Okay, maybe that's a slight exaggeration. Shirley, who had a Master's degree in music, taught music at Cheney University which was walking distance from my house. As a side gig, I was a consultant to their IT dept. (such as it was) and knew the then president socially. My cousin was also chairman of the Sociology dept. there at the time. I knew and socialized with a lot of the staff there but knew Shirley already from both (Philly's famous) Settlement music school and as an active musician on the Philly music scene. The 'lessons' were mostly "tips and tricks" and jams at my house on my trusty ol' C3. I learned a lot and therefore loosely refer to her as 'my teacher'. The Black music community (with a few White musicians such as guitarist Pat Martino and a few others) in Philadelphia at that time was very close-knit and almost everybody knew everybody else. The number of really great musicians coming out of the Philadelphia area at that time was phenomenal. Most moved on to obscurity in New York and LA but some, such as Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, Groove Holmes (Camden, NJ), Shirley Scott, Grover Washington, Jr., etc. went on to bigger and better things. With the demise of the major Jazz clubs, the music scene changed (as it did in most cities). I could go on (and on, and on) but I'm sure you're pretty bored by now. Just waxing nostalgic.

chas (of the over-the-hill gang)