By CALEB FOX
Employee Reporter
Like any typical garage band, The Fabulous Blue Notes rehearsed for their next gig in none other than a basement. Like many years ago, Rick Jones and Lonney Hallum gathered their friends to play blues, jazz, classic rock and even country music.
In the mid-1960s, Lonney Hallum and Rick Jones formed the Midknights in Oakdale.
Jones recalled that the two 13-year-olds began their careers “performing at junior high school parties, high school dances, and the grand opening of Renfro’s Pancake House in Oakdale.”
In 1990, Jones and Hallum reunited and formed The Fabulous Blue Notes along with other talented local musicians.
“The Fabulous Blue Notes are a professional band and have been a modular experiment from the beginning,” note the band members.
The band was at one point an eleven-piece ensemble and reunited in 2023 as a four-piece band playing classic rock hits from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s.
The band currently consists of Jones on rhythm guitar and vocals, Hallum on lead guitar and vocals, Adrian Uribe on drums and backing vocals, and Armondo Osuna on bass and backing vocals.
In classic Oakdale fashion, the group will take the stage at Dorada Park on Friday, August 30th for their final summer show.
From 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., the Fabulous Blue Notes will reunite once again to play at the conclusion of the Concert in the Park series hosted by the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce. Friday night marks the first time in 14 years that the Fabulous Blue Notes will be closed for the Concert in the Park series. This reunion is exciting news for fans of the band, and members of the community who attend Friday night’s concert can expect some great music.
A recent Blue Notes rehearsal session gave a sneak peek of some of the songs they’ll be playing in concert. Jones, Hallum, Uribe and Osuna prepared with “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” by the Rolling Stones, “Lodi” by Creedence Clearwater Revival, “Two Tickets to Paradise” by Eddie Money, “Take it Easy” and “Lyin’ Eyes” by the Eagles, “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison and many other rock classics.
Over the course of their long and varied career, the members of The Fabulous Blue Notes “have played together as opening acts for Elvin Bishop, Lee Presson and the Nails, T Graham Brown, Slim Man, The Drifters, The Coasters and Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere and the Raiders,” Jones explained.
Concertgoers are encouraged to arrive early on Friday night. Bring blankets or low lawn chairs. You can also bring a picnic dinner or take advantage of the food trucks and candy sold on-site.
For booking information on The Fabulous Blue Notes, contact Jones at 209-402-7626.
