Today,Tomorrow and Always

If you've read my blog for some time now, you know that I normally sign off by telling you to support live music today, tomorrow and always. It's my tag line, but truly there is a deeper meaning to it.


This past Friday I was put in a position to put my money where my mouth is, and I came to realize, that at least in my mind I think that I've failed on some levels. Let me explain...

Earlier in the evening, I left home a bit early, before my gig at Blues BBQ in Charleston to eat. At the restaurant I ran into an old friend who a few months earlier I had noticed was down on his luck, he had become an alcoholic and just generally a nusense to folks. It was pretty disappointing to see. Now, here we are, and I found out not only had he become "saved," he completely cleaned himself up, and was now employed gainfully at the restaurant.

Ike thanked me profusely for not giving up on him, even though I had been disappointed...he "understood." We talked for a long time, and I told him several times how proud I was of him.
I left the restaurant and was pretty much on cloud nine.
Driving down the street, I ran into another good friend, saxophonist Dugan Carter ( one of my musical heroes...), and with him were David Loyd a great keyboardist, Michael " Stoney" Burks, a phenom trumpeter, and Warren Pope, a great drummer, all former bandmates of mine when I was the lead vocalist of their band Stratus.
Without too much prodding they invited me into the Cafe de Paris, where they hold court every Friday during Happy hour as the jazz combo "Full Flavor." It's one of the newer spots in town.
As I was preparing, I noticed that during the entire time that they were playing, no one was paying attention to them at all, but none the less Dugan introduces me, and when he mentioned that I was with the Carpenter Ants, everyone stopped cold and paid close atttention to me, and when I finished a huge applaud came my way. Then the owners of the club, a wonderful Frenchman , and his co-owner Shelly stepped up to not only sing, but do so in French, something that should have been a real treat for these folks was met with continued talking. How utterly embarrasing !!
I've been at my craft of music for far too long and have been treated by club owners and patrons alike with the utmost respect, and those patrons acted as if they were at home on the phone. They talked right over this beautiful music as if it weren't even there.
Of course this got me thinking, what could I do to make the efforts of these musicians and others worthwhile. I'm great for telling everyone thay they need to support live music, but where have I been ? By not going to some of my fellow musicians gigs when I'm off, I'm being just as bad as those people were... I'm not being supportive. So, after scolding that audience, I left for my own gig, but not before I made the vow to Dugan and the boys that I would be back at least once a month to support them, because truthfully, if not for them and the other musicians in my life who have supported me, I would always be standing in the shadows of music.


To my brothers in Full Flavor, I will put my money where my big mouth is and you'll see me in your audience occasionally.
To the owners of Cafe de Paris, continued success, and thank you for supporting live music.
I know this story was a bit long, but truly it needed to be told. The point here is that by supporting live music it will be here for us to enjoy today, tomorrow and always


Support Live music today tomorrow and always.