A new Happy the Man track

[Indiedog]

Today the band Happy the Man (featuring bassist Rick Kennell) released their new track.



I find it terribly exciting and very well-recorded. Stanley Whitaker’s guitar and voices are excellent. I find the bridge section to be “very Happy the Man.”

 

[lordradish]

Wow, that's some obscure stuff. I didn't even know they were still around. Any of the 70's members still in this? Sounds pretty modern.

 

[bholder]

If I'm not mistaken, the bassist is an active member here - paging @BassHappy ?

 

[Indiedog]

Wow, that's some obscure stuff. I didn't even know they were still around. Any of the 70's members still in this? Sounds pretty modern.

Yeppers, the guys are all active. The core group with HTM. They released “Only Love” earlier this year and plan to have a full album eventually. Stanley gigs a lot. Ron Riddle has his fingers in lots of cool music and film music projects. Rick Kennell (BassHappy) is a financial advisor to musicians and produces his wife’s wonderful material. Her name is Leah Waybright; she has two fine CDs named “Dreamed” (2024) and “Beauty Gone Wild.”

Kit Watkins has some great new material with Uber-fan Bob Nagy. Kit has a huge solo library.

Michael Beck—wonderfully crazy percussionist—is still with the band and doing his projects. His more subtle percussion “painting” was not needed on this more fire burner of a song. Riddle amped up his drumming to really elevate the track.

Only Frank Wyatt (RIP) is no longer active, but his legacy of his bands Pedal Giant Animals and Oblivion Sun leave many albums for you to check out.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Wow, that's some obscure stuff. I didn't even know they were still around. Any of the 70's members still in this? Sounds pretty modern.

I played a show with a band and Happy the Man on the bill back in 1987. Our guitar player at the time eventually signed on with them. BassHappy ( Rich) is still around) as far as I know. Good guy and hope all is well with him.

 

[BassHappy]

I played a show with a band and Happy the Man on the bill back in 1987. Our guitar player at the time eventually signed on with them. BassHappy ( Rich) is still around) as far as I know. Good guy and hope all is well with him.

Hello!

Rick from Happy the Man here! Thanks for your post.

Just curious, Happy the Man never played "live" from 1979-2000. On June 17th of 2000, we played at NearFest which was our first show in over 20 years. Maybe you are thinking of Kit Watkins, our keyboard player? He did some random shows in the 1980's and perhaps that is what you are thinking of? Also, no guitarist has ever been in Happy the Man except for Stanley Whitaker. Again, perhaps your guitar player friend had something to do with Kit Watkins? That is the only thing I can think of.

Just speculating, but there seems to be some confusion....

Best,

Rick

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Hello!

Rick from Happy the Man here! Thanks for your post.

Just curious, Happy the Man never played "live" from 1979-2000. On June 17th of 2000, we played at NearFest which was our first show in over 20 years. Maybe you are thinking of Kit Watkins, our keyboard player? He did some random shows in the 1980's and perhaps that is what you are thinking of? Also, no guitarist has ever been in Happy the Man except for Stanley Whitaker. Again, perhaps your guitar player friend had something to do with Kit Watkins? That is the only thing I can think of.

Just speculating, but there seems to be some confusion....

Best,

Rick

It was the Summer of 1977, Frostburg MD National Guard Armory. I was in a band with Rocky Ruckman. I still have the flyer you gave me from Paul Reed instruments you gave me.

 

[BassHappy]

AHA!!!!

Absolutely, I remember - you guys started with Hocus Pocus by Focus and Rocky blew us in the dirt! He even nailed the yodeling and all of those uber high parts which left us shaking our heads in amazement.

Yes, and then later in like 1979 or 1980 we tracked Rocky down and formed Vision and we all moved to New York together. Wow, what memories....

Thanks for that!