"You are not a drop in the ocean, you are the entire ocean in a drop."
- Rumi
THE RANGER REPORT - March 2023 The Official Newsletter Of The Mighty Manatees "Celebrating 37 Years of Gentle Gianting"
WILLIAM SCOTT "BIG DADDY" GOURLEY R.I.P. - All of us here were deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of our longtime friend and fellow musician, Scott Gourley. He was a legend in the local music scene whether he was DJing, performing with his band Big Daddy & The Fender Benders, or his Human Jukebox, or his jazz band. Scott sang with The Mighty Manatees on countless occasions.
I first met Scott in the summer of 1985 at the old Center Square Hotel. He was around 21 and working in the kitchen. My Canadian band and I had just arrived in town and we were illegal, broke, and hungry. Scott traded me a giant American hamburger for one of my band's cassette tapes and we became fast friends. Years later Scott played drums in a short-lived band with Jozo and I called The Ishkibibles. Big Daddy was larger than life. He was a force of nature. He had a giant heart and a huge passion for FUN. He was beloved and will be sorely missed.
BIG DADDY BENEFIT CONCERT! - On Sunday, March 26, there will be a benefit concert for the family of Scott Gourley at The Whitpain Tavern in Blue Bell, PA, from 2:00 to 8:00 PM. Many acts have signed on to participate including The Howell Brothers, River Dawgs, Ray Adkins, Matt Chicetti, Mike Greer, Mike Guldin, The Fender Benders, and more. The Mighty Manatees will go on around 7:00 PM.
http://www.whitpaintavern.com
FUN FACT - And speaking of Mike Guldin, did you know that he and his Rollin' & Tumblin' band have a new album coming out on June 16th called The Franklin Sessions and that it features two songs I co-wrote with Mike? It's true! The songs are called "Two Hearts Are Better Than One" and "Sometimes Ya Gotta Roll The Dice".
VIDEO CLIP OF THE MONTH - This month's clip has been circulating due to Scott Gourley's passing. It's from November 27, 2013, at The Sellersville Theater and it is Big Daddy at his best. Rest in peace, my friend. https://youtu.be/H3nZZR54dTI
MANATEE APPRECIATION DAY! - Wednesday, March 29, is annual international Manatee Appreciation Day. You could donate to the Save The Manatee Club or even adopt your own manatee! Please got to http://www.savethemanatee.org
The Mighty Manatees have a rather light work load this month because we are busy rehearsing new songs and finishing up the brand new
"Travelers On The Road" studio CD for its release this summer.
That's all the news for now.
Take care of yourselves,
Ranger Will
MARCH 2023 -
3 - Fri - Stray Dog Tavern, Skippack, PA 8 - 11
4 - Sat - Blue Bell Inn, Blue Bell, PA 8 - 11
9 - Thus - TBD aka Root Down Biergarten, Phoenixville, PA 6 - 9
10 - Fri - Baxter's, Paoli, PA 7 - 10
18 - Sat - Faracos, Quakertown, PA 6 - 9
23 - Thurs - TBD aka Root Down Biergarten 6 -9
20 - Mon - SPRING BEGINS!
26 - Sun - NCL 10:30 - 11:30 AM Live stream @ http://www.newchurchlive.tv
26 - Sun - BIG DADDY BENEFIT CONCERT - Whitpain Tavern, Blue Bell, PA 2:00 - 8:00
29 - Wed. - Annual International Manatee Appreciation Day!
IN PASSING -
Burt Bacharach Richard Belzer
Ciocia Lil Dean Daughtry
Melinda Dillon Gerald Fried
William Scott "Big Daddy" Gourley David Harris
Paul Jerrrard Troy Landis
Alfred Leslie Lisa Loring
Marianne Mantel Floyd Sneed
Stella Stevens Barrett Strong
Charlie Thomas Trugoy The Dove
Raquel Welch Harry Whittington
Moses (dog)
Remember the Golden Rule. 