What Goes around comes around... rebirth of a KC fan
So what happened between 1977 and now? Well, I always loved KC's music. Although my crush ended when my first relationship began, there was always the music. I loved "Please Don't Go" which was a hit in 1979 (even though when I saw the video on "Top of the Pops" I was startled by the change in KC's appearance. The smiling Sunshine Boy seemed to have been replaced by someone much more serious... ok it was a more sober song).I adored "Give It Up" which gave the band their only UK No. 1 in 1983, and went to one of their shows on the tour which followed. Through the years, whenever I heard the names Harry or Casey, or saw the initials KC anywahere I thought of KC.
I so, so wish I had kept my cuttings. And the fan club newsletters and KC's Thank You autograph. I think I know when they went. I had a clear out at the end of 1979 when my relationship ended. I wanted to get rid of everything to do with him who shall remain nameless, and sadly I think my teen stuff including KC cuttings went at the same time. I am a Cancerian and we are the great hoarders of the Universe so this was out of character. Sob sob.
But I kept the records. I still have my original LP's. I am so glad I did. They got played from time to time over the years. But as I heard nothing at all about KC after "Give It Up" I assumed he had retired and was doing other things.
Then .... "The Best of KC and the Sunshine Band" came out. Oh what a trip down memory lane. I played it and thought "Wow! I love these songs as much now as I did then". I can't remember when I first got the CD- 2001 maybe? I even got out and played all my old KC LP's and I remembered every word, every beat. The memories came flooding back and it was then that my interest was revived.
That got me wondering- the good old WWW might have some KC info. (Isn't the web wonderful for finding things out?). And it sure did. I quickly found out that KC had reformed the Sunshine Band and was back on the road and recording again as well. I think the official site was one of the first I found and I had a lovely long browse through that. (Again I think this was about 2001 time). Then I found some amazing KC fan sites. His fans do seem to be very creative. There were others out there like me! I love them all but the one which really bought it all back and rekindled the passion in a big way was and still is Feleena's WONDERFUL "For the Love of the Boogie Man" site. I squeaked and squealed my way through that, all of it! I recognised a few pictures I used to have, and saw a lot for the first time. (For instance one which is mentioned on Mon 27th June 1977 Is at.....
This one was on my wall for a while.)It made me remember how I too felt about the Boogie Man back in the 70's.
Then I found Debby's KC scrap book, and more squeals of delight were produced as I found yet more pictures I used to have, including one of KC sat in a bath in a stripey t-shirt which used to be on my wall. A few of the cuttings which Cathy passed on to me all those years ago were there. Plus all the sites out there with recent concert photos as well. I love all the KC sites and visit them often to see what is new and do a bit more squealing in recognition.
From somewhere deep in the musty fusty cobwebby vaults of my brain, I remember that I had kept just a very small amount of cuttings which Cathy had sent me in about 1978. I am not sure quite why they got kept, but probably because they never made it into my scrapbook. I had to think long and hard about where they might be- they were in a plastic box full of old letters tucked in with my O level results. I was so delighted to have just those few relics from days goneby. They are now carefully preserved, and I have put them on this site.
In 2003 I bought, from the KC fan club, the 25th Anniversary Edition CD and also the wonderful book "Thats the Way I Like it- The Harry Wayne Casey story". That is a must for all KC fans and it filled in all the gaps, what had happened between him retiring and coming back. In 2004 I bought some more CD's including the re-issues of "KC and the Sunshine Band" and "Part 3" both with bonus tracks. I love those albums as much now as I did then. I know I will never be able to replace all of my old cuttings collection but I have now got copies of several music papers and magazines with articles and interviews- I am going to keep these pristine though and not cut them up. Maybe one day I will arrange a trip to the British Library and copy out some of the old record and concert reviews I used to have.
Sooo- that was written in 2004. At the time of writing, (Feb 2008) I have been collecting KC memorabilia for longer than I originally did and I have a bigger collection than I did back then! It takes up a whole drawer in a filing cabinet. So I decided the time was right to update this site some more. Still no UK KC concerts in the pipeline but if he should ever tour here my Boogie Shoes are all polished ready to dance. Let me share some of the sunshine with you :)
So KC- thank you for the music and Keep it Comin' Love.
Page created by Jackie Hewitt 20th April 2004. Last update 4th Feb 2008