in this episode of the icons of MC culture we talk about Terry the Tramp Orendorff the
former International president of the Vagos MC 42-year member as subject of
the book The Life and dangerous times of a one percenter and we also talk about
Toby Gene levingston one of the Staples of the black biker community in Oakland
the founder of the East Bay dragons and also writer of the book Soul on
bikes and we get into it on this episode a demons Row TV and oh yeah we ghostin baby
thank you
[Music]
big shout to the ghosts and the ghostettes welcome to Demons Row TV the Holy Grail
of MC culture where we cover everything motorcycle and Motorcycle Club involved
I'm sose the ghost I'm your host for the evening as we continue the icons
of MC culture series if you have not seen the two other episodes we've done it'll be linked
in the description of this video and in the pin comment but today we talk about Terry the
Tramp the legendary International president of the vagos MC and we talk about Toby Gene
Levingston may they both rest in peace get your rated G for ghostin hats now they're on
www.demonsrow.com and let's get into this history Terry the Tramp orendorff was a member of the
vagos motorcycle club for 42 years some folks find their way to the bright side of the tracks
but there's a small percentage over run through the dark alleys of life even a smaller portion of
those survive Terry the Tramp was born in 1947 to a broken middle class home in Alhambra California
he grew up with a violent chip on his shoulder he had a talent for motorcycles his first bike was
a panhead basket case he learned to rebuild from an old Shop manual Terry became the international
president of one of the most notorious one percent of motorcycle clubs in Southern California the
vagos MC and remained in office through upheaval indictments drugs and Wars 26 years he was a
member for 42 years before he went to prison in 2010 Terry's notorious life made him subject to
a book that was released in 2011 a biography by K Randall ball in this book it documents what
led him to taking over one of the most notorious clubs an unassuming man into a leadership role
lasting over two decades while he was President he oversaw the expansion of the vagos into an
international Club after learning of his death one of oredorffs former Club brothers said many will
mourn his death others may not he lived a Vago and died a vago rest in peace Terry the Tramp so
much respect to the vagos MC every time I go to California is so much love and respect out there
this is a legend right here of the culture now let's talk about Toby Gene levingston born June
30th 1934 in Lily Louisiana Livingston was one of ten children raised by sharecropper parents who
moved to the Bay Area in the early 1950s settling in East Oakland's Brookfield Village neighborhood
while work remained relatively plentiful in post-war Oakland's factories and foundries
Levinson initially began our club as a way to keep his family out of Harm's Way as a member
put it last year in the run-up to the club's 60th anniversary celebration back then young
black men could still quickly find themselves getting into trouble if they didn't stay busy
Livingston thought he and his brothers needed a hobby the club took up the dragon's name in 1958
before switching over to motorcycles which were cheaper and Drew less attention from
police as levingston wrote his classic Memoir sole on bikes the East Bay dragons MC and the
black biker set over more than six decades as a club president Levingston Rode alongside the
club's members and rubbed shoulders with famous figures like the Hells Angels Sonny Barger and
members of the Black Panthers the club moved in and out of garages and warehouses before buying
a hall in the 8700 block of then East 14th Street in 1977. the East Bay dragons built a reputation
as family men who own homes cars and has steady jobs supported each other with skill networking
and contributed the regular charity drives love runs Thanksgiving turkey donations and Christmas
family adoption and gift giving as well as yearly Labor Day weekend fundraisers the Oakland mayor
Libby schaff even praised Livingston's Legacy when he passed away he said from always feeding
the community and supporting generations of East oaklanders to hosting my very first budget Town
Hall as mayor and proudly escorting hammer and me and warriors Victory parades the East Bay
dragons have been a constant source of service and pride for Oakland shafts set in part Mr Levingston
built the East Bay dragons motorcycle club on the values of community family and the tight bonds of
Brotherhood he is a Oakland treasure that will be sorely missed may he rest and ride in peace R.I.P
Toby Gene Levingston so much respect to the legendary Toby Gene Livingston shout out to
the East Bay dragons so much history with that club and I definitely want to sit down one day
and talk with brothers from that era about you know the Black Panther era because a lot of the
Black Panthers when they were disbanded went over to the East Bay dragons when that whole movement
you know when the government infiltrated and did whatever they did but there's so much history in
that club it has such a rich history so I look forward to one day sitting down with them you
know going out to Oakland and all that let me know in the comments give me a pound whatever
the name is of the person that you think should be in this series and I just want to clarify
that MC could be a men's club motorcycle club or motorcycle culture so it doesn't have to be
someone in a club and if you have biographies send them to demonsrow@gmail.com and if you
want to support the row get your Ghostaveli mask now they're on www.demonsrow.com I got another
episode of the icons and MC culture where I talk about Danny Trejo and I also talk about
the legendary David Allen Coe of the Outlaws MC it'll be linked above and thank you for tuning
in to Demons Row TV the Holy Grail of MC culture like subscribe and comment oh yeah we ghostin baby
[Music]
thank you