1979 - Kinfolk performing at Chelsea Street Pub in Dallas. The location is thought to be the pub at European Crossroads. (left to right: Rod Wallace, bass - vocals; Jim Hazel, drums - vocals; Larry Smith, lead vocals - guitar; Joe Crisler, lead guitar - vocals)
At some point in 1979, there was unrest among the Kinfolk band. Two of the members, Rod and Joe, were unhappy with the percentage being paid to manager, Charles Kennedy. Larry and his brother Lynn were old family friends of Charles and satisfied with the arrangement. Chelsea Street owner, Kenny Bernstein, had insisted that Kinfolk fire Kenny and Nancy Stokes and Jim Rhodes, the sound and equipment crew. Kinfolk's sound system was owned by Kenny Stokes, and after a few months Kenny took the system away, leaving Kinfolk with no PA on a Saturday night in San Antonio. Kenny Bernstein was unhappy about the whole situation but liked Kinfolk's sound and so loaned the band the money for new equipment. The unrest about manager's pay came to a head when the band stopped payment, and Charles Kennedy threatened a lawsuit. At this time, Larry and Lynn Smith left the band, selling out their stock in the Kinfolk partnership and returning to Alabama. Kinfolk regrouped and hired Jim Hazel, from Moulton Alabama as the new drummer and Ed Canada, former lead guitarist and long time band-mate of Larry and Rod to replace Larry. The new Kinfolk went back on the road with Chelsea Street for a couple of months but suffered a setback when Ed Canada decided to leave the band. Larry, who had missed being in the band very much, stepped back in as lead singer. The above photo from Dallas is believed to be from one of the first Chelsea Street bookings after Larry returned to the band.
Photographer not known - courtesy of Jim Hazel