blue letter ; daisy jones & the six

one: good earth

The Six Started out as a blues-rock band called the Dunne Brothers in the mid-sixties out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Billy and Graham Dunne were raised by single mother, Marlene Dunne, after their father, William Dunne Sr., left in 1954.

BILLY DUNNE (lead singer, The Six): I was seven when Dad left, Graham was five. One of my first memories was when dad told us he was moving to Georgia. I asked if I could come with him and he said no.

But he left behind this old Silvertone guitar and Graham and I would fight over who got to play it. Playing that thing was about all we did. Nobody taught us, we taught ourselves.

Eventually, when I was about fifteen or so, Mom saved up and bought Graham and I an old Strat for Christmas. Graham wanted that one so I let him have it. I kept the Silvertone.

GRAHAM DUNNE (lead guitar, The Six): Once Billy and I each had a guitar, we started to write new songs together. I wanted the Silvertone but I could tell it meant more to Billy. So I took the Strat.

In 1967, with the brothers in their teens, Graham brought on drummer Warren Rhodes, Eddie Roundtree on rhythm guitar, and bassist Chuck Williams.

WARREN RHODES (drummer, The Six): [Chuckles] It was Graham's idea to start a band. I nudging Eddie and saying, "He's trying to get his girlfriend back." I didn't take it seriously. But then, he mentioned that Billy would be a part of the band and let me tell you, all the girls wanted to date Billy Dunne. And well, I wanted to date all the girls.

BILLY: Yeah, I never agreed to be in their band. I said I would listen. Maybe give them some pointers.

EDDIE ROUNDTREE (bassist and rhythm guitarist, The Six): By the second practice, he was basically in the band.

GRAHAM: We got a lot better, really quickly, I mean, all we were doing was practicing.

I mean, what else were we gonna do? None of us had girlfriends, except Billy. It was like Billy was in love with a new girl every week.

WARREN: We played house parties and a bar here and there.

GRAHAM: I remember that first house party. I was seventeen. [Sighs] I met Faye that night. I know the guys don't really count that party as our first gig, but I do.

WARREN: Graham says that was our first gig? No way. I mean, we got paid in beer. Which, when you're underage isn't so bad. But, definitely not a gig.

FAYE CASSIDY (bassist, Daisy Jones & The Six): Oh yeah, I remember that party. [Chuckles] My friend dragged me there. The guy she had a crush on was there and well, we had to go... obviously. I was smoking a cigarette out on the front porch when I see this rusty van pull into the driveway. They unloaded their instruments and walked to backyard.

I immediately put out my smoke and headed back inside. I pushed my way through the other sweaty teens and I remember a particular couple who looked like they were about to have sex by the sliding door, but, I made my way outside.

ELAINE CHANG (biographer, author of Daisy Jones: Wild Flower): Faye joined The Six when Daisy did, which is interesting. I mean, she grew up in Pittsburgh and went to school with all of the guys. I surprised she didn't audition for their band when Chuck left.

Faye Cassidy was raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After her mother died during childbirth, her father Brent Cassidy gave up on his dreams of being a rockstar and became a music teacher at the local middle school.

GRAHAM: Oh, Mr. Cassidy? I remember when I was twelve, I asked him for some tips on guitar. I mean, I was never as good at guitar as Billy and I wanted to study up. Brent gave me the book he learned guitar from and he let me keep it.

FAYE: My dad was the best music teacher I'd ever met. I mean I know I'm biased, but he taught me everything I know about guitar and bass.

For my fifth birthday he got me a guitar and taught me to play all of his favorite songs. Then for my thirteenth birthday, he bought me a bass. From then on, I rarely touched my guitar.

EDDIE: We were awful when we first started playing at those parties. I mean we were all nervous, except Billy.

WARREN: I remember I fucked up a bunch at the beginning. Oh, and Eddie. But Graham didn't.

GRAHAM: I couldn't even look up at the "crowd," if you could even call it that. I just stared at my guitar and made sure every riff was just like I practiced.

FAYE: I don't remember much about the songs they sang that night. I was really only paying attention to the guitar. Graham's technical skill was impressive. Now I know my dad was responsible for that.

GRAHAM: I looked up for the first time at the end of gig and saw Faye there on the porch... She was looking at me with this smirk on her face and she was clapping.

FAYE: The set ended and I walked right up to Graham. I introduced myself and he was just stumbling over his words. I didn't really know why back then, I mean, I just wanted to be his friend. At first.

WARREN: [Chuckles] He was like a deer in headlights.

GRAHAM: I just didn't understand why she was watching me. And why she was walking over to me. And why she was talking to me. Girls always wanted to talk to Billy, not me.

__________

WARREN: After that, well we did about ten proms, endless parties, some more bars.

FAYE: If I heard the Dunne Brothers were playing a party nearby, I'd show up fashionably late, of course.

BILLY: We got hired for this wedding. It was a big deal. A wedding meant we were gonna be heard by, you know, a hundred people. I think I was nineteen.

GRAHAM: Our father was there with this young girl, about our age. I realized it before Billy, I think. Recognized him from the pictures our mom kept in the shoe box under her bed.

Seemed like a drunk asshole anyway. So good riddance to him.

BILLY: After the wedding has ended, and everyone was packing up I had a few too many beers.. And I saw this women working as a cocktail waitress at the hotel bar. [Smiles] gorgeous girl.

CAMILA DUNNE (wife of Billy Dunne): Oh my word, was he good looking. When I saw him in the lobby, I remember thinking. Why can't I meet a guy like that?

BILLY: I walked right up to her, in that bar, holding, you know, an amp in one hand and a guitar in the other. I said, "Miss? I'd Like your number please."

EDDIE: I knew Camila from the neighborhood. We used to walk to Sunday school together, when we were kids. You couldn't help but fall in love with her, even then.

And then she met Billy.

__________

NOTES FROM ME:

Thanks for reading! Not really sure on the length of this chapter, but I like how it's going so far.

Also disclaimer, for all content in this book: The ights to all characters, dialogue, etc. from Daisy Jones & The Six (both the book and TV series) belong to TJR and the writers/producers of the show. The only things I own are my own characters and dialogue!

Thanks for reading!