Tricky Dickie - HST - Club Juana - East West Records - Never get out of the boat
1971
302### Geneva – H.H.Humphrey/ I grew up in Geneva and attended Geneva Elementary. It was a 3-room school with 100 students total. Driving home to my cottage on Lake Geneva I noticed a bus with Hubert H Humphrey’s name on it. He was a Presidential candidate in the 1972 election. I parked my car in the schoolyard to see what was happening. Geneva was so small why would anyone come there to campaign. Just standing around one of Humphrey’s suits came up to me and struck up a conversation.
Trying to get my hippie vote he told me Hubert was a pot smoker. (Totally insane) HHH didn’t get my vote.
In fact I didn’t vote in 1968 or 1972. I have zero recollection why I didn’t vote. I guess it was because I wasn’t registered. That 1972 election did get the attention of young voters like myself.
303### Hunter S Thompson/ I became aware of Hunter S Thompson and his columns in Rolling Stone. Thompson wrote mainly about the Democratic Primaries with candidates Ed Muskie, Hubert Humphrey and George McGovern. Thompson published his articles in a book called Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail 1972. ‘Illustrations by Ralph Steadman’
20*** Poor Richard Nixon – for HST/ - poor Richard Nixon tricky dickey I am not a crook they wont stop kicking the guy even in death even now his life is discounted, his book is marked down. I see tricky’s face on the cover, stacked high in a pile next to Jung next to Faulkner next to Becket but old Nixon has the lowest price of them all $2.98 not even Ed McMann or that great writer William Shatner are that cheap old president ray gun looks down from the upper shelf he’s still $5.98 but old Tricky Dickey, I guess he was wrong. “They still have Richard Nixon to Kick Around”
#51 $$$ Gig - 1972 - The Polynesian Band
Orlando, FL/ One of the first non Rock N Roll gigs I got called for was with the Polynesian Band from Disney Resort. The gig was off property at some hotel for a special event. I continue to say, I have zero memory how I got the call.
It was a fun good paying gig that I did several times. It was odd they hired me, a Caucasian to play drums in their ethnic group. Several of those ethnic groups were very successful as employed professional musicians. They could buy a house, car, take a vacation invest in real estate business. Those days are ancient history.
#51 $$$ Gig - 1972 - The Club Juana Casselberry, FL/ A local gig with the most longevity was a place called The Club Juana. When I moved back to Geneva, Central Florida on January 1, 1971, the club had a house band, singers, topless dancers and a star attraction. Usually a popular exotic dancer stripper) Jack Snipes was the regular singer, bandleader, Master of Ceremonies.
(Old Money) owned Club Juana and several other lounges. I had previously played their lounge, The Link Inn. (The Stink Inn) Jack Snipes would drive a few miles and sing with our Link Inn trio. It was good for business.
When Jack Snipes left The Club Juana, there were several openings in the band.
John Rakestraw and myself filled the guitar and drum positions. For many, The Club Juana gig was the crown jewel of house gigs. Previous members had been employed there for 12 months or more. The trumpet player was Marv Drennon. He was a former circus musician, loved Louis Armstrong. Marv had a saying that became repeated by musicians. “Gigs is what’s happen in”
304### Club Juana – I Quit – Hair Transplant – Cocky and 22/ My career aspirations were not in line with my Club Juana band mates. That window of time was a turbulent period for me. I was much in the world, but also seeking more spiritual enlightenment.
Playing stripper nightclub music was interesting, but not my cup of tea. I was out of sync, dazed and confused. The owner of the club had dating rules for his employees. (Especially his harem of dancing girls) They were not allowed to fraternize with the musicians. I was breaking his rule with one of his favorite girls. At the end of week one, the band marched into the bosses’ office to get paid. The band members were all seated. I don’t remember any of the conversation. I don’t remember if I planned to say what I was about to say or not. I was a young cocky 22 year-old with different music and life ambitions.
After minion talk from the plantation owner, I said “I Quit” (with or without notice, I don’t remember) there was a moment of silence. The club owner lifted up out of his seat grabbed me on the top of my head and went berserk.
He was yelling, cursing, it happened very fast, all in view of everyone in that office. I got paid and packed up my drums that night. This was 1971. As a 22 year-old kid, I didn’t think about legal revenge. I didn’t have an attorney. If it were 2024, I would have sued and owned The Club Juana.
The next time I got a haircut, the barber mentioned, hey, how’d you get that bald spot? I didn’t notice, but evidently a chunk of hair was ripped from my scalp.
305### Church Street – Elks Club – Rake – Buddy McKnight/ I’ve written about my night in the Hattiesburg Jail. It was a nightmare. My life could have been much different. (I barely avoided a 1968 drug possession arrest and 20 years in Parchment Farm Prison) (Since 1968, traveling or driving with herbal content created traumatic paranoia. In 1971, I was trying to eliminate that activity from my life. On a routine reconnaissance for gigs, John Rakestraw and myself were out seeking music employment. In our Orlando journey, Rake varied off coarse to score some herb. Buddy McKnight was a great B3 organ player.
I’d seen and heard him play at The Quarterback Club on Church Street. Rake had played with him there on occasions. In the 60s, white musicians were accepted and welcome at the quarterback Club. Buddy was playing at The Elks Club. I’d heard about it, but had never been there.
When we arrived, Buddy was on break, in the parking lot, in front of the club. Instead of going for the smoke ride, I decided to hang out at the club and wait. I immediately drew a group of young individuals to question my presence on their block. I was sucker punched multiple times by several individuals. Instead of standing my ground, I walked to the Elks Club entrance looking for some help.
I went inside and walked up to the stage looking for another musician I may know. (I was punched again. This time it was an older man, not happy with my presence) as I walked out the entrance, the young attackers were again coming my way. I ran towards the street and climbed into a Taxicab. I had very little cash and asked the driver to take me to the police station. In the police station, I called Rake’s house and told his wife Linda where I was. Rake picked me up, we went back to his house. I got in my Volvo 122S and drove home. “Never Get Out Of The Boat” (Chef)
306### Zac The Dog – East West Records/ In Orlando there was a new hip record store called East West Records. I visited many times. I spent a few dollars there. They occasionally had bootleg records. I never bought any. That’s the first time I heard about or saw what would become underground music distribution. Visiting East-West one day with my brother Fred, they had a young Vizsla puppy at the store.
They had problems with the dog eating non - food related items and destroying property. They ask me if I’d like to have him. I had 5 acres and a nice cottage. Sure, I’ll take him. Zac became the family mascot for approximately 18 years. He was an amazing friend and companion. I had him at several of my locations, houses and apartments. When I couldn’t manage him or if I was on the road, family members adopted him. There are many stories in the vault about his escapades.
I bailed him out of doggie detention several times. He was minutes away from being exterminated. He heard me play the drums thousands of hours it didn’t bother him.
307### Stupid Real Estate Deal #1 – Geneva 1972 – Crib #1/ I still had my 5-acre cottage in Geneva but the owners wanted to sell it. They offered it to me for $25k. I declined. That was my first stupid real estate decision. Today it’s a 350k piece of property. “I just wanted to play the drums”