Blue Beats Photos

This is the exact model, in size, style and composition, of the first snare drum owned by Scott Stinson. This instrument was discovered by Scott, on display inside a now-defunct drum shop, in Medford Oregon, in 2003.

This is near to the exact model, in size, color, style and composition, of the second snare drum owned by Scott Stinson. This instrument was discovered by Scott, on display inside a now-defunct drum shop, in Medford Oregon, in 2003.

Whirling Wheels, a roller skating rink built in the Altizer section of Huntington West Virginia and currently known as Skateland, was located just a block and a half from the boyhood home of Richard Stacy. The skating rink would transform into a teenage dance scene, after dark on weekends, and it was the venue for The Blue Beats first paying gigs, during the nights of mid and late summer 1966.

The Ceredo-Kenova field house, is situated near the town centers of Ceredo and Kenova, which are small West Virginia cities, located a few miles west of Huntington, near the confluence of the Big Sandy and Ohio rivers. The C. K. Field House was the site of many Tri-State area "Battle of the Bands" events, during the late 1960s. The Blue Beats placed second overall, in the 1967 series of competitions, among popular bands from Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia, in part by performing an original song entitled "I'll Never Love Again". The first place band that summer was The Swiss Navy, from Jackson Ohio, whose membership then included Craig Fuller. Two years later, Craig began working with the band that would become Pure Prairie League and he would go on to write and record the song "Amie".

Camp Mad Anthony Wayne is a small park located in rural Huntington West Virginia a few miles south of downtown. The park lodge was frequently rented as a venue for off-campus parties, organized by Marshall University fraternities and sorieties, and The Blue Beats provided the music for many of those same parties.

Kenny Music was originally located on the north side of 3rd Avenue, between 9th and 10th streets, in downtown Huntington West Virginia. On many a Saturday morning in the1960s, various contingents of The Blue Beats' members would converge upon Kenny Music, to see, try out and occasionally purchase the latest musical instruments.

Two majorettes from the Barboursville High School marching band; juniors Cary Hatfield and Phyllis Bias.

The Frost Top Drive-in restaurant, located on the south side of Huntington West Virginia, along 16th Street (A.K.A. Hal Greer Blvd.), has long been a favorite stopping point on trips, in and out of downtown, for a frosty mug of creamy draught root beer and a great hot dog, any way you like it.

United Sound was a successful, local Huntington pop music group, which performed to acclaim, in many Tri-State area venues, during the early 1980s. Appearing in this photograph, clockwise from the top left, are keyboardist Frank Davis, lead vocalist and bass guitarist Joe Jones, lead and rhythm guitarist Tom Sheets, lead and rhythm guitarist Randy Bishop, and drummer Gary Vance.

Joe Jones, Randy Bishop and Gary Vance were also members of another very popular Huntington musical group, known as "The 5th Row", which existed during the same era as "The Blue Beats", and which included Rick Morgan on keyboards and E.C. Vance on bass guitar.

(United Sound promotional photograph; circa 1980, courtesy Randy Bishop)

Empire Books is located in the newly constructed Pullman Square retail district, in downtown Huntington West Virginia. Empire was one of two area book stores designated to hold signing events, for Kim Peyton's memoir "Band Boys: Teenage Music Makers of the Sixties", about his days with The Blue Beats.

Kim Peyton was invited, by ex-Mayor of Huntington Jean Dean, to come the studios of radio station WRVC, in downtown Huntington West Virginia, on Thursday morning, June 8, 2006, so that she might interview Kim, during her weekly show, about his recently published book, "Band Boys". Pictured, from left to right, are segment producer (and ex-WKEE DJ) Jack O'Shea, Huntington radio personality Jean Dean, and author Kim Peyton.

Scott Stinson was invited by Jean Dean, to participate in Kim's book interview. Pictured here, from left to right, are Kim Peyton, Jack O'Shea, and Scott.

On June 9, 2006, at Empire Books, located in the newly constructed Pullman Square retail district, in downtown Huntington West Virginia, Kim Peyton conducted a signing event for his recently published book "Band Boys", along with Scott and Spencer Stinson. Cap Hunter was also in attendance, although it unclear that he signed anything more than a sales receipt.

Three fellow Blue Beats enjoy a moment, during the Empire Books signing event, for Kim's "Band Boys" book. Pictured here, from left to right, are Kim Peyton, Scott Stinson and Spencer Stinson.

Even though Cap Hunter was only in The Blue Beats for a few weeks, (before we were even officially called The Blue Beats), it seems he has been a Blue Beat for 40 years. Cap attended the Empire Books signing event, for Kim's "Band Boys" book. Pictured here, from left to right, are Cap Hunter and Scott Stinson.

Kim Peyton puts his signature on a copy of his "Band Boys" book, during the Empire Books signing event.

Scott Stinson adds his signature beneath Kim Peyton's, on a copy of Kim's "Band Boys" book, during the Empire Books signing event.

Spencer Stinson adds his signature beneath Kim Peyton's and Scott Stinson's, on a copy of Kim's "Band Boys" book, during the Empire Books signing event.

Three busy Blue Beats cranking out signatures, during the Empire Books signing event, for Kim's "Band Boys" book. Pictured here, from left to right, are Kim Peyton, Scott Stinson and Spencer Stinson.

Kim Peyton expresses the pleasure everyone had, during the Empire Books signing event.

Scott's First Snare Drum

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