In fall 1967, The Buckinghams performed in Linfield’s Riley Gym.
Comedian Sandy Baron was The Buckingham's opening act as a fill-in for guitarist/singer José Feliciano.
During the opening of Baron's routine, his mispronunciation of Oregon threw him a curve ball. “It's great to be here in Oregon,” he said. But, he pronounced it “Ory-gone” instead of “Ore-gun.” The audience laughed. “No, it really is,” Baron responded, not understanding the laugh was for mispronouncing Oregon, not for the audience assuming he was not sincere.
One Linfield alum (then a student and today not a medical doctor and does not play one on TV) at the event, claims Baron lit up a cigarette. “That’s my recollection. This was in Riley Gym and smoking was not allowed on campus. I can’t remember, but I believe he was asked to snuff the smoke and I think he did so by stepping on the cigarette on the gym floor. It’s interesting to note that he died at age 64 in 2001 of emphysema which is quite often caused by smoking.”
Based on “The Buckinghams (The Classic Rock Connection)," the 1966-1969 iteration of The Buckinghams performed at Linfield. Its members were Carl Giammarese, guitar/vocals; Dennis Tufano, guitar/harmonica/vocals; Nick Fortuna, bass; Jon-Jon Poulos, drums; and Marty Grebb, keyboards. Photos:
- from the 1968 Oak Leaves show The Buckinghams (“send the beat rocking through Riley”) and Sandy Baron (“All American practical joker”)
- by Wildcatville shows front of United Airlines special handling tag which was on some of the band's equipment when it arrived in the gym.
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On Thursday, Oct. 19, 1967, during Linfield Homecoming 1967 the
guitarists/singer did not perform in Riley Gym as opening act to the
Buckinghams.
Feliciano (born José Montserrate Feliciano García in Puerto
Rico) was heavily promoted (see Sunday Oregonian story Oct. 15, 1967, and
advertisement in same newspaper Oct. 19, 1967) as the Buckingham’s opening act,
but illness forced his last minute cancellation. His replacement was comedian Sandy
Baron (born Sanford Irving Beresofsky in Brooklyn, N.Y.).
It’s easy to lament not hearing Jose Feliciano, but it’s
also easy to forget that, according to Wikipedia, he “recorded the Doors' song ‘Light
My Fire’ in a Latin style and released it as a single, and in the summer of
1968 it reached #3 on the US pop charts with over one million copies sold in
the US market alone.” Thus, his general fame came after when he would have
graced the maples of Riley Gym.
…………………..
Below from the Oregonian an Oct. 15, 1967, story and an Oct.
19, 1967, advertisement. (Note error in ad. It says concert was to be Oct. 29, not Oct. 19.) And, from the Linfield Review cutline for a photo
from Oct. 12, 1967, issue; story headlined “Singer-Guitarist Appears in Riley
Concert” from Oct. 19, 1967; and cutline (headline “Cigarettes in Riley Gym?”)
from Oct. 26, 1967.
For more info see:
Oct. 19, 1967: The
Buckinghams, but not José Feliciano, performed during Homecoming in Riley Gym
http://wildcatville.blogspot.com/2011/03/dont-you-remember.html
