True

Fran,

I had a top of the line, A #1, King of the hill, Top of the heap Selmer Mark VI Tenor Sax that I paid $695 brand spanking new with money from playing music for Sock Hops in High School and using my uncle's draft card to play music at the Joy Lounge for Pasquale Marcello, running the Lounge for his brother Carlos Marcello ( the South Eastern God Father) while driving a $350 1953 Plymouth Station Wagon painted red and white like a ice cream wagon.

This sax in good shape today sells for $12,000 and up on eBay. It was stolen out of a club in 1963-64 or somewhere about.

Check out this video about Carlos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Gdgwpci-ZI

You can delete the word "jazz" and replace 'horn' with 'instrument' and you've described many of us ...

Absolutely true, Fran. 20 years ago, or so, I bought a new Engleheart 3/4 upright bass. Turns out, I didn't have a car it would fit in.

I went to the Ford dealer and saw a salesman I knew. I borrowed a new Ford Escort wagon, took it to the office and tried to fit the bass in it. With the seats flat, the bass headstock went thru the front seats. Shifting into 3rd was rough, but that stands as the most expensive bass case I ever bought.

Still have the bass, by the way. The wagon died years ago.

What great memories!


Russ

So true

Here in Cape May NJ they were pushing a singer/songwriter weekend. Musicians from all over came to play in different venues "for free". I was talking to a waitress/bartender I know and she told me they were having a guy play who came from Canada. So I said. "well, your going to make good money that night, the house is going to make good money that night, and this poor guy isn't even getting gas money" She realized where I was coming from and realized my point of view. But of course they all have the opprotunity to "Be Discovered" HA!

We all have to be crazy !!!

BTW Fran, when I was refurbishing and selling Hammonds the jazz guys had no money and played the worst ones, the churches were our best buyers.