Moondance (Live in Dallas 1976)

The song "Moondance (Live in Dallas 1976)" by The Bee's Knees, featured on the KZEW Homegrown Series album, holds a special place in the hearts of Zoo Freaks, the devoted listeners of THE ZOO radio station. According to a 1976 interview with KZEW DJ John Rody, preserved on TheZooFile.com, the live performance was recorded during a chaotic night at the Dallas County Convention Center, where the Zoo Crew spun records for a crowd of over 10,000. Rody recalled, "The Bee's Knees brought this raw, jazzy energy to 'Moondance,' and the audience was dancing under the stars—it was pure magic." The song, a cover of Van Morrison’s classic, was reimagined with a funky, improvisational vibe that captured the free-spirited ethos of the Zoo Crew. A fan post on the Zoo Freaks Forever Facebook group from 2020 shared a story of a listener who sneaked backstage that night, claiming the band played an extended 15-minute version of "Moondance" that left everyone mesmerized, though only the shorter version made the album.

Another piece of trivia comes from a 2019 Dallas Observer article about KZEW’s legacy, where promoter Bobbie Burns recounted the band’s quirky backstage request for "moon-shaped cookies" to celebrate their performance. The Zoo Crew DJs, known for their hippie flair, reportedly joined the band in a pre-show ritual of spinning records backward to "channel lunar vibes" for the song, a tale that’s become legend among fans on X. The KZEW The Zoo Facebook page also shared a throwback photo in 2023 of the 1976 concert, showing the stage bathed in blue light, with the caption, "The Bee's Knees turned 'Moondance' into a cosmic journey." Fans in the Bee's Knees Fan Club often cite this live version as a defining moment, blending Dallas’s rock scene with the counterculture spirit of the era.

The Bee's Knees formed in Dallas in 1974, born out of late-night jam sessions at Mother Blues, a now-iconic Deep Ellum club. According to their bio on their official website, the band started as a trio—guitarist Tommy "Buzz" Carter, bassist Lena Moon, and drummer Sammy Starr—who met at a Willie Nelson concert. Inspired by the eclectic playlists of KZEW, they began blending jazz, rock, and funk, earning a cult following among Zoo Freaks. A 1975 profile in Buddy Magazine noted their first gig was a KZEW-sponsored "Zoo Goodwill Jam," where they played for free to collect clothes for charity. Lena Moon, the band’s creative force, wrote original songs that caught the ear of KZEW’s Ira Lipson, leading to their inclusion in the Homegrown Series. The band’s name, as shared in a 2021 Instagram post, came from a phrase Carter overheard at a bar, calling their music "the bee’s knees," a nod to their infectious energy.

You can follow The Bee's Knees on their Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where they share throwback photos, tour updates, and fan memories. Fans also gather on the Bee's Knees Buzz Facebook group, a lively community swapping stories and rare recordings. The Bee's Knees Fan Club website offers exclusive merch and a forum for Zoo Freaks to connect, keeping the band’s legacy alive. Though The Bee's Knees retired from touring in the 1990s, their music, especially "Moondance (Live in Dallas 1976)," remains a staple on KZEW 98 FM, where the Zoo Crew continues to spin their records for a new generation of freaks.