[Dixielandjazz] bio - rather long but well worth it

[BSimp57584 at aol.com]

 I’m Bob Simpson, erstwhile piano player. Erstwhile, because I’ve had no 
> music lessons and a got a start very late in life, 20 something years ago 
or 
> so. Grew up in Moline, Illinois and Louie Belson was a high school 
classmate. 
> I spent the great War as a Merchant Seaman, dodging subs in the Atlantic, 
> Pacific and Indian Oceans. Visiting 52nd Street and the Village in NYC was 
> unbelievable. Seeing all of the wonderful musicians set my “wish, I knew 
how 
> to play” feelings afire. 
>   Settled in Chicago after the war, working as an agency art director, 
> production manager and graphic artist. Enjoyed Brunies at the 1111 Club, 
Jazz 
> Limited and Rupnecks where Art Hoads held forth, and Saturday nights at 
Jimmy 
> Yancey’s. Undoubtedly saw Don Gibson and Don Ingles along the way. Started 
> noodling around on the piano. Married with 3 offsprings and later divorced.
>   Moved to California at 50 and got acquainted with the jazz clubs. Took 
over 
> producing the Blue Note, South Bay New Orleans Jazz Club bulletin, when 
Fran 
> Marois, sister to the Assunto brothers gave it up. I borrowed articles from 
> jazz bulletins all across the country, and actually turned out a nice 
product,
>  if I may say so. My thanks to jazz mate, Bill Horton, editor of the 
Offbeat. 
> I borrowed lots of his really humorous, often hilarious stuff.
>   Now the good stuff. In 1988, our Merchant Marine group, the Merchant 
Marine 
> Veterans of World War II, petitioned Washington for a World War cargo ship 
> and were given the SS Lane Victory, a complete rust bucket that had been 
> layed up for 17 years. In 4 years we had it rigged, running and ready for 
our 
> first cruise. We needed a Dixie band so I, now a piano player, named myself 
> the Yellow Houn’ Dawg Blues Band and added fine players. For 10 years, we 
> have had 6 one-day cruises per year where I made up a different group each 
> trip. All under the Yellow Houn’ Dawg umbrella. This allows top musicians 
> from all around California and Arizona an opportunity to enjoy this 
wonderful 
> cruise, and I get to play with all of the great players. 
>   Our cruise: we board around 7:30 AM, set up, have a continental breakfast 
> and downbeat at 8:30. Moorings lines in, gangway up, and at 9:00 we head 
out 
> of LA harbor, into the beautiful Pacific, past incoming ships, barking 
seals 
> and soaring sea gulls. The music sounds great, the fresh air, exhilerating. 
> Nearing Catalina Island, we have a sumptuous lunch, more great music, and 
> suddenly we’re set upon by 4 Nazi aircraft, looking to destroy us. Fear. 
> Music stops as our gun crew leap to their guns and blast away. Diving, 
> straffing planes and answering gun bursts. World War all over again? Seems 
> like it. Hey, two American fighter planes appear and drive the marauders 
away.
>  The band plays the Air Force Song and the passengers, all 700, cheer. 
We’re 
> safe. We return to our berth around 4:30. What a wonderful day. 
>   This Saturday and Sunday are the first of the season, two more each in 
> August and September. I have fine groups each day so I can hardly wait. 
>   Guess this really doesn’t qualify as a name band, more a travelling gig 
> band, but each is first rate. And quite well reputed. Every player is 
capable,
>  listens to the others, and leaves holes where they should be. I make up 
> additional feature band groups to play feature band club dates and various 
> gigs. No matter who I get, because they’re all great. 
>   Peering over the transom into the 80s could be a bit disconcerting, but 
> having music, the ship, my great kids, and computer, God, life is 
wonderful. 
>   I have flyers about our ship and cruises, so if interested, contact me. 
> Also. pull up our web site:
>  www.lanevictoryship.com
>  
>  Bob Simpson 
>  1065 Lomita Blvd. #71
>   Harbor City, CA 90710
     310/325-8259
>   bsimp57584 at aol.com