The core of the "board" — Swamp fanatics all — comprised 1. Bob Merlis, then as now a legendary Warner Brothers publicist; 2. Art Fein, L.A. luminary and later author of The L.A. Musical History Tour; 5. scholar of all things cool and current RBP contributor Gene Sculatti; 4. "Major" Bill Liebowitz, comic book magnate, doo wop expert, and CFO of Trizec Western; and 6. Takoma General Manager Jon Monday.

"We were Pumping Piano Productions, an affinity group that threw over-the-top New Year's Eve parties for about 6 years running," says Merlis. "Swamp was one of our attractions and he did the cooking the first year. He made gumbo for 300 as I recall."

Rounding out the group were 3. Sam Watkins, Swamp’s own father-in-law; 7. Denny Bruce, president of Takoma and long-time blues/R&B/soul champion; 8. Warren Lanier, a publicist for black actors and athletes; and 9. Bill Coben, described by the Dogg as "the attorney from hell".

“Stevie Ray Vaughan was interested in recording for Takoma and asked Billy Gibbons what he thought of the idea of starting on a small label,” recalls Bruce. “He said the one thing Takoma was good at was their album covers, hailing Swamp Dogg's.”

Nearly two decades after the photo session, Swamp Dogg's worldwide legion of admirers continues to swell, still led by Messrs. Merlis, Bruce and co. Bruce says the Dogg wants to start a hip-hop, blues, comedy and porno label with him.

“My favorite Swamp story came about on a hot summer day when Swamp came into the office to pick up a check,” the ex-Takoma chief adds. “He was wearing very bright yellow shorts, shoes, socks, and tank top. Our bank was in the lobby of the building, so within five minutes my secretary tells me the bank clerk needs to talk with me. She says, 'Mr. Bruce, there is a Jerry Williams here who wants to cash a check. He claims he just saw you. Could you please give me his physical description?' I said, 'Unless there's someone else in line with a Takoma check that looks like a canary, give him the money'.”

 

Who be tha Dogg?

Born Jerry Williams, Jr., in 1942, the Doggman is one of soul music’s true deviants, a southern George Clinton with some Don Covay and some Screamin’ Jay Hawkins tossed in the mix. "I’m an unknown superstar and a self-acclaimed successful failure," Swamp hath said.

Recording first as 12-year-old Little Jerry in 1954, Williams finally hit with ‘Baby, You’re My Everything’ eleven years later. He became an Atlantic Records staffer, producing The Drifters and Gary ‘U.S.’ Bonds, but achieved more success on the tiny Canyon label with Doris Duke’s 1970 hit ‘To the Other Woman (I’m the Other Woman)’.

Deciding he "didn’t want to be Little Jerry or any of those Jackie Wilson/Ben E. King prototypes anymore", Williams opted instead to sing about "women, politics, screwing, television, syphilis, and anything else I feel is pertinent". Reborn as Swamp Dogg, he cut the superb Total Destruction to Your Mind, featuring ‘Redneck’, ‘Synthetic World’, and the minor hit ‘Mama’s Baby, Daddy’s Maybe’.

Thenceforth specialising in offbeat themes and inspired titles such as ‘Or Forever Hold Your Peace’, about a father meeting his son’s fiancee and realising she’s a hooker whose services he’s employed, and ‘Did I Stay Away Too Long or Come Back Too Soon?’, a typical cheatin’ saga with an interesting lesbian twist. "I’m a social satirist," tha Dogg says.

Other Swamp classics include ‘You’re the Dog (I Do the Barking Myself)’, ‘Eat the Goose (Before the Goose Eats You)’, and ‘The Love We Got Ain’t Worth Two Dead Flies’, a duet with the late great Esther Phillips. In the late ’70s he relocated to Los Angeles, prompting the epic ‘California is Drowning And I Live Down By the River’. He is still resident in the suburb of Canoga Park.

back to the Library

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

If you are interested in the syndication of this or
any other article on Rock's Backpages, please email us.