[Dixielandjazz] Bob Newman, Don Goldie and the Sacto Fest

[Vaxtrpts at aol.com]

Date:  Tue, 11 Apr 2006 16:25:40 -0700
From: "Robert Newman"  <bobngaye at surewest.net>
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Don Goldie
Later  in that Jubilee we, the Fulton Street Jazz Band,  had a set in a venue 
in  the K-Steet Mall nearby.   Just at the start of that set, who should  
march in with their horns and broad grins,  Don Goldie, Wild Bill  Davison, and 
Tommy Saunders!    Our trumpeter / leader Dean Nelson  was thrilled.   So Mike 
Starr, our trombonist, and I dove off the  stand to make musical and acreage 
space for the impending Trumpet  Summit.    What a blast!
Years later we heard that Goldie was  suffering from the ravages of diabetes 
including the loss of a leg and had  committed suicide.   I've never seen this 
confirmed.    There is a short biography and discography in the following 
website  http://www.univox.com/radio/goldie.html#discog.    It gives his  years 
as 1930 to 1995.    It does not state the cause of  death.
Bob



>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Hi Bob:
I remember that year too.  Don came and sat in with my band a couple  of 
times.  What a joy he was to play with!!!!!
Yes, he had diabetes and was about to be put on dialysis because his  kidneys 
were shutting down, aside from everything else.  When I talked to  him in the 
hospital, he was really obviously depressed and we talked about my  coming to 
visit him.   I couldn't believe when they released him early  because they 
"needed the space."  I actually called the hospital and  complained to them and 
asked why he was let out, when he was not in good mental  condition.  They had 
no excuse.  He literally went home and then shot  himself.
I was crushed at the time.  I still think of him a lot!
Mike Vax