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Who is Damascus?

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Phil Shirley

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Feb 20, 1994, 1:59:43 PM2/20/94
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Hi,
Who is Damascus? I used to hear lots of songs by him on Dr. D. many years
ago, but I never heard anything about him.

Also, what songs did he do? I remember:

Making Love in a Subaru
A Day in the Life of Green Acres (?)
[something about going to the dentist]

Didn't he perform a song with Barnes and Barnes (and was it Green Acres?)?

Thanks.

Phil
University of Southern Mississippi
pshi...@whale.st.usm.edu

Chris P. Mezzolesta

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Feb 20, 1994, 10:31:01 PM2/20/94
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In a previous article, pshi...@whale.st.usm.edu (Phil Shirley) says:

>Hi,
>Who is Damascus? I used to hear lots of songs by him on Dr. D. many years
>ago, but I never heard anything about him.
>
>Also, what songs did he do? I remember:
>Making Love in a Subaru
>A Day in the Life of Green Acres (?)
>[something about going to the dentist]
>Didn't he perform a song with Barnes and Barnes (and was it Green Acres?)?

Damaskas (correct spelling) was one of Dr D's assistants (just folks who
were into it, they helped him tabulate requests, check the request machine,
etc.) and also a songwriter/singer/pianist. The vast majority of his tunes
played on Dr D were home recordings, but he released one 45, (as above),
"...Subaru" b/w "...Green Acres" on his own Asinine label. He was in fact
aided & abetted on the "B" by Barnes & Barnes. He got the idea to do it
after hearing "Gilligan's Island Stairway". He plays piano on the track,
B&B provide guitar, bass, seat cushion, electronics, etc.

Beside "(Sittin' in the) Dentist Chair Blues", he also recorded "Herbert
The Pervert", and appears on "I Gotta Get A Fake ID" on the Dr. Demento's
Dementia Royale LP. I think Weird Al's "It's Still Billy Joel To Me" was
recorded in Damaskas's bedroom studio.

I am told that in recent years he has worked as a masseur and as a dog
groomer, not much in the way of music it seems. I know his real name, but
in the interest of the fans beating his door down I'll remain mum.

[Info from conversations with Weird Al Yankovic 1983 & "Artie Barnes"
(Robert Haimer) 1993]

Hope this helps.

C
--
Chris P. Mezzolesta /// "And I'd like a glass of cold gravy
Mentor, Ohio /// with a hair in it please!" -
ds...@cleveland.freenet.edu ///
Voice Artist/Musician/Eediot! /// Davy Jones, "Head" (1968)

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