The Rockin' Blue Diamonds

The Rockin' Blue Diamonds was a short-lived jazz-rock group that performed in 1972.

Background

Originally Mayo Thompson and Frederick Barthelme with Rock Romano and Tucker Bradley.

Final line-up:

• Mayo Thompson - writer, rhythm guitar
• Fred McLain - lead guitar
• Bob Henschen - piano
• Bernard Sampson - saxophones and flute
• Don Jones - bass
• Art Kidd - drums
• Rock Romano - vocals
• Tucker Bradley - vocals

Known performances

	Date	City		Venue	Audio
🇺🇸	1972-05-18	Houston	TX	The Old Quarter
🇺🇸	1972-05-25	Houston	TX	The Old Quarter
🇺🇸	1972-06-08	Houston	TX	The Old Quarter
🇺🇸	1972-06-15	Houston	TX	The Old Quarter
🇺🇸	1972-06-28	Houston	TX	The Old Quarter
🇺🇸	1972-06-29	Houston	TX	The Old Quarter
🇺🇸	1972-07-05	Houston	TX	The Old Quarter
🇺🇸	1972-07-06	Houston	TX	The Old Quarter
🇺🇸	1972-07-12	Houston	TX	The Old Quarter
🇺🇸	1972-07-13	Houston	TX	The Old Quarter
🇺🇸	1972-08-03	Houston	TX	Free Music Store	🔍

• 1972-05-24 Wed. - The Old Quarter
• 1972-05-30 Wed. - The Old Quarter
• 1972-06-14 Wed. - The Old Quarter
• 1972-06-15 Thurs - The Old Quarter

• 1972-06-22 - The Old Quarter
  • Wed. and Thur.
• 1972-06-29 - The Old Quarter
  • Wed. and Thur.
• 1972-07-06 - The Old Quarter
  • Thur.

• 1972-08-03 Thur.
  • Free Music Store - KPFT
  • "Frank Davis and the Rockin' Blue Diamonds used to play alternating sets at the Old Quarter until the Diamonds' equipment was stolen. Hopefully we can scrounge enough amplification for a bass and voices, and maybe we'll be in for one of the nicest acoustic sets we've ever had. Come down and join the party or listen at home."
  • Note: a few KPFT Free Music Store performances were digitized by the Pacific Radio Archive but they do not seem to have this one.

• 1972-08-03
  • Wed.

• 1973-02-03 broadcast - recording date unknown
  • Houston Concert Houston - KPFT
  • "More from the Rockin' Blue Diamonds--the most dynamic and original jazz group we've heard in Houston. Maybe someday they'll get together again and play again"

Demo

• "Thompson then turned to John Fahey, still at the helm of his Takoma label, who fronted $250 for a demo."
  • "His wife didn't like it, and neither did he," remembered Mayo.

Retrospectives

Mayo Thompson, 2023

[...] A later band—The Rocking Blue Diamonds—played The Old Quarter, and Rocky Hill’s Club.