Bitter Sweet Memories of Home Town Greats and Family

Another Hot Humid and Beautiful Day In Bahrain

Hello Jazzlover,

It has taken me a little while to process my feeling about my cousin Claude, I always knew he was out there some where and I am sure he still is.Love U Cuz.

This has truly been a bittersweet time for me, bitter for losing him and sweet because of writing about it in my blog, I have found My Cousin his Sister...after all these years. I guess there is some joy in all things. I have also found anothe 1st cousin that we had lost touch with each other almost 20 years ago, that has been a true joy! LoJo and I have kept this computer hot playing katch up!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6DFEOFHl0w

There will be more on that later, but I had been having serious trouble writing because of all the things going on in my head concerning my Fathers Family, I needed some healing time. ( Damn I almost Lumped up my Cornmeal mush!! I am making Hot tamale pie for dinner) But that is another story for another time...
Families are amazing!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0kSlORbAnQ&feature=related

As I have said this blog is finding it's voice,it's song,it's beat, and it's tempo so I am not surprised where it goes sometimes Jazzlovers and this one is no different..LoJo is back reading my blog and offers wonderful feed back. She was reading the one about home town talent and our greats like Phil Phillips, and instead of telling you about I am going to post her email to me on shared memories. I think by posting the letter in it's complete will help you to understand Bitter sweet memories. This blog is really about the music.
Here is the email: and I will be back at the end!!!Jazzlovers enjoy

Phil Phillips..... et al

The Sea of Love=when I hear that song I think about young lives lost and fortunes stolen. Phil ate in Miller's Cafe almost daily-of course, never on Sunday. He had a son who was an addict........don't know what happened to him. I was not far enough along in my own Christian journey to know that we were to try to rescue our brother's and sister's whenever possible.

I have seen many stars as Bubba Lutcher(Nellie's brother and local DJ as I know you remember) would bring them all to to the cafe to eat. I remember Otis Redding having red beans and rice a couple of weeks before he died in the plane crash. See this is why I don't understand why a landmark like Miller's Cafe was recently demolished by the city of LC. No one cares about our history. We can only preserve our memories in our minds. We do have pictures of the restaurant in the early years. My sister has them as she inherited the big house and all therein. We had a drag queen called Esquerita. Don't know if you remember that diva.

I am sure you remember the old Dixie Theatre. White folks have bought it and use it as their local playhouse. You know if they bought into that neighborhood that they have plans. They are going to get all that land for redevelopment. It has already started since they have flattened everything on our end of Enterprise Blvd. I wonder if the Cab Shack survived? Pryce's Rx did as far as I know.

Anyway, obviously I read your older blog. So much soul.

Music is Soul Pleasure


LoJo

And Jazzlovers This was my reply...

Cuz you brought tears to my eyes, and it is written so well now I know why I have not been able to write!! May I post your letter as this weeks blog? I think you said it sooo well!
And of course I remember Esqureita, and a Diva she was!!! They don't make them like that any more....Phil was also the Uncle of Cheryl, I know you remember her, she is my adopted sister, we grew up together! Small world...I know you remember Katy Webster , and I don't know if you knew Bubba Lutcher has a son by my stepfather's sister.
I think I will add some Nellie Lutcher to this blog.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7GciyR3dyA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmKTKemcIXI&feature=related

The amazing thing is Katy was to be on that plane,
Love D

Well Jazzlovers until next time Keep the beat.

Never try to explain love!!!


DW Jazzlover