Legendary Fireballs' Guitarist to make special appearance

ALBUQUERQUE (Atomic Catina/ George Tomasco PR Team) - Legendary Fireballs' guitarist, George Tomsco, of "Sugar Shack" fame and pioneer of instrumental guitar rock 'n' roll, will perform a two-hour show with backup Knights' guitarist, Dick Stewart, on Sunday, January 23 at the Atomic Cantina in Albuquerque from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

The Fireballs in 1958 were signed by the late Norman Petty of Clovis, New Mexico, who was responsible for Buddy Holly's breakout success, and it was the band's original desire to score big with their vocal efforts. But, says Tomsco, "It was the guitar instrumentals that first put us on the map. The hit vocals came later."

When "Bull Dog," "Torquay," and "Panic Button" climbed the Billboard charts in the late '50s and early '60s, there was an explosion throughout the United States of instrumental guitar-rock bands that ached to learn the novel guitar licks of lead guitarist, George Tomsco, and that included The Ventures, who became the leaders in this genre during the early '60s.

The Knights, an Albuquerque group that scored a regional guitar-instrumental hit with "Precision" in 1964, was another band that was inspired by the instrumental guitar releases by The Fireballs, and The Knights filled their early playlists with Fireballs' covers during a time when instrumental guitar rock ruled the airwaves.
"George asked me to accompany him on guitar for his January 23 performance, because I know his material well," says Knights' lead guitarist, Dick Stewart. "It was George that inspired me to pick up the guitar in the first place."

There will be no cover charge for the January 23 Tomsco/Stewart performance. "I wanted to do this for my fans and the actors of Tricklocks' 'Elephant Murmurs,' written by award winning playwright Charles Pike," says Tomsco. "There will be three performances of the play on the 26, 27, and 28 of this month. I provide the background music."