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REPRINT OF THE LANCE MONTHLY INTERVIEW
MAY 2004
Volume 6, No. 3
http://lancerecords.com
Interviewer: Dick Stewart

Up Close With Lee Dresser of The Krazy Kats
A Hot U.S. Rockabilly Group That Refuses to Throw in the Towel!


[Interviewer's Note: Few 50's rockabilly artists who didn't earn household-name status can boast that they made their sole living from performing in a band for more than forty years.  Lee Dresser of the Krazy Kats falls into that elite category, and his group is still, to this day, hotly in demand.  Says Dresser with pride, "Music has supported me all these years!  PRIMARY (AND ONLY) SOURCE OF INCOME!"]

Lance Monthly(LM): When and where were you born, and how many brothers and sisters did you have?
Lee Dresser (LD): I was born on May 22, 1941, in Washington, D.C., an only child.

LM: What kind of work did your parents do for a living?
LD: My father was a government lawyer, working in the Pentagon, and my mother was a professional ballerina, believe it or not! She retired when I was born, to be a full time Mom. My Dad died in 1952, (heart attack at age 48) when I was 10, and my Mom died 20 months later, in 1954, (struck by an automobile at age 36), when I was 12.
I went to Moberly, Missouri to be raised by my maternal grandparents.

LM: Did you grow up in a city neighborhood or in the country?
LD: I was brought up in the city (if 15,000 population is a city) in a three-story, seventeen-room house, built in 1891. The entire top floor (attic) was converted into my room--I had a HUGE room!

LM: What kind of chores were required of you by your grandparents, and what did you do to entertain yourself during your free time?
LD: I was expected to keep my room fairly straight, and to sweep the sidewalks, and that was about it. My grandparents had a maid that took care of everything else. My grandmother was an artist, and encouraged me to draw and paint, so my spare time was spent drawing and painting, and making model airplanes and ships, while I listened to the St. Louis Cardinals baseball games on the radio.

LM: What kind of music were you in to before rock 'n' roll came on the scene?
LD: As far as pre-rock and roll music, I couldn't really get in to Hit Parade songs like "Shrimp Boats," "Que Sera, Sera," and assorted others.  I did enjoy hearing Les Paul's records, and some early R & B (when I could find it on the radio), and that was about it.

LM: When rock 'n' roll made its' presence, who were the original artists that turned your head?
LD: ALL the early artists got my attention! The rock and roll sound, with the beat and all, really hit me just right.
I remember listening to Chuck, Fats, Bo, and especially Jerry Lee. Of course, Elvis was a big influence, and when I saw him on a Sunday night on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1956, I went to Sears the NEXT DAY, and ordered my first guitar: an .50 Silvertone acoustic.

LM: What was the name of the High School you attended, and what kind of attire did the students consider cool at the time? In addition, in what kind of school activities did you become involved?
LD: I attended Moberly High School, and the "cool' look was khaki pants with a belt in the back, and button-down-collar shirts. Flat tops were the preferred hairstyles. Some of the kids (but not many) wore jeans and t-shirts, along with ducktail haircuts, but we called them the "Cruds"......Nice, huh!
As far as school activities go, I was on the school paper staff, and did some artwork for the yearbooks. I was in the special chorus, and that was about it. We started the Krazy Kats when I was a sophomore, so that was my main interest.

LM: Describe your first car and whether you customized it by lowering it in the back, and adding loud pipes, moon hubcaps, etc?
LD: My first car of my own was a real doozy. My grandparents bought me a 1959 Ford Galaxy when I graduated, and I did everything you could possibly do to a car! It was black, with a CONTINENTAL KIT, dual exhausts, teardrop spotlights, tube grille, spinner hubcaps, shaves and decked......COOL! People still ask me about it!

LM: When did you begin seriously learning how to play the guitar, and was that the first instrument you learned to play?
LD: Actually, the first instrument I learned how to play, when I was just a kid, was the harmonica. The Silvertone f-hole acoustic was my first guitar, but after a few months of struggling with the high strings, I purchased another Silvertone model--a round-hole acoustic that was much easier to play. After seeing Jimmy "Honeycomb" Rodgers on TV, I tuned my guitar to an open E chord, and that's the way I tune it to this day! (No standard tuning for me!) I just fooled with it until I could play all the different chords. Soon after that, I bought a pick-up for the guitar, and a small amp, and was ready to rock!

LM: Who were the first members of the Krazy Kats, what instruments did they play, and who thought of the name?
LD: The first members of the Krazy Kats are the same three guys performing today! Keyboard wizard and lead vocalist Willie Craig; drummer Freddie Fletcher, and myself, Lee Dresser (guitar, harp, and lead vocals). Willie's older sister. Lyla, gave us our name in 1957. Back then it seemed like everything was "Crazy!", and everybody was a "Cat." Made sense to us!

LM: How popular did the Krazy Kats become at Moberly High School, and what were your typical venues? Did the girls dig you and the band and did it cause a bit of jealousy with the guys?
LD: We became extremely popular in Moberly and the surrounding area, and performed at many Moberly High functions, where the girls really screamed and carried on! We even had our own fifteen-minute radio show on the local Moberly station.
I was never aware of any jealousy among the guys; they seemed to really dig us and want to hang out with us! We soon began to play some fairs, proms, and teen dances out of town, where the reception was even wilder!
In 1958, we started playing a teen dance every Saturday night at the Municipal Auditorium in Lexington, Missouri, about 90 miles from Moberly. The kids from all the surrounding towns would pack the place, and continued to do so for the next FIVE YEARS! We found out later that when the kids went back to school the following Monday, they made sure that the stamp for the dance was still on their hand! They told us they wouldn't wash it off because it was a badge of "cool!"

LM: Given that your Dad was a government lawyer, did your grandparents want you to pursue that line of occupation rather than being a musician, or were they supportive of your musical endeavors?
LD: Although my father was a lawyer, it was all doctors and bankers on my mother's side of the family. My grandparents wanted me to go into banking, but when I started to rock and roll, they were VERY supportive of me. I can honestly say that all three of the band members had strong support from the home front, which was kind of unusual for the time.

LM: Did you get married at a young age?
LD: I did get married at 23, but it was annulled after a few years. I didn't marry again until I was 55, and am living happily ever after!

LM: Did you have a manager?
LD: The Kats don't have a manager. I do almost all the booking, and sometimes we go through various agents.

LM: Being that the original members of the Krazy Kats are still intact, has the group also been continuously intact with the original members? In other words, was there a time when original members were replaced because of that dreaded disease called "burnout?"
LD: The original members of the Krazy Kats have been intact, with the exception of our drummer, Freddie, leaving to go the college in Illinois in 1960, and leaving again in 1964 to get married. In 1960, he was replaced for nine months by Guy Callison, and in 1964 by John Schulte, for one year. No burnout, just other plans that didn't work out. Freddie returned on both occasions to rock harder than ever!

LM: You do have day jobs, right? Or has The Krazy Kats been each band members' primary source of income?
LD: This is my favorite question, and the one we get asked most often. NO, we do not have day jobs, and never have! Music has supported us all these years! PRIMARY (AND ONLY) SOURCE OF INCOME!

LM: Were the Krazy Kats influenced heavily by the music of Buddy Holly and other West Texas greats, such as Curtis, Orbison, and Buddy Knox?
LD: Yes, all the early rockers, such as the Crickets, Sonny Curtis, Buddy Knox, and Roy Orbison influenced us. What a thrill for me to have met and have friendships with all but Holly and Orbison (who happens to be one of my all-time favorite singers!)

LM: How great of an influence did Norman Petty's studio instrumental artists (String-A-Longs and The Fireballs) have on the Krazy Kats? Were songs like "Bull Dog" and "Wheels" on the band's playlist? In addition, did you cover any instrumentals by the Ventures?
LD: The instrumentals that came out of Norman Petty's studio were somewhat of an influence (we performed "Bulldog" but not "Wheels"), but we mainly concentrated on vocal covers. The Ventures were also an influence, although we didn't perform their tunes.

LM: Did the Kats tour a lot in the band's early days? If the answer is yes, describe for our readers the venues. and if any of the tours included some of the high-profile artists of the day.
LD: No real touring in the early days. We were still in school, so we were strictly a "local" group. We didn't get to perform with any major artists until the eighties.

LM: What about recordings? Do you have a discography of sorts?
LD: In 1958, we recorded two originals, "Wiggly Little Mama" and "Beat Out My Love" at Damon Studios in Kansas City. It was an acetate only, but was released 41 years later in 1999 on Deke Dickerson's Eccofonic label. In 1961, we returned to Damon for a remake of "Beat Out My Love" and "Thinkin' 'Bout Your Love," which was released as a Damon 45. In 1964, it was Damon again, for our album, "Movin' Out!" This album, and all subsequent CD releases, are listed on our website.

LM: So you toured in the 80's with some major artists? Who were they and describe the venues for our readers.
LD: We played the Missouri State Fair in 1988 with the Wolfman Jack Show featuring Bo Diddley, The Platters (one original member), Peter Noone, Frankie Ford (our favorite), and the Marvelettes. The next year at the fair, we performed with Chuck Berry, Little Anthony, Tommy Roe, and Gary Lewis. The following year with Bill Cosby.
We also did a couple of trade shows in Kansas City with Sha Na Na around 1990. In 1993, we performed at the Buddy Holly Festival in Clear Lake, Iowa with Bobby Vee, The Crickets (my old buddies), and several others. We returned to Clear Lake that summer to perform a car show with Dick Dale (WAY too loud--a lot of people left!), and Jason D. Williams. We have also worked with the Kingsmen, Paul Revere, Del Shannon, and Don McLean.

LM: How big a role does your wife play in your music profession? Has she been supportive?
LD: I didn't get married until 1996, and my wife, Kelly, has been extremely supportive of the band. She set up our website and takes care of all the computer stuff. She is the "behind the scenes wizard!"

LM: I suppose all musicians have had a bad venue. What's your worst and why?
LD: We have had too many to name them all! I remember one car show at the Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City Chiefs) parking lot, where we were set up in 100 degree temperature with no cover, and the few people that passed by while we were performing wouldn't even look up to acknowledge that we were there. Talk about being ignored!
Another time was at the Blackburn, Missouri Fair. We had to set up in a tractor shed that they hadn't even cleaned out! It was filthy and very hot, and nobody would come in there. A few of them just stood outside the open door and listened!

LM: Have the Krazy Kats appeared on any TV Shows?
LD: We have been on a few local shows in Missouri, but that's about it.......nothing major.

LM: Lee, of all the high-profile artists that you mentioned, were there any that had an attitude?
LD: Of all the artists that I've been involved with, there haven't been any that weren't nice and polite to me. Some, such as The Crickets, and Jimmie Rodgers, have become lifelong buddies. So far, no stinkers!

LM: If you could go back and do it all over again, what would you have done that would have been different?
LD: When the Kats recorded our first 45 back in the sixties, I think I should have tried harder to contact a rock label, or some kind of management. We were just kids in Moberly, Missouri, so we didn't have a lot of resources available.

LM: What's your take on what's being played on mainstream radio today?
LD: I only listen to oldies stations, because I don't really understand the "new stuff."

LM: Thank you, Lee, for your recollections. What are you final comments?
LD: I just want to say that I'm extremely proud that I was involved in rock and roll music from it's inception, and am still rocking with the original group, The Krazy Kats, still intact. We just completed our 3500 performance together, and hope to continue rocking for many more years. It's the only job I've ever had (except for the Army), and has taken me to many cool places, and allowed me to meet many great people! LONG LIVE ROCK AND ROLL!


 


 

Comments In Reference To The Above Interview


Davie Allan-Davie Allan and the Arrows

Dick,
I just had to comment on the May issue. Seeing Lee Dresser's interview took me back many years when he sat in on some gigs I had around 1980. I was the co-leader of a "Top 40" band called Charlie, which was named after the lady who fronted the band. I hadn't heard of Lee before that time, but he sure left his mark on us as a knockout entertainer and a great guy! Later on I received a 45 from him titled "El Camino Real" on the AMOS label. He didn't know much about me at the time either. He autographed it and said, "So you're in the Collector's Guide, too?" I'm sure he'll remember me and the great guest appearances he did with us.
Davie


Frank and Ann Yourison-ardent Krazy Kats fans

I really enjoyed reading your interview with Lee. My wife and I have enjoyed dancing to this band since I was transferred to Kansas City in 1990. When we arrived in Kansas City from Pittsburgh, PA we thought we would only be able to hear country music, but we discovered this oldies music group. We try to make every dance within a reasonable distance. We hope they keep rocking forever; they are a great bunch of guys! Our favorite tune is "Honeybee", a Krazy Kat original.
Frank and Ann Yourison


Mike Callow-ardent Krazy Kats fan

Dick,
Anyone reading your interview with Lee Dresser could be forgiven for thinking that his fan base is just confined to Missouri and Kansas
I first became aware of Lee in 1969. I was killing time in a music shop in Cambridge, England, and came across a solo album by him. I had never heard of him before, but bought the album, partly on the strength of the liner notes, and partly because it was produced by Jimmy Bowen and featured supporting musician's that included Jerry Allison and Glen D. Hardin. It proved to be the best 'blind' purchase I ever made.
The album had been recorded live. It was not rock 'n' roll, but a collection of classic songs of the rock era with three of Lee's own compositions also included. The vocals were superb and there was not a weak track in the set. I have a great many albums in my collection and I doubt there are many that have been played more times than Lee Dresser's "El Camino Real".
Lee remained one of life's mysteries to me for over 30 years until I made a link with the Krazy Kats via the internet. Nobody makes a successful living out of anything for almost 50 years unless they're pretty good at it. During that period, there have been many people in the music industry who have made much bigger names for themselves with only a fraction of the talent that Lee has.
I would love to see a Kats concert, but a 7000 mile round trip for a Saturday night out might just be a bit too eccentric, even for an Englishman!
Best wishes,
Mike Callow
Norfolk, England


Pat Anderson-ardent Krazy Kats fan

I always thought Chuck Berry was kind of a "Stinker" at the Missouri State Fair that time, Lee! As I remember it, he had some sort of problem with Fred. I really enjoyed reading the article at Lance. I remember the "good old days" at Lexington and the American Legion in Chillicothe and the roller rink in Brookfield! (Man, am I old or what?) And as you know, I still come to see you guys perform when you are within reasonable distance of Blue Springs.
Long live rock and roll,
Pat Anderson


Larry Thompson-drummer for the Bobby Fuller Drive

Hi, Dick,
Just finished reading the interview with Lee Dresser. WOW!-to spend your whole life making a living from playing music has got to be heaven. I don't know of anyone who has ever done that. People have played music their whole lives but have had other jobs along the way. What an accomplishment! I'm extremely jealous.
Lee's influences were parallel to mine: Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Bo Diddley, and Jerry Lee. It didn't get any better than that. If that stuff didn't get to ya, you weren't of this planet. Wasn't rock 'n' roll called "Devil Music" at one time? How could something that cool be bad? Lee had the backing and support of his grandparents and friends from the beginning. That really helps mold a career in a positive manner. Good for them!
Lee is still performing with the same guys that were there in the beginning. Talk about knowing the guys in the band, which is so uncommom these days. Groups go through personnel like McDonalds, than break up after a year or two.
The Krazy Kats have made their mark and looks like they will continue. Nothing to stop them. Keep on playing music and have all the fun you want. Rock 'n' roll and devil's music-isn't that an oxymoron?
Larry Thompson


Keith McCormack-String-A-Long's rhythm guitarist; composer of "Sugar Shack"

I really enjoyed the article on the Krazy Kats. They may not have had hit records, but to me, they've got a lot to be proud of. There's not many, even with hit records in their past, that can lay the same claim as Lee Dresser. I think it's so cool to do what they've done. I remember when we were on our first tour; we were based out of New York. We went around to a few places and saw a lot of bands-mostly jazz/pop stuff-but they were so good and so much better than us, yet, they had never even thought of putting a record out and they'd been playing together for years.
My bet is, some of those bands played on to be in their seventies or eighties and never did think about a record. That's making music, no matter the genre. That's being in the music business, pure and simple. I don't say you shouldn't try to make records and hope for hits. It's too much of a natural thing to want to evolve, but if you can do what The Krazy Kats did, I think you're going to wind up satisfied and content with yourself for doing what you like. Besides, playing music all those years, I dare say, is a whole lot more fun and easier than framing houses or driving a truck thousands of miles a month.
Once a CRUD,
Keith McCormack


Steve and Teresa Hawkins-ardent Krazy Kats fans

I really enjoyed the Lee Dresser interview. I learned many things from the interview. I started listening to the Krazy Kats in 1960 and my wife and I still love them. I hope they keep playing until 2057!!!!!!
Steve and Teresa Hawkins


Rich Raymer-ardent Krazy Kats fan

Not many people have stuck it out as long as these guys have. I happen to know them and they have a very loyal following, me included. I have seen them in new settings where people do not know them, and they perform so well, that they usually draw a crowd and make new friends. Many people come up tp them after the show and reminisce about what they were doing when these songs were first popular, a personal memory and how the show affected them-the good old days. Even children get hooked on classics like "Wipeout." Music well done cuts across many boundaries, such as age.
Rich


L. Joe Rolf-ardent Krazy Kats fan

Cool interview-cool band-have followed them since the Lexington, MO teen dances in the late '50s.
Keep on rockin'!!!!!!!!!
L. Joe Rolf


Sharon Vollrath-ardent Krazy Kats fan

Lance Monthly;
I read your interview with Lee and thought it was very good. You answered a lot of questions about him and his band, the Krazy Kats. I never miss a performance that they have at the Isle of Capri Casino in Boonville, MO. They are the public's favorite band there.
Lee does a very good Elvis act.
Sharon Vollrath


Lyla-ardent Krazy Kats fan, family member, and who named the band

Lee's interview is charming. What great memories of those good times. Lee is such a nice guy. So are Fred F. and my brother, Will Craig, the keyboardist. The family has always said that the success of the Krazy Kats has come largely as a result of these men being so honest and clean-cut in their approach to everything. Congratulations to all of them and thanks to you for providing a venue for the interview. I loved it.
Willie's sister,
Lyla


Barbara and Ron Lain-ardent Krazy Kats fans

I would like to take the time to email you and let you know that we enjoyed the article about Lee Dresser. Not only is he a great singer and friend, he also is a wonderful person, and caring. We love the Kats and go see them as much as we can. We hope they do play for a long time to come. It is very interesting to hear personal stuff about the band you listen to all the time. I think they should be featured on all the Kansas City TV stations and let everyone know that they are still rockin'!
Lee is a wonderful singer and we could listen to him all the time. In fact, we use one of the Kats tapes for therapy for one of our twin grandson's learning how to use a switch to turn on radios and tape players. He loves that music and I think he recognizes the Kats as he gets to hear them from time to time. Lee has a wonderful wife and a handsome son that we adore. It is good to have music nowadays that you can understand and really dance to. The Kats always provide that to the fullest.
Again, thank you for the article on Lee and hope you have more with him and maybe the other two Kats. Enjoy your articles.
Thanks and have a super day,
Barbara and Ron Lain


Pat Rankin-Ardent Krazy Kats fan

I've met Lee, Willie, and Fred on several occasions at several places in Missouri. I never get tired of listening and watching them perform. They are a real class act and I hope they are together for many years to come. They know how to make an audience have fun. I'd just like to say thanks to all of them for the entertainment they have provided.
Pat Rankin


Glen and Janet Neimeier-ardent Krazy Kats fans

Excellent interview! We have been a fan of the Krazy Kats since the early '80s. And all three band members, Lee Dresser, Willie Craig, and Fred Fletcher are great musicians and friends on and off the stage.
Glen and Janet Neimeier


Donnie Roberts-ardent Krazy Kats fan

Howdy and hello,
I love the interview with Lee. I, Donny Roberts, with the Bevier Homecoming in Bevier, MO (25 miles north of Moberly, MO) have had the pleasure of working with the Krazy Kats for many years. They have been and still are a huge local draw-a show that will take you back to where it all started. I am proud to call Lee and the Krazy Kats my friends.
All my best,
Donny Roberts


Michael McEchron-ardent Krazy Kats fan

Thanks for the Lee Dresser interview. Lee is one of the nicest chaps you could ever meet and those Kats really do rock live! Seeing the Krazy Kats perform "Beat Out My Love" a couple years ago was a dream come true for me. Thanks again for having the good sense to do the interview!
Mike


Jim Summerville-ardent Krazy Kats fan

Enjoyed the article. Learned a few more things about the KK's. I have beeen dancing to them since 1960 and still do, and plan to continue as long as possible. They are true musicians and I consider them among my oldest friends. Long live rock and roll!
Sincerely,
Jim Summerville


Michael Reynolds-ardent Krazy Kats fan

That was an awesome interview. I have enjoyed the Kats for awhile and it was nice to find out some facts that I didn't know!
Michael


Judy Morrow-ardent Krazy Kats fan

I have just read the article on the Krazy Kats and I enjoyed it. I think I was at the first performance they did at Lexington, MO at the Fall Festival. They played that night at the Auditorium. They were good then and now. When you go to see them you know what kind of music you are going to hear. It isn't like a lot of bands-they play for the crowd and it could be whatever music. The Kats play their music and it is good. We have been going to Columbia, MO every New Years for the past six years. We know we'll have a good time.
Keep on rockin'!
Judy Morrow


Charles Harbert-ardent Krazy Kats fan

Mr. Stewart,
I just finished reading your interview with Lee Dresser and I wanted to let you know I really enjoyed it. Brought back lots of good memories. I grew up in Carrollton, MO, not far from Moberly. I graduated in '65 and during my high school years the Kats were the hottest thing going. They played frequently at the VFW Hall in Carrollton as well as many other small towms around. The places were always packed to the rafters. They had a "hook" that was theirs alone. For three guys, the sound was phenomenal. Lee's grandmother made sure that had the best equipment money could buy. I have all their music and listen to it regularly. I currently live in Oklahoma and am itching to go back home to Missouri and hear them live again. Good interview.
Regards,
Charles Harbert


Carolee Hazlet-ardent Krazy Kats fan

Hello,
Not only are the Krazy Kats great performers, they are great guys. I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with them and would do it again any time. The interview was very well done and I enjoyed reading the comments. Lee speaks from the heart. I applaud you for bringing attention to three very fine musicians that have brought much joy to the music world with their fantastic performances.
Thank you,
Carolee Hazlet
Moberly, MO


John Gibson-ardent Krazy Kats fan

I really enjoyed your article with Lee Dresser. I'm a first time visitor to your web site and think it is fantastic!!! What a terrific opportunity the "Kats" have. What I wouldn't give to be a part of something like that.
Thank you,
John Gibson


The Dodsons-ardent Krazy Kats Fans

I have gone to Krazy Kat dances for over 40 years. My husband and I enjoy dancing to all of their music at whatever dances that we can attend. We have been married for 39 years and every time we go. it seems like yesterday and keeps us young! My brother's Road Angels Car Club at Carrollton, MO sponsored a Krazy Kats dance when I was 16 years old. Lee Dresser is just as entertaining now as he was then and his voice seems to stay the same year after year! He, Willie, and Freddie put on a wonderful show every time they play, and crowds include all ages and from all walks of life! They personalize their dances with lots of good memories from years ago. Some of their shows include musical selections that they have written themselves and those are especially entertaining.
I hope they never quit playing!
Mrs Dodson


Donald Ellis-ardent Krazy Kats fan

I'm from Kirksville, MO, and I enjoyed your interview article on Lee Dresser and the Krazy Kats. I've seen then perform many times around Missouri and they are awesome! They are truly originals who take you back to another era. They are also super musicians and professionals in their field. My wife and I would go to their every performance if we could. All the band members are the same age as me (turning 63 in different months in 2004), so I really relate to their music. I'm glad they've stayed with the '50s-'60s music, rather than change with the times. They are certainly unique in that the same three guys have been together this long.
Thay are the perfect group for class reunions and all kinds of special events for the Baby Boomer age group, but it's also great to see young people discovering and loving this music. Thank you for doing this interview, and I hope a lot of people who have never seen them before will make a special effort to catch a performance and experience this phenomenon for themselves. You'll feel like dancing all night!
Thanks!
Donald Ellis


Jim Wagner-ardent Krazy Kats fan

Dear Sir,
It was great seeing that the Kats are still around. I used to see them perform around the Los Angeles area about 20 years ago. They are a true rock and roll trio.
I hope you will continue to talk to, and report about them in your feature articles.
Thanks,
Jim Wagner