"JUST US FIVE"

Biography by M. Pierce/Daily

In 1964 "The Accents" were doing weekenders all around Oklahoma including the KOMA sockhops, SOSU parties & every reverberating Armory in S.E. Ok!! The band consisted of Steve Davis-Lead Vocalists, Gary Bedwell-Guitar, AJ Smith-Bass, Ronnie Barnett-Keyboards & Sid Whatley-Drums, all from Durant, Ok. Intrestingly enough Sid Whatley had taken the place of drummer Jimmy Wright who joined The Mutineers later to become The Five Americans!

Early in 65 The Accents received a call from Robert Payne of The Allusions telling them that they were leaving The Pirates Nook and recommeded The Accents take they're place. Thus began a 4 year stint as The Just Us Five who became the top showband in Dallas!

The Just Us Five played they're hearts out to packed clubs 6 nights a week. Being the ultimate showband the music was a wide variety of Rock-N-Roll, R & B, Country & even Showtunes! Steve Davis' vocals dared arrangements from Lou Rawls to Hank Williams while the Hammond Organ of Ronnie Barnett punched out Jimmy Smith big band selections. On guitar Gary Bedwell fuzzed up his Telecaster with authentic Chuck Berry licks to intense Beatles riffs. The reserved AJ Smith always had an extra "jump", a nice round low end on his Precision Bass and a smile for everyone. On drums was the prodigy Sid Whatley with his double-bass drum Ludwigs. Considered by many to be one of the finest drummers in America Sid Whatley was a mere 16 years old when The Just Us Five begin playing at The Pirates Nook! The law was more lenient back then!!!!!!

From The Pirates Nook and The Dunes to Yogie's Club and The Three Thieves... The Just Us Five entertained hundreds of thousands of eager patrons. They opened for Jefferson Airplane, The Blues Magoos, Music Machine, Jerry Fisher & more. Many hours were spent giging for the Annual Debutants Ball, The Dervish Ball, apprearing on The Something Else TV show with Ron Chapman, and traveling to OU for coveted "Animal House" fraternity parties! One of The Just Us Five highlights was The Dervish Ball where 8000 people gave them the ultimate compliment......a 5 minute standing ovation after Sid Whatley's unbelievable 15 minute drum solo!! Not to mention Mr. Dick Clark making the trek to hear them after learning about The Just Us Five Show!!

All good things must come to an end and after the "show" The Just Us Five went their own way in 1968. They were a Show Band but in the studio the magic just never happened. A few records were cut but all were copy tunes and then......it was over. Money was made........Good times were had........ The public was entertained & history was made partially because of Bill Ware & The Pirates' Nook at Elm & Carroll.

Steve Davis started his own construction company in Dallas and is now retired near Fayetteville, Ar. Ronnie Barnett owns a car dealership in Stigler, Ok. Gary Bedwell preaches the gospel up in McAlester, Ok. To the sadness of all AJ Smith passed away in 1998 of a heart attack in Dallas. Sid Whatley went on to help build a national advertising agency, become a studio musician/engineer/actor/producer, & play with the likes of Garth Brooks, Point Blank, Mark Chestnutt, the Buddy Rich Band, Frank Sinatra Jr. & many more. Sid is now semi-retired and a national "Voice Actor" operating his own studio in Durant, Ok. According to Steve Davis...."Sid was the real musician of the group and we never would have left Durant if not for his brilliant & incomparable talent. He used it to the max and we were proud that he played with The Just Us Five".

"Thanks Bill Ware..........It's been QUITE A PARTY"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

M. Pierce/Journalist/Daily