Drive-through Route 66 shield being built in Galena between downtown and historic viaduct

A drive-through Route 66 shield is being constructed on Old Route 66 in Galena, Kansas, between the historic Front Street Bridge and the downtown area. The Joplin Globe in nearby Joplin, Missouri, had the details: Dale Oglesby, owner of B&B Discount and a former mayor of Galena, provided a large forklift to move the frame … Continue reading Drive-through Route 66 shield being built in Galena between downtown and historic viaduct

The story behind the rise of The Road Crew

Bandleader Joe Loesch recently uploaded a series of four videos about the genesis of The Road Crew, a quartet that's written a slew of Route 66-related songs and performed at Route 66 events and festivals. It's fascinating, because the videos show Loesch's roots with the Mother Road are deeper than you might expect, dating all … Continue reading The story behind the rise of The Road Crew

Ron “Tattoo Man” Jones is up to 162 skin markings

Someone a few weeks ago asked how many Route 66 tattoos were on the body of Ron "Tattoo Man" Jones of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. I said it was north of 100 but had no certainty, because Jones was liable to add one any given weekend. KTUL-TV in Tulsa caught up with Jones this week when he … Continue reading Ron “Tattoo Man” Jones is up to 162 skin markings

Joplin announces “Fiddlers on the Route” music festival

Joplin, Missouri, will host a two-day "Fiddlers on the Route" music festival -- including the Nashville-based The Road Crew -- on June 30 and July 1 in the city's Landreth Park amphitheater. The Joplin Convention & Visitors Bureau and Connect2Culture announced the event. Music begins both nights at 5 p.m., and the event is free. … Continue reading Joplin announces “Fiddlers on the Route” music festival

Another band takes inspiration from Route 66

It appears we can add another music group that takes a lot of inspiration from Route 66. It's the Mother Road Trio, based in the Route 66 town of Flagstaff, Arizona. It's got a new album, "On Route 66," coming out today during a release party at the Coconino Center for the Arts in Flagstaff. For … Continue reading Another band takes inspiration from Route 66

Scenes from the Best of the West on 66 Fest Parade

Frank Kocevar, former co-owner of Historic Seligman Sundries in Seligman, Arizona, recently uploaded this from the Best of the West of 66 Fest in Kingman, Arizona. Grand marshals for the parade were Dries Bessels and Marion Flimm of the Dutch Route 66 Association. Music for the video is "Kings of Kingman" by The Road Crew. … Continue reading Scenes from the Best of the West on 66 Fest Parade

The Road Crew to perform, release CD at Springfield festival

The Road Crew, a Nashville-based music group that's been strongly associated with Route 66 for years, will perform at the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival in Springfield, Missouri, on Aug. 15-16 and release its new CD, "Under the Neon," that weekend. This video on The Road Crew's YouTube channel is as good of an introduction … Continue reading The Road Crew to perform, release CD at Springfield festival

“The Tattoo Man of Route 66”

We meant to post this on Veterans Day, the same day The Road Crew debuted a music video about Route 66 enthusiast and Vietnam combat veteran Ron "Tattoo Man" Jones of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. But that was when Route 66 News' old hosting service quit working. We have a new hosting service, but this is a … Continue reading “The Tattoo Man of Route 66”

Fundraiser launched for The Road Crew at Kingman festival

A roadie has launched a FundRazr campaign on Facebook to get The Road Crew music group at this summer's International Route 66 Festival in Kingman, Ariz. Rick Zimmer wants to raise $10,000 by April 15 to defray the group's travel expenses for two performances during the festival on Aug. 15-16. Zimmer explained the campaign: Due to … Continue reading Fundraiser launched for The Road Crew at Kingman festival