ST. LOUIS (KSDK) - Since 1986 Butch Wax and The Hollywoods has been hitting all the right notes with audiences throughout the Midwest.
“We love the upbeat songs that people can dance to that’s the number one thing,” explained Betsy Slenker, one of the singers in the band.
They don’t play today’s top hits, but rather songs from the ’50s ’60s and ’70s.
“We just kind of play authentic oldies. Songs that bring back great memories for us,” Gene Ackmann who founded the band added.
And boy does the band have memories. Over the years they have played with Johnnie Johnson, Billy Peek and Theo Peobles. Performed at countless pep rallies, but really all Gene Ackmann ever wanted to do is make music.
“Well, I think I always wanted to play music. I went to college on a tuba scholarship. So I’m down there and it’s like what are you going to do with a tuba when you get out of school,” Ackmann said laughing.
When he returned home from college he picked up a couple of other instruments and well he’s been playing and entertaining crowds ever since.
“I just like to see people recognize the great songs from that day. You watch them and they’re out there singing along with it and they’re dancing and when you’ve really got it going as far as everybody is playing their part you’re recreating these oldies the way they were recorded it feels fantastic,” Ackmann said.
Actually, it’s hard to tell who’s having more fun the band or the people who have come to sing and dance along with them and isn’t that what making music is about.

KSDK

Art Holiday and his camera crew visited Gene at his house to interview him about his and Johnnie’s long time friendship and Johnnie’s contribution to music. Johnnie loved to fish and they fished often at their favorite spot right out Gene’s back door. Art went down to the lake and filmed some segments from the chair that Johnnie always sat in. The chair and Johnnie’s pole holders were still there where he left them. I hadn’t been down to the lake since Johnnie died and it brought back some really great memories of the many days Johnnie and I spent fishing together. I even found Johnnie’s fishing box that he kept at the house along with his fishing poles that always sit in the same familiar corner of my music room. We opened the fishing box and he still had his cigars and sunglasses and hooks and stuff in there and a note that I had given him on Christmas in 2000.

Art filmed a little tour of Gene’s music room/studio and scanned the many pictures of Johnnie that Gene has collected through the years as well as his memorabilia collection. They also discussed Johnnie’s career and other topics related to Art’s documentary on the legendary pianist.

For more information visit Art’s website at www.johnniebegood.net.