I played music for many years (and am surprisingly far removed from that whole world right
now) so I met several mighty and minor heroes of that world. One of the absolute nicest, with whom I had several encounters, was Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. I played for a while with Jimmy Miller and so met his brother Steve (Steve Miller Band). Quite a few others with whom I’m sure I never registered. John Lee Hooker and Stevie Ray Vaughn, though there’s minimal chance I made any impression on them, were personable folk. A lot of others were not.
Spent part of a day pitching an album production deal to Robert Cray at his home in Belair, back when he was hot (1988). He was cordial, but not really very interested in my bs. His bass player appeared out of some bedroom, buck naked, and joined the discussion. I left, thinking it had been a dismal meeting. But he agreed to do the project!?!
Used to drive a hack in Austin, Texas (couple of lifetimes ago) and had some brief encounters via that medium. Took Fats Domino to a gig one night; his valet came out ahead of him and instructed me to not speak to Mr. Domino. So I didn’t. Well, we got to the nightclub and it was a $1.10 fare, i.e., we drove around to the otherside of the block. Mr. Domino waved his valet aside and personally paid me $5 for the trip. I said, “Thank you, Mr. Domino.”
Picked up the light haired half of Hall & Oates (sorry, I was just never into those guys enough to know who was who) one night with a woman at a nightclub and took’em to his hotel where he graciously demurred on accepting her offer of continued company. I look at what I’m writing and keep telling myself it was present tense when we used to say “Discretion is the better part of being a cabdriver.” Oh well, he gave me a twenty to take the gal anywhere she wanted to go. Understand, at this point in time, $10 would get you from anywhere to anywhere in Austin. So, do I remember these guys for the grace or the overtipping (not that these were record tips; the drug dealers were always favorites)?
Also picked up a few politicians and local tv newspeople - hard to get excited about. Kris Krisofferson (sp?) was as wooden in real life as in his movies. Had a couple of encounters w/the guy that everybody thought wasn’t real and I can’t remember his name right now - he collaborated w/Steve Miller and finally came out with his own stuff. I’ll get to it…
My Dad was an anthropologist and we had several names from that field around the house when I was a rug rat. Margaret Mead knew my bed well, but not me. I was in elementary school and really couldn’t come off as Samoan, or mature. Also had, amongst others, Leslie White and John Bittner-Janisch (bizzare).
I should sign off for the night.
Not that I actually know who either of those guys are, but still. . . I’m sure it’s impressive. Um, nevermind.