Band's Hollywood hit comes 40 years after recording
By Earl Horlyk, Journal staff writer | Posted: Monday, September 01, 2008
Dick Matousek, manager of the “Velaires” and brother of the late leader Danny Matousek, speaks during an interview. (Staff photo by Jim Lee)
SIOUX CITY -- Dick Matousek has made a career for himself as a private eye.
Little did Matousek, a longtime Sioux City professional investigator, know that his detecting skills would come in handy for tracing the tangled web of music royalty rights left by his brother, the late Dan Matousek of the Iowa Rock'n Roll Hall of Fame-inducted band the Velaires.
The Velaires, consisting of Dan Matousek on rhythm guitar, Bob Dawdy on lead guitar, Jerry DeMers on bass and Don Bourret on drums, began performing in 1957.
As performing artists, the Velaires toured constantly throughout the U.S., even snagging a guest shot on Dick Clark's "American Bandstand," becoming the only Iowa band to appear on the legendary TV show. The group made its entry into the Hall of Fame in 1997.
For more than two decades, Dan Matousek and his bandmates recorded as the Screamers (the band's first name), the Flairs, the Velaires, and, finally, as Danny & the Velaires (after the original group dissolved). The industrious singer-songwriter also wrote songs covered by country stars in addition to performing and recording with his wife, Carolyn.
Over the years, the Velaires appeared on countless records, albums, reissues and CD compilations. Recently, a song written and performed by Dan Matousek more than 40 years ago turned up in the movie "Pineapple Express."
"I was asked by a friend if I knew Danny's recording of 'Shaggy Dog' was in this big Hollywood movie," Dick Matousek said in the kitchen of his Sioux City home. "I told him that it was news to me."
"I had no idea," he said, shaking his head. "No idea at all."
According to Matousek, who served as the full-time manager and booking agent for the group during its '60s heyday, this was more the rule than the exception.
"Danny was 18 years old when the band began," he explained, "and his bandmates were even younger. They didn't know about contracts. All they knew about was rock and roll."
"Music was Danny's life," Matousek recalled. "He truly came alive when he was on stage."
The Velaires became known as a touring band, and its raucous stage performances showcased the group's rockabilly roots.
"The guys traveled by day and played every night," Matousek said.
But putting out a record meant being able to book bigger shows at better venues.
"Getting a record deal meant everything," Matousek explained. "It meant we finally made it."
Signing with Philadelphia-based Jamie Records, the Velaires recorded an electrifying cover of the Chuck Berry classic "Roll Over Beethoven."
"The boys were promised a percentage of the sales," Matousek said, pulling out a yellowing copy of the initial contract. "They were to receive approximately 9 1/2 cents for every copy of 'Roll Over Beethoven' that sold."
"Heck, that was pretty good money, in 1961, when a 45 cost a buck," he noted.
The Velaires' cover of "Roll Over Beethoven" quickly climbed to No. 1 on the charts in the local Philadelphia market. And then it began climbing Billboard Magazine's Top 100.
"We knew we were No. 1 in Philadelphia, No. 1 in L.A., No. 1 in New York and rising nationally," Matousek said. "But the royalty schedule from Jamie said we sold just 24,000 copies."
But the group's main earning still was through personal appearances, they reasoned, so record sales was merely supplementing what they were already making.
"The Velaires were making $150 to $200 a gig before 'Roll Over Beethoven,'" Matousek said. "After that, they were making double or triple that in their live shows."
Original Velaires member Bob Dawdy remembered sharing the stage with such high-profile performers as Fabian and Ricky Nelson while performing at the Michigan State Fair,
"We were on stage with our idols," he noted recently, "but the audience wanted to see us."
Yet, according to Jamie Records, sales for "Roll Over Beethoven" had peaked, as did a subsequent release, "Sticks and Stones."
But Dawdy recalled hearing rumblings that his band's music was enjoying a second life on the charts in Europe, where American rock and roll was just gaining popularity. The rumors were confirmed recently by Matousek, who acquired a mint-condition copy of "Roll Over Beethoven" from a European music fan.
"This 45 was released by a Canadian company and released throughout Europe," he said, shaking his head. "Jamie either sold or leased our music to the international market without telling us or giving us a fair accounting."
"We were screwed," Matousek said matter-of-factly.
According to John Senn, the Velaires' story is not unusual.
"Take 15 different groups and they'll tell you 15 different stories about being screwed over by 15 different record companies," he said. "And lemme tell ya, they'll all be true."
Senn, one of the founders of Milford's Iowa Great Lake Records and Recording Co., has seen things from both sides of the ledger sheet. The co-leader of the group Dee Jay & the Runaways, he is also the president of the Iowa Rock'n Roll Music Association.
Artists as big (and diverse) as the Beatles, Little Richard and Elvis Presley have gone to court with record labels, claiming royalty irregularities.
Upon leaving Jamie for record labels both small (Rameo, Brent) and large (Mercury, RCA), Dan Matousek still believed he wasn't being compensated for the full value of his material.
It wasn't until 1997, the year before he died, that Dan Matousek found a record label that dealt honestly with him.
"A German-based company called Bear Family Records that specialized in reissuing early American rock and roll approached us regarding a greatest-hits CD anthology," Dick Matousek said.
The result, "The Screamers to Flairs to the Velaires," garnered the group much deserved recognition as rockabilly pioneers.
Matousek only wished his brother had met with reputable record labels more often in his 40-year career.
But Matousek remains vigilant when it comes to royalties owed his brother. After all, the longtime PI knows his way around a mystery.
"When I learned that 'Pineapple Express' used Danny's song, I discovered that his record label at the time, Brent Records, had sold their catalog of songs and many had found their way into movies and TV shows," he explained.
Although the movie gives his brother credit in the closing credits, Matousek doesn't know when (or if) the group will receive royalties for music heard on the film.
"That'll be an interesting test," he said. "With a movie, you're also dealing with broadcast rights, CD rights and a whole host of things that nobody thought about when Danny wrote 'Shaggy Dog' back in 1967."
But Matousek insists that this is "not a money matter."
"Danny devoted his entire life to music," Matousek said. "People still enjoy good ol' rock and roll, and we want Danny to get the recognition now that he didn't get during his lifetime."
Little did Matousek, a longtime Sioux City professional investigator, know that his detecting skills would come in handy for tracing the tangled web of music royalty rights left by his brother, the late Dan Matousek of the Iowa Rock'n Roll Hall of Fame-inducted band the Velaires.
The Velaires, consisting of Dan Matousek on rhythm guitar, Bob Dawdy on lead guitar, Jerry DeMers on bass and Don Bourret on drums, began performing in 1957.
As performing artists, the Velaires toured constantly throughout the U.S., even snagging a guest shot on Dick Clark's "American Bandstand," becoming the only Iowa band to appear on the legendary TV show. The group made its entry into the Hall of Fame in 1997.
For more than two decades, Dan Matousek and his bandmates recorded as the Screamers (the band's first name), the Flairs, the Velaires, and, finally, as Danny & the Velaires (after the original group dissolved). The industrious singer-songwriter also wrote songs covered by country stars in addition to performing and recording with his wife, Carolyn.
Over the years, the Velaires appeared on countless records, albums, reissues and CD compilations. Recently, a song written and performed by Dan Matousek more than 40 years ago turned up in the movie "Pineapple Express."
"I was asked by a friend if I knew Danny's recording of 'Shaggy Dog' was in this big Hollywood movie," Dick Matousek said in the kitchen of his Sioux City home. "I told him that it was news to me."
"I had no idea," he said, shaking his head. "No idea at all."
According to Matousek, who served as the full-time manager and booking agent for the group during its '60s heyday, this was more the rule than the exception.
"Danny was 18 years old when the band began," he explained, "and his bandmates were even younger. They didn't know about contracts. All they knew about was rock and roll."
"Music was Danny's life," Matousek recalled. "He truly came alive when he was on stage."
The Velaires became known as a touring band, and its raucous stage performances showcased the group's rockabilly roots.
"The guys traveled by day and played every night," Matousek said.
But putting out a record meant being able to book bigger shows at better venues.
"Getting a record deal meant everything," Matousek explained. "It meant we finally made it."
Signing with Philadelphia-based Jamie Records, the Velaires recorded an electrifying cover of the Chuck Berry classic "Roll Over Beethoven."
"The boys were promised a percentage of the sales," Matousek said, pulling out a yellowing copy of the initial contract. "They were to receive approximately 9 1/2 cents for every copy of 'Roll Over Beethoven' that sold."
"Heck, that was pretty good money, in 1961, when a 45 cost a buck," he noted.
The Velaires' cover of "Roll Over Beethoven" quickly climbed to No. 1 on the charts in the local Philadelphia market. And then it began climbing Billboard Magazine's Top 100.
"We knew we were No. 1 in Philadelphia, No. 1 in L.A., No. 1 in New York and rising nationally," Matousek said. "But the royalty schedule from Jamie said we sold just 24,000 copies."
But the group's main earning still was through personal appearances, they reasoned, so record sales was merely supplementing what they were already making.
"The Velaires were making $150 to $200 a gig before 'Roll Over Beethoven,'" Matousek said. "After that, they were making double or triple that in their live shows."
Original Velaires member Bob Dawdy remembered sharing the stage with such high-profile performers as Fabian and Ricky Nelson while performing at the Michigan State Fair,
"We were on stage with our idols," he noted recently, "but the audience wanted to see us."
Yet, according to Jamie Records, sales for "Roll Over Beethoven" had peaked, as did a subsequent release, "Sticks and Stones."
But Dawdy recalled hearing rumblings that his band's music was enjoying a second life on the charts in Europe, where American rock and roll was just gaining popularity. The rumors were confirmed recently by Matousek, who acquired a mint-condition copy of "Roll Over Beethoven" from a European music fan.
"This 45 was released by a Canadian company and released throughout Europe," he said, shaking his head. "Jamie either sold or leased our music to the international market without telling us or giving us a fair accounting."
"We were screwed," Matousek said matter-of-factly.
According to John Senn, the Velaires' story is not unusual.
"Take 15 different groups and they'll tell you 15 different stories about being screwed over by 15 different record companies," he said. "And lemme tell ya, they'll all be true."
Senn, one of the founders of Milford's Iowa Great Lake Records and Recording Co., has seen things from both sides of the ledger sheet. The co-leader of the group Dee Jay & the Runaways, he is also the president of the Iowa Rock'n Roll Music Association.
Artists as big (and diverse) as the Beatles, Little Richard and Elvis Presley have gone to court with record labels, claiming royalty irregularities.
Upon leaving Jamie for record labels both small (Rameo, Brent) and large (Mercury, RCA), Dan Matousek still believed he wasn't being compensated for the full value of his material.
It wasn't until 1997, the year before he died, that Dan Matousek found a record label that dealt honestly with him.
"A German-based company called Bear Family Records that specialized in reissuing early American rock and roll approached us regarding a greatest-hits CD anthology," Dick Matousek said.
The result, "The Screamers to Flairs to the Velaires," garnered the group much deserved recognition as rockabilly pioneers.
Matousek only wished his brother had met with reputable record labels more often in his 40-year career.
But Matousek remains vigilant when it comes to royalties owed his brother. After all, the longtime PI knows his way around a mystery.
"When I learned that 'Pineapple Express' used Danny's song, I discovered that his record label at the time, Brent Records, had sold their catalog of songs and many had found their way into movies and TV shows," he explained.
Although the movie gives his brother credit in the closing credits, Matousek doesn't know when (or if) the group will receive royalties for music heard on the film.
"That'll be an interesting test," he said. "With a movie, you're also dealing with broadcast rights, CD rights and a whole host of things that nobody thought about when Danny wrote 'Shaggy Dog' back in 1967."
But Matousek insists that this is "not a money matter."
"Danny devoted his entire life to music," Matousek said. "People still enjoy good ol' rock and roll, and we want Danny to get the recognition now that he didn't get during his lifetime."
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Judy from Spencer wrote on Sep 6, 2008 7:41 PM:
The Dancing Queen "
Roger Hughes wrote on Sep 2, 2008 9:36 PM:
My brother sent me this link, and it rekindled old memories, not only of seeing the original Velaires play in 1957 and 58 when I was just learning how to play the guitar, but later when I played with the band at the Brewery and wrote tunes that actually made it to the major labels. I loved Danny -- one of maybe five people I've ever met who was truly incapable of guile. An honest and faithful person through and through, plus a fabulous singer. I miss him and the rest of you guys.
Hanging loose in Arizona. One of these days I'll make it home.
Roger "
Jan Vaughn wrote on Sep 1, 2008 10:50 AM:
mike stevens wrote on Sep 1, 2008 8:39 AM:
JonGary Larson wrote on Sep 1, 2008 7:19 AM:
Gary Larson "