
Short Cross - Suicide Blues [Arising] 1972 Formed 1970, Sandston, VA, United States Disbanded 1972 // Members:Gray McCalley (drums, percussion, vocals), Butch Owens (organ, piano, Moog, Hammond, vocals), Velpo Richardson (vocals, lead guitar, piano), Steve Hicks (bass), Dudley "Byrd" Sharp (bass, backing vocals). Also Known As The Hustlers From Sandston, Virginia, this band evolved out of the Hustlers, whose members included, at various stages, ex-Reactors, Steve Hicks, and ex-Outlaws, Butch Owens alongside core members Velpo Robertson, Gray McCalley and Ben Luck. The latter left to join the Barracudas, of A Plane View LP fame. Their rare album can best be described as heavy psychedelic blues. There's plenty of good guitar work throughout, Wastin' Time, Just Don't Care, Till We Reach The Sun and Hobo Love Song all have their share, whilst Ellen is a slow bluesy ballad. The album lacks sufficient originality to make it special but if this musical genre is where you're at you shouldn't be disappointed [~ by (Max Waller / Roger Maglio)] "We haven't been able to dig up much about Short Cross, though we know they were based in Sandston, Virginia (a suburb of Richmond). Originally known as The Hustlers, by the late-'60s drummer Gray McCalley, keyboard player Butch Owens, singer/guitarist Velpo Richardson and bassist Bird Sharp had metamorphosed into Short Cross. The band made their debut with a little known single on the small Colpar label - "On My Own" b/w "Marching Off To War <b>...</b>
Short
Cross
Suicide
Blues
[Arising]
1972