For those who play out...what are some of your most memorable jobs? Here are some of mine:

* Brocks-Lexington-1962. Was in the back-up band when Jerry Lee set fire to his piano.

* Campbell House-Lexington,-1981. Lou Rawls used to bring his kids into town to shop for show horses. Sat and talked beside the B-3 every night for a week.

* Hilton Inn-Lexington, 1990. The Who stayed there. John Entwistle sat in several times. He was a better jazz guitar player than Townsend.

* Merrick Inn-2007. Strip club owner would bring in several of his dancers. They'd come to the piano, bend over and try to make me mess up (low-cut summer dresses, no "support").

Being a musician is GREAT!


Russ

Yup, they are memorable jobs.

One that comes to mind was opening for INXS in 1983 at the Doncaster Inn in Melbourne Australia. Because it only had one dressing room they had to share it with us. Unfortunately it also had no bathroom. I remember Michael Hutchence ( INXS lead singer ) having to pee in the sink before INXS went onstage. It wasn't like he could walk through the crowd to find the bathroom. Rock 'n Roll is not always glamorous.

While playing a steady gig at an upscale Italian restaurant, I walk in one Saturday night and who is having dinner with his family, but Jerry Vale (his daughter and family live in RI) ... I was nervous at the start - after all he had recorded just about every Italian song in my song list ... I settled down pretty quick though, figuring I was working that night and he wasn't ...
After dinner he carried his 2 yr old grandson into the piano lounge, listened for about 20 minutes or so, and as he was leaving, complimented me on a 'good job' ...

That's a great way of looking at it Tony!

I would get pretty excited if Don Mason were to walk into a nite club where I was performing.

Neat stuff guys,

Gary