Origins: Arkansas Flyers

Subject: Origins: Arkansas Flyers?
From: GUEST,Eric
Date: 10 Jun 03 - 12:21 PM

Hi y'all,

I'm wondering if anyone here knows the origins of a song called "Arkansas Flyers?" I haven't been able to find any reference to it on the 'net other than it having once been performed by Reagan Cole.

I learned the song from a friend a long time ago... I can post the lyrics if that'd help. The song is about a group of fast-talking airplane stuntmen in the 1920's who roll into small towns with the promise of an incredible aeronautic spectacle, but leave once they've collected all the money for admission.

Any information at all would be very much appreciated... I'm really curious about this one... thanks!

Subject: RE: Origins: Arkansas Flyers?
From: Giac
Date: 10 Jun 03 - 07:34 PM

Hey, Guest, Eric --

I'd love it if you posted the lyrics. You've got me curious now, too. Being an Arkansawyer, and having been around "old" stunt pilots in the 40s, I'd like the lyrics and the tune, too. Never heard of this one.

Good luck -
Mary

Subject: RE: Origins: Arkansas Flyers?
From: Hollowfox
Date: 10 Jun 03 - 08:42 PM

It's by John Trotter?/Shrodder? (I couldn't quite get the name off the tape in the 1970's from a Poor Howard concert I taped. My Infernal Machine is a bit touchy about long postings, so I'll type in the lyrics tomorrow at work (on my break). It's also on Poor Howard's long out-of-print casette, which he hopes to re-issue as a cd sometime this year.

Subject: Lyr Add: ARKANSAS FLYERS
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jun 03 - 10:48 PM

Hey Mary and Hollowfox...

Hollowfox: Interesting story... Poor Howard is actually how I know the song. More to the point, Howard was a camp counselor when I went to summer camp in New Hampshire in the late 80's, and that's how I got ahold of his tape. I'm glad to hear he's hoping to reissue it on CD. Funny old world.


Mary: Here's the lyrics... (and to save Hollowfox any needless computer anxiety)...

^^
ARKANSAS FLYERS
(Tony Gudonis & Harry Parker)

I believe it was a Wednesday when they first came into town.
With hammers and nails they went to work putting posters all around,
Announcing Saturday morning, in a field by Weaver's Mill,
You could see a death-defying show for just a dollar bill.

CHORUS: Arkansas Flyers. Barnstormin' fools.
Daredevil madmen breakin' all the rules
Kings of the biplane. Bravest ones alive
Arkansas Flyers, 1925.

Old timers gathered 'round them asking questions left and right
"How fast does that there biplane go? Did you ever fly at night?"
They rattled off the answers, never taking time to think
And for every answer that they gave, the old timers bought them drinks. CHORUS

Now I was just a lad of 10, still wet behind the ears.
I followed them around the town, these men who knew no fears.
I scarcely could believe my eyes, all the people at the show.
And knew for sure at the motor's roar that they were set to go.

They cranked up their big engines, locked the proceeds safe inside,
Rolled on past the grandstand, soon they were flying high;
But to everyone's amazement, not a single stunt was done...
They took off with the money, disappeared into the sun. CHORUS

---

Note from Joe Offer: a message below says Tony Gudonis & Harry Parker were the songwriters.

Subject: RE: Origins: Arkansas Flyers?
From: Giac
Date: 11 Jun 03 - 09:27 AM

Thanks, GUEST, glad to have the words. Hope someone lets us know when the CD is available.

Mary

Subject: RE: Origins: Arkansas Flyers?
From: Hollowfox
Date: 11 Jun 03 - 12:20 PM

Yep, that's them. Hey Guest, if you join up I can PM you and tell you what Howard's been up to. Which Quest did he run when you were at camp? The Grail? The Enchanted Chest of Coins?

Subject: RE: Origins: Arkansas Flyers?
From: EricS
Date: 11 Jun 03 - 04:32 PM

Okay, Hollowfox...

I'm all signed up. Got a username and e'erthing. I'd be interested to hear how Howard's doing.

To be honest, I can't remember which Quests he ran when I was at camp. I was there for a few summers, and only attended one of the Quests... but I can't recall the plot of even that one. The memories remain as ones of camping, hiking, a night spent in a barn, an evening of torturous mosquitoes (even the chapperoning counselors seemed to think the mosquitoes swarmed in ridiculous proportions that night), and a riddle that had something to do with a witch. Guess I'm not much for role-playing... never was, really. But I always enjoyed Howard's presence.

Don't know that he'd remember me (how many campers come and go each summer, you know?), but if you see him, you can let him know he's fondly remembered...


Eric

Subject: RE: Origins: Arkansas Flyers?
From: GUEST,Chromehead
Date: 29 Apr 06 - 09:53 PM

The song used to be performed by a band called Highgate that played The Main Point in Bryn Mawr, PA. back in the early 1970s. I learned it from my friend F. C. Collins who learned off of a live recording of one of their shows. It's possible that Trotter/Shrodder was a band member. Great song!

Subject: RE: Origins: Arkansas Flyers?
From: GUEST,mope clark
Date: 15 Jan 07 - 12:52 AM

Chromehead is closest to the truth. Actually Joe Trotter, who recently passed away, was a close friend of Highgate (got them their first and I might add their best paying gig at Temple University's coffee house). Highgate played around Philly, including the Main Point until they split for good in 1979(reality caught up with them). Since then, several members continue to write and record new material and every blue moon or so, they play at small venues. Sometime in the near future, they hope to have a few songs posted on the web.

Subject: RE: Origins: Arkansas Flyers?
From: Leadbelly
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 02:29 PM

Arkansas Flyers is still available on Poor Howard Stith's cd "Cultivated Blues".
He owns a personal page. Ask for Howard Stith.

Subject: RE: Origins: Arkansas Flyers?
From: Arkie
Date: 05 Sep 08 - 02:13 PM

When I was visiting the Pickoid's site for information on Reagan Cole, I noticed a link to Reagan playing Arkansas Flyers. You can see and hear Reagan playing here:

Arkansas Flyers

Subject: RE: Origins: Arkansas Flyers
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 09:03 PM

FOR THE RECORD--------I ( TONY GUDONIS) WITH MY PARTNER, HARRY PARKER, WROTE ARKANSAS FLYERS BACK IN THE EARLY 70'S WHILE WE WERE PART OF A   PHILLY FOLK ROCK BAND CALLED--- HIGHGATE-----SEEMS THIS SONG HAS A LIFE OF IT'S OWN-------HAPPY TO KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STILL ENJOYING IT-----YOU CAN EVEN HEAR A NICE VERSION OF IT ON YOUTUBE ( ALTHOUGH IT CREDITS SOMEONE NAMED FRITTER COLLINS AS THE COMPOSER---WHICH HE IS NOT----THOUGHT I'D CLEAR THIS UP-----------------------TONY G OF LANSDOWNE PA.

Subject: RE: Origins: Arkansas Flyers
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 23 Jul 09 - 09:44 AM

Nice to hear from you, Tony.

Gawd, it must stick in your craw to have credit for your song stolen and given to somebody with a name like 'Fritter Collins.'

Subject: RE: Origins: Arkansas Flyers
From: GUEST,Marc Hess
Date: 21 Sep 09 - 03:38 AM

I played with Highgate in 1974 and 1975 and I can confirm that Tony Gudonis and Harry Parker wrote Arkansas Flyers. Many other solid songs too. I can still play my piano part just fine too.

Marc Hess, Portland, Oregon.

Subject: RE: Origins: Arkansas Flyers
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 12:19 AM

Hello Tony,
So glad you've surfaced in this multi-year thread. Remarkable what a mystery has swirled around AR Flyers in some circles. I contacted Howard Stith a while back to see if he could confirm your authorship - no. My husband, Reagan Cole talked to you several years ago (~'98 or '99). You sent him a cassette of your version; hmmm, a cassette, maybe longer ago.

Reagan credits you on a self produced cd, spelling your name Gadonis. Google couldn't locate Mr. Gadonis. Flyers was one of Reagan's "hits", so oft requested at jams or his occasional concerts, my appreciation waned. I've come around again, classic story, great song!

Lynn Cole

Subject: RE: Origins: Arkansas Flyers
From: Janie
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 12:50 AM

Not related at all to the thread, but just wanted to say it is good to hear from you, Lynn, and I hope you are doing well. I merely stumbled in as I did my usual lurking around the music threads, saw Reagan's name, and read on.

Janie Endres

Subject: RE: Origins: Arkansas Flyers
From: GUEST,Sharon
Date: 02 Mar 10 - 12:17 PM

Re: The band Highgate.

Not only did they write a lot of great tunes, they had a great sound too. I am surprised they didn't go further in the music biz. Folks in the Philly area were fortunate to have had this local band in their backyard.
I wish I could have seen them perform back then, but will have to be satisfied with a couple of cd's that were made for me by one of the band members.
The music still sounds great, even now.

Subject: RE: Origins: Arkansas Flyers
From: GUEST,Davy
Date: 13 Mar 10 - 07:32 AM

Hi folks just stumbled accross this thread and was wondering if any
one could help me figure out chorde to play this song I used to hear Reagan play it regularly at Littlerock folk club. He sent me the words but I never figured out the chords

Subject: RE: Origins: Arkansas Flyers
From: GUEST,Littlegypsy
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 09:22 PM

Nice to see Harold " Poor Howard " Stith, had a cd out. Met him in the '60s in Europe when we both played 12 string guitars. Last saw him when he lived in New Philadelphia, Ohio in the early seventies. where I learned Arkansas Flyers and Jack's Red Cheetah. I'd love to catch up if anyone could send me any info - Art at [e-mail] . Thanks

Subject: RE: Origins: Arkansas Flyers
From: GUEST,Nancy Huston
Date: 04 Jun 10 - 04:30 PM

Hey, just came across this thread...I sang with Highgate in the early '70's. Didn't know Joe Trotter died. Also didn't know he got us the Temple gig. Bob Coggins was our manager, cosmic Bob, a great guy and a real character. I had a great time singing with Tony, Harry, Marc, Larry...previous to Marc, Bob Mick was our piano player. I can certainly attest to the fact that Tony Gudonis and Harry Parker wrote Arkansas Flyers. I think our favorite place to play was the Catacombs at Penn. That was a great time in my life and the whole coffee house circuit really was cool.

Subject: RE: Origins: Arkansas Flyers
From: GUEST,Marc Hess
Date: 17 Jun 10 - 04:17 AM

Hey Nancy,

Nice reading your words. I'll be in Philly in October for the first time in 11 years. Maybe we could do a bit a singing and playing. My daughter Elena's got a primo voice now.

Positively,

Marc

Subject: RE: Origins: Arkansas Flyers
From: GUEST,Bob Thompson of Stage Fright
Date: 12 Jul 10 - 09:06 PM

Oh man! Arkansas Fliers is a song I have sung for most of my life and it was indeed written by Tony Gudonis of Highgate in Philly. Stage Fright was a band I was in there, at the time, with Geoff Greif and a couple of others, and we were knocked out by that song as well as "One Hundred Lonely girls". We did at least one gig with them.

Tony wrote it - I considered stealing it but morality got the best of me so I credit him anytime we do it (a lot!)in my current band, BAM with Mary, my wife. It also was covered for decades by Going West, a band with Jasey and Sydney Schnaars in Delaware, Ohio, though they couldn't remember Tony's last name.

You da man, Tony.

Bob Thompson

Subject: RE: Origins: Arkansas Flyers
From: GUEST,Bob Thompson
Date: 08 Nov 10 - 05:28 PM

Just a follow up comment. Man, I love that song, and have for years. If I ever figure out the internet I may post a youtube version of A.F. myself. Glad that Tony is still writing and playing.

Bob Thompson

Subject: RE: Origins: Arkansas Flyers
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jul 11 - 01:13 AM

I first heard Highgate back in the early 70's while listening to WXPN in Philadelphia. "Arkansas Flyers" was my favorite song of theirs.

I found this thread hoping to find an audio recording on the web of this song. Perhaps an ex-member of the band will post something on Youtube someday?

Thinking back, a fellow musician friend and I opened for Highgate one afternoon in a free outdoor event in Clark Park in West Philly in the spring or summer of 1974. (It's a good thing no audio of *our* set survives - we sucked! lol). Highgate was in good form that afternoon, though, and they played "Arkansas Flyers" too!

Highgate never became well known beyond the local Philly folk scene, although they were certainly good enough. But then again, they never tried very hard to be commercially successful, which was part of what I liked about them.

-Chris (formerly of "Cousin Nick Country Chris And The Boys In The Back Room")

Subject: RE: Origins: Arkansas Flyers
From: Arkie
Date: 01 Jul 11 - 09:40 PM

Chris, if you search the thread back to Sept. 8, 2005, you will find a link to Reagan singing "Arkansas Flyers". The link is still good.

Subject: Origins: Arkansas Flyers
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Aug 11 - 07:42 PM

Yo Chris ( of the Boys in the Back Boom)-If you want , i could send an mp3   version of it to you----------I am at          [e-mail]             Tony G ( of Highgate )

Subject: RE: Origins: Arkansas Flyers
From: GUEST,tony of highgate
Date: 28 Aug 11 - 10:16 PM

If you want an mp3 of ARKANSAS FLYERS just e-mail me at [e-mail]
                                                             tony g