In 1978 or 79, the band was playing a small joint called the JR Ranch just outside of Hudson, Wisconsin. Later that eve Artie got in a small (DWI) jam. Don't ask me how, but somehow he managed to wrangle a personal appointment with a judge the following morning (Saturday) in a teeny weeny county courthouse in Menomonee, Wisconsin. There we sat - hung over from the night before and into the judge's chambers walks this itsy bitsy old (80ish) shrunken up judge who can hardly see over the desk when he sits down in this huge chair. Artie and I just sat there waiting for the death sentence. The judge said, "I understand you live in Michigan and are leaving tomorrow." - "What do you do for a living?" Well, we both thought his goose was cooked. "I'm a musician," replied the hung-over hippie-type. Waiting for what we were sure was going to be a stiff penalty, the little old judge says, "Hey, my son's a musician with Maynard Ferguson's orchestra!" The two chatted a bit about music and, after about 10 minutes, the little judge stood up, shook Artie's hand and told him, "Next time you come to Wisconsin, see if you can follow the rules." And we left!!!! Walked outside and asked ourselves - what the hell just happened in there? I'll never forget it.

- Lauri Neisius 10-28-99

they had drank a river of coffee...

forgotten what real food tasted like

driven Coast to Coast, border to border

at 90 M P H for d a y s at one time

seldom arrested often sick, s p a c e d, tightjawed

lugged+humped 7000lbs of ancient, crackling gear

into any cold, e m p t y, stinking barroom that had electricity or a stage.

played so hard + l o n g + sweet + L O U D

hat after waking up in some miserable motel in some terrible town with a horrible headache

it was get up, move along and do it all over again.

worked like mules, froze down south, lost in the west.

had a ball.

- Tony Griff

HEARTSFIELD ROCKS RORY'S!

By Doc Rock Chicago, IL-
Your comments are welcome, contact imdocrock@prodigy.net.

Proving again that great music is timeless, Heartsfield played Rory's just outside of Chicago on Saturday, February 26th, 2000. Original member, Perry Jordan has assembled a new band that will recreate the thrills that the group brought fans in the 70's as well has as create many new ones. Add five part harmony, four guitar players, bass, and drums to outstanding material and you've got the recipe for some great entertainment. In addition to performing original tunes from the Heartsfield albums of the past such as House of Living, Shine On, With These Tools, Music Eyes and Racin' The Sun, the group also unveiled five new tunes that hopefully will turn out to be the nucleus of a new album. The band's infectious country-rock sound had the crowd jumping for the entire set. New members Timothy Southwick Johnson, John Brightwell, David Nelson on guitars, Steve Eddington on bass, and Scott Bonshire on drums, provide the solid instrumental and vocal work that generates the sound that originally created a cult following for Heartsfield. See the new Heartsfield on the club circuit while you can. This reviewer expects to see the band on the "fest" circuit by this summer with its larger crowds and venues. This band is just too good to be playing the clubs much longer. As somebody who saw the "old" Heartsfield many times, it's like being back home again to see the "new" band. The greatest part is that this is no nostalgia trip, instead it's music that can stand on its own now and attract many new fans from the rock and country scenes on today's music scene.

EMAILS TO SHERRE

Dear Sherre,

I have gotten a kick out of the Heartsfield website. I can identify the "unknown" newspaper clip reviewing the Carbondale, Illinois show at Second Chance as coming from "The Daily Egyptian," the student newspaper at Southern Illinois University. I wrote for the paper for 4 years and knew the writer of that article, John Carter. I was at that show at Second Chance (still have the ticket stub). The enclosed group photo is from that show, taken from the balcony. You can almost read the set list ("House of Living" and "Hush A Bye" are the first two songs). I thought if anyone would appreciate this old photo (other than me, Heartsfield fan #1A), it would be you.

I was trying to think back on all the Heartsfield shows I saw through the '70s and early '80s, when I was in high school and then college. I can remember:

I'm sure I'm missing a few shows in some missing brain cells, but it's been fun to think about it again. Keep the updates coming and thanks for providing some great music and memories.

Cheers,
Rod Smith Phoenix, AZ

======================

Hi Sherre,

I was really pleased to find such a good site for the band! My name is Stu Nevitt. For about a year and a half (1978-79) I played percussion & drums with Heartsfield. It was my first time being on the road. The guys were so great to me. They not only taught me how to survive out there, but I learned so much from the high caliber of their musicianship. I remember a song, I think it was Freddie's "Michigan Home", that Artie was playing piano on, with me on drums. There was a break in the song & when I came back in I always entered just a hair too early. Art told me to think about when I was a kid throwing a baseball in the air. "You have to wait for it to come down". That was the key to me being able to play the part correctly. I later moved to California where my old band, Shadowfax, was reforming. We had a good long career, won a Grammy in 1988, & were nominated again in 1992. I thank Artie, Freddy, Ziggy, Perry, Bassmaster JC & Phil for giving me the tools to be able to do that. It's very cool that Perry is back out!!!

Regards to all,
Stu Nevitt Stu Nevitt:Grammy Award Winning Drummer/Composer/Percussionist (added 5/10/00)

=======================

Dear Sherre

Happy New Millennium. The Heartsfield CDs I ordered from you arrived in fine shape on Xmas eve. Wonder of It All sounds great after all these years of my scratched up vinyl. Live in 75 is OK, but I wish it wasn't so Foolish Pleasures dominated. I hope you get the OK to do the first Strawberry LP at some point.

I have gotten a kick out of the Heartsfield web site. I can identify the "unknown newspaper" clip reviewing the Carbondale, Illinois show at Second Chance as coming from "The Daily Egyptian," the student newspaper at Southern Illinois University. I wrote for the paper for 4 years and knew the writer of that article, John Carter. I was at that show at Second Chance (still have the ticket stub). The enclosed group photo is from that show, taken from the balcony. You can almost read the set list (House of Living/Hush A Bye are first two songs.) The shot of Fred is from two years prior when they played Shryock Auditorium at SIU.

I thought if anyone would appreciate these old photos (other than me, Heartsfield fan #1A), it would be you.

I was trying to think back on all the Heartsfield shows I saw through the 70s, early 80s when I was in high school and then college. I can remember:

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