FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 20, 2002

DEAR JERRY: While flipping through some of my old movie soundtrack albums, I came across a couple featuring some great guitar instrumentals by Davie Allan and the Arrows.

One in particular I like is “Blues Theme,” from “The Wild Angels,” a 1960s film that starred Peter Fonda.

Do you have any idea what happened to Davie Allan after this and his other recordings from the late '60s?
—Melinda Collins, York, Pa.

DEAR MELINDA: This is one of those “Whatever Happened To” questions that I can easily answer, since Davie Allan is a friend of many years, who frequently updates me as to his activities.

Off and on through the years, Davie continued recording and performing. In just a moment he will personally reveal some of his current projects.

As most everyone knows, life is like a roller coaster with its ups and downs, and celebrities are not exempt from the cycle. For Davie, 2001 is a year he is glad to see in the past.

Besides the September 11 catastrophes that affected everyone, he lost his mother, stepfather, and ex-wife last year.

Thankfully, things don't stay bad forever, and life is again looking up for Davie Allan, as reflected in this, his most recent letter:

“Jerry, it's been rough since losing my mom on December 15th, after seeing her go through unspeakable agony, but I'm getting back on my feet again. There are some positives coming up.

“We're in final negotiations with Curb Records for a 24-track retrospective CD, plus we are planing a couple of great shows in the L.A. area.

“One is on May 24th, with Sky Saxon's Seeds, at Mr. T's Bowl in Highland Park. The other is a free 'Sundown Show' at the Fiftybucks Gallery, in Pomona.

“The gig on May 24th is just the second Arrows-Seeds concert. The first was in 1967!

“We are also putting the finishing touches on a website, which appropriately is DavieAllan.com.”

IZ ZAT SO? Davie Allan spent a great deal of time in recording studios, but more often as a session guitarist for other artists than for himself.

Here is a mind-boggling alphabetical listing of some of those on whose sessions Davie worked: Frankie Albano; Annette (Funicello); Band Without a Name; Doug Brookins; Mike Curb; Dick Dale, Tony Dean; Fastest Group Alive; Peter Ford; Max Frost & the Troopers; Grads; Green Beans; Hands of Time; Harley Hatcher; Heyburners; Hondells; Ja Detts; Paul Johnson; Ken & Carol; Moore & Moore; Jerry Naylor; Paris Sisters; Jim Pewter; Priscilla (Paris); Linda Ronstadt; Sharlets; Sinners; Sounds of Harley; Terry Stafford; Starlets; Streamers; 13th Committee; Tony & the Vizitors; Russ Viot; Visitors; and the Zanies.

You are certainly hearing his artistry far more often than you realize.