The Vinyl 45's

The Devine-based Vinyl 45's is probably the best rockabilly band in South Texas. Hard driving drums and guitars, with the pulsating rhythm of an upright bass, define the band. These are the powerful sounds of the magical 1950s, a time when Elvis was establishing a new rock kingdom, and a time when Jerry Lee was introducing the piano as an instrument of force never witnessed before. George Hamilton, a stand-up drummer and manager of the Vinyl 45's, says his group has re-captured the spirit of “50s rock, classic car shows, sock hops, old fashioned soda fountains, pompadours, poodle skirts, classic country, rockabilly and Layrite Pomade.” We found the Vinyl 45's last month at Big John's Hangin' Tree Saloon in Bracken where Hamilton, Roland J, Chris Navarro, and Victor Costilla were all but lifting the roof off the venerable beer joint. It was Elvis, Little Richard, Jerry Lee, Roy Orbison, Chuck Berry, Bill Haley, and so many more among the rockabilly covers, and Hangin' Tree dancers were shaking the place like a freight train moving through. Ass-kicking music if we ever heard it, and a brand of dance material which band manager Hamilton calls infectious. “If our music doesn't make your feet want to move,” Hamilton said, “you are either seriously impaired or already dead.” Check that “best rockabilly band in South Texas” description. The Vinyl 45's may well be the best of their lot in the entire state with a few foreign countries thrown in for good measure. “This is the best rockabilly outfit I have ever heard,” says Hangin' Tree owner Big John Oaks. “And you can see how our customers react to the music. They go absolutely wild every time the Vinyl 45's play here.” And we have good news for Hamilton and the Hangin' Tree rug cutters. Hamilton says he hopes to make the Hangin' Tree a San Antonio headquarters for the Vinyl 45's if booking arrangements can be worked out. “Some people don't even know what 1950s rock-and-roll was all about,” says Hamilton. “These people at the Hangin' Tree will help us spread the word.” All four members of the band contribute vocals, but the lead voice belongs to Victor (Big Daddy) Costilla, a guitarist who works with the Department of Human Services with the City of San Antonio. He lives in Moore. Second most prominent voice of the foursome is that of Rockin' Roland J, also a guitarist who has dejayed at KKYX and other Cox Radio Group stations, and who also broadcasts Missions and Rampage games in San Antonio. His home is in Bulverde. Chris (Low C) Navarro, a teacher at the Brooks Academy of Fine Arts, can literally make his upright bass walk and talk. He also plays keyboards with the band. Navarro is the only member of the group who lives in San Antonio. Drummer, band leader, and manager, George (Hot Rod) Hamilton maintains the band's studio at his home in Devine, the Vinyl 45's home base. Hamilton does commercial work with the Cox Radio Group. When playing drums with the Vinyl 45's, Hamilton stands during an entire show. “Chris and I had a band when we were in Devine High School during the 1980s. Victor joined that group, and we became known as the King Beez,” Hamilton said. “Then we all drifted off to do college, careers, family, and you name it in other towns and cities.” The decision to reunite came in 2007 when the former King Beez all attended a concert by the reunited Stray Cats. “Hey, they did it with only three guys, so why not us?” Hamilton said the original three members realized. “So we went back to playing the music that made us want to play in the first place, the material of Elvis, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, the Everly Brothers, Hank Williams, and all of the others. The 1950s era was music's greatest time, and we want to keep that great spirit alive and rolling.” Hamilton said Roland J sat in with the original three shortly after they regrouped, and today's version of the Vinyl 45's was born. “Victor Costilla, our lead vocalist, has a beautiful voice, but we needed someone to take some of the singing pressure off,” Hamilton said. “Enter Roland J, a power singer I worked with in the radio business. He handles the heavier material, just what we needed.” The Vinyl 45's will soon have a cd on the market with original tunes, but Hamilton said no one should worry about them dropping the staple material of the 1950s. “Our original stuff is much like the 50s material,” Hamilton said. “We may slip two or three originals into a show, but nothing that would interrupt the continuity. And the same goes for our first recording. Not too polished. A little rough and a little dirty. Just like the 1950s.” - Action Magazine / Sam Kindrick / Feb 2011