I can remember enjoying this group perform at a now defunct nightclub on Greenville Ave. That was major moons ago. I'm not sure who the Girls were but at that time Karen Bella was a well-known name in the Dallas music scene. This post is made hoping someone will find it on Google and can tell me what happened to her. I can find a little something about a Poor David's show a little over a year ago, and something about Steve's Garage.
Here's a song similar to ones Karen and Girls did in their show. The original was recorded by the Ronettes and written primarily by a guy in California soon to be retried for murder.
Karen, are you out there?
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Is this Karen Bella possibly an artist who did an album in 1977 called "Show and Tell"? I came across a copy in some records I'm listing on ebay, but can't find anything about her anywhere else.
Hi,
Did you ever track down Karen Bella? Karen and I were close friends growing up in San Antonio and into our young adult years. Last I heard (from her brother), she was still here in Dallas, but I haven't had contact with her in years. Yes, I remember when she was quite a popular singer here in Dallas.
Karen used to play at the Randy Tar on Greenville Avenue in Dallas with what I believe was the Karen Bella Band. I played as part of a duo called the Other Half at Daddy's Money and other Greenville Avenue spots, so I would catch her band occasionally. She was very, very talented, and the Show and Tell album is a wonderful album, just listened to it today - the musicians on there were friends of hers but also family members. Several years ago now the former house band at Randy Tar, Savannah, did a gig at Poor David's Pub, and Karen was supposed to perform with them (I went specifically hoping to hear her); however, at the last minute she backed out, perhaps because of illness, but I'm not sure. Savannah played another RT reunion gig at PDP just a few months ago (without Karen, to my knowledge), and the band has an email group for those who want announcements of upcoming reunion shows. I'm not sure Karen is playing a lot, if at all these days, and no one could really tell me what she's doing, except that she lives in the Dallas area. Would love to hear her again, however.
I just met her on a train headed for CA - she was so nice I decided to look her up online to find some of her music but no luck. Good luck locating her - she's still around!
I just googled Karen Bella because I was also wondering about her. There seems to be another younger version floating around these days. I am formerly from Dallas but live in L.A. now. I feel very strongly that when you think about someone that there is
a reason for it. I hope she is well. She got me my first art show in dallas on lower greenville in 1988....I hope she is well. wish her good thoughts.
I met Karen in the late 70s or early 80s in Dallas through an old college friend of mine, Jerry Baker, who was her lead guitarist (the Karen Bella Band). Karen was good. Regrettably, I've lost touch with Jerry.
Billy Apt
Austin
I was also reminiscing about those Greenville avenue days and Karen singing Janis Joplin. What a voice..
Hi folks, thanks for remembering me! I have been in San Antonio for about 10 years, long story but we all have one by now...I am going to make my album "Show and Tell" available on YouTube soon (as soon as I find out how to do it)as well as some new songs I have written, but those have yet to be recorded...as far as the Savannah gig at Poor David's some years back, I broke my left arm, back, shattered my left shoulder and a bunch of ribs in a sleep walking fall right before that so that is why I regretfully could not attend. I felt really bad about that as it had been planned for months and I felt like I really let the band down but my absence was unavoidable. That fall (I used to sleepwalk sometimes on occasions of moving to a new house- I did it in Oregon also when I moved there about 13 years ago but didn't fall) led to my move back to hometown S.A. to recuperate- I'm all better now and am very active as a first- year docent at the San Antonio Museum of Art and am actually finally learning how to paint.I really miss all the fun and music I shared with so many excellent people and players in the Dallas area, MAN did we have some good times! Thanks to all of you who were part of that, couldn't have done it without you! Especially you, Bobby Dale. Also great to connect back with John and Jenni.
So, thanks again for keeping my rumor alive, and I hope to see you soon- please watch for the availability of my material on YouTube-hey Carol- Carol Duncan??How are you my friend? And hi Jimmy Sasso- are you still painting those cats I like so much? Where's some of my other artist friends? Trent Mann? Terrell Moore? Alma Quilliam- do you still have my favorite painting of the monsters taking a Sunday walk in the park? I know there are others but I can't remember all of you folks..wishing everyone the best! Warm regards and hope to see you around, Karen Bella P.S. don't miss Kirby's movie, "When Dallas Rocked".
God, I loved the Karen Bella Band in the 1980's. Saw her many, many times at Greenville Ave Grille, Poor Davids, the Cinco de Mayo fair on lower Greenville. Been looking for some info to locate and recordings.
Wow, this is a really long conversation. Karen, if you are "listening," I will call your brother's house and track you down next time I'm in SA.
Wow Karen, miss you so much, wonderful memories,love ya,John Greene get in touch if you can.
Karen is a supercool person and my friend on Facebook!
Girls Girls Girls was Karen Bella, Wendy Bella & Suzy Hoskins.
...at least that's who they said they were when I ran their photo on the cover ;o)
Miss ya, Karen!
is "our" Karen Bella any relation to the Karen Bella based in NYC?
Oh man I loved The Karen Bella Band, so much we had a group of friends that would follow her around Texas, we all went down to Corpus Christy on year and man did we have fun. We would them most often at a bar on Lower Greenville called St. Christopher's. Boy were those some crazy times in the early 80's!
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