July 1, 2023
Just Saying…
Oh, The People I Know
By Q.C. Jones
Remember Studs Terkel? A Chicago-based writer, historian, and broadcaster, Terkel was famous for his interviews of the interesting people he met while plying his craft on the streets of the Windy City. He had a radio show called, The Studs Terkel program which was the longest running radio program in Chicago history. He was a bigger than life character, cigar in his mouth, a disheveled suit, unkept hair, and a disarming grin. Stories chronicling the people he knew won him acclaim, the Pulitzer Prize, and a considerable fortune.
QC Jones is on a quest for fame and a slice of that journalist fortune thing. Considering Mr. Terkel’s net worth some fourteen years after his death is estimated to be $5 million, here we are together shuffling down Terkel’s well-worn path.
Allow me to introduce musician, philosopher, and man about town, Country Dick Davenport. To save space and minimize wear and tear on what scientist refer to as the distal phalanges of my fingers, we’ll just call him CDD. For many of those who frequent QC area music shows, open mic nights, or late-night gathering CCD is someone they recognize by sight, if not by name.
I can’t really recall when I first encountered this personality, but it seems like I have known him forever. CCD has a unique look and a demeanor very similar to my own. It’s not an uncommon occurrence for younger folks to confuse us. Could it be young folks struggle with recognizing older people? Put a cowboy hat on anyone over 60, and they think you are QC Jones, John Wayne, or their weird uncle from Texas. And CDD is perpetually topped with a Stetson hat.
Without further hesitation, let’s get on with the interview.
One of the burning questions I know many people will have is your name, Country Dick Davenport. I assume that’s not the moniker on your birth certificate, how did you come up with the name?
Well, it’s kind of a long story. I have been into country music since I was a young kid. In my formative years I worked at my dad’s gas station and the guys working there always had country music blaring in the background. Country is my roots. When I decided to pick a musical name, I decided there were too many Hanks, a lot of Willies, and a healthy dose of Merles. Years ago, I discovered the weird stylings of Country Dick Montana. He was my kind of guy, and he died unexpectedly on stage while playing a song called “The Girl I almost Married.” So, I guess the name is a bit of a tribute.
How did you get involved in music?
It all started with an old guitar in the attic. As a young man, my dad sang with a youth group called “The Oklahoma Owls”. When he graduated from the group (there was an age requirement), they gave him a guitar with a cowboy scene painted on the front. It wasn’t stored properly, was nearly impossible to play. Around age 8, I saved up for a Mel Bay guitar book and I learned to play a few songs. I started begging for a different guitar, but my parents were worried that I would become a “guitar playing hippie” and they bought me a ukelele instead. I played it and other band instruments and in about 7th grade talked them into trading 75 bucks worth of gasoline for a bass guitar.
What about the harmonica? You’ve only talked about bass.
The harmonica playing was an accident, literally. I hurt my back and lost all the feelings in my left hand for a while and couldn’t play guitar, uke or bass. My sister gave me a cheap harmonica. I messed around with it during a drive to Chicago. By the time I was home, I could play a couple of songs. For the next year, I never left home without a harmonica. Multi-tasking while driving was my teacher and this time Mel Bay didn’t help.
Some say you are one of Quad-Cities’ biggest underground musicians. What’s the scoop on this?
(Laughing) Yep, that’s what they say. I guess it mostly comes from the fact that I have played in musty basements across the “Lower East Side” of Davenport and surrounding regions, but now the band is playing in a garage. Not underground anymore, a Garage Band man.
What parting thoughts would you like to share?
It’s amazing the number of Garage Bands springing up all over America. A good number of them are boomers. If you have an instrument stashed in the back of your closet, dust it off and start playing. Music is one of the only hobbies you can do from age nine to age 90. Finally, a good song is a good song. If you remember something you played way back when, play it now. My band still plays the first song I ever learned.
Thanks, Mr. Davenport. Yours is an interesting story. Keep on Rockin’ in the Country. Studs eat your heart out.
Just saying…
