Story # 38
THE NIGHT JOHNNY PAYCHECK CAME TO TOWN
There was a conversation between a couple of citizens of Peebles held on a particular Sunday night in February, 1985. The citizens both agreed there hadn't been as much excitement in the village since the World Plowing Matches in 1957. The excitement was back that night, the night Johnny Paycheck came to town.
The members of the band “Goldrush” had been together long enough to set up a weekly practice routine, using Frank and Carol Kidder's garage in Hollywood and the former Duminel Drug Store building at the corner of Main and Vine. Members of the group were Doug Frost playing steel guitar, Tim Brady on electric guitar and vocals, Dale Ryan at the keyboard and electric guitar, Carlos Farrell on drums, Donnie Tincher on bass guitar and vocals and Phil Swayne as lead singer and acoustic guitarist. The band became known and gained popularity by performing at several southern Ohio events including the Peebles Old Timers Days, Seaman Fall Festival, Winchester Caramel Festival, and a few gatherings of civic organizations and private parties.
During one of their Saturday night practice sessions word came to the band that Johnny Paycheck was visiting friends in the area with his manager, former Peebles resident Ernie Stepp. The two were told about the band practice and arranged to stop in and visit. Goldrush was a country music band that blended both old and new hit songs on their playlist. The band was familiar with Paycheck's tunes and had previously featured a couple of them in its repertoire. Paycheck arrived, listened for a short time and was soon equipped with a guitar and microphone and became leader of the band. It turned into an astonishing private concert that only a handful of people witnessed.
Paycheck had been scheduled to perform that weekend in Lancaster, Ohio. However, the concerts were canceled only a few days earlier when the business unexpectedly and permanently closed. He seized the opportunity to add a show to his schedule and arrangements were quickly made to perform with Goldrush at McCoy's Family Restaurant the next night. Restaurant owner Joe McCoy happened to be one of the people he had come to visit.
Word spread quickly and all the seats were taken. One report mentioned an audience of 130 for the event, no where near the 300,000 that invaded Peebles for the plowing matches. But the enthusiasm for Paycheck and Goldrush was just as overwhelming. The performance included: “She's All I Got”, “11 Months and 29 Days”, “Slide Off of Your Satin Sheets”, “I'm the Only Hell (Mama Ever Raised)”, “Colorado Cool-Aid” and of course “Take This Job and Shove It”.
It was a night to remember.
