Buddy Weaver Podcast

Bruce Johnson was one of the young old-timer pioneers in square dancing.  He started calling in 1948 at 21 years old and working as a teacher in Solvang, California.  Bruce traveled widely on weekends and summer break while at the same time maintaining a strong home club program during the week.  

An early recording artist for Windsor Records, he also recorded for MacGregor where he was A&R man, then later producing his own Pulse label.  Bruce had a great feel for music and delivery - this recording of a live dance done in 1960 is a good example.

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BONUS EPISODE.

This episode features Jack Jackson and a fondly remembered tradition of square dancing - the after party.  Jack Jackson a traveling caller well known for his presentation skills was also a talented folk singer, a skill which made him a hit at after parties.  After parties were once a popular feature at camps and festivals where dancers would line up chairs in front of the stage after the dancing was done so the staff could put on pantomime performances, showing a more playful side of the callers.  Some callers had the musical abilities to play and sing - Jack Jackson was one.  This is an album of songs recorded at a live after party.

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ENCORE PRESENTATION

Recorded live at a 2/3 way dance for a SSD, now mainstream 26 dances. Good music, good calling and wind in your face dancing

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Jack Jackson of Columbus, Ohio, emerged as one of modern square dancing's nationally traveled callers during the early 1960s. He was also an accomplished singer and guitarist whose unusually musical calling style set him apart.  This is part two of a dance recorded live in New England in 1959.

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Jack Jackson of Columbus, Ohio, emerged as one of modern square dancing's nationally traveled callers during the early 1960s. He toured throughout the United States and Canada, appearing at dances, festivals, camps and institutes. He was also an accomplished singer and guitarist whose unusually musical calling style set him apart. Jack recorded for Sets In Order Records and Folkraft Records released The Singing Side of Jack Jackson, showcasing the folk singing and after-party entertainment that made him popular beyond the dance floor.

Jack Jackson later moved to Florida and eventually retired from calling.  This dance was recorded live in New England in 1959.

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Three callers who have each made their mark on square dancing - Eric Henerlau, Andy Allemao, and Buddy Weaver.  

Eric, frequently featured at festivals and weekends through out the country while maintaining a home program in the Bay Area of California.

Andy, a popular figure throughout the western region also maintains an active home program in San Diego, California.

Buddy (me), often calling festivals and weekends across the country and also maintaining an active home program in Southern California.

All callers are featured in an album recorded in 2015 using the former Mainstream program.

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Beryl Main was one of the most beloved and respected callers anywhere.  He was a master at getting dancers to be successful.  His material, his timing, his delivery, all came together in fine form.  He is an excellent model for every caller today.

This episode is part two of a dance called in San Jose, California around 1970.  From the George Knox collection - it was a reel-to-reel tape that was baked for digital transfer.  Many hours go into baking tapes for this podcast.

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Beryl Main was one of the most beloved and respected callers anywhere.  He started calling in 1960 and quickly established himself as a traveling caller covering festivals, camps, and special events throughout the United States and Canada.

His popularity extended to the recording field where he was responsible for many square dance classics on the Wagon Wheel and Chaparral Record labels.

He was a master at getting dancers to be successful.  His material, his timing, his delivery, all came together in fine form.  He is an excellent model for every caller today.

This dance was called in San Jose, California around 1970.  From the George Knox collection - it was a reel-to-reel tape that was baked for digital transfer.  Many hours go into baking tapes for this podcast.

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BONUS EPISODE 

The New Mainstream program is called by Buddy Weaver.

This dance captures a unique style of smooth choreography, energetic delivery, and modern music that is a hallmark of a Buddy Weaver dance.

All of the musical accompaniment is new on Blue Star and Hi Hat - some are future releases.

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Joe Lewis was one of the true pioneers of modern square dancing.  He transformed the caller into a showman setting the tone for generations of callers that followed.  His records spread square dancing around the world and in fact, were the foundation of his being brought to Australia in 1950 to show square dancing in department stores.  His trip was sponsored by a group of businessmen who had heard his album.  A second tour in 1951 introduced thousands to square dancing.

From the start of his career in the 1940s to his retirement in the 1990s, he was a proponent for the use of a limited number of square dance calls.  He believed that a caller with personality, good timing, and imagination could do a great deal with a limited vocabulary of calls.  This album was released in 1962 and places a spotlight on the way Joe entertained dancers without overwhelming them.

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