Lady Dottie and the Diamonds
By : Derek Shaw
July 27, 2005

There's a vintage saloon on University Avenue , precariously located in the heart of Mid-City, best known for the 110-foot tower that was demolished when a car crashed through the front of the bar in 1964 and killed a patron inside. It's gone from a drive-in soda fountain to a beauty shop to a host of failed restaurants and back to its original form as a neighborhood bar with rockabilly appeal and some of the best live music San Diego has to offer.

Pulling into the Tower Tattoo Parlor, as it's currently named, you'd think you just stepped into a time warp. Muscle cars, loud motorcycles and cigarette smokers line the cluttered parking lot. The scene is like that of a James Dean flick with smooth greasers and Betties keeping cool from the veritable inferno inside the small venue.

Monday evenings are jam packed for several reasons. For one, the Tower never charges a cover fee---a rarity this day and age. Secondly, the crowd is unique, captivating and surprisingly warm and welcoming. And most importantly, the start of every week can only mean one thing for the bar's regulars and music enthusiasts alike: Lady Dottie and the Diamonds!

Collectively they are one of the most energetic live acts around made up of local musicians Joey Guevara, Andy Robillard, Steven Ray and Detroit Nate of such renowned acts as Gogo Airheart, Jejune and The Millionaires. The twist comes in the form of a sultry Dorothy Mae Whitsett who, at over sixty years old, possesses more charisma and vigor than any performer you'll ever see.

Playing the role of Lady Dottie, Whitsett sings her heart out alongside her talented band of young hipsters delivering upbeat rhythms, pounding piano and sexy stand-up bass lines. The band covers all your favorite songs from the 40s, 50s and 60s, breathing new life into the classic tunes. If you're barely 21 like me, you may not know all the bands they cover including Etta James, BB King, Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers, Ray Charles, The Rolling Stones, Little Richard and Smokey Robinson, but I guarantee you'll recognize most of the songs. And therein lies the beauty of this amazing live act; introducing blues, R& B and jazz to a whole new generation of music lovers.

Grab a tall boy or "man's can" of Pabst Blue Ribbon (the beverage of choice in this rugged establishment) and jump into the mass of sweaty people dancing wildly like it was 1955 all over again. The vibe feels more like a house party than a rock concert as everyone smiles and sings aloud to the recognizable melodies.

On a typical Monday night, Lady Dottie and her Diamonds jam well into the wee hours of the evening. Ever since they were featured in the Union Tribune earlier this year as one of San Diego 's Top Ten bands, their shows have become increasingly popular and diverse.

"I think it's a good thing" friend and local musician Josh Wheeler commented. "They are getting exposed to a lot of people that wouldn't have checked them out before, and I think it's opening up a lot minds and hearts to the beauty of blues."

Born and raised in Alabama , Whitsett also works as a cook at the Mission Restaurant in uptown San Diego . Although she undoubtedly has enough soul to fill a huge arena, she is perfectly comfortable playing clammy bars as the leader of the Diamonds.

"I've been singing all my life," she said. "Not in a money-making way---I've just been singing the blues for fun, and that's sufficient enough for me."