[Dixielandjazz] Political Gigs - as wierd gigs

[david richoux]

I have played at two memorable political gigs (I have done a lot of 
them but most were just boring)

The first was for an election night party for an incumbent state 
Senator - he was also a snare drummer in our local community band but 
rarely made the gigs. He asked the band to show up and play some of our 
standard tunes while the results came in. When we got to the 
sing-a-long version of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" the first 
significant results were posted.

One...Two...Three Strikes, Your Out!   and he was.

The party was a lot quieter after that.

The other was a whistle stop performance for the John Anderson 
presidential campaign. He had an old-fashion rail car with a rear 
platform and he made a quick stop in Palo Alto. I was asked earlier to 
round up a 3 or 4 piece band to play as he arrived and left. I got a 
trumpet, bass drum, banjo and me on helicon tuba - we fit right in with 
the old style flavor and we played a few peppy political songs. Just as 
the train was pulling away somebody stuck a small cue-card in 
Anderson's face and he read: "I would like to thank the Dennis 
Richardson Brass Band..." and they were gone.

Dave Richoux


On Dec 17, 2003, at 12:21 PM, Stephen Barbone wrote:

> Played for Nelson Rockefeller's party at his election to the
> Governorship of New York Sate 50 odd years ago. As he signed the banjo
> player's banjo head he was talking to us about the average working man
> in the state. Said he, trying to connect with us average folks:  "Take
> your average worker, you know, guys like you making about $100,000,". .
> . WHAT?
>
> Rats, I thought, I just voted for this man, and he doesn't have a clue.
>
> Cheers,
> Steve Barbone
>
>
>
>
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