Sound On Sound were from Grundy in the western part of Virginia, close to a three hour drive to any large city like Roanoke or Johnson City, Tennessee.
The original group consisted of Ed Dixon lead guitar, Curtis Shortridge guitar, Stoney Ratliff organ, Larry Lester bass and Terry Long on drums. Looking for a singer they found Oakwood’s Danny Rose of the Kool Kuzzins, who had cut an excellent 45 on Spot in 1967, “Love Can Be True” / “Hey Little Girl”.
Sound On Sound played back country gigs until they opened their own club, the Time Tunnel, in Garden Creek, about 10 miles from Grundy.
From the Virginia Mountaineer:
These young men performed at a nice, wholesome hangout in 1967 at Young’s Branch for the young people in our community. The teens danced and had lots of fun!
In 1968, at a radio station in Big Stone Gap they recorded their only 45, produced by Joe Deaton. The A-side was the sleepy “My Little Girl”, but on the flip is the much more electric “Girl, You’ve Got to Turn Me On”. Dominated by Stoney Ratliff’s organ style, Ed Dixon’s guitar buzzes in around the vocals while Terry Long smacks the kit and Larry Lester plays runs on the bass, making a great single all in all!
In the 1970s, Curtis Shortridge played bass and sang backup with a group called Phoenix, with Danny Perkins, Lonnie Perkins, Kenny Hale, Randy Long, Ken Jordan and others. Phoenix lasted into the 1980s, and released a single “Loving You” on Transworld Records, recorded at Tandem Recording Studio in Bristol, VA, engineered by Joe Deaton.
Thank you to Selena Long for sending in the photo at top.
Sources include: The Virginia Mountaineer, and liner notes to Aliens, Psychos and Wild Things vol. 2.
when i was a whippersnapper,my best friend was Brandon Ratliff … had a farm in Maggie, Va. 1600 acres I believe… Now a musician looking up jimi in Virginia Beach, Va. I see the Ratliff name, from Grundy. I know only 2 things from Grundy. Ratliff’s and wrestlers. Hello jimi. hello brandon. hello bobby, black diamond ranch…. everyone. Northcross 1990. period.
This is a great read. Thank you for your research. I am the current President of the Garden High School Alumni Association. The Association in conjunction with the Appalachian College of Pharmacy began an annual community festival called Garden Day Community Festival two years ago and is held on the campus of ACP, formerly our Garden High School. This year we are going to stage the Time Tunnel and will feature reunited band members of Sound On Sound or those members who will attend the event while a current “garage band”, Gomer And The Three Pyles, headline the concert and who are also made up of some former Garden, former Grundy, Abingdon and surrounding area band members. Although The Time Tunnel was just a little before my time many people remember it. I personally know the Ratliff family. I also knew Curtis Shortridge and I’m sad to say he passed away just a few years ago. I spoke to Ann Ratliff, the mother of Stoney, at church just last week and she told me she has the 45 that you show. Wish us the best as we attempt to reunite the members. Thanks again for article. I will post it on Facebook.
Sincerely,
Tim Owens
If anyone finds a photo of the group or other bands from the ’60s at the Tunnel, please send them in so I can post them with this article.
Thanks!
Curtis is my Dad. I have all the photos, albums and more. RIP, love you old man.
Hey Logan,
Terry is my Dad. Nice to meet you! I drove by the site of the Time Tunnel last weekend.
I’m working on a family history and am interested in any copies of documents or memorabilia you would be willing to share, at my expense, of course.
I can be reached at long.selena3@gmail.com to share confidentially.
Hope all is well and thanks for any info you can provide.
I’m Terry Long of the original Sound in Sound. I was married in 1968 when the band was hot. I left in September of that year and started another career. I’ve always played through the years and formed the T LONG BAND in 1973 at Paducah, Kentucky and had an 18 year run doing southern rock and 60’s and 70’s rock. I go back to Garden Creek when I can to visit family. The days of the Time Tunnel were some of the best of my life. We really did perform a community service. The young kids had a place to go Thursday-Saturday to have fun. No drugs, alcohol etc. Our parents served as chaperones. We had fun and got paid. Keep the page alive. My granddaughters got a charge from reading about us. I have taught them to play and we have a good time!!
Excellent article Chris, I was not aware of this local band or record. This is going on the want list.