Dick grew up in a musical
family where both his father and brother,
Danny Matousek were professional musicians. Dick’s early music career
consisted
mostly of singing with his brother Danny at talent shows and school functions.
While attending college in 1959, Dick spotted
an opportunity to make some
money by booking his brother’s band, then called The Screamers. The
Screamers
eventually changed their name to The Flaires, then The Velaires, and became
one of the most popular, talented and respected rock bands in the Midwest.
Based out of Sioux City, Iowa – they paved the way for many great rock
bands to come out of the Sioux City area.
As The Screamers, they released one of the
most legendary records of its time
“I Dig” released on Kay Bank Records. As The Flaires, they released
“Roll Over
Beethoven” on Palms Records. This was picked up by Jamie Records and
released as “The Velaires”. The Velaires appeared on Dick Clark’s
American Bandstand in Philadelphia and scored other regional hits on Jamie,
including “Dream” and “Ubangi Stomp”.
With the success of The Velaires, featuring
Dick’s brother Danny – C & M
Enterprises was officially formed in late 1959. This became a full time
booking
agency until Dick and his partner; Bob Masteller closed the doors in 1968.
Dick reopened the agency on a part-time basis from 1970 to 1978.
Some of the bands booked through C &
M Enterprises included The Flames,
The Teen Beats, The Hi-Fives, The Casuals, The Charades, The Scavengers,
Burch Ray & The Walkers, Lee James, The Imperials, T. J. & The Toreadors,
The Ravens, Patch of Blue (with Tommy Bolin), The Satellites,
Jay Bee & The Kats, Greg Scott & The Embers, The Radicals, The Bandidos,
The Mustangs, The Colonial Ruffians, The Bleach Boys, The Shattoes, Spyder
& The Crabs, Steve Ellis & The Starfires, and The Dodge Boys.
Matousek (left) with The Velaires 1997
C & M Enterprises also booked Nebraska
Music Hall of Fame Inductees,
such as Don Sohl & The Roadrunners,
The Classics, & The
Smoke Ring.
C & M Enterprises would occasionally
contract with “name” entertainers,
paring them with one of their own bands. These included Buddy Knox,
Bobby
Vinton, Wanda Jackson, George Hamilton IV, Jimmy Clanton and The Astronauts
(with Ogallala, Nebraska’s Rich Fifield).
Rooms played by C & M bands included
the legendary Roof Garden at
Okoboji, IA – The Archers Ballrooms in Iowa and South Dakota, The Valhalla
Ballroom in Slayton, MN, Danceland in Cedar Rapids, IA, The Cobblestone
in Storm Lake, IA, The Skylon in Hartington, NE, and The Col in Davenport,
IA.
They sent bands on tours of Canada and his brother’s band; The Velaires
did stints
in Hawaii, Disneyland and a 6-week tour of a military base in Greenland.
Dick has been involved with major national
recording labels as a producer
and was involved in the reformation of The Velaires to perform at The Roof
Garden in Arnolds Park, IA (Lake Okoboji) at their induction into The
Rock Music Hall of Fame. Dick Matousek’s efforts to bring live rock
music to the youth of Nebraska started many young musicians on
their way to successful music careers.
