Texas musician Wayne "The Train" Hancock has been chosen as the headlining Saturday night act during the third annual Rockabilly on the Route festival in Tucumcari, New Mexico, on June 4-7. Hancock is best-known for the song "Thunderstorms and Neon Signs." He also owns an indelible connection to Route 66. He told this story to No Depression … Continue reading Wayne Hancock will headline Rockabilly on the Route
Category: Uncategorized
Illinois county gets $2 million grant for Route 66 Bike Trail
McLean County, Ill., has received $2 million in state funds to build a five-mile segment of the Route 66 Bike Trail from the north side of Normal to Towanda, according to the Bloomington Pantagraph. The newspaper said: County Engineer Eric Schmitt said a stretch from Towanda Avenue in north Normal to County Highway 29 in … Continue reading Illinois county gets $2 million grant for Route 66 Bike Trail
Dutch Route 66 Association formed
Six Route 66 fans in the Netherlands recently formed the Dutch Route 66 Association during a dinner in Amsterdam "with the aim of promoting Route 66 and providing information to whomever has a need for it." At left is the group's logo, complete with the nation's symbolic wooden clogs. The people who formed the group … Continue reading Dutch Route 66 Association formed
Kenny Vaughan’s version of “Route 66”
Guitar-slinger and Oklahoma native Kenny Vaughan and a group of crack musicians perform a western swing-influenced version of Bobby Troup's most famous song, "Route 66." https://youtu.be/Fvo7_v7CFKM Vaughan has played guitar with a slew of people in the Nashville, but remains best known as lead guitarist for Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives.
Boots Motel needs help with “Raze the Roof” project
The Boots Motel, a Route 66 landmark in Carthage, Mo., needs both volunteer and financial assistance in the coming weeks for its "Raze the Roof" effort. The new owners want to remove the motel's gabled roof so its original flat roof can be restored. More from a news release by Ron Hart of the Route … Continue reading Boots Motel needs help with “Raze the Roof” project
Matriarch of Joe & Aggie’s restaurant dies
Alice Gallegos, daughter of the founders of the historic Joe & Aggie's Cafe in Holbrook, Ariz., and a longtime co-operator of the Route 66 restaurant herself, died at age 72 on Tuesday in nearby Show Low, Ariz., according to an obituary by the funeral home. She was born in Holbrook, the daughter of Jesus "Joe" … Continue reading Matriarch of Joe & Aggie’s restaurant dies
Famed movie studio buildings in West Hollywood to be razed
The bulldozers soon will arrive for a series of buildings in West Hollywood, Calif., that once were used by the Warner Bros. and other movie studios, reported the Los Angeles Times. The buildings sit at the corner of Route 66. The Times' arresting lead paragraphs: Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks worked there. So did Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Clark Gable, Marlon Brando and … Continue reading Famed movie studio buildings in West Hollywood to be razed
Programming note
If you see a few funky things on Route 66 News in the coming days, there's probably good reason for it. Route 66 News is moving from WordPress.com to a hosted site using the WordPress.org platform. It should be a fairly seamless transition, and you shouldn't have to update your route66news.com bookmarks. News coverage of … Continue reading Programming note
The year in review from one corner of the road
Historic Seligman Sundries in Seligman, Ariz., has posted a "2011 in Review" video. https://youtu.be/k1L0KcV3GoU I asked owner Frank Kocevar whether he was doing this early, since 2011 still has about 10 weeks left. But he said their tourism season ends in late October. "I saw all of the Christmas decorations in the stores. Isn't it … Continue reading The year in review from one corner of the road
“My Town”
Dennis Beck and his longtime music group, the James River Band, grew up in the Route 66 town of Marshfield, Mo. The video for this song, "My Town," includes vintage footage from Marshfield and plenty of reminisces as well. https://youtu.be/zc770HH9z70 As a bonus, here's another James River Band song that mentions Route 66: https://youtu.be/lDlV3dtEFu4 (Hat … Continue reading “My Town”