Thanks so much, folks. Shboom, my former employers are the greatest. In fact, I am still doing all their marketing and will play at private events at their establishments. The problem is, there is no storage place at all (both are million dollar operations in converted horsefarm residences), and the equipment cannot be left outside overnight.That's why I needed to unload and load up (five trips to the truck) every night.

As it turns out, for five years, I was leaving job # 1 and going to play upright with a long-time friend, who died last year. His bass player was an alcholic and was nearly passed out when I arrived at 11:00 P.M. I played the last two hours and let the bass player keep the money, even though I could have had the job at any time. Since Mike died, I will now play piano with the trio (and a new, hopefully sober bass player) at a local country club. It's inside, a good Yamaha grand and laid back.

This trio was the top society group in this market, and I'll try my best to keep it that way.

You're right...things usually work out for the best. I was devistated when my friend died, but maby I can keep his memory alive.


All the best,

russ

P.S. Shboom...the 12 string DANO was a GREAT
choice for the illustration on your site!
I bought one each of all the reissues and have a couple of originals and two original Silvertones. Not the best players, but nostalgic as hell. I particularly like the 6-string bass guitar, a la Rawhide, Duane Eddy
and early Motown, where upright was doubled with a Dano.

How cool!

[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 06-22-2005).]