Artist Biography by Steve Huey
Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show's sardonic, country-flavored pop/rock made them one of the most fondly remembered acts of AM pop radio's heyday in the '70s. Although the band had a reputation as a mouthpiece for humorist Shel Silverstein, who supplied several of their biggest hits (including 'The Cover of Rolling Stone'), they didn't rely exclusively on his material by any means. And, during their peak years, they were just as famed for their crazed stage antics, which ranged from surreal banter to impersonating their own opening acts.
The band was formed in Union City, New Jersey, in 1968, when a young singer/songwriter named Dennis Locorriere teamed up with Alabama-born country-rocker Ray Sawyer. Sawyer's distinctive stage presence stemmed from his enormous cowboy hat and an eye patch that hid injuries from a serious car accident in 1967. Sharing the spotlight on guitar and lead vocals, the duo teamed up with Sawyer's bandmates from a group called the Chocolate Papers: George Cummings (lead and steel guitars), Billy Francis (keyboards), and Popeye Phillips (drums). Phillips soon moved home to Alabama and was replaced by local drummer Jay David. Sawyer's eye patch inspired the nickname Dr. Hook, after the Captain Hook character in Peter Pan; with the rest of the band christened the Medicine Show (a possible drug reference). They started out playing some of the roughest bars in the Union City area, concentrating mostly on country music out of sheer necessity. Anxious to find a more hospitable environment, the band recorded some demos, and in early 1970, their manager played the tapes for Ron Haffkine, who was working as musical director for the film Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me? Haffkine had been looking for bands to perform the songs written for the soundtrack by Shel Silverstein, an ex-folkie, Playboy cartoonist, and children's author who'd penned Johnny Cash's hit 'A Boy Named Sue.' He took an instant liking to Locorriere's voice, and became the group's manager and producer, signing them to record 'Last Morning' for the film soundtrack and also landing a deal with CBS.
Silverstein wrote all the songs for Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show's self-titled debut album, which was released in 1971. The single 'Sylvia's Mother,' a subtle parody of teen-heartbreak weepers, flopped upon release, but with more promotional muscle, became the band's first million-seller and hit the Top Five in the summer of 1972. That year, the band added a full-time bassist in Jance Garfat, as well as another lead guitarist, Rik Elswit. Their second album, Sloppy Seconds, was again written by Silverstein, and featured more risqué material, perhaps in response to the success of 'Sylvia's Mother.' 'The Cover of Rolling Stone,' written specifically to get the band featured in the song's namesake magazine, became another Top Ten smash in early 1973, and Rolling Stone soon granted the band's wish. However, following it up proved difficult. Drummer David left the group in 1973, to be replaced by John Wolters; the title of their next album, Belly Up, was unfortunately prophetic, and the band filed for bankruptcy in 1974 (partly as a way to get out of their contract with CBS). Now known simply as Dr. Hook, they signed with Capitol in 1975, debuting with Bankrupt, which featured more group originals. A cover of Sam Cooke's 'Only Sixteen' returned them to the Top Ten in 1976 and revitalized their career; although Cummings left the band that year, further hits followed over the next few years in 'A Little Bit More,' 'Sharing the Night Together,' 'When You're in Love with a Woman,' and 'Sexy Eyes.' 1979's Pleasure & Pain became their first gold album, cementing the band's transition into disco-tinged balladeers. However, Elswit had to leave the band for a year after developing cancer; he was replaced by Bob 'Willard' Henke, who remained in the lineup after Elswit's return. Ray Sawyer, however, did not; dissatisfied with their newly commercial direction, he departed in 1980, robbing Dr. Hook of, well, Dr. Hook. With Rod Smarr replacing Henke, the remainder of the band switched from Capitol to Casablanca, with very little success; after a few bill-paying tours, they finally gave up the ghost in 1985. Locorriere became a session and touring vocalist, backing Randy Travis in 1989, and in 1996 recorded the solo LP Running with Scissors. Sawyer toured under the Dr. Hook name, which he licensed from Locorriere, well into the 2010s. Drummer Wolters died of cancer in 1997. Sawyer died in Daytona Beach, Florida on December 28, 2018. In music, the word 'hook' refers to that part of a song that catches the ear of the listener. In other words, it's a lyrical line or melodic phrase that makes the song memorable. Popular hooks can have a tendency to leave an earworm with listeners (sometimes for the rest of the day). Hook definition is - a curved or bent device for catching, holding, or pulling. How to use hook in a sentence. Hazel Rattan Hook Rack $108.00. Quickshop Madras Towel Hook $22.00. Quickshop 2 colors Launis Towel Hook $30.00. Quickshop 2 colors Kaye Blegvad Hook.
| Hook | |
|---|---|
Location within Hampshire | |
| Population | 7,770 (2011 Census)[1] |
| OS grid reference | SU722537 |
| • London | 42 miles (68 km) |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HOOK |
| Postcode district | RG27 |
| Dialling code | 01256 |
| Police | Hampshire |
| Fire | Hampshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| UK Parliament | |
| |
Hook/ˈhʊk/ is a town and civil parish in the Hart District of northern Hampshire, England.
It is situated 6.2 miles (10 km) east of Basingstoke and 36 miles (58 km) northeast of Southampton, on the A30 national route, just north of Junction 5 of the M3 motorway. London is 41 miles (66 km) northeast of the town.
In 2016, Hook had a population of 7,916. Hook railway station currently has direct rail links to both London Waterloo and Basingstoke with indirect routes to Reading, Salisbury, and Southampton. Rail services are provided by South Western Railway.
Noun a curved or angular piece of metal or other hard substance for catching, pulling, holding, or suspending something. Hook & Reel is back in the press! Read this CLAWsome article about one couple’s frequent visits to our new Warwick, RI location. “We were in Cajun heaven, soaking up the sauce, picking out the meat from the crawfish, and savoring every bite.” Go and try it for yourselves!
Among the businesses located in the town are Serco and Trimble Navigation. Between 2004 and 2006, Hook expanded eastwards with the development of the Holt Park residential district, and from 2020 northeastwards with the Green Hart Park and Oakwood Grange developments.
History[edit]
Until the 18th century, only a few scattered farms could be found in the area; small hamlets did not begin to appear until inns sprung up to serve travellers. Hook was located on the main London to Exeter stagecoach route. In the late eighteenth century, a turnpike road was constructed to aid the navigation of the steep Scures Hill, to the west of the village. In 1883 Hook railway station was constructed, and the village began to grow with railway workers and commuters settling in Hook.[2]
Early-Mid 20th century[edit]
St John the Evangelist Parish Church was completed in 1938 replacing the tin tabernacle used by worshippers since 1886. The new Church was designed by Edward Maufe and shows in small scale design features that would later be incorporated by him into Guildford Cathedral. Even the Cathedral fund raising scheme of 'buying a brick' was first utilised at Hook where the Church retains an impressive list of donors and benefactors. Hook also has a Roman Catholic church and an Evangelical Church. The latter now known as Life Church was originally paid for by the family who founded Burberry; founder Thomas Burberry being a Baptist who died in Hook. The present Life Church Centre was opened in 2011.[3]
Hook being a hamlet in the village of Odiham before 1955; the distinct Anglican ecclesiastical parish of Hook was not created before then .[4] It was only in 1943 that permission was given for burials in Hook itself.
Post World War II History[edit]
Hook was considered as part of a scheme to settle Londoners in the country after the Second World War, but Basingstoke was selected for development instead. Recently, the town has grown in size considerably with new housing developments being constructed.[2]
Although within 6.2 miles (10 km) of the far larger town of Basingstoke to the west, Hook's development since the 1980s has been rapid. Calls have been made to redevelop the 'village' centre as Hook has few amenities for its size, as it is now generally considered as a town in terms of population and urban expanse.
Affluence is high due to surrounding rural areas, estates, such as[5] Tylney Hall Park and Garden which is Grade II* listed and Hook Common, a large mixture of forest and heathland coupled with excellent transport links.
Transport[edit]
Hook has one of the few national TaxiBus services.
There is the main line rail station mentioned above and direct access to the M3 motorway, as well as the straight route parallelling the Roman road the A30 connecting local towns such as Basingstoke and Yateley. Southampton Airport is 35 mi (56 km) to the south and London Heathrow Airport is 33 mi (53 km) away to the northeast. The far smaller Blackbushe Airport municipal air facility is 6.5 mi (10.5 km) to the east, near Yateley. Many residents commute to the larger local towns of Basingstoke, Winchester, Reading, Camberley, Fleet and Farnborough, with some travelling further afield to Southampton, Bracknell and London.
Education[edit]
In Hook, there are a number of local schools. They are:
- Hook Infant School[6]
- Hook Junior School[7]
- Robert May's School[8] (in neighbouring Odiham)
- Nearest further/higher education college – Basingstoke College of Technology[9]Queen Mary's College[10]Farnborough Sixth Form College[11]
- Nearest university – University of Winchester / Farnborough College of Technology[12] which offers courses at a university level
Hookah
The Hook Schools are supported by the Hook Schools Parents Association (HSPA)and local donors[13]
Village Events[edit]
There are several annual and monthly community events held in the village:
- The Hook Fun Run & Road Race attracts over 1,200 runners on the third Sunday in May every year. It is run by a group of volunteers and raises funds for local good causes, having distributed over £100,000 since its inception in 1992.[14]
- Hook Flower and Produce Show - September each year - free to enter and free for visitors [1]
- Hook Books at The Elizabeth Hall monthly community pop-up Library [2]
- Hook Summer Fair - July each year
- HSPA Fireworks Display Hook Junior School[7]
- HSPA Christmas Fair Hook Junior School[7]
- Hook Beer Festival - May each year
Village Magazine[edit]
Watch Hook Online
Hook Focus is Hook's authoritative magazine and since 1973 it has carried news of future Community Events and reports on all that has been happening in Hook. Focus is managed by Hook volunteers and is independent of all other bodies.[15]
Gallery[edit]
References[edit]
- ^'Village population 2011'. Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
- ^ ab'History of Hook' Hook Parish Council Website
- ^'Home'. Life Church Hook. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
- ^The National Gazetteer, 1868
- ^Historic England. 'Details from listed building database (1000176)'. National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 June 2012. Tylney Hall Park and Garden
- ^'Hook school'. www.hookinfants.co.uk.
- ^ abc'Hook Junior School'. www.hook-jun.hants.sch.uk.
- ^'Robert Mays -'. www.rmays.hants.sch.uk.
- ^BCoT. 'Basingstoke College of Technology'. www.bcot.ac.uk.
- ^'Queen Mary's College, Basingstoke'. www.qmc.ac.uk.
- ^'The Sixth Form College Farnborough'. www.farnborough.ac.uk. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
- ^'Farnborough College of Technology – Outstanding College'. www.farn-ct.ac.uk.
- ^Association, Hook Schools Parents. 'HSPA Hook Schools Parents Association'. www.hspa.org.uk.
- ^http://hookfunrun.com/about
- ^http://www.hookfocus.co.uk/
External links[edit]
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hook, Hart. |