Renowned Singer To Release Six CDs At Village Casino
By NICHOLAS L. DEAN

Basil ‘‘Bazz’’ Bankston

8/9/2006 - BEMUS POINT — Performing the songs of Sinatra, Nat King Cole and countless others is less a passion or profession than it is a mission for Basil ‘‘Bazz’’ Bankston — as he fears that without a little help, we may forget the greatest music ever made.A born entertainer, Bankston remembers singing as early as age 4 and says with a laugh that the songs won’t stop until he dies.With a repertoire which runs through the 1970s, Bankston has spent his life celebrating Motown’s classics and all the favorite American standards. A renowned singer and trumpet player, he has toured the world with K.C. & The Sunshine Band, The Platters and The 4 Tops and will release six CDs tonight at the Village Casino in Bemus Point.Since moving to Chautauqua County, the man known to many as Bazz has been playing area clubs, bars and American Legions and was recently told he will be inducted into the Rock ’n Roll Hall of Fame in September. Still as energetic about and eager to share his generation’s songs as ever, Bankston took his 40 years experience and entered a recording studio to Bazzamatazz some of his favorites for people to own.‘‘I’m putting these out for the public because I feel this is really what people should get a handful of,’’ Bankston said of the CDs. ‘‘It’s only the greatest chart-busters to have ever emerged on the face of this planet.’’Citing influences such as David ‘‘Meat’’ Ramsey and Teddie Williams,’’ Bankston said releasing CDs has been something he has always wanted to do in order to pay tribute to Motown and the many artists who inspired him.One collection in four parts, he will be releasing Remember When? tonight as well as Martinis and Memories — which spans two CDs. An inspiration to him and many others, Bankston says the songs of the 1960s and 1970s were so special because they were written by and about real people and based on true life situations.‘‘They took real life, real true blue situations and turned them into directions for your life,’’ he said. ‘‘It was clean, there was no garbage in there. It was just average, every day, normal life that inspires ... It was more of a spiritual thing. They passed it down from generation to generation and it all came from the blues and jazz and it came out as contemporary pop.’’Not to be forgotten, Bazz has made it his mission to keep the songs of The Spinners, The Delfonics and The Originals at the forefront of people’s minds. ‘‘I want to get back the greatest memories that those people ever had and to make them fall in love again,’’ Bankston said. ‘‘I’ve seen people in my shows get together and just start kissing because of a song they remember. I just thank God that I can be there to do that for them. That’s what really makes me sleep good at night, knowing that what I’m doing is touching people. I like to touch every single one of those people if I can possibly help it. That’s really my mission. My mission on Earth is to perform, to entertain people, to make them happy and in love and put them together.’’As much a man of faith as he is of music, he cited God and Jesus as having helped him turn his passion into a career and advised that anyone in need should look to them for help. Though a skilled entertainer and renowned singer, Bankston admits he is not without his flaws and mistakes and wants people to know his success came from hard work as well as belief in purpose.Bankston performs weekly at The Village Casino in Bemus Point as well as at other locations in Chautauqua County. In September, he will leave to tour with The Valores — a group which was big in the Doo Wop era.

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