ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, April 8, 1997 TAG: 9704080042
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BOSTON
SOURCE: MICHAEL BLOWEN THE BOSTON GLOBE
Cubbie O'Brien has had a long career as a drummer for the likes of Ann-Margret, Lawrence Welk and others, but his fame remains with his early years - wearing ears.
Meeska, Mouska, Mouseketeer - Cubbie O'Brien is 50.
As one of the ensemble stars of ``The Mickey Mouse Club'' in the late '50s, O'Brien was the kid your parents always hoped you'd become. Cute, quiet, respectful of his elders, and he made $500 a week back when large Cokes were a nickel and movies a quarter. He put the role in role model.
From 1955 to '59, ``The Mickey Mouse Club'' beamed its black-and-white world to a whole generation of early TV watchers. Animation mixed with serialized stories and variety acts created a clubhouse where everyone felt wanted. It was Disney at his best.And, as the drummer for the musical ``West Side Story'' now playing here,
O'Brien is one of those child stars who remained in show business and still loves it. During each road engagement, O'Brien and other members of the band are joined by several local musicians. When he arrived for opening night last week, one of his fellow orchestra members left a pair of mouse ears on his drums.
Recently, O'Brien reflected on his 45-year career.
``I started when I was 5. My father, Hack O'Brien, was a drummer with several dance bands of the '30s and '40s like Frankie Carle, and I picked it up from him. And I've been working ever since.''O'Brien studied while at Disney, graduating from the one-room schoolhouse on the Disney lot; then it was straight into drumming. While he's tap-danced and done musical comedy routines over the years, his true love remains the drums.
Although Cubbie O'Brien's superior drumming led to tours with Ann-Margret, Shirley MacLaine, the Carpenters, Bernadette Peters, Joel Grey, and many other entertainers, his fame remains with his early years wearing ears.
``I loved being a Mouseketeer,'' says the fit and bearded musician, whose daughter, Alicia, 27, is a card-carrying member of the Directors Guild of America. ``I know there are some Mouseketeers who complain - I don't think Lonnie [Burr] has fond memories, but he had a mother who was an agent - and my parents didn't push me.``We had fun with the Mickey Mouse Club,'' he says. ``It was like a party, and we were all kids. Whenever anyone had a birthday Walt (Disney) would show up with a sheet cake with Mickey on it. What kid wouldn't be thrilled?''
After graduating from the ``Club,'' O'Brien moved to ``The Lawrence Welk Show'' in 1960, where he played in the orchestra and worked on routines with Janet Lennon, the youngest Lennon sister.
``I've always liked show business,'' says O'Brien, who went from Welk to Spike Jones and Ann-Margret. ``I was 16 when I first played the Showboat in Las Vegas. Once you get started and people like you - and being a Mouseketeer really helps - jobs follow each other.'' Subsequent jobs included a long-term assignment with ``The Carol Burnett Show'' and with Andy Williams, which lasted until Williams moved to Branson, Mo.
The one negative element of O'Brien's career on the road is that he misses his wife, Terri, who stays at their home in Dallas. ``That's the tough part. I miss her and getting home more often. If I could spend more time at home, life would be perfect.''
LENGTH: Medium: 65 linesby CNB