Drum Solo Courtesy of Han Bennink

Born in Atlanta Georgia (mom's hometown), we lived three years in Sumter SC while dad, LH Sales, Sr., finished his tour in the Air Force (based out of Shaw AFB). Dad had an electronics shop in the back yard where he built many of his speaker cabinets, and vividly remember the one time I stepped on his soldering iron.

At the age of 3 (circa 1962) we moved to the family farm in the Mountaintown Community in the NW corner of Gilmer County (near the Cohutta WMA of the Chattahoochee National Forest in North Georgia). Mountaintown Community is 9 miles from county seat of Ellijay and 85 miles north of Atlanta (3 1/2 hour drive in the 1960's). This area of the state was very remote generally until about mid - late 1970's until road improvements along GA 5 from Marietta to Ellijay improved safety and travel time to Metro Atlanta. Some of the areas in Fannin, Union and Towns counties did not open up until the construction of the GA 515 portion of the Southern Highroads Scenic Hwy (part of the Appalachian Hwy) from the top of I575 above Canton (Nelson GA) to Young Harris (courtesy of Zell Miller's political pull). Impact on the area is mixed.

Via dad, I grew up listening to various gospel quartets - Blackwood Brothers, J.D. Sumner and the Stamps, The Sunshine Boys, The Jordanaires, as well as many old classic country artist. I was also exposed to Traditional Country, Bluegrass and Appalachian Traditional Music of local musicians and annually at the Heart Fund Show held in the Ellijay Elementary auditorium.

Attend Henry Grady Elementary School in 1st grade, community school in the Moutaintown Community (the year highlighted by putting my teacher's - Ms. McClure - goldfish bowl in the Coble Milk truck). Attend Ellijay Elementary 2nd -7th grades when Henry Grady Elementary is closed for budget cuts. Attend Gilmer High School, Truett-McConnell College, and the University of Georgia.

1963

• Start school at Henry Grady Elementary School (see above).

1964

• My first real public performance - Public Speaking, monologue. Instructor Mabel Hensley – public speaking/speech and piano. An outlet to combat humming in the cafeteria and to give me some time away from my second grade teacher – as it turns out when I hear a song I retain it and play it over and over in my head. Humming (and most probably music, kids, life...) was not popular with Miss Marie Milton – 81-years-old going on 1000, and one of the last of the Normal School teachers in the Gilmer County School System: (note the Miss). First (initially) missed signs of musical aptitude. 
• Another link and information on  the State of Georgia Normal School.
• Never had stage fright, even at the age of 7 - a ham from the beginning (my dad's son!).

1965

• At the age of 8 discovered first “drum” in dad’s music room, a calfskin banjo head - two sticks later (real sticks, not drum sticks), I have started playing the drums. Dad purchases a pair of sticks from Andy’s Jewelry Store, Ellijay Georgia.
• Start taking piano lessons - and I still remember and can play the recital piece (by composer Bartok).

1966

• Receive first snare drum, which I still have, and a pair of sticks and wire brushes – later on dad adds a cymbal and a tom once I became comfortable with the snare.

1967

• Received the final components of the first drum kit, red sparkle Stewarts - I still have the toms and the 20” bass drum in storage.
• Start playing along with dad’s country albums – Johnny Cash (Green, Green Grass of Home), Merle Haggard, Buck Owens (first “licks” courtesy of Jerry Wiggins, licks still used with Redneck GReece De-Lux and Gregory Dean Smalley song “She’s Breakin’ My Heart While I’m Drinking Her Beer”), George Jones, Charlie Pride, Jimmie Rodgers, Conway Twitty, Hank Williams (to name a few) – and a few old rockers: Bill Haley and his Comets, Elvis Presley (the old Elvis - pre Army), and Jerry Lee Lewis (the Sun Sessions - 45s).
• During this time a friend of dad’s kids – Ronald and Janet – give me some of their old albums and I begin to play along with The Tams, The Ventures, The Challengers (performed a cover of Wipeout), Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass, etc. – The Tams (Greatest Hits) was my early favorite, simple and easy for a beginner to play.

T for Texas, a Jimmie Rodgers classic and one of my grandfather's favorites.

1969

• During a cold snap (-3 degrees) a major fire damages an Ellijay variety store which also carried some music equipment - dad scores a Hofner bass copy and my 5-year-old brother Eric takes up the bass.
• The Salesmen are formed (LH Sales, Sr. – guitar, steel guitar and vocals; Eric Sales – bass; LH Sales, Jr. – drums). The Salesmen start performing and play actively until 1973 and formation of The Gospel Generation – The Salesmen most notable performances with the WPLO Swinging Gentlemen (defunct Atlanta AM radio station).
• Receive my first real lessons from Al Fuller.
• Birth of brother Kevin Glenn Sales.

1970

• Express interest in trying for the Ellijay Elementary School Band - instead of a tryout, band director Elton Horton immediately moves me to the High School Band, where I take lead drummer/percussionist and first chair within a month. I do not relinquish that position until graduation in 1977.

1971

• The year I was exposed to new and influential styles of music.
• For Christmas (1970) I receive my first AM/FM Cassette recorder (with a strong receiver), start listening and recording music (aided by living at 2300') off WPLO FM (defunct) in Atlanta (Album Rock) and Album 88 WRAS (Georgia State University). Circa 1971 - This lead to discovering The Who songs “We Won’t Get Fooled Again” and "Baba O'Riley" (WPLO), and Pink Floyd – “Echoes” (thank you Cuff and Duff Show, WRAS Saturday morning show). This is the first time I have heard the drums approached like Keith Moon, and it had its influences – but Nick Mason’s style and Pink Floyd’s music was very influential in skill progression.
• I also picked up a jazz station, whose call letters escape me, and started mimicking those chops as well - yet an additional influential style.
• Learn to read music, solidify the position of First Snare and Section Leader of the Concert & Marching Band, and become set player for the GHS pep band – songs I remember playing with pep band: Tea for Two, Sweet Georgia Brown, Are You From Dixie?, and various Rah-Rah songs (names I cannot recall).
• The Salesmen continue to play and receive accolades. 
• Elton Horton (band director) had some old (playable) instruments slated for junk/destruction – trumpet, trombone, and flute – he gives them to me and I discover a talent for playing (almost) any instrument.
• Received first real drum kit - A five piece Slingerland kit with curly maple shells and a Super Sensitive snare (which I still use).

1972

• First competitions in All-State Percussion, superior ratings in all competitions.
• Attend first large outdoor concert at Chastain Park Amphitheater, Atlanta GA – Line-up: Albatross, Orpheum Circuit, PaPa Doc, with Kudzu head-lining. This concert gave me a whole new perspective on live shows – energy baby! I had seen a few live rock bands in the small confines of the Gilmer High School Gym and many country and blue grass acts in the Ellijay Elementary auditorium (Heart Fund Show), but never acts that performed original material in a larger venue.

1973

• Write first drum line cadences and percussion arrangements for GHS Marching Band Percussion Section.
• The Gospel Generation (Contemporary Christian) formed by LH Sales, Sr. During my involvement (actively up until high school graduation) The Generation recorded two albums and a single and performed extensively.

Other Notable Musicians who over the years played or recorded with The Generation and went on to have successful music careers:

• David Blackmon – Guitar, Fiddle, Mandolin (Jerry Reed, Normal Town Flyers, professional musician)
• Tommy Davis – Rhythm Guitar and vocals (minister of music, assistant pastor - UMC)
• Keith Defoor – Piano (music faculty - Young Harris College)
• Henry Hadden – Keyboards, Vocals (minister of music)
• Kendall Hampton - Piano, Keyboards (band director, music instructor, professional musician)
• Greg Reece – Guitar (The Primates, Redneck GReece, various projects)
• Eric Sales – Bass (The Primates, Jack Logan, Buzz Hungry, solo)

>>> This is good place as any to pay homage to the drumming of John Bonham. While I do not consider Bonham a direct influence on my style, his syncopation, bass drum work and musical approach to songs (when to play or not to play) was incredible. Of course, I had Led Zeppelin IV – favorite song “When the Levee Breaks”. <<<

* (My classmates at Gilmer High School were taken aback because I was a fan of (for example) Iggy (Pop) and the Stooges, The Who, Pink Floyd, and David Bowie). Southern Rock ruled the school.

1974

• Gospel Generation records first album at LeFevre Sound Studios in Atlanta Georgia (also practice space for The Atlanta Rhythm Section), released on the Lefevre Sound label. One of the only Gospel albums ever released with a drum break featured in a song…
• First bus tour through Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia with The Generation.
• In Concert’s California Jam brings a whole cornucopia of bands into the living room, I rig up a cassette recorder to the TV’s speaker system and record the drum licks of such mid-70 drumming icons as:
          Pete Rivera of Rare Earth - Drums and Lead Vocals and Eddie Guzman - Congas and Percussion
          Ian Paice of Deep Purple Cuts: The Mule (drum solo)
          Tommy Aldridge of Black Oak Arkansas – king of the power double-bass-drums
          Carl Palmer of Emerson, Lake and Palmer Cuts: Percussion Solo, Karn Evil 9 - 1st Impression, 3rd Impression , Take a Pebble - young drummers: learn your rudiments
          Bill Ward of Black Sabbath Cuts: Children of the Grave, Killing Yourself to Live (not very good quality)
          Don Henley of The Eagles
          The concert also featured Earth, Wind and Fire and Seals and Crofts. A variety of great drummers / percussionist on top of their game.
• Start playing guitar.
• Attend the first of many of percussion clinics at the University of Georgia.

1975

• Discover a talent for photography.
• Start giving drum / percussion lessons to beginners at GHS and Ellijay Elementary / Middle.
• Play bass guitar in my first and only cover band (until 2008) formed to play the GHS Spanish Club / Spanish Class end of year party - I switch to drums during ZZ Tops "LaGrange".

Period Influences:

Ringo Starr - what needs to be said?
Donnie Baldwin - drummer / percussion Elvin Bishop Band and Jefferson Starship (@ 1982)
1976 concert NYC (link fixed) - user name: music.demo@salesoutpro.com password: 123456 
<<<   Listen to Donnie's drum intro in “Calling all Cows”, and you’ll hear why I list Donnie as an influence  >>>
Paul Riddle - drummer / percussion Marshall Tucker Band
The Ramones, Changed drummers like underwear, but a fun band.
Other drummers of note from this time period: Ginger Baker, Bill Bruford,  Don Brewer, Allen White, Frank Beard

1976

• The Generation records second album at Monument Studios in Nashville TN, produced by Joel Gentry - released on Skylite label. Later an instrumental single was released, also recorded at Monument Studios, released on the Skylite-Sing label.
• Go to see ZZ Top’s World Wide Texas Tour at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium – Line up: Point Blank; Elvin Bishop, Marshall Tucker Band; ZZ Top.
• Generation Sound is opened by LH Sales, Sr. and I get first hand experience in a recording studio – playing, producing, engineering.
• Receive John Philip Sousa award

1977

• Start listening to the drumming and percussion work of Ed Shaughnessy (The Tonight Show Band). One of Ed’s kits uses a double bass drum configuration (22” and 24”) tuned a fourth apart.
• Elvis Costello on Saturday Night Live, 12/17/77
• Hired gun drummer for summer Christian Rock Tour (similar to Up With People).

1978              >>>> In memory of Ruth Minter George – Music Theory and Piano Instructor, TMC <<<<

• Attend Truett-McConnell College.
• The first non-vocal major to be invited to participate the TMC Singers (performed at most of the fund raising events).
• First real exposure to Classical Music - of all the great classical music post-Romantic Impressionist and 20th Century periods are my favorite, especially composer Debussy.
• Also the last year I played with The Generation – one weekend (Spring of ’78) after leaving campus Friday evening to rush to South Georgia in order to meet up with the troops for a series of weekend dates just to rush back to Cleveland Sunday night to attend classes the next morning, it was too much – so I passed the drumming touch to Tim Hale.

• To stay in practice on the set, I play drums for the basketball pep band and do some pickup and fill-in work in Helen GA with a few house bands.
• Discover an interest and aptitude for Music Theory.

• Gene Krupa - Live Clip: Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich
• The Police emerge (Stewart Copland is not an influence, though I always enjoyed his style / approach)
• Dave Houghton - Drummer for Joe Jackson – One of my biggest early rock influences: listen to Dave’s drumming with Graham Maby - Bass and Gary Sanford - Guitar on albums “Look Sharp”, “I’m The Man” and especially "Beat Crazy" - Masterful! Live Clips: Is She Really Going Out With Him? - poor quality... and,

Joe Jackson - Fridays - Live (Jan. 14, 1980)

• Bun E. Carlos (aka Brad Carlson) - Drummer for Cheap Trick Still one of the most solid drummers in the industry! Wikipedia link
• Nick Mason (Pink Floyd)

1979

• Receive Associates of Music Degree from TMC. 
• Transfer to the University of Georgia to continue my education and training in music – and live in a larger town with more opportunities to play music. 
• Make the University of Georgia Redcoat Marching Band Percussion Section and Percussion Ensemble.

• Dr. Tony McCutchen - University of Georgia Percussion Instructor
• Marimba is my instrument of concentration at Georgia.
• The Clash first tour of the USA in support of “London Calling” - great album

1980

• Formation of novelty band The TeeVeez: Chuck Reece – keyboards, lead vocals; Greg Reece – guitar, vocals; Eric Sales – bass, vocals; LH Sales – drums, vocals. Band was originally formed to play a few parties for staff members of The Red and Black (official student newspaper of UGA), but during its short existence The TeeVeez evolved into playing a few club dates, most notably opening for REM May 30, 1980 - link. The TeeVeez are still remembered fondly by Athens Music Guru, ORT (William Orten Carlton III) – favorite song, “I’m So Bored with Ellijay”.  No know recordings exist today.
• Start working and performing in various theatrical productions orchestras and bands.

http://www.remfriends.com/concerti/index.php?mode=showsupport&support=The%20Teeveez

• Georgia Bulldogs beat Notre Dame 17-10 to win the 1980 National Championship! I spend New Years in New Orleans! – (I had to throw that in)

1981 - 1982 

• UGA band and ensemble commitments keep me busy, but I also play with various Athens based rock bands and jazz combos in clubs and for fraternity parties ($$$).
• Complete studies at the University of Georgia.

Period Influences (that carry to the present):

Louie Bellson - Pioneer of the double bass drums (not just for rock-n-roll). One of the lessons learned is to switch between traditional and matched grips as the situation demands. Live clip of Louie Bellson, Lionel Hampton and Don Lamond drum battle

Charlie Watts
Martin Chambers (The Pretenders) - Live Clips: 2003 Middle of the Road, 1981 Tattooed Love Boys 
Gilson Lavis (Squeeze) 
Stan Lynch (Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers)
Jerry Angel (The Blasters) - Live Clips: Colored Lights, Border Radio, Long White Cadillac
DJ Bonebrake (X) - Live Clips: Motel Room in my Bed, Los Angeles

Elvis Costello at the Montreux Jazz Festival with Glenn Tilbrook, Chris Difford, Nick Lowe and Gilson Lavis performing Manfred Mann's Pretty Flamingo sometime in 1989. Fantastic Clip!

1983

• Formation of The Primates.
• Establishment of first studio space at Stitch Craft.
• The Primates first performance - party at the Tivoli Apartments Pool and Club House, Athens GA. 
• First club date was at the recently moved (4^th location) 40 Watt Club on East Broad Street (old Smokes Bar location), Athens – July 14, 1983.
• The Minutemen become my favorite group (of all time).

1984

• The Primates release first recording, four song EP with second Rockabilly guitar player Mike Wigham - recorded at John Keene Studios .
• Start writing / composing for The Primates.
• Start composing percussion scores and arrangements for regional High School Bands and Percussion Sections.
• Mike Wigham departs The Primates to concentrate on family.

1985

• After trying out several guitar players, The Primates decide to go three-piece.
• Year spent practicing, recording and touring.
• Release of 4 song EP “Sarge” on PS Records – recorded at John Keane Studios - songs “Too Much Green to be Blue Over You”, “Like a Puppet” and “13” receives air-play on college radio stations – the song “Hitler Youth”* (which is about love gone very bad, is ignored due to its title).

1986 – 1987

• Majority of years spent touring and recording.
• Switch drum sets from a Slingerland kit (which my son now uses) to a 4 piece *Corder Drum Company kit with maple shells and Metallic Wine Finish – 24” bass drum, 14”x12” 10 lug snare, 13” rack tom, 18” floor tom, 21” Paiste Rude Ride, 12” Paiste hi-hats, 17”  Paiste Rude Crash (left), 16” Zildjian Medium Crash (right). Sticks – Vic Firth American Classic - 2BN, 1A, F1; Brushes – Rute, Rute202, WB; Vic Firth Keyboard Mallets

• Release of "Proud O' Me Gluttony" - DRG Records

• The Primates back G.G Allin in Charlotte NC at The Church of New Musical Awareness

• First performances of Luteinizin' GReece (Lutenizin' Hormone (LH) stand-up drums, vocals and Redneck GReece (Greg) guitar, vocals). Songs about life and times at Ellijay Elementary. During the MP3.com hayday (2000 - 2003) Luteinizin' GReece received serious airplay and was in rotation in NYC and other Northeast web based radio stations. Still receiving play at GarageBand.com, Funny!

* 1990 - Jim Corder sells Corder Drum Co. to Sammy Darwin of Darwin Drums. 1994 Sammy Darwin sells Darwin Drum Co. to Tommy Robertson who returns the company to the Fibes name and moves operations to Austin, TX. - Time-line Information courtesy of Vintage Drum Guide.

1988

• Six songs recorded at John Keene Studios and produced by Peter Buck.
• Play at The New Orleans Jazz Festival.
• The Primates in Rolling Stone Magazine

1989

• The Primates break up after 8 years. Bottom line, we progressed as far as we could without a label and real booking / management – for all the success, accolades and popularly in cities outside of Athens, we could not hit that next level. (We should have moved The Primates to the West Coast, hindsight being 20-20)

     A few bands The Primates performed with: The Replacements, The Blasters, The Del Fuegos, Asleep at the Wheel, Robin Hitchcock (with REM backing), Faith No More, REM (final show)

1990 – 1992

• Lucky Pierre: Dennis Grisez – bass, guitar, vocals; Elliott Perry – guitar, vocals; LH Sales – drums, bass, guitar, vocals.
• Lucky Pierre was the first of three bands in which I took a very active lead role in the song writing, studio engineering and production. Probably more so in LP than in the next two bands, actually.
• Listen to Lucky Pierre - Dust, Giddy and Insomnia 
• Play with Redneck GReece De-Lux - listen to Mama Was a Dancer at the Clermont Lounge

1992 – 1994

• Freezer Burn, a power pop band. Listen to Self Denial - live cut at The Georgia Theatre
• Played extensively and recorded 10 tracks at Full Moon Studios, never released.

1994 – 1997

• The Skull Spiders, most notable shows opening for Drivin’ and Cryin’. Some studio recordings exist… somewhere.
• Studio Session work
• listen to Spiders' Mustang GT and Ride With The Devil (demo cuts, not very clean)

1997 – 2005 

• In 1997 my son is born, so I scale back to only playing pickup dates and recording with a variety of bands and combos, the most notable is Redneck Greece De-Lux, lead by former Primates' guitarist / vocalist Greg Reece – aka: Redneck GReece.

2006

• Record tracks for Darrell and Harold Allen’s new CD The Honeywagon at RF Audio (to be released sometime in 2007).
• Continue to do session work and give lessons.

2007

• Son (9) takes up the drums, so I give him the Slingerland set (one hell of a first kit!).
• Pending release of The Honeywagon CD
• Flagpole Article: That Beat in Time - The Primates
• Play for / with Caroline Monroe

2008

• Start writing material and recording tracks for new CD(s)
• Play AthFest
• Play Grant Park Festival (August 31)
• Start performing with my first cover band - (The) Presidential Hopefuls
• Record and mix demos for Atlanta band - Marines of Gluttony 

2009

• Big Band Jazz work
• Score arrangements and composition
• Jazz Instruction
• Big Band Jazz Series (live performances)

I had to throw these two drummers in...

Joe Morello
Han Bennink - Han is on a totally different percussion plane... Live Clip 

copyright © 2009 Salesout Productions LLC - all rights reserved