Fw: [TPIN] Fw: [Dixielandjazz] The Tap Dancer

[Bob Romans]

I posted this to the "Trumpet Players International Network" because it's
such a good story! then Bill Biffle sent this back to me!
I love this story!! Thanks, Steve! You are to be commended!
Bob Romans
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Biffle" <bbiffle at swcp.com>
To: "Bob Romans" <cellblk7 at comcast.net>
Cc: <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>
Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2003 8:26 PM
Subject: Re: [TPIN] Fw: [Dixielandjazz] The Tap Dancer


> I sent this to the barbershop harmony list.  It's a great story for
> musicians everywhere1  Thanks, Steve.
>
> BB
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Bob Romans" <cellblk7 at comcast.net>
> To: "TPIN" <tpin at tpin.dana.edu>
> Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2003 2:50 PM
> Subject: [TPIN] Fw: [Dixielandjazz] The Tap Dancer
>
>
> > This came off of the DJML. Some of you trumpeters in the New York area
> might
> > know Steve Barbone...
> >
> > This is a great story...aren't we all lucky that someone gave us a spark
> > many years ago that lit a fire in us to become musicians!
> >
> > Happy Holidays to all of you!
> >
> > Bob Romans
> > Cell Block Seven
> > Jazz Band
> > 1617 Lakeshore Dr.,
> > Lodi, California,
> > 95242
> > Phone...209-368-3255
> > Cell...209-747-1148
> > Fax...209-368-3255
> > WebPages
> > www.geocities.com/cblock7/
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > BSJB plays many quartet (CLT, TB, BS, GU) gigs for Nursing Homes,
> >
> > Special care facilities etc., during the holiday season  for small
> >
> > audiences at greatly reduced rates. Last year when playing at
> >
> > Brandywine Home in West Chester, we met a 96 year old black man. He was
> >
> > in a wheel chair, but obviously enjoying the music and moving his feet.
> >
> > He said he was a tap dancer. We got into a chat with him and he told us
> >
> > he had known Eubie Blake, Count Basie, Honey Coles, Chick Webb and a
> >
> > host of others. We were impressed but still skeptical when he said he
> >
> > also knew Earl Hines, Ella and Jimmy Rushing. He was there, he said in
> >
> > 1938 at Randall's Island in NYC when that great integrated Swing event,
> >
> > hosted by Martin Block took place. As well as at the Savoy when Frankie
> >
> > Manning and Norma Miller popularized the Lindy Hop.
> >
> > "Yeah yeah" we said and left, because last year we had another gig
> >
> > following that one.
> >
> > Well he was there again yesterday, now 97, still in a wheel chair, but
> >
> > with his eyes sparkling as he said. "Where you been, man, I've been
> >
> > waiting all year for you." We laughed, hugged him and started to play.
> >
> > What's that noise said Ace, our bassist. Sounds like somebody drumming
> >
> > with knives on a plate. We looked over at our friend. He was sitting in
> >
> > the wheel chair quietly tapping his feet. My heavens, he was wearing
> >
> > "Tap Shoes".
> >
> > We smiled and went into "Tea For Two", stop time, giving him a chance to
> >
> > show his stuff. And for a 97 year old man it was pretty good. He knew
> >
> > where the breaks were and went for them. We had a ball all during our
> >
> > hour long show. Mind you, his dancing wasn't what it must have been 70
> >
> > years ago, but it was pretty darn good. This gentle sit-in brought tears
> >
> > to our eyes at the end when he said. "Thanks guys, you made my year...
> >
> > maybe I'll be out of this wheel chair next year."
> >
> > I asked him how on earth he got into those shoes and he smiled and said,
> >
> > "Two nurses had to help, but it was worth it."
> >
> > All we could stammer, fighting back our emotion was, "Go for it man."
> >
> > Cheers
> >
> > Steve Barbone
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > http://tpin.dana.edu/mailman/listinfo/tpin
> >
>