[Dixielandjazz] A guest singer, a funny story

[billsharp]

	Playing a set at the Sacramento Jubilee many years ago, our band liked 
to include members of the audience with the offer, "Does anyone want to 
sing with the band?" and one fellow took us up on the offer, 
exclaiming, "Sure, I'll sing Danny Boy".  As he came forward we noticed 
that he was essentially inebriated, but thought, "Oh well, it he can 
sing the song, so be it, and a 'tipsy' version of Danny Boy could be 
quite entertaining.
	After he hummed a few bars to establish the key, the band gave him a 
grandiose few bars of intro whereas he quite loudly and proudly slurred 
out the words,  "Oh Danny Boy,"  then came to an abrupt halt.   
Thinking perhaps this was due to his condition and that he didn't fully 
realize the task at hand I said to him, "O.K. here's the introduction 
again, and really belt it out this time".  This time he sang loud 
enough to reach the far corners of the room, but once again stopped 
after singing "Oh Danny Boy", spreading those three words over about 5 
bars of music and then, perhaps running out of air, he just sort of 
faded away to nothing.
	Following a third and final attempt with the same results, I said to 
him, I thought you knew "Oh Danny Boy" and he responded, "I do, but 
those are the only words I know" ! ! ! ! (which brought down the 
house).