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COVINGTON
OTHER ODDITIES
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Shipwreck of
Port Hunter - caused by the tug Covington
Herbert
Covington Bonner - member of US House of Representatives
Ships named
'Covington' served in 3 wars
The Covingtons -
Michigan based garage band
Lady Viola
Covington – Tattooed Beauty
The Hon
Alexander Lockhart, Lord Covington
Covingtons in the
U.S. Civil War
Bogus Ben or
Blind Ben Covington
Benjamin Leonard Covington Wailes
Charles R. Covington,
Appellant, v. State of Alaska
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THE COVINGTON TUG
The Shipwreck of Port Hunter - caused by the
tug Covington (1918)
Date Sunk: November 2, 1918.
Cause:
collision.
Location: Nantucket
Sound, Hedge Fence Shoal.
Coordinates: latitude
41° - 29' - 43" N; longitude 70° - 33' - 15" W.
Loran: 14097.7
and 43930.7.
Chartered by the Furness, Withy Company of Boston and with a
general cargo that included war supplies and ammunition for the American
Mission fighting in France, Port Hunter's first stop was New York City to join
a convoy. Although armed with a deck gun on its stern, the freighter stood
little chance in the Atlantic crossing, where Germany's U-boats were an ever
present danger if left unprotected by a screen of warships.
The early morning hours of November 2nd found Port Hunter
approaching the western entrance to Nantucket Sound, between Martha's Vineyard
and Falmouth where the passage narrows and is divided by Hedge Fence Shoal. At
about the same time, the tug Covington was entering the Sound from the opposite
direction, towing Consolidated Company barges No.'s 10 and 24. At 1:48AM,
shortly after Port Hunter cleared the westerly tip of the shoals, Covington
collided with the freighter. The tug struck Port Hunter about 50 feet aft on
the port bow, opening a gash 15 feet high and 7 feet wide. The force of the
impact threw 20 men from their bunks. Water poured through the freighter's torn
hull plates, flooding the forward compartment almost immediately. The ship's
pumps could do little to stem the deluge and as the steering compartment
filled, Port Hunter began to settle by the bow.
The freighter would have gone down in deep water if not for the
quick action of Covington's skipper, who manoeuvred his tug to push Port Hunter
onto the western slope of Hedge Fence Shoal. Boats rushed to the scene and
rescued the freighter's crew. Within two hours of the collision Port Hunter
sank with only a section of the bow and foredeck above water. Dive
Site Conditions - Depth
in feet: maximum 85, minimum 25. Visibility in feet:
average 20.
Except for the bridge and engine room sections, the Port Hunter
is largely intact, listing to port on the fine, white sandy slope of Hedge
Fence Shoal. Depths vary depending on the amount of sand build up. Only 20 feet
of water covers her bow. Less than 100 feet aft on the port bow the
"V" notch made when Covington dealt the fatal blow is visible
in the freighter's hull plates. Drifting sand has engulfed most of its
mid-section, which was blown apart by salvers looking for a rumored contraband
gold cache. Fortunately for divers, strong tidal currents keep the stern
section free from sand. Covered by 50 feet of water, a deck gun can be found on
Port Hunter's stern. At a depth of 85 feet the vessels rudder and
propeller shaft can still be seen, salvers removed the propeller. Due to strong
tidal currents it is advised to explore this wreck only at slack water.
Historical Background
Constructed: in 1906 at Newcastle, United Kingdom by Hawthorn Leslie & Co. Ltd. - Construction details: 2 steel decks, steel shelter deck; water ballasted, cellular construction of double Bottom, aft; 6 cemented bulkheads; flat keel. Crew: Master: Captain William Stafford (1917). Owners: Commonwealth & Dominion Line, Ltd. Home or Hailing Port: London, England. ormer Name(s) and date(s): Official number: 123689. Country: United Kingdom. Other Comments: engines and boilers constructed by Hawthorn Leslie & Co. Ltd., Newcastle.
Salvage - Contemporary accounts of the freighter's loss report that the Government waited 3 months before awarding salvage rights. Red tape and carelessness were blamed for the delay. However, the "Waterfront News" column of the Boston Globe reported daily progress of salvage operations, which were hampered by rough seas. Many local fishermen illegally removed material from the forward holds, which at the time were only a few feet underwater. Quahog rakes and grapnels were used to "fish" out small objects, including leather jackets, olive drab shirts, woollen underwear and other Army garments. The Government put a halt to this practice and confiscated much of the material.
It wasn't until February 12, 1919, that a New Bedford firm began
official salvage operations. Within 5 months, 200 men and a number of support
vessels had removed most of Port Hunter's cargo. After auction the
Government realized a $4 million loss from the original $5 million in clothing.
Of the heavier objects comprising the ship’s cargo, little is said. In 1936 a
Vineyard diver reported seeing 800 sets of freight car wheels and 1400 tons of
steel billets still aboard the freighter. Another report states there were only
200 tons of billets. In 1949 divers salvaged the propeller.
In 1958 James Green of Boston acquired rights to the wreck. The
following year a group of divers removed items from the ship, which were put on
display at the Dukes County Historical Society in Edgartown.
In 1961 a syndicate of investors was formed to recover $200,000 -
$300,000 worth of scrap metal still aboard the wreck. One of the investors was
Boston tax attorney John S. Bottomly, who expected a 5 to 1 return on his
initial investment. However, before a diver could be put in the water, funds
ran out. Bottomly decided to go it alone after the other investors dropped out
and, in the spring of 1962 began work. Bottomly's plan was to use a suction
dredge to move sand, which had engulfed sections of the hull. Scrap metal would
then be removed using a large electromagnet. It was about this time that
Bottomly heard a rumour that 400 pounds of gold had been welded to the inside
deck plating of the engine room. The freighter's first mate revealed in a death
bed confession that the contraband cargo was being smuggled to France where a
huge profit was expected. In their search for the gold Bottomly's team blew the
engine room apart only to find copper condensers and the engine's solid brass
pistons. Adverse weather conditions limited salvage work to little more than 3
hours/day. Many times, sand removed one day was replaced the next and at
$2000/day the costs soon mounted.
Although hundreds of tons of metal were eventually removed, as of
1964 no profit from the salvage had been realized. Due to the collapse of the
scrap metal market, Bottomly had only recovered $3000 from what had thus far
been sold. With expenses more than 15 times greater than his return, it was not
economical to recommence operations.
Sources: - Fishable Wrecks and Rockpiles; Coleman & Soares, 1989. Lloyds Registry of Shipping; 1918-19 The Fisherman, magazine; February 18, 1988. West Wind Explorer, newsletter; Peter Reagan, November, 1998. Wrecks Below; Luther, 1958. Yankee Magazine; September 1963, January 1964.
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HERBERT COVINGTON BONNER – U.S. CONGRESSMAN (1940-65)
Herbert Covington Bonner
(May 16, 1891 – November 7, 1965) was a Democratic U.S. Congressman from North Carolina
between 1940 and 1965.
Born in Washington, North Carolina, Bonner
attended school in Warrenton. He served in
the United States Army during World War I,
and worked as a salesman, a farmer, and then as secretary to Congressman
Lindsay Warren from 1924 to 1940. Upon Warren's resignation from Congress in
1940, Bonner was elected simultaneously to complete the unexpired term, and was
elected to the 77th Congress for a full term. He served for twelve full terms,
from November 5, 1940 until his death from cancer in Washington, D.C. on
November 7, 1965. During the 79th Congress, he chaired the Committee on
Election of President, Vice President, and Representatives in Congress, and in
the 84th through 89th Congresses, he chaired the Committee on Merchant Marine
and Fisheries.
He was chairman of the
House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, 1955-1965, and chairman,
1951-1955, of the Intergovernmental Relations Subcommittee ("watchdog
committee") of the Expenditures in the Executive Departments Committee,
which made changes designed to eliminate waste in the handling of war surplus
material and in military supply procurement.
The papers consist of
Bonner's office files, dating from November 1940, when he succeeded Lindsay C.
Warren as representative from the First North Carolina District, which
included, at one time or another, 14 counties of the north-eastern corner of
the state. In addition to the main chronological series, there are subject- and
format-based series.
The Rivers and Harbors
series, 1940-1965, concerns federally-funded projects, such as channel and
harbour improvements, erosion problems, dredging, etc., and the operation of
the Dismal Swamp Canal.
The Hoover Commission
series, January-October 1950, concerns the proposed reorganization of the
government that came out of the Commission on Organization of the Executive
Branch of the Government.
The Bombing Ranges
series, 1959-1965, concerns objections to having a weapons range or ranges in
north-eastern North Carolina.
The Political series,
1959-1965, concerns the mechanics of Democratic Party organization and election
campaigns.
The Community Public
Works Programs series, 1962-1965, concerns local public works projects that
received federal funds.
The National Seashore
Park series, 1937-1965, concerns the establishment of a national park that
spanned Bodie, Hatteras, and Ocracoke Islands, N.C.
Also included are
private bills, with related papers attached; scrapbooks, 1940-1965; speeches,
1940-1964; photographs, and photocopies of presidential memorabilia, some
relating to the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy.
He was a signatory to the 1956 Southern
Manifesto that opposed the desegregation of public schools ordered by the
Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education.
Bonner died in office in 1965 in Washington,
D.C.; he is buried in Washington, N.C. His legacy is a bridge spanning Oregon
Inlet on the Outer Banks is named in honor of him and his service to the state
of North Carolina. The M/V Herbert C. Bonner, a 25 car ferry, was also named
for him. The 112 ft. vessel was built in 1970 for the North Carolina Department
of Transportation Ferry Division to cross Hatteras Inlet between Hatteras and
Ocracoke Islands on the outer banks of North Carolina. The ferry was taken out
of service and sold by NCDOT. The Bonner was purchased by A&R Marine and
now operates on Narragansett Bay where it crosses between Bristol and Prudence
Island.
Bonner was the namesake
of the former Herbert C. Bonner Scout Reservation, commonly known as "Camp
Bonner", located near Washington, NC. This is now known as the East
Carolina Scout Reservation. The portion of the camp on the North side on the
Pamlico River still bears the name Camp Bonner and is the regular site of the
council camporee for the East Carolina Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
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SHIPS NAMED COVINGTON SERVED IN 3 WARS
The Journal of American Naval Fighting Ships lists three U.S.
naval vessels that bore the name of the city of Covington.
USS Covington (1863)
Was purchased by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She
was assigned as a simple gunboat with powerful rifled guns to intercept
blockade runners attempting to run the Union blockade of the Confederate States
of America. Covington did not carry mortars or howitzers, which placed her at a
disadvantage when attacked riverside in 1864 by Confederate troops. Losing the
battle, she was set on fire and most of the crew fortunately escaped.
Was a transport for the United States Navy
during World War I. Prior to the war the ship, built in 1908 in Germany, was SS
Cincinnati of the Hamburg America Line. The transport was torpedoed by U-86 on
1 July 1918 and sank the next day with six men killed.
Covington, named after the city of Covington, Kentucky, was
originally name Cincinatti & built in 1908 by F. Schichau, Danzig, Germany.
It was interned by customs officials at Boston upon the entry of the United
States into World War I
At the outbreak
of World War I, Cincinnati was interned in Boston with Hamburg America
line-mate Amerika; North German Lloyd steamers Kronprinzessin Cecilie, Köln,
Wittekind, and Willehad; and Hansa Line freighter Ockenfels. In March 1916, all
except Kronprinzessin Cecilie and Ockenfels were moved from their waterfront
piers to an anchorage across the harbour from the Boston Navy Yard. Daily
"neutrality duty" by United States Coast Guard harbour tug
Winnisimmet kept a watchful eye on the ships. Many crew members of the ships
eventually went ashore, were processed through immigration, and found
employment, while a contingent of musicians from the vessels toured New
England, frequently playing at department stores and restaurants, and drawing the
ire of the local musicians' union. After the U.S. declared war on Germany,
Cincinnati and the other interned ships were seized on 6 April 1917 and handed
over to the United States Shipping Board (USSB).
Cincinnati was
renamed USS Covington and placed in commission into the United States Navy on
July 26 of 1917 under the command of Captain R. D. Hasbrouck. The newly named
Covington was repaired from the damages caused by her German crew and was
transformed into a troopship and began her active war duties in mid-October
1917 when she left port for her first voyage carrying U.S. troops to France.
The Covington made 6 trips to France carrying 858 Officers and 20,871 enlisted
men to the War in Europe
She sailed from
New York for France on her fifth voyage to Europe on 10 May 1918 where she
sailed in a 13 ship convoy consisting of the following ships: Antigone, Kursk,
Duca d' Aosta, Pastores, Princess Matoika, Caserta, Lenape, Wilhelmina,
President Lincoln, Devinsk, Rijndam, and the Dante Alighieri.
On the early
evening of July 1, 1918 she was steaming in a U.S. Navy convoy of eight
transports, escorted by seven destroyers, and was steaming westbound some 150
miles southwesterly from Brest, France, (47° 24' N., 7° 44' W) bound back to
the United States after having delivered more fresh troops for the fighting on
the Western Front. The sea was calm with good visibility, and all ships were
zigzagging with lookout positions and guns manned as a precaution against the
always-present menace of German submarines. The threat made its presence known
at 9:12 PM, when a torpedo launched from U-86 detonated against the port side
of the Covington steaming second from the left in the convoy's first row of
five transports. The explosion, below her forward smokestack, blew open the
ship's forward boiler room, and she soon came to a halt as the rest of the
convoy split up and continued on.
Of the seven escorting destroyers the USS Little and USS Smith,
remained with Covington, which had developed a serious list to port. In the
darkness, the Covington's crew took to the lifeboats. Six of the Covington's
crew were killed in the torpedoing, but the destroyers, which actively dropped
depth charges in an effort to keep the submarine away, picked 770 others up.
Covington was still afloat early the following morning, and it appeared that
she might be saved. Captain Hasbrouck assembled a small salvage crew of 25 men
where they re-boarded the Covington to make preparations for a tow and attempt
to make her as sea worthy as they could. On the morning of July 2 the tugs
arrived from Brest and took her in tow, but water gradually penetrated her
compartments. Her list increased, and the ship sank in mid-afternoon on 2 July
1918.
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http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~cacunithistories/military/USS_Covington.htm
USS Covington (PF-56),
A Tacoma-class frigate, was the third ship of the United States
Navy to be named for Covington, Kentucky.The third Covington (PF-56) was
launched on 15 July 1943 by Globe Shipbuilding Co., Superior, Wisconsin, under
a Maritime Commission contract; sponsored by Miss. J. Phillips; transferred to
the Navy on 5 August 1944; placed in "ferry" commission on 7 August
1944; and commissioned in full on 17 October 1944, Lieutenant Commander F. S.
Brown, USCGR, in command.
Covington arrived at NS Argentia, Newfoundland, on 25 December
1944 for duty as a weather patrol vessel. She remained on this duty, except for
overhauls at Boston and Charleston, South Carolina until 16 March 1946 when she
was decommissioned and loaned to the Coast Guard. Covington was returned from
the Coast Guard on 17 September 1946, and sold to Ecuador through the Foreign
Liquidation Commission of the State Department on 28 August 1947. Covington was
renamed Guayas and decommissioned in 1972. At a 1999 reunion held for the first
time in Covington, the 13 remaining members of the ship's former crew gathered.
THE COVINGTONS
A Michigan based garage band of the 80s featuring Freddy Fortune.
The Covingtons blasted onto the Detroit scene in 1988. The 3 piece band
featured Freddy Fortune, later of “Fortune & Maltese”, Johnny Chan, later
to start “Johnny Chan & The New Dynasty Six”, and Greg Boes of “ Fester”.
All had served time in earlier punk style groups, however, it’s The Covingtons
that first gave the Motor City a kick in it’s 80’s heavy metal ass. With a deep
love and inspiration for all things 66/67, the band started to make a name for
themselves but never did get to put out that promised record. Due to many group
member changes and the wise decision to buy a hearse with their band fund, all
recordings were shelved. Now 22 years later 4 tracks make their vinyl debut.
The record consists of all
known recordings made by the first two line ups of the group. Side A consists
of a snotty original “I Hate You Baby” that would have been right at home on
one of the early “Killed by Death” compilations. The other is a cover of the
ultra obscure Pebbles classic “Red Light” by the Sands of Time.
Side B contains recordings
of their 2nd line up when Farfisa player, Debbie Berne, joined in on the
action. One Trashed Out studio cut of a Texas punk classic and a live version
of “I Hate You Baby”. Get it Now, Only 400 Copies pressed, full color cardboard
sleeve!!! Includes a 4 page insert with interviews, flyers and band pictures!!!
Click the album cover to visit their blab site
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Old
Craig House
He was the son of Euphemia Montgomery (d.1738) daughter of the Earl of
Eglinton and her husband, George Lockhart of Carnwath (1673-1731). The family
lived at Craig House, now known as Old Craig House, in south-west Edinburgh. He
studied law at the University of Edinburgh, and qualified as an advocate in
1722. In 1745 he oversaw the trial of several captured during the rebellion and
imprisoned at Carlisle. In 1764 he was appointed Dean of the Faculty of
Advocates.
In March 1775 he became a Senator of the College of Justice following the
death of Alexander Fraser, Lord Strichen. His title "Lord Covington"
comes from a family estate near Biggar south-west of Edinburgh. He died on 17
November 1782. His place as a Senator was filled by John Swinton, Lord Swinton.
His son was Thomas Lockhart (MP). He had three daughters, Rebecca,
Flaminia and Anne. Rebecca married James Hay, 15th Earl of Erroll. Anne married
Charles Boyd (1728-1782) a cousin of James Hay. His 2nd surviving
daughter, Flaminia, had a son also known as Lord Covington, who died in
December 1817 at Anspach, Germany aged upwards of 80, after 40 years of
residence on the Continent (Gentleman’s Magazine 1817, vol 1 Page 90).
His sister Euphemia Lockhart became Countess of Wigton. His half-sister
Grace Lockhart married John Gordon, 3rd Earl of Aboyne and when widowed married
James Stuart, 8th Earl of Moray.
His great grandsons included William Lockhart (1820-1892). and John Gibson
Lockhart.
1. ^ "Alexander
Lockhart, of Craighouse, Lord Covington d. 17 Nov 1782: MacFarlane Clan &
Families Genealogy". www.clanmacfarlanegenealogy.info. Retrieved 2
June 2019.
2. ^ An Historical Account of the
Senators of the College of Justice: Brunton, Haig and Lockhart
3. ^ "Lord
Covington, Sir Alexander Lockhart, of Craighouse, Lord Covington".
geni_family_tree. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
4. ^ "Rebecca
Lockhart d. 2 May 1761: MacFarlane Clan & Families Genealogy".
www.clanmacfarlanegenealogy.info.
Retrieved 2 June 2019.
5. ^ ^
"Grace
Gordon". geni_family_tree. Retrieved 2
June 2019.
6. ^ Seccombe,
Thomas, "Lockhart
William (1820-1892)", Dictionary of National Biography,
1885-1900, Volume 34,
retrieved 2 June 2019
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THE
COVINGTON TYPEFACE FONT
SF Covington was originally designed in 2001
for Apostrophic Labs.
10 versions of The Covington font are available to download & install on your
PC, Tablet or Other Mobile Device. See each type below:
Covington
Covington Covington Covington Covington
Covington Covington Covington Covington Covington
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BOGUS BEN/BLIND BEN COVINGTON
Real
name could be Ben Curry. Musician, who once made a record on Paramount called
"I thought I heard the voice of a Pork Chop". Appeared in The
Birmingham Jug Band who recorded both (John Henry) & (Bill Wilson).
According to The Marshall Cavendish Illustrated History of Popular Music
"Humour was an important ingredient in blues music both exposing the truth
and granting consolation, as in Bogus Ben Covington's dry-eyed comment on the comforts
of religion "I heard the voice of a pork chop say "Come unto me and
rest" (A History Of Jazz In Britain 1919-50).
Recorded
under the names of Blind Ben and Bogus Ben Covington, may also have used the
name Ben Curry. Internet search reveals the following recordings: c. Sep 1928 -
20863-1 Adam and Eve in the Garden RST BD-2028, 20866-2 I heard the voice of a
pork chop RST BD-2028, Matchbox MSEX 2001/2002, 9 Oct 1929 -
C-4630- Boodle-de-bum blues RST BD-2028, Roots (Austria) RL 325, C-4631- It's
a fight like that RST BD-2028, Roots (Austria) RL 325, 10 Oct 1929 - C-4634-
It's a fight like that unreissued.
The Blues
Trail reports "Bogus Ben Covington is something of a mystery in that there
is very little verified information about him. He is said to have been born in
Alabama but to have worked mainly in Mississippi and Chicago. According to Big
Joe Williams he got his nickname of "Bogus Ben" because he insisted
on impersonating a blind person whilst performing on street corners and in minstrel
shows. It is thought that he was a vocalist, played banjo and mandolin, and was
possibly a juggler as well! It has been suggested that his real name was Ben
Curry and that he travelled with Speckled Red and King Solomon Hill.
In 1928 he
recorded "Adam and Eve and the Garden" and "I Heard the Voice of
a Pork Chop" for Paramount. He recorded again in 1929, this time for
Brunswick, "Boodle-De-Bum Blues" and "It's Tight Like
That". It is possible that he recorded for Paramount again in 1929, this
time using the name "Memphis Ben". A final session recorded in 1932
for Paramount and credited to Ben Curry is usually accepted as being by the
same Bogus Ben! After this session he may have moved to Pennsylvania and is
said to have died there around 1935."
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BRUCE
COVINGTON – ACTOR
Covington
was not his real name. Born 18 Mar 1868 in London. Actor who appeared in the
following films: Mississippi (1935) (uncredited) as a Colonel, Folies Bergère
de Paris (1935) (uncredited) as a Bearded Man
aka "Folies Bergere" in USA, Black Beauty (1933) as a Doctor,
Dixiana (1930) (uncredited) as Colonel Porter, Wings of Adventure (1930) as a
Soldier, Under a Texas Moon (1930) as Don Roberto, On the Border (1930) as Don
José, The Flying Horseman (1926) as Colonel Savary, Winning the Futurity (1926)
as Colonel Barkley, The Phantom of the Opera (1925) (uncredited) as M.
Moncharmin, Love's Wilderness (1924) as Colonel Heath, The Wife of the Centaur
(1924) as Mr. Larrimore, Troubles of a Bride (1924) as Colonel Patterson &
The Fighting Coward (1924) as General Rumford. Died 29 Sep 1938 in London aged
70.
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JOEY
COVINGTON – Jefferson Airplane drummer
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Not actually a Covington, Real name Joseph Edward Michno, ie Joe E. He
wrote to me, having initially found his details on the Covington History
website:
"Hello Martin
Covington has been my stage name but I am not a Covington by birth. I found my record cover, my union card, and a
photo of me on your site. But for
accuracy I thought you should know I am not truly a Covington. I always liked the name.
Joey Covington"
Known as Joey. Musician. Percussionist & Singer, mainly sessions.
Worked on albums with Jefferson Airplane 1969/1974 and Peter Kaukonen 1971
& 1977. Recordings include Drums & Vocals on own album (Fat Fandango)
1973 Grunt Records BFL 10149. Drums, vocals & percussion on Jefferson
Airplane Albums (Volunteers) 1969 RCA, (Bark) 1971 Grunt, (Long John Silver)
1972 Grunt, & (Early Flight) 1974 Grunt Records. Drums on Peter Kaukonen
Album (Black Kangaroo) 1971 Grunt Records. Drums on Papa John Creach Album
(Papa John Creach) 1971 Grunt Records. Drums on Nick Gravenites Album (Blue
Star) 1980 Line Records. Drums on some tracks of various Hot Tuna albums
1970-1979. Drums/Percussion on Paul Kantner Albums (it’s a Fresh Wind That
Blows) 1970 RCA Records & (Sunfighter) 1971 Grunt Records. Drums on Rocky
Sullivan Album (Illegal Entry) 1981 Rag Baby/Jupiter Records.
He replaced Spencer Dryden in Jefferson Airplane in 1970. He is described
as; "A barely adequate and uninspired drummer, who even admitted that he
disliked the band's music". Joey brought black violinist Papa John Creach
to both Hot Tuna and Airplane in October 1970. Band at that time consisted of
Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, Jack Cassady, Jorma Kaukonen, Joey and Creach. He
left the band in 1972 to be replaced by John Barbata. Steve Midnite, Patrick
Craig and Jack Prendergast appeared on his own album. (New Rock Record - Terry Hounsone 3rd
Edition)(Who's Who In Rock Music)(The Marshall Cavendish Illustrated History of
Popular Music, Vol 8, Pges 912-913)
Blues From A Jefferson Airplane Discography Version 4.2 - November 1995.
Compliled by Jeff Zahnen (number6@grove.ufl.edu).
This discography can be found at The Jefferson Airplane Homepage - https://jeffersonairplane.com/.
Joey Covington - Your Heart Is My
Heart (Grunt, 1973)
Jefferson Airplane Band Lineup 1965-1994
Marty Balin – vocals, Paul Kantner - guitar, vocals, Jorma Kaukonen - guitar,
vocals, Signe Anderson – vocals, Skip Spence – drums, Bob Harvey – bass, Jack
Casady – bass, Grace Slick - keyboard, vocals, Spencer Dryden – drums, Joey
Covington – drums, John Barbata – drums, Papa John Creach – fiddle, David
Freiberg - bass, guitar, keyboards, Peter Kaukonen – bass, Craig Chaquico –
guitar, Pete Sears - keyboards, bass, Mickey Thomas – vocals, Aynsley Dunbar –
drums, Don Baldwin – drums, Michael Falzarano - rhythm guitar, Tim Gorman –
keyboards, Slick Aguilar – guitar, Prarie Prince – drums, Darby Gould – vocals,
Diana Mangano – vocals, Gary Cambra - keyboards
Jack Covington is on two tracks "Twilight Double Leader" &
"Son Of Jesus", Pretty As You Feel (Covington/Casady/Kaukonen) 4:30,
Thunk (Covington) 2:56, War Movie (Kantner) 4:36, Pretty As You Feel [single
version] / Wild Turkey (Oct 1971 #60), Up Or Down (Peter Kaukonen) 6:18 is from
1970 session w/ Balin and Covington drumming. Mexico (Slick) 2:06 & Have
You Seen The Saucers (Kantner) 3:37 is a 1970 single w/ Balin & Dryden
& Covington on Congas.
Album - 2400 Fulton Street (Mar 1987 #138) Disk 2, Pretty As You Feel
(Covington/Casady/Kaukonen) 4:30
Jefferson Airplane Loves You - Disk , Pretty As You Feel
(Covington/Casady/Kaukonen) 3:09 [Single version]
Split of Songwriter responsibilities: Kantner - 25.97%, Slick - 18.05%,
Kaukonen - 16.90%, Non-Airplane Members - 15.18% {inc Darby Slick's Somebody To
Love}, Balin - 14.19%, Spence - 3.47%, Dryden - 3.04%, Casady - 1.55%,
Covington - 1.32%, Creach - 0.33%. This takes into account all studio albums,
Early Flight, and the songs only on
Bless Its Pointed Little Head (101 songs).
Any songs co-written split the credit equally between its songwriters.
Joey Covington credited with the following songs: Jefferson Starship Album
- Spitfire , Track: With Your Love (Balin/Covington/Smith) 3:33 & Gold, Track: With Your Love
(Balin/Covington/Smith) 3:34
Jefferson Starship was comprised of Kantner, Slick, Casady and Covington
from the Airplane; Jerry Garcia, Bill Kreutzman, Mickey Hart from the Grateful
Dead; David Crosby and Graham Nash from CSN; and David Frieberg, Peter
Kaukonen, Harvey Brooks and Phil Sawyer
Paul Kantner Album – Blows against the empire, Track: Mau Mau
(Kantner/Slick/Covington) 6:34
Papa John Creach Album - track: The Janitor Drives A Cadillac (Covington)
2:47
In more recent times Joey had his own HomePage on the Internet - extracts
are as follows: home town - East Conemaugh, Pennsylvania (working class
section). Cancer with Capricorn rising. Year - (hint: Joey will always be the youngest member
of Jefferson Airplane), actually was
born 27 Jul 1945 in East Conemaugh PA. 3rd of 6 children. Blond with blue eyes.
Hobbies: collecting lionel ho trains, lead soldiers , indian head pennies. High
school nickname - skinny jo. Best trait
- persistence (though some don't see it
that way!). Earliest aspiration - to be a rock n' roll star, age 15. Lost
virginity - age 15.
Favorite saying - "speak softly and carry a big stick!"
Percussion - self taught, age 10, by listening to Joe Morello, Cozy Cole,
Sandy Nelson (drums), Candido (Congas), & Preston Epps (Bongos). Other
instruments - all percussion, piano for songwriting plays all musical styles.
Favorite musical styles- rock n' roll, r& b, blues, rockabilly, & jazz.
Favorite artists - (in no particular order) Henry Mancini, Jimmy Reed, Jimi
Hendrix Experience, Dave Brubeck, Bo Diddley, Little Richard, James Brown &
the Famous Flames, Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Steely Dan, Isley Bros., Miles
Davis , Mitch Mitchell, Otis Redding.
Fondest early memories on the road to fame and fortune - age 20,
"getting to new york city on a greyhound bus with a suitcase, a set of
drums, and $100.00 in my pocket." & "loading 6 drum cases on the
E subway train to get to rehearsal."
A young drummer’s career unfolds”:
Age 10 to 13 playing drums in polka bands at vfw lodges with mom and dad
chaperoning "cause I was underage"
Age 14 backing up strippers at the Airway Club in Johnstown PA.
"great fun for a 14 year old" and "no, mom and dad didn't
know!". As crystal would say "boy, when I bump and grind my buns, you
beat hell out of them tom toms!". "Thanks crystal, that was good
advice!!! ". "I never did get to tell you how nice those 22 year old
b”uns were; sittin there on my bass
drum; shimmyin' and a shakin'.
Age 15 - 18, the high school years;
East Conemaugh High School Marching band ,"I came in as a tom tom drummer
and left a drum seargent." then
there was The Vibrasonics, a hot rod band that won a few battle of the bands,
and opened once for Simon and Garfunkel. "I learned about becoming a lead
drummer with them, and got fired a few times for it; they didn't appreciate the
push!". Started singing while
playing drums.
Age 18 - 19, time of the draft notices.
"the Navy told me if I enlisted I could be a tympani drummer in the
navy band." right before being shipped out to guide planes in on the
U.S.S. Kittyhawk, the Vibrasonics were in a car accident and a one year detour
from the road to fame began. Broken
pelvis, 3 broken toes, broken right leg, not expected to walk again. " I
meditated to focus the healing, and after 3 months in a pelvic sling I went
home to recharge and rebuild”
Age 20 The single greatest motivating factor in a young drummers life
arrives - "son, if you're gonna be a rock star, you've got a month to take
your drums and get out on the road, or, if you're gonna live at home, you'd
better get a job and bring some money into the house."
The greyhound bus let Joey and his grey marine ludwig pearls (just like
Ringo's) off in New York City's grand central station, exactly one month
later. "I headed to the peppermint
lounge, introduced my self to Joey D. and the Starlighters, (peppermint twist)
and asked Joey D. if he knew where I could find a gig. The next day I was at
Joey D.'s agent Sid Green's office. Joey
d. said "he's a nice guy, you'll like him."
Quotes: "Mr Green, Joey D. sent me, I'm a drummer looking for a
gig."- “"Hey kid, what’s with the long hair?" - "I haven't
got anything for you right now, here's my card,.. Give me a call." -
"I'll wait here in case something comes up." - "kid, I can't
help you, I got no place to put you. How
old are you?... 20? You're still wet behind the ears." -
"how much ya weigh kid?" - "112 pounds Mr. Green." - "you telling me the truth kid, Joey D.
really sent you?" – “that's the god's honest truth Mr. Green." About five hours later………….. "look, I
like you kid, but you're not ready for the big city yet. I'll even buy you a ticket back to
Johnstown." - "I can't go back to Johnstown, my father will make me
get another kind of job, and I'm a great drummer, and I'm gonna be a star, and
I'm not leaving your office until you find me a gig!." - "kid, I
never even heard you play, how can I get you a gig?" - "here's a
record I made Mr. Green." - "good playing kid! You're real fast. But you really should do something with that
hair, it's way too long, and I don't really know where I could book you with
all that hair. Look kid, I like you, you got heart, and maybe you might be a
star, but come back in a few years. I'm
gonna do you a favor cause I like you, how about a ticket back to anywhere in
Pennsylvania?" (side note re: hair
- east coast was into pompadours)
The young drummer was about to split when in walks Danny Apollinar, who's
trio just finished with a USO tour in nam. - "Sid, you gotta help me, my
drummer and bass player just split, and I got a gig in Ft. Lauderdale in two
days!" - "Danny, I gotta drummer right here!, he's great, and he can
play anything!" - "can you play "the lady is a tramp" and
do you use brushes?" - "I can play anything". - ("I figured
I could learn along the way") - "great, what's your name,?" -
"Joey" - "Joey, 200 bucks a week plus room and board." -
"yeah, I'll take it…., Mr Green what's your commission?" - "
kid, this one's on me, go be a star!"
The next day the drums got loaded in a subway to get to the 30 show tune
rehearsal, then it was on to a plane and
off to Florida for "my first tour." When the tour ended, figuring dad
would be happy to see him, "I proved I was a pro , so I headed
home." Also, he figured he'd go
show off the tan. While home some calls came in to do some gigs; it was back to rock n' roll; Dick Clark Caravan of Stars, Shangri'la's,
Billy Stewart(summertime), The Supremes, Donald Jenkins and the Delighters
(elephant walk), The Shirelles.
Age 21 -got a call from Sonny Di'nunzio of the Fenways, a well known
Pittsburgh band. "said he
remembered me from a battle of the bands, and would I like to come to
Pittsburgh?" "sure!" for
the next year, The Fenways cut some singles and played seven nights a week,
opening shows for The Rolling Stones, Dave Clark 5, Shangri' la's, Lee Dorsey
(working in a coal mine), Lou Christie, Chad and Jeremy, Jimmy Beaumont and The
Skyliner's, among others.
Age 22 - a guitar player /
songwriter friend Joey had met in Pittsburgh called one day and said "lets
go out west." "when Louie
called I was ready to move on towards fame and fortune." so, in the summer of 1967, in a new Mercedes , Joey and Louie head for
California, "besides, I liked the idea of driving out there in a new
Mercedes."
Answer to question I’m always asked My Personal Favorite Drum Tracks are;
Lawman & Wild Turkey on Bark Album, Have You Seen The Saucers & Mexico
on Early Flight, Janitor Drives A Cadillac
on PaPa John Creach, Emergency on Jefferson Airplane Loves You, Holding
Together & Sunfighter on Sunfighter,
Hideout is A Crooks Best Friend on Fat Fandango
Review of Joey's musical work: "Pretty as you feel" (Covington/Cassady/Kaukonen), aka the Santana
Collaboration featured on Jefferson Airplane Bark, 2400 Fulton Street,
Jefferson Airplane Loves You, various bootlegs. Jefferson Airplane had 4 hits
and this was one of them. The Santana Collaboration was featured in the Rock N'
Roll Hall of Fame's Voter Pamphlet as part of the basis for inducting the band.
“Pretty as you feel” was my ticket to meet Elvis "The King"
Presley. Harry Jenkins, VP of RCA lived
up to his promise that if I wrote a hit he'd send me to meet "The
King". Also recorded by San Fransisco Allstars & Rainbow Allstars -
theme song Tom Snyder Show in 1970's T.V. Santa Barbara episode, and China
Beach Episode
"Thunk" (Covington), only Jefferson Airplane Song given a good review
by the New York Times became a college anthem
"Janitor drives a Cadillac" (Covington), PaPa John Creach's one
and only Top 40 Hit
"Mau Mau Amerikon" (Kantner, Slick, Covington), a collaboration
featured on Jefferson Starship Blows Against The Empire
Songs Featured on Fat Fandango: "Mama Neptune" (Covington),
"Miss Universe" (Covington), "Hideout is a crooks best
friend" (Covington), "Your heart is my heart" (Covington),
"Vapor Lady" (Covington), "Country Girl" (Covington),
"Zephyreena" (Covington),
"Moonbeam" (Covington),
"With your love" (Balin,
Covington, Smith)
Recorded by Jefferson Starship - BMI Millionair award, "Whatever the
old man does" (Covington)
Hot Tuna live shows part of the Hot Tuna Jamaica sessions a bootleg
staple: "Tonight" (Covington), sung live by Marty Balin with
Jefferson Starship, "Get off" (Covington). Hot Tuna live: "Baby
I’m amazed". San Fransisco Allstars: "I'll Do Better Next Time
"(Covington/Schecter). B side to Boris The Spider, one of earliest songs I
wrote "Let's Be Friends" (Covington/Schecter) recorded by Tsong.
"The Way We Were Before" (Covington/Schecter) recorded by Tsong.
"The Man" (Covington)
Hot Tuna Live shows part of the Hot Tuna Jamaica sessions a bootleg staple
I had been talking to Little Richard's mother, Mrs. Penniman, for 3 months. One
day he called me, told me his mother
liked me, so he came and did the session with the Airplane. This song has the
honor of being nixed from release in 1971 and 1992 by RCA and BMG for political
reasons. BMG mentioned something about Iced Tea and the NRA. Are they still
censoring us? Inspired by the beatings of Ruben Salazar. Little Richard put on
a great track!
Musically Yours, Joey Covington"
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Covington remained musically active throughout his life; in the 1970s
through the 1980s he formed San Francisco All Stars and toured the U.S. also
touring with Quicksilver Messenger Service. The 1990s and 2000s brought
Covington back to Los Angeles where he recorded and toured with various
all-star line-ups.
Covington was well known around the Palm Springs area as a talented
musician who delighted his audiences by sitting in with his musician friends
drumming on a song or two.
Joey was survived by his long time partner, Lauren Taines and son Nicholas
Covington White of Marin County, CA. His last performance was in
Palm Springs for a city-sponsored event June 1, 2013. Covington thrilled his
audience and signed autographs following the performance.
-------------------------------------------------------------
BENJAMIN
LEONARD COVINGTON WAILES
Mississippi Hall of Fame 1822 |
Sketch by John James Audubon |
Not born as a Covington.
Benjamin Leonard Covington Wailes was born in Columbia County, Georgia, on
1 August 1797, the oldest of nine children of Levin (born 1768, died 1847 is
shown on his tombstone at the Wailes Cemetery, Washington as Surveyor General)
and Eleanor Wailes (born 1773, died 1841). In 1807 the Wailes family moved to
the Mississippi Territory, where young Benjamin received his education at
Jefferson College near Washington. He went on to serve as a trustee of the
school for forty years, including a stint as president of the board.
Wailes learned the trade of surveying from his father and served as an
assistant to the Choctaw agent, taking part in treaty negotiations with the
Choctaw. In 1820 Wailes married a distant cousin, Rebecca Susanna Magruder
Covington, the daughter of Brig. Gen. Leonard Covington. They made their home
near Washington, where he was a cotton planter and served as registrar of the
local land office, and they ultimately had ten children, only five of whom
survived past the age of four. Wailes served in the state legislature in
1825–26, although he generally avoided politics. He was allied with the Whigs
at a time when the Democrats dominated most of Mississippi.
Wailes travelled extensively and became known for his knowledge of the
region’s geography, geology, and natural history. He began accumulating natural
history objects, establishing collections at Jefferson College, the University
of Mississippi, and the State Capitol. He also contributed specimens to
scientists and museums elsewhere, including the Smithsonian Institution.
In late 1851 Wailes was appointed assistant professor of geology and
agriculture at the University of Mississippi. He was to assist Dr. John
Millington, professor of geology and agriculture, whom the legislature had
charged with conducting an agricultural and geological survey of the state.
Millington had barely begun work on the survey when he resigned, and the entire
task fell to Wailes, who received the title of state geologist. Wailes
travelled seventy-three hundred miles around the state and collected thousands
of specimens. By special act of the legislature, the specimens received a room
in the State House in Jackson. These efforts culminated in his 1854 Report
on the Agriculture and Geology of Mississippi. Although it included 356
pages plus appendixes, Wailes was dissatisfied with the effort and declared
that it had been “untowardly postponed” and “hurriedly executed.” Though he
considered his effort just a beginning, the report provided the first lists of
Mississippi’s plants and animals as well as information on the state’s
geological and agricultural resources, monthly weather data for Jackson for
1852–53, and an outline of the state’s history.
As his understanding of Mississippi grew, Wailes became increasingly interested
in the history of the region. In 1858 he was instrumental in founding the
Mississippi Historical Society and served as its president. Though the
organization existed for little more than a year, under its auspices Wailes
accumulated significant historical documents from throughout North America and
preserved them. Wailes generously shared his collections with other historians
and scientists. He had come to know many of the top scientists of his time and
had been of assistance to many of them. British geologist Sir Charles Lyell
visited Wailes in Mississippi, and among those who received specimens from him
and/or contributed comments for his survey work were Louis Agassiz, John James
Audubon, Spencer Fullerton Baird, and John Cassin. When Wailes died on 16
November 1862 in Adams MS, he was the MS State Geologist.
The Mississippi Historical Society was reborn in 1898, and today, the
highest honour it bestows is the B. L. C. Wailes Award for national distinction
in the field of history. (Written by Jerome A. Jackson, Florida Gulf Coast
University)
BLCW & Rebecca had 5 children – Rebecca
(born 1823 in Mississippi MS, died 1841), Feliciana (born 1834-35 Mississippi),
Leonard Alexander (born 1837-38 in Mississippi), Susan ( born 1828 died 1831 in
Adams MS) and another Susan (born 1832-33 in Mississippi) all named Covington
Wailes. A number of subsequent Wailes offspring then carried the Covington
middle name.
Please send e-mails to: covingtonhistory@mhcovington.plus.com
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