Spooky Events in Northern New Mexico and Farewell to Paul Revere

         I am behind in my posts because I have been working on an exciting new development for Footprints in the Dew which I will be announcing here in a few weeks…………………                                                                

                                                             Down The Road with the Original Buffalo Dale

 Welcome back.   With Halloween around the corner this seems like a good time to follow up on a story from northern New Mexico. It was early June 2014 and I was traveling in a remote county there on the trail of a recent discovery of mutilated cattle in the area. Back in 1967, in an attempt to access what was thought to be a large source of natural gas, a nuclear bomb was detonated not far from my location. According to legend, the prevailing winds had blown radioactive fallout across the region. Many locals believe that exposure to the fallout has something to do with this mystery. There are stories of people who were deformed by radiation, roaming the area as giant midgets, although I have not been able to confirm any siting of them. Other stories claim that aliens landed here and established a secret underground base.

What is true is that local ranchers have found their cattle surgically carved up and drained of blood, without even any blood on the ground beneath them. Some of the animals tested positive for radioactivity but no source has been identified. There haven’t even been any tracks around the dead animals. Although some people claim that this is the work of witches, the ranchers and locals continue to be mystified. The one thing many of the mutilations have in common is that they occurred on the same scary date, October 31st! Halloween night so be careful. I hear strange occurrences may be heading our way. Trick or treat.

Moving onward is the story of a man who I knew and who made a living wearing a costume his entire life. Paul Dick was born on January 7, 1938 in Boise, Idaho. He started out in the restaurant business and owned several spots in Boise until the day in 1958 when he met a hamburger bun maker named Mark Lindsay. Together they formed a band called the Downbeats. Their first hit song was I Like Long Hair making it to number 38 on the Billboard Chart and launching a long musical career for both of them. The pair parted ways briefly a year later when Lindsay joined Leon Russell’s band but then reunited and signed a contract with Columbia Records. In 1965 with the “British invasion” in full swing and bands like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Animals dominating the airwaves, their collaboration caught on with one hit song after another. The seventies brought more success with tours and starring appearances on television.

In the eighties punk rock and new wave music became popular and Dick, now a legendary musician in his own right, embraced performers like the Sex Pistols, Joan Jett and Pat Benatar , all of whom performed his songs. A true showman, he continued to tour around the world making regular stops in Branson where I interviewed him four years ago. The interview stretched over two days and I took in three shows at the Dick Clark Theater which were some of my favorite performances. Sadly, this past August Dick announced his retirement from show business. I’m here this week to tell you there will never be another show like his. Paul Dick who died on October 4th was better known as Paul Revere and his band, Paul Revere and the Raiders was one of the most popular bands of the sixties.

Next week I’m going back to the place where I saw him last when I visit Branson to check out the new shows and the fall season at Silver Dollar City. Till then I’ll see ya down the road…