Rock ‘n Roll Reunion to jam on June 1

(CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – The 2013 Rock ‘n Roll Reunion returns on June 1 for classic party sounds, which still pack the dance floor.

The reunion will be held at the Elks Lodge at 725 Franklin St. from 4 p.m. to midnight.

“We’ll have music by members of The Continentals, The Tiks, The Precious Few, Square One, Chasers and The Deltones. Plus, many other local bands of the 1960s will perform,” event coordinator Jerry Brewer said. “Larry Byrom, a local, homegrown famous studio musician, will attend as well.” Byrom left the local scene to play with Steppenwolf.

Brewer played drums with the Tiks. He recalls Huntsville nightspots ‘of the day,’ like the Epoch Club, Bradley’s, Dunnavant’s Mall, Camelot and other venues from the 1960s and 1970s.

“We usually have 350 to 400 people to show up for the reunion,” Bradley said. “Last year, we had a lot of people who were in their twenties, and they had a great time.”

The idea for a reunion came up while some of these musicians “were sitting at lunch in 1992. ‘Why don’t we have a reunion?’ somebody asked,” Brewer said.

“Our first reunion was in 1992 at Joe Adams’ lodge on Mooresville Road. Approximately 100 advance tickets were sold but about 600 people attended the event,” Brewer said. That first reunion was held from noon to midnight and was advertised as the Tiks/Precious Few Reunion. The reunion later was held at the Ramada Inn in Madison and the Hilton in Huntsville.

However, the reunion took a hiatus in 1999. “In 2008, we started again at the Elks Lodge. Musicians came from California, Florida, Washington state and Georgia,” Brewer said. In 1996, then Huntsville Mayor Steve Hettinger proclaimed “Rock ‘n Roll Reunion Week” for the event.

Tickets are $15 and are available at the Elks Lodge or at the door. Food will be available for purchase. For more information, call Brewer at 256-683-0102.