pursued his education and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing and a Master’s degree in Teaching English as a Second Language. He became a linguistics professor who spoke 7 languages and taught at Arkansas State University, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, and in Saudi Arabia at ARAMCO and King Faud’s University of Petroleum and Minerals. While working in Saudi Arabia, Kent met Canadian, Julie Bravo, and they married in India in 1988. Their three adult children (Homer, Lillian, and Gina) now live in Canada and NYC.
A nature lover and adventurer, Kent always had a dream about living in the Chiricahua Mountains. That dream came true when he bought 120 acres there. It was in the Chiricahuas on his birthday that Kent, met Vanesa Serrano. They fell in love and were together for 7 years.
Kent was an excellent musician most notably remembered for playing bass with Buzz & the Soul Senders for three years while living in Bisbee. He wrote poetry, short stories, and music throughout his life. He also played with numerous bands in Tucson, Arkansas, and Florida. He was also an accomplished harmonica player and was even once invited up to play by Buddy Guy at the Blues Fest in Silver City, New Mexico after which Buddy Guy exclaimed, “Wow, a white guy who plays like a black man.”
Kent also performed at the Tucson Folk Festival and recorded with Singer/writer Russell Bartlett.
Kent passed away from a heart attack on December 16, 2007 in Saudi Arabia. He was 52. He is sadly missed by all who knew him.
Therefore, for his contribution to the music scene in Bisbee, Kent Markle was posthumously inducted into the Bisbee Music Hall of Fame on October 4, 2015.
Accepting a certificate on Kent’s behalf was his sister Lee Ann Markle-Hamilton.
BISBEE MUSIC HALL OF FAME 2014 POSTHUMOUS INDUCTEE
Dean Morin (1956-2013)
Dean Morin was born in 1956, in Tucson then raised and educated in Bisbee, Arizona. Dean had many talents but his strongest passion was for music. He started playing drums at the age of 9 and by the time he was in high school, he had started his own band. In later life, Dean was the lead vocalist and acoustic guitar player for the band Rockus (formerly known as Bone Canyon). But he had also played with such bands as Showtime, Avatar, Long Overdue and Skoville and Cheyene.
Dean’s style was that of a classic rocker. He wore his hair curly and long, he sported tight jeans or leather pants and snuggly fitted t-shirts. He was an energetic performer with a strong sense of timing and had that rare ability to ignite the passions of the crowds who would attend his gigs. He was a consummate professional always prepared to rehearse and to hone his skills.
But Dean was not known for his musicianship alone. He also had a humanitarian side. He was a frequent participant at fundraising events such as Rock for Rehab, the Bisbee Boys and Girls Club and Bisbee Earth Day. He was also known for his commitment to helping others. He was an ordained minister and had conducted more than 200 weddings.
Dean passed away in 2013.
Bisbee Music Hall of Fame 2014 Posthumous Inductee
Frank Bloise (1953-2012)
Frank Bloise was born April 24, 1953, in Willcox, Arizona.
He started playing drums at age 12. He played in marching and concert bands from the 6th grade through junior high and high school, and was in the jazz ensemble at Cochise College. By 1977, Frank was playing for a living and continued to do so for 18 years. During that time he played in warm-up bands for Hoyt Axton, John Conalee, The Forrester Sisters, Johnny Rodrigues and Susan Ray. He played with Sonny Martin, Kenny Price, Eddie Raven, Johnny Tillotson, plus bluesman DC Minner and Blues on the Move.
He played in many bands during his lifetime but played his longest gig with Train Wreck for 14 years. Before Train Wreck, he played with Rockus; Cool Jazz; Borderline; The Cheap suits; Thunder Mountain; West Texas Millionaires; Drop a Hat; The Buzzards and the Backwater Country Band.
He went on the road with the Borderline and Train Wreck. Train Wreck won the Tucson Blues Challenge in 2007 and went to Memphis to compete in the International Blues Challenge in 2008.
He also played drums and percussion on CDs by Train Wreck and Damaris.
He was a co-owner of Music Max, a music store in Sierra Vista along with his wife Cindy, Jane Anderson and Sean Trachtman. He taught drum for 10 years.
After a six month battle with cancer, Frank passed away on January 17, 2012.
His family is Cindy Bloise, son Jon Michael Bloise and two daughters Tysee Newman and LaCretia George and 5 grandchildren. He was 2nd cousin to Rex Allen Jr.
Bisbee Music Hall of Fame 2014 Posthumous Inductees
Amy Lopez Ross & Derrick Ross
Posthumous Induction
By Jimi Giannatti
When they told me they were going to induct my dear friends Amy and Derrick Ross into the Bisbee Music Hall of Fame posthumously: my first thought was – damn Nowhere Man and a Whiskey Girl would be pissed if they found out they weren’t playing here tonight. Because that’s what they did. They played music. They played their music. For over fifteen years (thirteen of them married), Amy and Derrick wrote many, many songs and performed them regularly. Songs with beautiful melodies, haunting refrains, and catchy hooks; all wrapped around clever, heartfelt, honest lyrics.
Many of their songs were semi-autobiographical because they both inherently knew the first rule of great writing: “Write about what you know. And oh my God, what a gift for all of us that these same songs were sung by such an incredibly gifted vocalist such as Amy.
That voice. That amazing voice! Two verses into the first song of their first set, and any first-time listener became an instant fan. Amy sang with such joy and command; always balancing the blend of earthiness, strength and sweet vulnerability that only a handful of singers have; I wouldn’t hesitate, and it certainly wouldn’t be exaggerating to put her in the same category of singers as Bonnie Raitt, Norah Jones, Tori Amos, and Patsy Cline.
One downside of Amy’s incredible vocal talent was that it often overshadowed her prodigious piano playing. Her uncanny ability on the keyboard was every bit as unexpected and remarkable as her voice, especially when supported by Derrick’s complimentary guitar playing.
In just about any other band, Derrick would have easily been the featured musician. He certainly was 15 years ago in the first band he shared with Amy, “Briefcase.” His hard edged electric solos dominated their live shows, but when the two agreed to form Nowhere Man and a Whiskey Girl, Derrick knew what a special talent Amy had and willingly took a backseat. But don’t think this decision diminished the impact he had on making their CDs or live performances.
He wrote much of their music and lyrics, as well as took on the majority of the responsibility in their doing their bookings, recording, live sound, and promotion. He also often became, much to all of our delight, the punchline to her many jabs and lovingly passive aggressive comments. She was his muse, and he was her foil, and together they were hilarious.
Without a doubt, one of the best part of a Nowhere Man and a Whiskey Girl show was the banter and bickering the two would engage in-between songs. Often employing spontaneous wit, perfect timing, pure charm, clever humor, and down-home snark – in between the music, Derrick and Amy could work a room along with the best of any professional comedy team; she was his Martin to her Lewis; his Abbott to her Costello; his Ren to her Stimpy.
Bisbee was as much a part of Nowhere Man and a Whiskey Girl as their songs and music. It became an integral part of their identity. It became the backdrop in most of the publicity photos. Bisbee inspired them. It comforted them. It became their adopted home. I know for a fact that the years they spent in Bisbee were among the best years of their lives. They were always so proud to announce to anyone that they were from Bisbee, and quick to share their stories about the town whenever they played an out-of-town gig.
All of these qualities made spending an evening watching Nowhere Man and a Whiskey Girl an extraordinary experience that few will ever forget. It didn’t matter if they were performing against the window at The Grand, under the tree at Farmer’s Market, onstage at Elmo’s or in front of the piano at The Queen, Nowhere Man and a Whiskey Girl turned every venue they played into their living room surrounded by friends and family.
Even though Amy and Derrick are being inducted as Nowhere Man and a Whiskey Girl, we can’t, and won’t ever forget their contribution to the Bisbee music scene playing alongside with Buzz Pearson and their fellow Soul Senders: Frank Tornoe, and Sam and Daniele Panther. Nor can we ever forget seeing them perform with The Border Crossers. Or recreating Pink Floyd’s, “The Wall” along with Dylan Charles, Frank, Sam and Daniele. Playing with Mike Montoya at The Grand, singing with Terry Wolfe at The Copper Queen, or with Emily and Greg of Tin Can Tourists on the patio at Poco. Not to mention, Amy’s amazing solo show we were all privileged to see every Wednesday night. For years, Amy and Derrick made up a large proportion of Bisbee’s entire music scene, and they adored every second of it.
In just a few days we will be observing the one year anniversary of their untimely and tragic deaths. But this honor isn’t about their deaths, or how they died. This honor isn’t really even for them. It’s for us. It’s our way to say, “Thank you guys, for everything you two gave us.” It’s our way to say, “We’ll always miss you, but we will never forget you.”
This honor today is about their life, their love for each other, their beautiful music, their humor, their love of performing, and their home here in Bisbee. The music of Nowhere Man and Whiskey Girl will always be heard in the crisp autumn night air on Main Street, just as it will always be heard echoing during a summer Monsoon day down in the Gulch.
Thank you Bisbee Music Hall of Fame. You honor us all by honoring them here today.
