BIG CITY BLUES ACE’S ALLEYJune-July 2002 Issue Backstage Stories Not By Johnny Ace Hello dear Big City Blues readers and subscribers wherever you are. I hope you’re all well and comfortable in these strange and trying times—yes—days we have. We're still here and that’s very great! As the now dearly departed Roy Campanella, MVP catcher of the 1950’s who on a cold icy morning on some lost highway in New York had a horrible car accident which paralyzed him from the waist down and ended his fine career, he later wrote a book whose title is still inspirational to me. Its title is “It’s Great to Be Alive!” RIDE! Robert Jr., publisher of Big City Rhythm & Blues magazine, said he’d like a backstage story. Well, there are many. But as I thought back, most are X-rated or will incriminate the parties involved, and I can’t go into those territories as entertaining as these old stories are. MERCY! I can and will go back to 1970 or ’71, back to one of the great night clubs I used to hang out in, go listen to music and even get hired to gig in. The now way gone night spot was “Ungano’s,” named after two brother’s, Arnie and Nick, who lived somewhere in New Jersey. Ungano’s was on West 70th Street in New York City. For club owners, Arnie and Nick were actually pretty good guys. Cheap but o.k. guys. They even had hearts. I saw so many great blues and rock musicians play there—it just baffles the mind: B.B., Muddy, Hendrix … the list is gigantic. On this particular night very long ago I just walked in, uninvited, into Ungano’s tiny dressing room with my dear old pal and drummer at the time Ernie Alexander. Leslie West who was riding very high at the time with his huge hit “Mississippi Queen” and his group Mountain were all back there with their entourage. Ernie and me clearly were not welcomed into Leslie’s world or his dressing room, and Leslie let it be known to us. Real fast! If you don’t know what Leslie West looked like back then, well he was VERY heavy. In fact, he took up most of the dressing room! He was a pretty good 300 pounder. He was wearing black slacks, black boots, and over his very colorful long sleeve, paisley shirt, he wore a huge American Indian suede vest with long thin pieces of suede dangling down all around it. So, like I was saying, we were not welcome. Ernie goes over to Leslie and says in his tough, wise-ass Brooklyn accent, “Haven’t I seen you on the back of a nickel?” Leslie, very calmly and sure of himself fires back, pointing with his chubby little finger, “The door is that way!” All of a sudden all the groupies and hanger-ons stop with there lame, unimportant chatter. A thick silence fills the room like a bad gut ache. Ernie and me without missing a beat leave the annals of the cold dressing room. As we exit, Ernie quickly shuts off the dressing room light switch which is right next to the door. We both start to howl in belly aching laughter like two little school boys, as we hear Leslie West cursing us from the dark pits of Ungano’s unlit dressing room. Back then, that was high entertainment! Folks, that’s my little backstage blast from the past. On a very sad note, The San Francisco Blues Festival, the oldest running blues festival in the country—is no more! I called up Tom Mazzolini, the founder and man who’s been running it since the 1970’s, to get his story. Tom told me the production costs are rising each year, the ticket sales are slacking, and he is getting bad coverage in the S.F. Chronicle—in fact the Chronicle hasn’t reviewed the festival in 12 years. And not much of the youth, or young groups who say they’re influenced by the blues are supporting it. Plus, so many of the greats are gone. And there’s not a big cultural need in S.F. for blues (I can vouch for that!) It’s just like when The Dodgers left Brooklyn! In Tom’s own words, “It’s all about MONEY; culture and arts be DAMNED!” The city’s gonna put in a Cool Jazz Festival in its place. I’m not sure what “Cool Jazz” is, but I don’t think it’s Miles Davis and Bird! Yea, the blues is in trouble, but the blues will always survive! Lord have MERCY!...Or NONE!! I then had a dream that Tom was negotiating for a new festival. I called him up to tell him, and Tom said that he’s been making some calls. So it ain’t over yet! For more on the history of The S.F. Blues Festival, read my article in B.C. Blues from the January 2002 issue (Please look up the date, Robert). The San Francisco Blues Festival has won dozens of prestigious awards over the years and has showcased all the real greats in blues. It is considered one of the most important blues festivals in the world and certainly started the blues festival trend. It should not die—and all you blues lovers and all you musicians whose careers were boosted by playing Tom’s festival—maybe you owe him—you all should write to him and tell him what that festival means to you—to inspire him—it’s been his life’s work. So far only me and Charlie Musselwhite have called or written to Tom. Here is the contact info: http://www.sfblues.com PO Box 460608 San Francisco, CA 94146 (415) 826-6837 info@sfblues.com On a more positive thought, in the middle of this past February, my dear old friend and blues brother Perry (Barrelhouse) Welsh flew in from Franklin, Tennessee to visit S.F. and do a reunion gig at The Saloon in North Beach. Thank the heavens for The Saloon! Perry has a band in Tennessee and still gigs there. I met Perry back in 1969 at N.Y.C.’s famous Cafa Au Go Go when he was working as a road manager, equipment schlepper, truck driver, and fill in backup singer with Elvin Bishop. Back then, Perry told me to leave New York and go out to S.F. Two years later I did, and it opened up many doors to say the least. In 1974 back in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Perry and me had one of the best groups that I ever played in named Lynn County. Steve Miller who played with Elvin Bishop and was one of the original Lynne County members when on Mercury was the leader. Steve wailed on the Hammond organ and also sang amazingly! We were all singing. I wish that group recorded. The fun we had. MERCY! On the gig we just had here in S.F., we had Walter Shuffelsworth (from The Dynatones) on drums who played in Cedar Rapids, Iowa with us in 1975. Johnny Nitro was on guitar and vocals. Johnny hired Perry and me in his group The Doorslammers in the late 80’s and early 90’s. You should’a been there. MERCY! Old blues buddies, bassists Steve Airman and Gary Rosen sat in, and an old pal vocalist Charlie Owens sang a few. The music was fun, Perry sang real good, and everyone played fine. But it was actually more fun to see and talk with many old friends that I hadn’t seen in years who showed up at the gig. And even more fun was spending a lot of time with Perry catching up. We had an amazing “cook out” at Walter’s pad. Perry fried up 16 pounds of chicken. We all really loaded up! I think I’ll end it here. Yea, real good friends—friends that have’ passed the test of time. They’re so very special; I think more special than any words can say, loved ones, good food, and good music. Not to sound too corny, but I really cherish those things. You’all be well and keep on supporting the arts—especially the blues. Johnny Ace still lives in the heart of downtown San Francisco and plays in a band with his partner Cathy Lemons. They have 2 cats and a lot of old books, records, plants, and old magazines and movies. Their website is http://www.lemonace.com