BAND MAN - MARK 'HOSS' AMANS

Wow, would you look at that hat! Dan Blocker wore that hat on the Ponderosa as the character, 'Hoss' in the 60's TV show Bonanza.

I'm pretty sure the hat on the head of Mark 'Hoss' Amans is a little more animated than the one I remember on the TV Series, even as I remembered watching the show mostly in Japanese; since I had lived in Asia as a kid: but I can already tell you that this 'Hoss,' while he might not speak any Japanese is an animated character, and the hat really fits.

We're going to be doing a special on August 7th & 8th on Mark 'Hoss' Amans on http://www.rockandrollheaven.net/ beginning at 5pm mountain.

So who is this character in a ten gallon hat that looks like it could hold an extra 10 gallons? Mark is what you refer to as a 'Roadie' although in the early days, they called people like Mark, 'Band Boys.'

Although the term 'Band Boys' from the 50's later drifted into the term 'Roadies' they did the same job. 'Band Boys' (Roadies) were typically the technicians who handle just about every aspect of a band's innermost workings before, during and after a concert, including; the setting up of monitors, drums, plugging in guitars, lights, acting as liaisons between the musicians and audience ... and sometimes acting as body guards, depending on the growing relationship when hired by the band.

While there are different levels of Roadies, Mark 'Hoss' Amans actually became a 'Band Boy' when he first began his career with a group called 'The Viceroys' out of Seattle Washington. It's where 'Hoss' picked up the skills that 'Schooled' him into being a man who could handle ALL things for his surprise phone call, graduating him into into the industry by being hired as a 'Road Manager' for Paul Revere and the Raiders ... thus ... transitioning 'Hoss' into being a 'BAND MAN.'

"Hoss" reminisces about Paul Revere and the Raiders as being the "Most Fun" that he's ever had in his career, and it's where he picked up the non-de-plume of 'Hoss.' Mark recalls that people in the entourage were always calling out ... "Mark" and both he and Mark Lindsey would always be turning their heads in response.

Mark Lindsey was increasingly becoming more disgruntled at always being confused with the mix up, and that dissatisfaction eventually led to a momentous and LIFE changing decision for 'Hoss.' It was a day when Paul Revere and the Raiders were in the airport at Love Field in Dallas, where both Mark Amans and Mark Lindsey while waiting on their departure decided to waste a little time at one of the western shops. While browsing it was "Hoss" who picked up the 'Hat' exclaiming "Hey Lindsey, check this out! It's 'Hoss's hat from Bonanza." It was the AHA moment when Mark Lindsey said, "That's it ... we can just call you 'Hoss' ... problem solved!" Amans, obviously loved the idea from the moment Lindsey uttered the statement and has accepted the persona, perhaps with a 'smirk' but alas, becoming 'Hoss' with much pleasure.

'Hoss' has worked with many bands over the years and has been continuously 'On the road' with notables including, 'The WHO,' 'The Robbs,' The Blues Magoos,' 'The Butts Band (Robbie Krieger & John Densmore of the Doors) and others and definitely has a few stories to tell.

Mostly these days 'Hoss' is doing a few things that are keeping him close to the business. As a new writer, he's telling some of those great stories and sharing pictures in a new manuscript that he has been shopping to publishers called: "Where the Action Was" ... a title closely related to the Dick Clark Television show in those days called "Where the Action Is" where Paul Revere and the Raiders made numerous appearances on that show. These days however, 'Hoss' continues working as a driver to the rich and famous and 'Keeping his Hand in the Music' with another group called the 'Road Captains.' There will be music as always that you are not likely to hear anywhere else but ... here on America's Coast to Coast - JST KLSX.

We hope you'll be listening for the special with 'Hoss' and some of the great music that's associated with his career and those stories he has to pass along. The special is coming up on August the 7th & again on the 8th beginning at 5pm Mountain time.