Making A Sound Living: Randy Patterson, Boomerocity.com

Hey, Baby Boomer . . . This Webzine Is Made For You

By Lori Baldassi

High school reunions are known for sparking memories and re-connecting with past acquaintances but, an online rock and roll magazine?!!!

For Randy Patterson — Editor, Writer and sole owner of Boomerocity (pronounced like Travelocity, trav-e-loc-ity) — that’s pretty much how it happened.

Patterson’s love for music started with Elvis movies. Not only did he see Elvis in concert, but he even met the legendary Colonel Tom Parker (Elvis’s manager).

Technically this was his first interview in 1973 at the age of 13.

Fast-forward to Patterson’s 30 year high school reunion where he took it upon himself to write a newsletter for the upcoming event. Many people commented on his writing and how much they enjoyed it, so he took to the web and combined his love of music and writing to create Boomerocity.com, launched in 2009.

As I scrolled through the interviews and pages on the Boomerocity site I noticed that there were NO advertisers — none!

Impressive in this day and age where Boomerocity readership hits 42 countries and is read in just about every state in the U.S.

With over 360 notable interviews and clicks too numerous to mention, he could easily cash in.

The layout reminds me of the old music magazines like Creem and Rolling Stone. (Only a true Boomer will understand the layout of the interview page answer at the end!***)

The name Boomerocity was created by Patterson who said if he could connect Baby Boomers with a song, it would be American Pie by Don McLean.

He goes on to explain: “To me the song American Pie represents the foundation of where Boomerocity starts. I feel it encapsulates the essence of (the generation) Boomers’ music and times.”

His wish is that as the webzine Boomerocity grows, it brings back fond memories, puts a smile on people’s faces and inspires them to continue to support that favourite artist still, as a thank you for all the years of great music and entertainment.

The diversity of artists reminds me of radio in the ‘70s when you would hear Aerosmith, Marvin Gaye and Carly Simon in the same hour. Patterson also goes after behind-the-scenes people like managers and agents such as heavyweight Peter Asher.

Now, who could expound on the full picture of Classic Rock in any capacity if you didn’t include “The Muse” — the women who inspired the music like Bebe Buell and the infamous Angie Bowie!

Patterson’s easy southern style of communication has a wonderful way of disarming his subjects. What unfolds in articles is an artist who reveals their true self where you feel like you’re in the room/the bus or backstage with them.

Recently, I had the chance to speak with Patterson from his Boomerocity headquarters situated in his North Carolina home.

Here is a summary of our conversation.

Randy Patterson of Boomerocity is ensuring the music never dies. Since 2009, Boomerocity.com has been a wealth of fun and informative interviews with some of the biggest names, movers and shakers in the entertainment industry. Photo courtesy of Randy Patterson.

BIZ X: You’ve interviewed Angie Bowie and Bebe Buell to talk about their time in those heady musically creative times. Do you think that explosion of music of the ‘70s will ever happen again? PATTERSON: One of the first interviews I did was with Dan Andrews of (Janis Joplin’s band) Big Brother and the Holding Company who said: “You know back then we were making this stuff up. Now you have schools that graduate 500 kids a year that can play Jimi Hendrix better than Hendrix! You wonder if there has been anything