One, two, three o’clock, four o’clock rock.
Five, six, seven o’ clock, eight o’ clock rock.
Those lyrics flew to stardom in 1974 via the rock group Bill Haley & the Comets. The song was further popularized with lovable, talented Chubby Checker. But putting icing on the cake – both clamor and glamour followed with the unique vocal and dance version created by Elvis.
Can you sing the next two lines of those lyrics?
They convey a really nice thought. However, rocking around the clock tonight or rocking until broad daylight doesn’t quite cut it anymore at the current local music and dance scenes. This type of lively music is played and sung by talented senior citizens to those patrons attending local senior centers. A much more accurate time frame for this group and its audience is rockin’ from 9:30 to 11:30 AM, and wailin’ and clappin’ from 5:00 to 8:00 PM.
Peggie Brock recalls more youthful days when bands didn’t quit playing until a bar closed, around 2:00 am. That early morning pace is way past senior naptimes and bedtimes. Thus, for Peggie and the Brock-a-Roos and their performance attendees. She and her lead guitarist and vocalist husband were married in 1962. Her dad played guitar as did her fiancé, Willie Brock. That led to mutual respect and her dad willingly complied with Willie’s proposal to his daughter. They’ve been married for 55 years. “Since my dad is the reason I’m into music,” she said, “I wrote a song in gratitude to him on my first CD.” She sang it in December at the “standing room only memorial service” for Ron Mariotti, owner of the Enumclaw Sales Pavilion. Peggie had performed at the pavilion for 10 years.
Peggie and the Brock-a-Roos are currently scheduled every Wednesday from 9:30 to 11:30 am at Enumclaw Senior Center. They also play the last Thursday of each month at a free soup and dance at the Senior Center, 5:00 to 8:00 pm. The next “Simply Soup” is Thursday, Feb. 22. Attendees are cautioned: “It’s a place where you bring your own bowl and spoon because we’re not doing the dishes!”
A videotaping of Peggie and the Brock-a-Roos (band and the audience) is being recorded on Saturday, Feb. 17 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at Seeders Bar and Grill at Railroad Avenue in Enumclaw. “We want you in our video,” Peggie said to all those in the local communities who love the music as she does, “We want you whooping, hollering, clapping and dancing.”
As to how or what song the Brock-a-Roos begin their stints with, “It all depends on where we’re performing,” Peggie said. “Mickey is a super drummer who made a big improvement in our band.” The team gracefully cuts back the volume for the initial songs. Guests who are in attendance for the purpose of lunch, but not to jitterbug, are thus accommodated. The pace picks up as dancers eject their enthusiasm into the musicians’ guitar, vocals, and drums with lyrics … Oh, oh Susie Darlin’ and songs by Bobby Darin, Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison’s rockabilly tunes and ballads. Peggie likes her band to conclude the early morning and early evening Senior Citizen venues with peace. She and the Brock-a-Roos often finish with the fast paced gospel song, “Down to the River to Pray.” Future bookings for the Brock-a-Roos can be arranged through Peggie Brock at 253-833-8136.
