The very first band I had was "The Shifters". In 1963 the popular thing was hot rod cars. Thus the name, "The Shifters".
My uncle was a sign painter and did a fantastic job painting the bass drum head with the name which included a 4 speed gear shifter with the ever popular "8 Ball" shifter knob on top. We were all in the 8th grade at Flat Rock Junior High in Flat Rock, NC
We entered the Mountain Youth Jamboree in Asheville and won 1st place.
The two Danny's were cousins and Sherri Anders (not Anderson as the article says) and I were like brother and sister.
I'll never forget Danny playing his Melody Maker Gibson through a Bell and Howell 16mm movie projector for our first "concert"
at school. Sherri's hottest song was "Candy Kisses". Later the Danny's decided that they only wanted to play country music.

I wanted to play everything, so we disbanded and I later started a group that became The Casuals. I sold my drums to
Ronnie Thompson and taught him a few drum patterns and then I had a drummer. Ronnie became a very gifted drummer and eventually had the first double bass drum set that most folks had ever seen. I began to play guitar and then met Jimmy Jones who was a very talented young guitar player and quite a bit younger. He sure held his own with all us "older" guys though. He was a great asset. Then Jim Sinclair came into the picture as a piano/organ player. He was super talented and could play anything he heard. He eventually got an electronic organ and we were off to the races. Jimmy Sinclair was responsible for our band's name and has been our historian for all these years. We were just kids but with our parents support, we progressed quickly. Our first "pro" job was at the Pow-Wow Room of the Osceola Inn for the Rubin family. We had just added David Drake to sing and play sax for us and we had just learned "Girl From Ipenema", a popular Latin number at the time. Our first vocal..."Louie Louie" which got us thrown out of the Teenage Canteen in town because some adults thought it had dirty lyrics...that was never proven.
Times were changing!!!!

The Casuals got their start by playing for the North Carolina Cloggers
L-R Jimmy Jones, Jim Sinclair, Pat Corn, Ronnie Thompson
This photo was taken at The Saddle Club on Willow Rd. where we rehearsed.

The addition of David Drake as lead vocalist and sax, Frank Todd on trumpet, Ken Levi (cousin) on bass
and finally Jack Farris on trumpet added a whole new thrust and The Casuals became a classic
R&B/Soul band playing for all types of functions from concerts, country clubs, to colleges in the Southeast.
This photo was taken at the National Guard Armory In Hendersonville, NC during a Battle Of The Bands.
 The song? "I Feel Good"!!

Playing the Pavilion in Myrtle Beach was the equivalent for a southern soul band of playing the
 Apollo Theater in New York City for a soul artist. For a group as young as The Casuals, it was unheard of.
 

Here The Casuals are at The Pavilion playing for a packed house during Sun and Fun Week in Myrtle Beach, SC..
L-R: Ken Levi on bass, Jimmy "Louie" Jones on guitar, Pat Corn on guitar, Ronnie Thompson on drums, David Drake on sax,
Frankie Todd on lead trumpet and Jack Farris on trumpet (and dancing too!) and in the back is Jimmy Sinclair wearing out the organ. The song? Probably "Hot Cha" or "Summertime"....
 

Traveling was easier with our own trailer in tow. Bev Levi (Ken's sister) was a tremendous artist even in the '60's.
She painted the caricatures of The Casuals on the front of the trailer. Missing is Jack Farris, our other trumpet player
who came on board later.
 
There were some interesting experiences with that old trailer, especially when a rival band from Asheville, NC slashed
our tires after our winning a Battle Of The Bands contest in Asheville. They took the battle to the Shoney's parking lot!!

Hendersonville High School Class of '68 "Most Talented Seniors""
Pat Corn and Kathie Loveland
Two beautiful blondes!!
I miss them both terribly! Kathie and my Mosrite Joe Maphis Model I !!
By this time I had left The Casuals to pursue jazz studies before college.
 

Here's the Jack Farris family today. Jack is a Colonel in The Army and is in the DC area. A fine father
and husband and deeply devoted Christian who works with Ian Thomas' "Navigators" ministry.

 

Here I am at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society (CAAS) in Nashville, TN with Nokie Edwards, lead guitarist
for The Ventures, a bona fide hero. Groove by groove, I learned all the Ventures instrumental hits s a teen.
Nokie has been one the greatest musical influences in my success as a guitarist
Many of the young guitarists of the '60's owned Mosrite "Venture" model guitars. I was
fortunate enough to own the top of the line Joe Maphis Model I pictured above
Check out Nokie's website

What a great year in the 2006 season having the opportunity to work with Billy Baker aka "Elwood Smooch" at his
Old Smoky Hoedown. It was a belly laugh every night. I made dear friend and adopted children there. The two sweeties
beside Billy are Logan Murrell and Rachel Holder. Both of the kids have a bright, bright future. Both of them and I
migrated to The Country Tonite Theatre in 2007, also in Pigeon Forge, TN.

This group of inordinately talented people made up the cast at CT for the 2007 season.
Here again, these new friends became like family, and I love them every one still to this day.
CT is billed as the top show in the Smokies and I was honored to spend the 2007 season
as part of such a fantastic show. Many more action pics at www.myspace.com/patcornmusic

My album "Simply Put"..Caution: This Product May Cause Drowsiness

July of 2007 brought a wonderful surprise. I was given an honorary Doctorate of Divinity by WRU in Texas.
I have since learned that a DD cannot be attained with study. As Dr. Gregg stated,
"Anyone can earn a doctorate with their head, but few earn it with their heart"
I am so blessed to serve Smoky Mountain Cowboy Church.

These shots were all 55lbs ago!! No more sugar for me!!