The Musician... see you among the stars

I couldn't believe that Joey was drafted, and Aldo cutout and decided to work for his father. It's probably, because Aldo had enough of the music scene and decided to settle down with Jane. To top it off, Joey gets married and doesn't even consider the thought of me being his best man. Like what the fuck is this shit? From the top of the world to nothing!

There are protests everywhere. Protests against the Vietnam War are happening all around the country. Protests against civil rights for blacks are happening in the South with Martin Luther King. Here in New York City there are civil rights demonstrations for the minority Puerto Ricans. People want to be treated fairly and most of all, the entire country wants to live in peace. However, it seems that our government has other ideas. There is a clash between the people and the establishment.

In the following weeks, I was trying to regroup. I had no money saved and I had no job. I didn´t need much, but I needed something. I could live at home for free and I didn't have to pay for anything at Perry Street. Still I need to do something. My brother's camera stores went bankrupt and he returned as a salesman at Peerless Camera. I therefore decided to get a job in a clothing store in the West Village. It is easy to get a job in a clothing store, because the competition amongst the salesmen is so cutthroat that no one lasts for very long. As such, I didn't last very long either, but it kept me busy for a month or so. I checked the Village Voice newspaper every week. This Voice contains its own musician wanted section. When I couldn't find anything worthwhile like a band needing a musician, then I would check out the jobs in the Help Wanted section. One week, I noticed an ad in the Village Voice for an R&B band needing a guitar player. I called and spoke with a singer named Ray. They were rehearsing at this rehearsal hall located on 49th and Broadway, and I arrived there at my appointed time of 7pm. I entered inside the rehearsal room and met Ray, who was the only one there. I said to Ray, "Where's the band?" Ray replied that he had put an ad in the paper, and that a few people should be showing up. I thought that this was very bazaar. I told Ray that I was under the impression that he already had a band and that he needed a guitar player. Ray said that he wanted to start an R&B band very badly and he was willing to do what ever it takes.... even misleading people. I thought, "What a pair of balls on this guy. He dragged me down here for nothing". Then, after laughing at Ray for a moment I told him, "You got to be kidding!" But after talking with Ray for awhile, I kind of liked him. Then I found out that he is Johnny Serrano's brother. Johnny Serrano is the main steady band at the Metropole Cafe. They even appeared in a clip of the famous movie, The Odd Couple, which was directly shot inside The Metropole Cafe. I asked Ray why he didn't play with his brother, and Ray replied that he doesn't play, but wants to sing R&B. Ray mentioned all the pop-groups like Sam & Dave; Otis Redding; Wilson Picket; that I also loved and enjoyed and I was shocked to hear him mention those names. I was impressed! I asked Ray who's going to arrange all the music for you, and Ray said, I don't know? Well, I told him, "If you finally get a few guys, I´ll do it for you. Ray said great! I asked him to give me a call when or if he found somebody. When I left, I began shaking my head in disbelief. It was nice meeting Ray, but I think he is dreaming. However, that is what dreams are about. Dreams do become true if you believe hard enough.

Ray called me almost everyday just to talk and to let me know what was going on. Ray and I began liking one another very much. We talked about R&B on the phone all the time. Eventually, Ray had found a drummer and sax player. He wanted me to come to the studio with my guitar to meet these guys, and I did. When I arrived at the rehearsal with my guitar in my black gig bag draped over my shoulder, the first thing I noticed was this little tiny guy who was in the process of setting-up his drums. Ray introduced me to him. This drummer is a skinny little puny guy. He was about 5´1. I took Ray over to the side and said, "Ray, you got to be kidding. This guy is too small. He has to hit the drums extremely hard, especially the bass drum". The drummer over heard my comment to Ray, and quickly sat down on his drums and began to play as hard as he could. I began laughing! It was very funny watching this little guy pounding on the drums. He was surprisingly very good on technique, but I told him that he needed to bang much harder and consistent than that. The drummer yelled out, I´ll do it...I´ll do it. We will see, I replied laughing, but really, I didn't think he could.

The sax player is Ronny. I asked Ronny to play something and he also sounded very good. However, he was using a plastic mouthpiece. I told Ronny that if he wanted to play with us he needed to buy a metal mouthpiece. He asked, "Why?" I told him that a metal mouthpiece makes the sax's sound, cut through. The plastic mouthpiece is more for soft ballad work. It sounds soft. Ronny said, No problem, I'll buy one tomorrow. Well, I thought, everyone seems to have a positive attitude and enthusiasm. I then told everyone to look for a bass and trumpet, and I will try to peace it all together. I told them all what records to buy, and I asked them to try and learn what they could on their own. We broke-up the rehearsal early, and Ray and I decided to go for a drink at The Metropole Cafe where his brother Johnny is performing.

Ray and I walked down the block to the Metropole, I conveyed to Ray about having the most wanted group in New York, The Van-Dells, and how the Vietnam War suddenly broke it up. I told him how we had just added a trumpet player; we were sounding majestic; my frustrations with loosing it, and everything else that occurred around me after the break-up. Ray assured me that I could have it all again. I liked his positive thinking. It is what he wanted, and he thought that together we both could do it. Ray does have a great positive attitude besides being a great guy, and that YES, it could happen again. However, it wasn't as easy as Ray thought. I explained to Ray, that you have to find the right people; they have to play well; they must get along with each other; they have to all look good; they have to learn how to move on stage. It's very difficult to find and have all those things.

Ray and I then entered the Metropole and we viewed the crop of go-go girls that were dancing as we walked toward the other end of the bar. We waved to Johnny Serrano who was on stage as we walked by. I could tell that Johnny Serrano was greatly surprised to see me hanging out with his brother. Ray and I ordered a drink and we discussed Ronny and the drummer further.

I said to Ray, The drummer is married. It is not good to have a married person in the band. Ray asked, "Why?" I told him that if the drummer's wife starts bitching that he is not around, because he is out there playing with the band all the time, then she is goner pull him away from the group. You don't want a married guy in the band, or a guy who has a steady girlfriend. It's too much trouble and problems. Look at me for instance, I said, I have some girlfriends, but they are not steady girlfriends. I won't let a woman tell me what I should do, or what is best for me. I already know this. I do not need a woman to tell me. That's the way it is and that's the way it will be. If choice is her or the band it will be most definitely the band.

During our discussion, Ray's brother walked over to say hello. Johnny said, "Hey Chuck, I'm surprised to see you here with my brother. What happened to your group?" I replied that the bass player Joey was drafted, and the drummer Aldo decided to work for his father and get married. Johnny replied, "That's a shame! What are you guys doing together?" Ray told him that we were trying to start a new band. Then, Ray and Johnny began talking privately to each other as I was thinking and watching the go-go girls sipping on my drink. Ray and I hung out at The Metropole for a while. We then said goodbye to his brother and then we departed and separated. I decided to head down to Trude´s and hang out with Rena for awhile.

Rena is Trude´s general manager when Trude is not around. She is a very stunning beautiful blonde girl. Rena is about 27 years old. I don't know if she is gay or not, but I never seen her with a man. I met Rena when I began hanging out at Trude´s during my break time at the Eighth Wonder. I would hang out at the side of the bar watching the bands, and one day, Rena invited me to sit with her at Trude´s table. We began talking and eventually we became good acquaintances. I treated Rena with great respect, although I never really knew what her position at the club was. Once I had sat down with her, I would not say a word unless she began a discussion. She therefore enjoyed my company and having me around.

Every time I arrived at Trude´s after that, I was immediately invited to join Rena at Trude´s table. She always gave me the nod to sit with her. I told Rena that I was starting a new group. She asked how it was going, and I told her that we had a great deal of enthusiasm. Rena suggested that I should become a model. She told me that she could hook-me-up in the business. I wasn't very interested, because I loved music too much and besides, although I didn't say this to her, but the modeling business is very gay and I want to stay away from that. She understood! I waved to Amadeo who was dancing on the platform located on the wall. Then a photographer/writer entered Trude´s looking to interview someone about the current drinking age. Rena quickly suggested to the photographer to interview me, and he did. I hung out with Rena for a few hours and then I hopped on the BMT subway back to my house in Brooklyn. I didn't want to sleep in the city at my village apartment, because my money was very low. I could eat at home for free.

Back in Brooklyn, my neighbor's son Joey surprisingly bought a new Fender Jazz bass. I told him to buy a Precision Bass, but he liked the Jazz bass instead. It was very beautiful and I hoped he would find a band eventually. I showed him a few licks to practice with.

A couple of positive things had also happened to me. One, I received my drivers license back, and two; I had learned that my picture was in the newspaper from the night before at Trude´s. I quickly returned to my brother's house in Garden City, Long Island to pick-up my Chevy convertible. The car battery was stone dead even though I had disconnected it. I had to pay for a new battery to get it started. Finally, I have a vehicle once again; however, it is not running the same way as when I bought it. I'm hoping that changing the spark plugs and wires will hopefully improve its performance.

I had learned that Joey the bass player's mother had moved to Bay 49th Street. I went to visit her and to my surprise, she was living on the top floor of a house that was owned by an old friend that I went to school with named, Ritchie. I was not aware that Ritchie is in a wheelchair for life. It happened to him, because he was diving with his friends off the Steeplechase pier. He had miscalculated his dive and it paralyzed his back in the fall. What a shame. He is such a handsome and wonderful person. However, it is wonderful meeting his family and at the same time meeting again with Joey's mother, father, and sister Gracie.

Meanwhile, two weeks went by, and Ray still could not find a bass player or trumpet. We tried to continue rehearsals to keep what members we had, but it was most difficult to rehearse without a bass. Finally, Ronnie the sax had found a bass player in Jersey, and we auditioned him. He is very strange looking and he is not very experienced. Strange looking meaning that he is from the sticks of New Jersey, and didn't even look like a musician. He had this clean-cut, mid-west type of appearance. The drummer and the bass player had never jammed with people, and they had never played in a band before. However, I never have seen in my life, a group of people with so much positive ness and enthusiasm. So I went for it and tried to put it together. I told the guys where I've been, what I know, and if they listened to my guidance, I might be able to put it together if they had what it took. They all agreed happily to follow everything I say.

I told them all what to play note for note as Ray watched on. We began rehearsing every night. We all chipped-in to pay for the rehearsal room! Ray provided me with the titles of the songs he thought he could do, and I taught the guys how to play it. Ray loved Otis Redding and Otis was my idle in music.

Otis Redding´s back-up band is Booker T. and the MG´s. Booker T´s guitarist is Steve Cropper and I tried to play like him. Booker T. and the MG´s also back up Sam & Dave and Wilson Pickett! As the weeks went on, things began progressing, and after a awhile, we were beginning to sound like something, and it was very good. It is also a lot of fun except, we were still shy a trumpet player. You just can't really feel the full potential of the song that contains horn arrangements if you only have one horn.

Then out of the blue, like a miracle, one night while we were rehearsing, a young guy walked into the rehearsal and said, "You guys sound fucking great. I was just walking by, and I heard you guys from the street. I wondered if you needed a trumpet player." We were all in shock. I looked at this very wild looking young handsome guy carrying this small black-leather trumpet gig bag. We shook his hand and asked him his name, which was Joey. I said, Well Joey take out your horn and blow. Joey quickly took out his horn and began warming up with scales. Just by the power of the scales he was playing, I knew he was very good. He began to jam by himself as we all watched in shock. Then he hit a double high C. "Wow", I said, "This guy can play". I couldn't believe he hit a double-high C, without any problem. Joey went on to say that Maynard Ferguson is his idol. He practiced to hit the high notes just like Maynard. Then we all played a song, and when Ronny and Joey blew the horns the rest of the guys could not believe what they were hearing. It was truly amazing how we sounded. I was a moment to remember for everyone! Everyone's enthusiasm rose to a new height, and Ray was astonished. I then quickly told Joey, Welcome to the band! Everyone shook Joey's hand and the band was now complete.

We rehearsed a few more nights at the rehearsal hall, but it was costing us a great deal of money. The rehearsal hall costs us $15.00 a night. Our money is getting very low now. The bass player who came from a nice home in Jersey suggested that we could continue rehearsing at his parent's house. Thus, the next night, we all headed out to Jersey to continue rehearsal.

On Saturday afternoon, we were sitting around the kitchen table at the bass player's house, and we were talking about needing a name for the group. We all began fooling around throwing out different funny names. After awhile, we could no longer think straight. As I was looking around the room, I told the guys that this was the weirdest looking band of people I had every seen. They all began laughing, as someone yelled, You look weird yourself. I smiled and said, Look at the drummer for instance.... He looks like Mr. Peabody. All the guys busted out laughing at the drummer. Mr. Peabody was a character from the underground hit cartoon show, Rocky and his friends. The cartoon show was supposed to be for kids, but the content was really for adults. If you watched it, one could not believe the intense story line. Anyway, the guys were busting out laughing, but the drummer became annoyed and embarrassed. He replied, Look at you. You look like, Bullwinkle. Then everyone busted-out laughing again, and Joey the trumpet player said, "Look at Ronny, he looks like Boris Badnov." Then we all were laughing in tears, and I replied, "You know, he really does." Then the bass player jumped in saying, "Ray looks just like Rocky." Ray began guffawing. Then I jumped up and yelled, "Wait, That's it!" Then some one said, "What's that?" I said, "Rocky and his Friends. What about it?" Everyone looked around the room with smiles toward one other. Then there is a moment of silence. We all had such different looks, and because of our diverse backgrounds, we actually did resemble Rocky and his Friends. I told the band that we could learn the Rocky and his Friends theme song, and use it on stage to introduce Ray to the stage¦ I mean Rocky! Everyone liked the idea, and so it was:

1. Ray the lead singer would be Rocky.

   
   
   

2. I am Bullwinkle.

   
   
   

3. Joey the trumpet is Snidely Whiplash.

   
   
   

4. Ronny the sax is Boris Badnov.

   
   
   

5. The drummer is Mr. Peabody.

   
   
   

6. The bass player is Sherman.

   
   
   

We then continued to rehearse, as we were excited about our new name. A few days later I made a recording off the TV of the theme song from Rocky and his Friends and we adapted it as our theme song.

Rocky, (he is no longer Ray) rushing a little with excitement, went to his brother at the Metropole and acquired an audition for us. I was not too happy about that since I knew the band was not quite ready yet. We all arrived at the Metropole to play a set for free so that the manager of the club could hear us. It turned out that the manager didn't like us, and said we needed more work. We were a little sloppy. The drummer and bass player have never been in a band before, and the fright of playing in public to an audience made them sloppy. The band had also not shopped for new clothes. As it is, the band was not quite ready, but Rocky rushed us into an audition. Everybody in the band was quite shocked that the manager of the club refused us, but I was not. I thought it was somewhat understandable.

Rocky and I were in the bass player's vehicle on our way back to Jersey to drop off the instruments. I was trying to explain to Rocky that he was rushing things. As I was talking to him I suddenly asked the bass player to stop the car. I noticed this little bar on 9th Ave. just before 42nd Street. I told Rocky, Wait here I'll be right back. As I crossed 9th Ave., Rocky yelled, Where the hell are you going? I entered this little dive bar, and I noticed immediately all the drunken derelicts. I went over to the bartender as he looked at me as if to say, "What the hell is a nicely dressed guy like you doing in here?" I said to the bartender, "Who's the manager?" The bartender told me that this is his place. "What can I do for you?" he replied. I said, "Hey, how would you like to have a good band for free this weekend." The owner said, "What?" I continued, "We need to play in front of an audience. You see, some of the guys in the band have never played in front of an audience. I like to bring my band in here for the weekend and play for you folks for free. The manager looked at me very weird and said, "Why sure that would be all right. In matter of fact that would be great. How many pieces are you?" I said, "Six!" He repeated in shock, "Six?" I said, "Yea!" He then asked, "How the hell you going to fit a six piece band in here?" (The bar was only about 25 feet long and 13 feet wide.) I went on, "Don't worry, we won't take too much space...you'll love it." The bartender said, "No man, your crazy... we once had two guitar players and a bass at one time, but six people...no way. I'm not licensed to have that kind of a band." I quickly aggressively replied, "Hey man, you'll love it...you'll make a lot of money...please if you think it is too much then we will pack-up and leave.... just us out." The manager took a deep confusing breath and said, "OK, but I think this is crazy." I told him, "Right...it is...see you Friday night." I dashed back across the avenue to the car and told Rocky that we had a free gig this weekend. Rocky and the bass player freaked. Rocky told me that the place is too small and that it's a dump. I told Rocky, Yea, it's just what we need. We all need to be right up in front of people starring us in the face, and no one will ever know in the music circles that we are in this bar performing. Rocky suddenly became very quiet as we drove away.

Friday night, we arrived at the bar. As we brought the instruments inside the club, the patrons were all looking at us. One of the patrons said to the bartender, "What is this shit?" The bartender replied that this band wants to play here for the weekend. The patron gladly said, "All right!" We started to set-up the stuff and tried not to take-up too much space. It was difficult but we did it. The bartender/owner was very helpful and made some suggestions on where and how to set-up. We tuned-up and started playing and the patrons were shocked. They were saying things like, "Holy shit!" Everybody was grooving and the bartender loved it. They had never heard anything like it. The bartender gave us drinks on the house and after the weekend, the band became nice and polished.

I then went to see Trude Heller and I told her about my new group. She arranged for an audition on Tuesday evening, and when she heard us, she hired us immediately. Trude loved the band and she loved Ray's performance. Trude immediately booked us on the weekend playing along side of Benny Gordon and the Soul brothers. Who needs the Metropole?

On our first set Friday night, we began our set with an instrumental so that the band could warm-up our sound to the room. Once we had adjusted to the room we ended the song. Then I said on the mike, Hello everybody, we are the new kids on the block, and we want you to put your hands together and give a great round of applause for Rooooocky! Without a count off the horn players began the introduction and the band began playing the short Rocky and his Friends theme song, as Rocky came charging from the kitchen/dressing room area onto stage. Then we went directly went into I Can't Turn You Loose by Otis Redding, and the club began jumping. All the people had smiles on all the faces including Trude Heller, and once again I have another successful sounding band making $600.00 a week. Not bad for our first gig.

Our band is smoking and most enjoyable. I say this, because we were very exciting to watch. We had our dance steps down and as everyone watched us as the entire stage was in constant action. We all went shopping a few days before the audition at the Eighth Street area around the corner from Trude´s to buy some great looking clothes. We looked very clean and polished. It wasn't that Benny Gordon was not happening, to the contrary, Benny´ band was great, but having two great exciting bands playing side by side made it the talk of the town. Two weeks of playing at Trude´s made us far more superior than The Van-Dells, and again I was again very happy and feeling good. Everything fell right back into place.

Now that I have a band again and I'm making good money, I moved back into my Village apartment with Amadeo. The first thing I did on my first break was to return to the bar up from Trude´s to see if Barbara was still around. Unfortunately, Barbara was not there. I decided to see if she was hanging-out at the Eighth Wonder so I took a visit there. To my surprise, Barbara and her girlfriends were there. I saw Barbara sitting and talking with some guy in the corner by the front window. Barbara looked at me as I began to talk with her friends at the bar. I told her friends about the new band and that we are now playing at Trude Heller's. I talked with them a bit and they were very happy to see me again, but Barbara never came up to me. She continued talking with this guy. I told her friends to come by and they replied that they would come to Trude´s in a little while to checkout my new band. It was a tense moment of time seeing Barbara with another guy. I immediately said hello to Joel Heller and then I returned to Trude´s to begin my second set. As I am walking back around the block to Trude´s, I was thinking how it has been a long time that I didn't see Barbara. What was I to expect from her after such a long period of time. I should be thankful that I did at least see her again. That's a miracle in itself that she and her girlfriends are still around hanging out at the Eighth Wonder.

There are a few changes at Trude´s since I was last here. There are a few new girl dancers at Trude´s. One new girl dancer is Fina, and she is the replacement dancer for Yvonne. Another girl is Janice. She is very sexy with large breasts. The third new girl is Diane. Diane is a very cute blond girl. All the dancers immediately fell in love with our new band. Amadeo was still there, as well as the bathroom helper, Stanley. Stanley is very happy to see me with a new group, and as always, he loved the new band and as always, my guitar playing. A very pleasant positive guy! There is a new gigantic bouncer at Trude´s and he is being very obnoxious with me. I don't like this guy at all. He has gigantic hands and he is very aggressive. He is stationed near the kitchen/dressing room and every time I walk by him, he jokingly grabs my arm and squeezes it very hard to show off his massive strength. It hurts, and I don't like this idiot so I try to exit the other direction to walk beyond him.

That night about 2:00 in the morning, (Trude´s is open until 4:00am) Barbara and her girlfriends finally arrive into the club, but Barbara is very drunk. I went up to her and put my arms around her, but she ignores me and angrily shrugs me off. She is apparently very pissed that I haven't come to see her for a long time. She is doing a good job ignoring me. Her girlfriend takes me on the side and tells me that she was very interested in that another guy until I surprisingly, unexpectedly, showed up tonight at the Eighth Wonder. Thus, she began drinking a lot which is not her style and thus she is drunk. I then returned to ask Barbara in a serious, but joking manner, "There is an open roof on top of my apartment. Would you like to see it again?" Barbara replied with a drunken voice, "Get away from me!" I told her not to be mad at me, because my not being there is a very long story to tell, but there is a reason. I also told her that this is not the time to explain it to her. Barbara is still very arrogant from her drinking and she is not responding at all, but she did come with her girlfriends to see me and without the new guy.

Meanwhile, for the final hour at Trude´s, Trudy wants Rocky and his Friends and Benny Gordon and the Soulbrothers to perform together on stage at the same time together. That's right, two drummers; two guitars, two basses; four horns and two vocalists. We did it and the club went into an uproar. The sound, lights, and people are jamming beyond belief. Trude certainly knows how to create the ultimate finality. All the eight Trude Heller dancers were performing on the wall at the same time with us. Not only that, but at 3:30 in the morning, there is still a long line waiting to get into the club.

After the finality ended, Barbara and her friends were waiting on the steps leading out on the emergency exit of Trude´s located on the 9th Street side. I went to Barbara who is sitting on the steps very drunk, and I put my arms around her and forcibly kissed her. For the time being, she became very responsive. I then began to do what I've been waiting to do for along time. I began to fondle her beautiful breasts. Oh man, they felt fantastic again. They felt so good that I couldn't let go! I got very hot and I said to her, "Let's go to my apartment." I could tell that she wanted to very much, but she was now extremely very drunk. She thought for a moment and replied, "I want to go home." I responded that it was better to go to my apartment, which is just a short distance, then to take the train home to Jersey. Then suddenly Barbara threw-up on the sidewalk. Her girlfriends recommended that they take her home, but they said that they will return tomorrow night. After kissing her and felling her breasts, I wanted her so much, but I had to go along with her girlfriend's recommendation.

The following Saturday evening they did return. Barbara is herself again and immediately kissed me when I walked over to her. Things are back to normal again, and yes, Barbara will come to my apartment with me after the gig to pick-up from where we last left off. Fantastic!

Trude told Rocky, who has assumed handling the business for the band that Rocky and his Friends is now the house band at the club. The band is thrilled. We are packing the place once again, standing room only. After a short while at Trade's, we became very noticeable and talked about around New York City. Rocky was the only guy who was able to mimic Otis Redding's style of singing. He was very rhythmic with his voice! We brought the crowd to there feet every time we played. When we did the Otis hit, Try a little Tenderness, at one point, the whole band went down on our knees. It was very touching, and the crowd loved it immensely. We actually robbed that skit from Benny Gordon's band. In matter of fact, we robbed a lot of stuff from Benny and his band.

We had heard that Joey Dee and the Starliters had a falling out, and some of the original members of the group had quit. They formed their own group and called themselves, The Young Rascals. They soon started recording and one of their songs began climbing the charts.

Joey Dee on the other hand, opened his own nightclub called
The Starliter. Ray and I decided to go check it out. Frankie Lymon was performing that night and we enjoyed his vocal performance immensely. We met Joey Dee and Frankie Lymon and they were wonderful people. They had heard about our group, and they treated us very special that night, buying us free drinks and presenting us with the best table in the house.

A week later, I had heard that Rocky had acquired a secret girlfriend. I also heard that this girl is crazy and obsessed with Rocky. We never saw her too much although we slowly began hearing about her. She rarely came to see us perform, but Rocky eventually told me that he had moved-in with her. I made very concerned and cautious. I was hoping that this girl was not going to start some shit like instigate ideas or actions that might interfere with the band. So I was very worried about his situation.

As the popularity of the Rocky and his Friends began to rise, a group of teenage girls began hanging-out in front of Trude´s almost every evening. Where they came from I don't know but they pleaded to us to come outside of Trude´s on our break to spend some time with them. They just loved us like crazy and I never knew how it all started. We did go out and see them on our break and they were extremely cute and sexy. The girls began growing in number after a few weeks so we decided to begin a Rocky and his Friends fan club and appoint one of the girls to handle it. We printed membership cards and we mailed our performance schedule to all the female members. I became very attracted to one of the teenage girls named Dee. She was very sexy. She always wore a short black mini-skirt. She had beautiful long tin legs. I just couldn't keep my hands of her thin legs. I love long thin legs.

The band received an offer to open-up a gig for The Young Rascals in an afternoon concert located in New Jersey. We accepted the offer and thus, Rocky and I became very close friends with the drummer Dino Dinelli. The Young Rascals are the fastest rising group now on the music charts. The Young Rascals are now enjoying their hit, Good Lovin. Dino lived uptown in an apartment building, and he had his real phone number listed in the phone book directory. Every time we went to see him at his apartment the telephone was constantly ringing with female groupies on the other end of the line. All we had to do was answer the phone and we could invite the girl/girls over to fuck. It was that easy. Dino is constantly edging us on to pick-up the phone to invite some girls over to the apartment. Thus, Rocky and I began hanging out at Dino apartment almost everyday.

One night, as I arrived at Dino´s apartment, I opened the door to walk in, and I immediately saw Dino in the kitchen area. I said hello and Dino looked at me and said, "Chuck, I hate your fucking guts, as he pointed a gun right at my stomach and pulled the trigger and shot twice. I seen the sparks from the fired gun, I felt air hitting my stomach, and I immediately bent over in shock. Dino broke out laughing. Dino always enjoyed playing pranks, but this one was sure a surprise. I thought it was real and for a moment I thought I accepted bullets. Dino just laughed.

When Dino performed, his hair looked so perfect. I asked him how he gets his hair looking like that and he said, "Adorn Extra Hold" hair spray. He then showed me the can and told me to buy the red can of Adorn, which was super hold. Rocky and I went into the bathroom to try it. We styled our hair the way we wanted it and then we sprayed it with Adorn and our hair didn't budge. Rocky and I went to the club to perform and when we arrived to the club and looked in the mirror, not a strand of hair had moved during our travels. Our hair style was now looking great all night. People would come up to us and ask us how we did our hair also, but we would never indulge Dino's secret. My hair was especially troublesome because it was very long on top and it would get messed up very easily. So finally, I can keep it looking the way I want it.

Not only did the band attract all these young groupie girls everywhere we went, but the groupie girls were attracting all these young would be Mafia guys. Now, we had a gang of young Mafia guys hanging out with the band everywhere we went also. It sort of became free protection. They were not in the Mafia, they just wanted to be or knew people who were in it, and they tried acting the same way as Mafia people would. Everywhere we played there they were, and they became great bunch of guys and a lot of fun to be with. They did a lot of crazy things and they made us laugh all the time. They also made sure that no one fucked with us. They spent a great deal of money buying us drinks and taking us out afterwards. They had their own group of female groupies who liked hanging out with them, and the girls they had would do any thing they asked. It was a lot of fun having all these groupies, male and female, hanging out with us everywhere we went.... it became like a family.

One night after the gig, the Mafia type guys invited us to join them at this all night, open 24 hours; French restaurant on 53rd and Lexington Ave called the Brassiere. My band adopted this particular restaurant through the suggestion of our Mafia groupies, and soon it would slowly develop into a place for all the performers in Manhattan after work. It eventually became the in-spot where all the performers went for breakfast after 4:00 am. It is a very expensive restaurant. Two eggs are $7.00!

There we were, all sitting at a table with all these groupies, including
Jimi Hendrix, Tiny Tim, as well as, other performers and stars. Hendrix and I were the only ones with guitars in our gig bags. Jimi and I took out our guitars and began to jam not amplified. I began the riff of Land of a Thousand Dances, by Wilson Pickett as Jimi began to improvise a lead. Then Jimi continued the rhythm as I improvised a lead, but during our jam, every once and a while, Tiny Tim would improvise a singing line. When he did, all the people at the table began to laugh. Including
The Chambers Brother´s who were sitting at the table next to us. Poor Tiny, he so strange! Everyone was very tired and trying to seduce the girls, but Jimi and I continued to jam. Jimi then began to play a song off his new English album he had told me about called, Purple Haze. I watched his position on his guitar neck and I joined in on the chord structure. Then I threw-in some of my own licks as he began to sing. Jimi smiled at me while he was singing, because he was enjoying my improvised licks. Suddenly, the manager of the Brassiere came over to us and told us to quit playing or he will eject us from the restaurant. Jimi and I played it cool as we both put our guitars back in our gig bags.

One night after the gig, the Mafia type guys invited us to join them at this all night, open 24 hours; French restaurant on 53rd and Lexington Ave called the Brassiere. My band adopted this particular restaurant through the suggestion of our Mafia groupies, and soon it would slowly developed into a place for all the performers in Manhattan to go meet and be seen after hors in New York. It eventually became the in-spot where all the performers went for breakfast after 4:00 am. It is a very expensive restaurant. Just Two eggs are $7.00! So, there we were, all sitting at a table with all these groupies, including Jimi Hendrix, Tiny Tim, as well as, other performers and stars. Hendrix and I were the only ones with guitars in our gig bags. Jimi and I took out our guitars and began to jam not amplified. I began the riff of Land of a Thousand Dances, by Wilson Pickett as Jimi began to improvise a lead. Then Jimi continued the rhythm as I improvised a lead, but during our jam, every once and a while, Tiny Tim would improvise a vocal singing line. When he did, all the people at the table began to laugh, including The Chambers Brother's who were also sitting at the table next to us. Poor Tiny, he so strange! Everyone tried to seduce the girls, but Jimi and I continued to jam. Jimi then began to play a song off his new English album he had told me about called, Purple Haze. I watched his position on his guitar neck and I joined in on the chord structure. Then I threw-in some of my own licks as he began to sing. Jimi smiled at me while he was singing, because he was enjoying my improvised licks. Then suddenly, the manager of the Brassiere came over to us and told us to quit playing or he will eject us from the restaurant. Jimi and I played it cool as we both put our guitars back in our gig bags.

One night, Rocky, the Mafia guys and I all decided to do something the next early morning, but Amadeo had scheduled a meeting with one of his boyfriends that night so I had no place to sleep in the city. Thus my plan was to sleep at home in Brooklyn. I needed a place to sleep in Manhattan if I was going to join with them when of our Mafia groupies told this beautiful young black girl with this voluptuous body to provide her apartment for me to sleep in so that I could join with them tomorrow. She obliged, and I went to her apartment and she tried to fuck me very good. While she was fucking me, the new Beatle song began playing on the radio, Lucy in the sky with Diamonds, a song off the newly released Beatles album. The song was intense and I had never heard anything like it. It was also the first time I had ever had sex with a black girl. She was beautiful and had a great body, but the odor of a black person takes getting used to. I could not stand the way she smelled, and I got very nauseous while she was fucking me to death. I quickly interrupted the sex, and told her I had to go to the bathroom. Once there, I threw-up while I flushed the toilet so that she wouldn't hear me throwing-up. I went back to the bed and told her that I had too much to drink. We then slept together the rest of the night. The next day we all got together and went to the beach. I had noticed that the black girl had fallen in love with me. She wanted to constantly be around me and she began showing-up at Trude´s. I liked her very much, but I could not stand the black odor. I ignored the girl as much as possible. If Barbara saw here she would freak and maybe end our relationship.

I told one of the Trude Heller dancers, Fina, about my problem with the black girl. Fina suggested that I go out with her and her girlfriend to have breakfast after the performance. She suggested I tell the black girl that she, Fina was my girlfriend. Thus, at the end of the evening, I told the black girl that I was dating Fina and that I was going home with Fina after the performance. I was very difficult to lie to this black girl, because the black girl is very cute and sincere. It made me feel very bad and I didn't enjoy what I had done.

After the gig that night at Trude´s, Fina and I strolled out of the club onto the street. Waiting for Fina was a beautiful red-hair girl in this brand new black Cadillac Eldorado. I said when I seen the girl pull up in the car, "Woe, what is this?" Fina replied, "Chuck, this is my girlfriend Barbara!" We entered the vehicle and I said hello to Barbara. As we were driving to the Brasserie restaurant I asked Barbara whose car this was. Barbara told me that it belonged to her father. I replied, "Very impressive!" I then reiterated to Fina how I felt bad for the wonderful black girl and thanked her for her advice and help. While having breakfast, I would learn about Fina´s friend Barbara Dayton. Barbara's father is a famous hair designer who made a fortune having the only 24hr beauty salon in Manhattan. His name is Larry Mathews. Because of his special hours, all the stars came to his salon at night to have their hair done. Her father and mother then became one of the rich and famous.

After breakfast, Barbara invited me over to her house to sleep. In shock I quickly accepted. I didn't learn about Barbara's wealth until she invited me to sleep at her apartment with her. After dropping Fina off at her apartment, Barbara took me to her parent's apartment on 61 Street and Central Park West. The apartment building she lived in is called The Century. It was definitely an apartment building for the wealthy. The building looked like a major hotel rather than an apartment house. Barbara drove the Caddy into the underground parking facility and we took the elevator up to the ninth floor. The elevator door opened into a sunken living room. "Boy, this is elegance", I thought to myself. As we walked into the sunken living room, I asked Barbara where her parents were. Barbara replied that her parents were mostly living on a yacht that they had at the 79th Street boat basin. Are you sure that they won't come home tonight, I asked. Barbara replied that they very rarely come here. Barbara then escorted me into her unbelievable gorgeous bedroom. Barbara began removing her clothes to expose her wonderful outrageous body. I did the same and we both entered the bed. As soon as we were under the covers, Barbara began giving me a blow job then threw back the covers to make me watch her wonderful sexual performance on me. She stood on top of me and asked me to come into her mouth and proceeded to suck me off and I splattered my come which began dripping from her lips, she then proceeded to get on top of me and put my wet cock into her pussy. She then began to fuck me like crazy. Barbara is so beautiful with her natural long red hair draping slightly above her ass. After Barbara fucked me we proceeded to hold each other in bed as we fell asleep. When we began to awake, I heard someone in the house. I conveyed this to Barbara and she told me that it is the maid. Barbara then proceeded into the kitchen. Barbara returned and told me that she had the maid prepare us some breakfast. Actually, it was 1:00 in the afternoon. A short time later, the maid brought us breakfast in bed. "Wow," I thought again, "This is really something else. I feel like a king!" After about an hour of enjoying this fine breakfast, Barbara suggested that we take a walk through Central Park, which is directly across the street. Apparently, while we were have breakfast, the maid had washed and pressed all my clothes to perfection. I truly felt like a millionaire. Barbara and I then went for a walk in the park. It is a beautiful sunny day and it is very relaxing. Just what I needed! After our walk in the park, Barbara took me out to restaurant in her neighborhood and she signed the bill for the meal to charge it to her well-known famous father. After dinner, Barbara drove me in the Eldorado back to Trude´s, and told me that she would pick me up at 4:00am after the gig. It seems like I am blessed with a very fine rich wealthy new girlfriend

Back at Trude´s, I told Fina about my wonderful morning with Barbara. Fina replied, "She's such a beautiful girl," isn't she? I said, "Yes, very!" Fina went on, "She really likes you a lot so go for it!" With everything I had experienced that morning I thought about the other Barbara who I also like very much. What was I to do? I guess I'll just go where the ship takes me.

Barbara and I had developed a great relationship. I began living with Barbara now almost every night now. Barbara told me that I made her very happy, and she certainly did make me feel like a king. Not to mention that she is a very beautiful striking girl. I am a poor musician living among the rich. I really wasn't actually totally poor, because I am making good money, but I don't really have any savings to fall back on. However, I quickly enjoyed and I am now adjusted to living in elegance with Barbara. I soon learned that Barbara had a baby named Kimberly from her first marriage. Her parents are caring for the baby. It appears that Barbara was married to a top famous New York radio DJ named Bob Dayton who was now hosting a radio station in California. I could tell that she was definitely still in love with her ex-husband, but I knew that their relationship was finished. Barbara baby lives with her parents on their yacht.

One morning while I was sleeping in bed with Barbara, Barbara's mother suddenly walks into the bedroom. I had actually seen through the corner of my eye Barbara's mother coming in to the bedroom, as I pretended to be sleeping. Barbara's mother didn't like it, and soon thereafter, the maid came to tell us that we had to leave for good. It was Barbara's mother's orders. Now Barbara has to move out of her parent's apartment. The mother took all the amenities away from her including the Caddy. Barbara decided that she was going to rent an apartment at the famous Chelsea Hotel on 23 on the lower west side of Manhattan. I drove Barbara in my Impala convertible to acquire the apartment. The apartment is great, beautiful and expensive. Barbara asked me to move in with her. I told her that I had already had an apartment in the village that I didn't have to pay for. Barbara told me that I would not have to pay if I moved in with her so I decided to do it. Barbara brought her little baby Kimberly to live with us. Barbara, needing a job now, decided to work as a top-less dancer. I also didn't know that her friend and my friend Fina was also a topless dancer at one time before she worked at Trude´s. and that was how they both met. This was not something I liked and since there was nothing I could do about it at the moment, I just accepted it. However, it was something to be concerned about, and I didn't know how to handle the situation. I did have some discussions with Barbara about it and she told me that it was nothing to be concerned about. She told me that bluntly that she is my girlfriend, and that she loved me very much. Pretty cut and dry? I had to take care of the baby when Barbara went out working. I had to change the baby's diapers as well as feed the kid. I loved every minute of it although the baby was quite defiant at times. Everything was real pleasant and I enjoyed this new life and Barbara at this time.

Meanwhile, Amadeo was getting annoyed with me because I was living with Barbara, and he didn't know when I would be staying at the Village apartment or not. He told me that he wanted to have relationships with men, but he was afraid that I would decide to come home and walk in on them. He did not know what was going on with me and he wanted me to make a choice so he could feel more comfortable. If I wasn't going to stay at the Village apartment, then he wanted me to give up the key. Well, this is a predicament for me. I will have to make a choice. I really don't want to give up the beautiful village apartment where the old Barbara and I could be together, but I am enjoying this other lifestyle with the new Barbara and the new Barbara is incredibly beautiful. I just don't like this go-go topless dancer thing so I don't know what to do now. I guess I must make a choice so I'll go along with the ship. I then apologized to Amadeo. I thanked him for his loyal friendship and I agreed with him that I should give up the key if I would continue living with Barbara. It was only fair to him, because now I am living somewhere else. I told him that I am very happy with this new girl Barbara, and that I do not wish to inconvenience him any longer. I gave him the key and told him to rest easy. Amadeo then assured me that I am welcome at his apartment anytime if something doesn't work out. So the village apartment is out and the Chelsea apartment with the new Barbara is in. I hope this is a good decision.

Rocky and his Friends are now stated as the best band in New York. I finally had a very beautiful girlfriend with an extraordinary baby, and we were living in one of the nicest, wealthiest funky hotel in Manhattan. There was nothing more that I could ask for. Except, I still didn't like or understand why a rich girl with a wonderful successful musician boyfriend had to go out and dance top-less. I really couldn't afford to pay the rent at the Chelsea because it was very expensive, but I did make Barbara a good financial help offer with the rent to get her to stop the topless dancing. She thanked me for the offer, but said that she needed to build up some money now that her parents were angry with her.

I then began receiving many parking tickets near the Chelsea Hotel. My car was towed away twice at $120.00 a pop. It was horrible having a car in the area, or having a car in Manhattan altogether. My beautiful Chevy Impala was looking like shit from the pollution and from all the dents I acquired parking in the city. Between all the parking tickets, towing, and the car payments it was now becoming to be quite expensive for me.

Barbara met some female top-less dancers during her work. Her top-less dancer friends, who were very beautiful sexy ladies, also moved into the Chelsea Hotel. They moved in right down the hall from us, but their apartment is nowhere as elegant or as nice as ours. The girls enjoyed hanging-out at our apartment most of the time. They certainly loved the baby and me. When Barbara was or was not around which was quite frequent, the beautiful girls would help me with the baby. They also enjoyed keeping me company when I was not performing, or if I was just hanging out at home. I couldn't believe all the beautiful girls that were around me now every day.

One day, I was not feeling too well. It seamed that my penis is hurting a bit. I decided to go to a doctor for a check-up. The doctor told me that I had contracted Venereal Disease, otherwise known as, The Clap. I asked the doctor, "How could I get that, I have a girlfriend?" He told me that I had probably got it from my girlfriend. It then dawned on me that Barbara was fucking around behind my back, which I just could not grasp. I became very angry and I flipped out. When Barbara came home that evening or actually that next morning, I told her that I had the clap. I asked her how the hell did I get that except from you. Barbara replied that maybe she developed it from wearing someone else's costume from work. "Don't give me that bullshit," I said. I then threw her on the bed and slapped her. I told her that I demanded the truth. She finally confessed, and told me she started to fool around with one of her customers, but that it was a mistake. She proceeded to apologize to me. I became furious. I almost began to cry, because I had suddenly seen my whole living condition eroding and the village apartment I gave up. I needed to regroup my thoughts. The following morning, Barbara began crying to me, and continued to apologize over and over again. I told her that I accepted her apology, and she promised me that she would never do it again. She wanted to continue to maintain our relationship. I didn't know what to do. Most of all, I had surrendered my Village apartment. I certainly didn't want to go back to the negativity in Brooklyn. Everything had been so wonderful up until now. However, I am not feeling the same way toward Barbara anymore. I asked her to quit top-less dancing. She replied that she needed to earn big money, but that she will maintain her control. I felt helpless. If I would have had my apartment in the Village, then I would leave, but I must stay and go with the flow in order to avoid going back to Brooklyn.

All of Barbara's top-less dancer girlfriends, who hung out at our apartment, adored me. All of them came on to me continuously. They would purposely rub their bodies against me all the time. Occasionally, they would slide their hands against my ass as I walked by them. However, my loyalty has always been with Barbara, and I had thought about all the nights I was alone in the apartment with these beautiful women and did nothing. I was loyal to Barbara and she fuck's with someone behind my back and gives me the Clap.

One evening soon thereafter, there is two of Barbara's beautiful girlfriends in our apartment. One is sitting on the couch reading and the other one, Marsha, is playing a card game with me called, Gin. Marsha asked me if I was holding the Ace of Clubs. The card deck is almost exhausted. Marsha said, "I bet your holding the Ace?" I replied, "You want me to show you my cards?" She said, "Yes!" I then asked, "If I do not have the Ace of Clubs in my hand will you let me take you in the bedroom and fuck you?" Marsha smiled and quickly replied, "Yes!" I reiterated, Are you sure that you will let me fuck you? You better not chicken-out when I get you in the bedroom. She said, "No problem." Let me see your hand. I showed her my hand without the Ace. The Ace is the last card in the deck. I grabbed Marsha by the arm and said, "Come with me!" I dragged her into the bedroom and laid her on the bed. I began fondling her beautiful sexy body and then I began to make-out with her. I then pulled her pants down to expose her pussy, but I couldn't get myself to fuck her. I am still thinking of my loyalty to Barbara. I then put my fingers in her pussy to feel her clit. Then I began sucking on her voluptuous breasts. Marsha wanted me to continue, but I made her stand-up and I told her that we should go back in the living room. And that we did! I was concerned about the other girl reading in the living room. I hoped that she would not say a word about this to Barbara.

Marsha and I continued doing this everyday and Barbara finally found out. The first thing Barbara did was to throw me out of the apartment. Barbara did not want to hear anything more. That is it! She said, "Get out of my house!" I guess I deserved it, but I sure did not treat Barbara that badly when she gave me the clap. I gave her a second chance. I didn't think with my head. Instead I thought with my dick. I didn't foresee the consequences, and when she threw me out I became devastated. I tried to plead with her, but she would not respond. I began to cry, because I didn't want to suddenly go back to Brooklyn. I was crying out side the Chelsea by myself. No one saw me, but I didn't think of the consequences when I fooled around with Marsha. Then Marsha came outside and saw me crying. She invited me to sleep with her at her apartment, which is directly across the hall in the Chelsea. When Marsha and I got to the room, she fucked me for hours. She did everything imaginable to make me happy and to help me forget my sadness and it worked!

The next day, I needed to decide what I was now going to do. I had no other choice, but to go back home to Brooklyn again. The relationship between Barbara and I is finished. However, I still have ol´reliable waiting for me at the bar up the block from Trude´s. That's right! The other Barbara was still waiting for me. I should marry that girl!

The first thing that I did when I returned to Brooklyn was to visit Joey's mother. Soldiers are dying like crazy in this Vietnam War, and I became very concerned for Joey's status. Joey's mother is very happy to see me. She was baking Joey a macaroni pie, which is spaghetti and tomato sauce baked in a frying pan. She also made him her famous meatballs with raisons. She would send it off to him the next day. However, as far as she knew, everything is OK with him. She had not heard any bad news. After visiting her, I went downstairs to say hello to Ritchie who had a new girlfriend named, Barbara. There are a lot of Barbara's in this city.

It took about two weeks to recover from my break-up with Barbara, but in the end, I was glad it was all over. I was eventually glad I didn't have a top-less dancer as a girlfriend. What a relief!

Soon thereafter, a big-time producer approached the band. He wanted to record us and he had the company of, Coca Cola, behind him who wanted to finance the recording of the group. The band and I are very happy that someone finally recognized our talent. The producer and the president of Coca Cola all came to the club one night, but they could not get in. The club was packed. Therefore, we arranged to meet with them across the street at a restaurant. We all sat around a big round table during our break at Trude´s and chatted. The Coca Cola people were interested in signing the band, but they wanted to take us in the studio to see what develops first. They asked us if we had written any songs, and we told them that we did not. They replied that they would try to find some material for us. They told us that anything we wanted within reason would be provided. They wanted to take us in the studio with this producer to try to develop a sound. They seemed very nice and sincere people, and the band is very excited. However, one thing happened that was very strange. When we finished the meeting, the band returned to Trude´s, but, Rocky purposely stayed behind and continued to talk with them in private.

When we arrived back to the club, many of the band members had asked me why Rocky decided to stay behind. I told them I didn't know, but I asked them not to worry. When Rocky returned, I told Rocky that the guys were concerned, and that they didn't like the fact that you stayed behind to initiate a private conference. Rocky replied that he just was trying to put a little icing on the cake. I asked Rocky not to do it again, because the guys are going to think you're talking behind their back. Rocky finally agreed that it didn't look good and he apologized to the band and to me.

In the next few days, we entered a recording studio. The producer isolated us to minimize noise. This technique is used to separate the microphones so that it would not bleed onto other tracks. Isolating the band in this manner separated us way too far apart. We had difficulty hearing and communicating with one another, even though we wore headphones. The whole isolation situation is not good, because we are used to being close to one another. We wasted about four hours in the studio doing this sound setup to try to create a pleasant sound. It took such a long period of time that the band quickly lost interest in playing. We also could not play separated like that. The studio itself had a bad layout it is an ugly looking studio, and the band and I felt very uncomfortable. So after all this time wasting, I told the producer that I understood his method; the more isolated the tracks, the cleaner the sound. However, I recommended that he must have everything set-up before we arrive to minimize the waiting time. He needs to get us fresh and alive with energy. I also told him plainly that this studio sucked. He needs to get a nicer studio with some atmosphere. Eventually, the producer did find another studio and tried a different approach.

Rocky began conversing with the studio producer in the control room trying to take charge of the situation while the entire band was in the studio room. They both were telling us what to do, but we are unaware of what they were trying to achieve. I could tell that the band members felt left out of the process. Finally, I spoke out for the band and myself. I said, "Excuse me; we have no idea what you are trying to achieve. The band and I feel left out of the process. We need to be apart of this thing if we are going to maintain interest while we are waiting in this studio room. We are not robots you know. We are people. If you isolate us from the process, then we may lose interest. But if you keep us constantly informed of where you're trying to go with this thing, then we will help you achieve your goal." The producer replied over the studio mike that I am right. He apologized by telling us what he is trying to do and from then on, he kept the band consistently informed.

It seems that this producer is not really a producer, but an engineer turned producer. An engineer is one thing and a producer is another. An engineer is a person who knows how to work the console, as well as all the other equipment in the studio, and who has experience in capturing a clean sound signal. A music producer is someone with musical expertise and who can formulate a unique sound and inspire the artist.

An engineer does not need musical experience. He or she doesn't need to know the notes in a musical chart. He or she needs not to know how to tune instruments or play an instrument. The expertise is in the equipment and what constitutes a clean perfect signal.

A musical producer does not need to know how to work the equipment, although everything known certainly helps. A musical producer is in charge of creating an atmosphere conducive to recording an artist. He must have some musical knowledge in instrumentation, tuning and vocal performance. There are many other qualities that they both must have, but the important point is that they are separate entities. Now sometimes these two positions tend to overlap one another, but I definitely look at them as being separate. It takes way too much concentration to be both if someone had that ability. This producer is doing both. He is handling the board and supposedly producing us at the same time. There is only one man in the control room and that is he. After about four hours of trying to get a basic sound, we accomplished nothing. Frustrated, the producer then asked us all to perform together, with Rocky, so that he; the producer could take something back to the Coca Cola people. We obliged, and the producer rolled the tape without stopping. The band then kicked-off six pop-tunes that we normally do live. When the recording finished, we asked the producer for a copy and he postponed the copy of what we did to a later date. What a fuck head producer this guy is!

Rocky is not a good singer as far as voice wise. But he could perform like a great front man, and he has the ability to mimic Otis, which is a feat in itself. When you had a dedicated band that is very tight and very good, the singer is actually is meaningless. Anyone could stand in front of a great band and sound good. For example, in Benny Gordon case, it is the opposite. Benny's band is good, but not great. Benny is great. He has a phenomenal voice and could move the people into frenzy just with his voice alone. Benny could stand in front of a bad band and the whole band would be great. Our case it is different. Our band was great. Rocky would be nothing without us. I conveyed this to the band members for reassurance, and because of this, I told the band that they needn´t worry about Rocky´s newly developed selfish attitude. The band members all knew this, but they still complained that Rocky´s selfish attitude is spoiling things. I agreed, but I told them not to worry.

A few days later, an agent booked us to perform at New Jersey's Palisades Park, a giant amusement area. A famous New York black radio D.J
Hal Jackson hosted it. We are the first white band to be invited to play on the Hal Jackson's set. We are honored! We arrived at Palisades Park for a Saturday afternoon matinee performance. Most of the band's female groupies attended including Rocky´s mysterious girlfriend. Also there were the guy's from Coca Cola who have not yet seen us perform live. It is a beautiful sunny early afternoon. We performed to the large crowd on a very big outdoor stage, and all the people went nuts over our performance. Hal Jackson could not believe that we sounded so black. With such a successful performance in his show, Hal completely fell in love with us. He told the band that he would have us return to his show next week. Then Hall took us on the side and thanked each of us individually for giving a great performance. He told us that we were the best band that had ever performed here with him. Hal immediately booked us for the following Saturday for more money. He was going to give us top billing no mater what hit group performed there. It is a great compliment coming from a much-loved famous radio DJ.

After the show, Rocky immediately ran over to the Coca cola people discarding Hal's commentary to the band. The band was standing in one spot with Hal, and Rocky and the Coca Cola guys on the opposite side. The band stared Rocky down as Hal talked with us. I personally could tell that Hal is confused that Rocky took off like that. Rocky eventually began to become uncomfortable when he saw the bands body language. Finally, we noticed that Rocky said something to the Coca Cola guys and then they all proceeded to come to us and the Coca Cola guys invited us all out to dinner. We all went out to dinner and we even brought some of our female groupies along with us, but it seemed that Rocky was leading and commanding the show. I had brought my little groupie Dee with us to the dinner. The Coca Cola guys loved our performance. They had nothing but good words for the performance of the band, while the band and I listened as I rubbed my hands up Dee's skinny long legs under the table. I told the Coca Cola guys that it is imperative that we obtain new, fresh material for the band to record. They certainly agreed! I also told them that this producer is wasting our time in the studio with all this technical bullshit. We need a fresh approach and a far more luxurious studio with an atmosphere. They replied that they would talk with the producer. After a positive dinner, the Coca Cola guys gave us a cassette copy of our recording from the preceding studio engagement. We were all happy about that except that Rocky took possession of the tape. The band and I returned to Trude´s to setup the stage again. The band and I had become very agitated with Rocky´s attitude, and they elected me to put an end to it. Therefore, I called an emergency meeting with Rocky and the band at Trude´s during our re-setup.

The band, Rocky, and I all sat down and had a talk. I began the meeting by telling Rocky, "Look, you have been having many private conferences with the producer and the Coca Cola guys. The band and I do not like it. We had discussed this numerous times with you, but you seem to continue without any regard to the feelings of the band. Therefore, I'm going to be blunt on behalf of the group. They elected me to do so. You are not the leader of this group. Despite the efforts you made to get this group together, and conducting business with Trude, you are only the front man and a member of the group. Not the leader! Therefore, if there has to be any discussions in the future with anyone, the entire band members want to be present. On behalf of the band, I must tell you that if you proceed on this selfish course then you will leave us without any other choice, but to replace you. (I needed to threaten him a bit in hopes of him realizing the seriousness of the situation which he has caused to be developed) Your actions have caused great resentment in this band. This band is great, and we can get another new Rocky very easily. Do you understand?"

Rocky replied angrily, Listen you fuckers, these guys like me very much. I am taking advantage of the situation by dealing in the bands behalf. Not for myself. It is for all of us that I have been taking advantage of their liking me. It´s for all of us!

I tried to make Rocky understand, "Look, the band doesn't like separation. If we are together then we will communicate together. You do not come to us to tell us what you and they had discussed. You tell us nothing. As if we don't need to know. Therefore, we all assume you are dealing on your own behalf and not of the band's behalf. From now on, no one is left out, and no one band member will make a decision for the rest. That is how this group started, that is how it is, and that is where it will be! All of us! If it is not, then destruction will eventually happen. You can avoid this; the band and I are laying down the law. It´s not how I want it, although I do, but it's the entire band that wants it that way. We can't be a group if one of the members is dealing on his own, not keeping us informed and so we want it stopped, now!" Rocky helplessly thought to himself for a moment and said, "OK.... no problem! That's the way it will be." That night, the band performed at Trude´s flawlessly. There was no hard feelings, and all personal feeling have seemed to appear mellow out.

The next day, I went to Rocky´s girlfriend's apartment to here the cassette recording of our performance in the studio. The fucking producer had recorded the copy at a faster speed. It all sounded very fast. Not like chipmunks, but fast enough that the groove was lost. It is then that I learned that Rocky´s new girlfriend is behind this new attitude that he now possesses. She had been pumping him up and edging him on to take control, and to be independent. I felt it at the apartment and I heard it in her vocal feelings. She thought that we could not do without Rocky, and maybe she was right, but when it comes to push or shove, anyone is expendable. Regardless, I ca tell that this bitch is causing a lot of unnecessary friction in the band, as many women love to do.

On Friday night, I arrived to Trude´s to learn that Trude had hired a new band to perform with us for the weekend. The new band had rearranged the stage. They stacked the amps on top of one another at the rear of the stage to make room for their and our equipment. This is not a problem, but it was an awkward setup. However, as we were performing our second set, I had noticed that the amplifiers began rocking back and forth as the stage began moving from our movements. Whoever positioned these amps did a bad job, because they appeared that the top amp might possibly fall over if the stage moves a little harder. I kept my eye on the amp as the club is jumping with excitement. Then all of a sudden, I saw the top amplifier begin to tip over and fall. I quickly turned to grab it, and I did just before it hit Ronny the sax. However, I did not notice the mike stand in front of the amp. As soon as I grabbed the amp, the amp struck the mike stand, and the stand hit me in the head hard above my eye. I caught the amp just before it was about to crash on Ronny, and the audience stood up cheering and applauding. When I turned to the audience to take a bow, blood began poring out of the top of my eyebrow where the mike stand had hit me. Trude´s employees quickly rushed me to the nearby hospital. I wound up getting 23 stitches within the next hour.

Then Rocky and the bass player came to visit me on the break. The bass player said, "Chuck, have you ever heard of Martha Raye?" I said, "The actress." He replied, "Yes." I said, "Sure! I see her all the time on TV." He said that she was in the audience when the amp and mike stand hit you in the head. She felt very bad for you and in your absence, because we sounded like shit without a guitarist, and she decided to come up and performed a few songs on behalf of your absence. I replied, "No way!" He said, "Yea, she performed a few songs and the crowd loved it. She saved our set!" I was very surprised to here this. The bass player continued, "She gave me this religious medallion, and asked me to bring it to you." He then showed me the beautiful gold religious medallion and placed it in my hand. I looked at the medallion and it had some kind of Saints embossed on both sides of the piece, with a ribbon attached. I could not believe this as the bass player went on, "She said that the Pope gave it to her personally and that she wants you to hold on to it so that you will have a quick recovery. She said that she would return someday again soon to retrieve the religious piece." I was shocked!

Apparently, Martha Raye was performing on Broadway staring in the play, Hello Dolly. She had seen me get hurt at Trude´s and since the band was handicapped, she came up onto the stage and did a few tunes in my absence. I heard it sounded beautiful. I wish I could have been there. Martha Raye was one of my favorite actresses. I watched her in movies on TV late at night most of the time. I thought, "Wow, what a trip."

Two weeks later, Martha Raye returned to Trude´s, and I am the spotlight at her table. We talked with one another for hours. She is such a beautiful spiritual person. She bought me drinks all night long, and invited me to the show to see her perform in Hello Dolly. I went to the show and had provided me with a front row seat. As I am watching the play, I just couldn't believe that throughout my life the movie and recording stars had become so attracted to me in someway. I felt very lucky indeed. After enjoying the wonderful play and Martha's performance, she took me to the famous
Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Plaza. We had such a joyful dinner with members of the cast. I gave Martha a kiss and hug and told her that she will always have a place in my heart reserved for her. I thank God that I had met and enjoyed her.

With that being said, pressures of success began to take its toll on our group. It seems that Rocky has decided to try to make a move to take control of the group. He has suddenly changing his acted very suspiciously. I'm getting the feeling that he is trying to replace me. Our bondage together had slowly dissipated. He began acting on his own more and more now. I must assume that when he returned to his girlfriend and told her about the meeting with the band, she must have recommended to him to replace me. My gut feeling tells me this, because this action is not in Rocky´s nature. The band also felt that something was going on, but they also didn't know what it is. However, I'm not an easy guy to replace. My input and musical abilities is the most important part of the band, and I am sure that the band members would be lost with a new guitarist. They relied on me for direction. However, with all my personal natural talents, I was just a regular guy with everyone. I never acted as though I was a big shot. I never acted as though I was important. I am just a regular guy who treated everyone with the same respect. That is one of my most important qualities. I knew that if Rocky tried to replace me that the band would rather see him go then me. Therefore, I never worried too much about Rocky´s secret goals or actions, but I don't like what is happening and I'm afraid.

The Coca Cola guys returned for another meeting. It seems that they had got rid of the producer and they are searching for a new one. At the same time, they told us that they are stumped in finding new material for us. They told us that they were still interested in signing us to a deal, but they needed time to work it all out.

A few British people had approached me personally one night at Trude Heller's. They told me that they wanted to book us for the following month with all expenses paid to perform in a club located on the island of
Freeport in the Bahamas. called the Jokers Wild. They had already spoken with Trude and got the OK. I returned to the band to ask if they all wanted to do it. Everyone in the group agreed and thus a contract was signed. However, it seemed as though Rocky became very insulted that they approached me instead of him. In three weeks we will perform at the Jokers Wild in Freeport, Bahamas for $700, 00 a week with all expenses paid and a free house to live in. What a deal! I told one of our Mafia groupies that we are going to the Bahamas and he said that he is going to buy an airline ticket to join us. Great! You'll be our bodyguard, I replied laughing.

The following day, Rocky decided to use the Freeport gig to make a move to demand that he take control of the group. He told the band members that he had started this band, and if they did not agree that he is the leader and the business person of the group then he would not join us in the Bahamas. He told us to think about it and make a decision once and for all. I discussed this with the band member's individually in the following days. They all agreed that Rocky must be fired. They all were disgusted with his attitude and didn't want him in control.

What Rocky did not know is that I was keeping my own book of phone numbers of musicians and singers. In the last four months, I had met many musicians and vocalists and I made sure that I took all their phone numbers. When Rocky began to falter, I decided to look for a new singer just in case something might have happened. It is difficult finding a singer who could perform and sing like Ray. However, I knew this singer named, Dave, who was looking to join a new band since his band got drafted into the Vietnam War. Dave sang and enjoyed rhythm and blues. He didn't have the charisma or the cuteness looks as Ray, but he is a good performer. I told the band about Dave and they all agreed. I personally didn't want Ray to leave the group, but his demands were unreasonable. So with the all the band members´ permission, I confronted Rocky.

I took Rocky to the side and told him that we have a singer to replace him if he decided to not join us to the gig in the Bahamas. Rocky asked who would replace him and I told him it would be Dave, and he knew Dave. Rocky got pissed and quit the band immediately. Rocky was not the person I knew and loved. He turned into a monster I'm sure with the aid and interference from his girlfriend. He would finish up the Trude Heller's gig, because he did not want to piss Trude off. After all, he might need her in the future. The band committed to the contract for a month's performance in the Bahamas.

The following day, the worst had happened. Just what I had feared! The bass player and drummer's wife refused to let them go to the Bahamas. In fact, the two wives made them quit the band altogether to get a steady regular job. In a desperate attempt to save the band and the coming Freeport contract, I consulted my phone directory and contacted a drummer and a bass player who were willing to go to the Bahamas. The new drummer and bass player are fantastic players! Much better musicians than the original musicians we had, but the band is a now a totally different group. The electrifying abilities and enthusiasm of the original group are no longer present. It only seemed like a good group put together to do a one-time gig. The look of the band is totally different and these British people in the Bahamas are not going to be too happy when they learn that they got something else then what they saw.

When I secured this gig, it was supposed to be a dream comes true. Palm trees; clear blue-green waters and white sandy beaches. The band is performing on a tropical island with our own house. How else can one picture this? However, this gig turned out to be the tool used for the final destruction of Rocky and his Friends.

If that is not enough, another problem suddenly appears. It seems that the new drummer I got is afraid of flying. He suffers from a bad case of claustrophobia. He decided that he is going to take a train to Florida and from there; he will take a boat to Freeport. In order to accomplish this, he needed to leave four days earlier, which he did. It was all set. The band is ready and we all they remaining members proceeded to the airport. At Idlewild airport, one of the Mafia groupies, Mikie was patiently waiting for us. I am very glad to see him, and he had bought a ticket on the same plane to join with us. We all got on board and off we went.

I had some time to think on the plane. Looking out the plane window as we began our lift-off, the first thing that came to my mind is that in a couple of hours I will be in a tropical paradise. Then I thought about The Van-Dells, the killing of the President Kennedy, and the Vietnam War. It seemed as though the country was headed upward and then spiraled down. Music was happening and people were becoming more free and loving. The president got killed and now the country is going downwards. It seems that there are three wars going on. There is a war in Vietnam. There is a war within our government, and a war of our government against its own people. I'm wondering where this all is going to lead. Then I began thinking of the Bahamas again. This is more important right now. In a short time I will be on a white sandy beach sitting at the edge of green, crystal clear ocean. I can't wait to see the island. Then I thought about this new band. We're going to get down! We are really funky and I know that the people are going to go nuts over the band even though the band has changed. I'm very confident of its members to be professional and put on a good show. They all love R&B so I'm not worried too much. It´s not the original, but we do and still sound great with one another. The new bass player is great! He is ten times better than the original bassist. This guy is only nineteen and he could play the shit out of the bass. He is amazing! This kid is very talented. The drummer has to be the funkiest drummer that I ever played with. He has his own style of funk and it is extremely good. However, I can't believe that he can't fly in a plane. Ronny the sax and Joey the trumpet can't wait to get back on stage again. They are after all, the most important members in the band. They have the looks and their stage presence and I will carry the band through. The new Rocky is another story. He is very laid back. He pulls away (steps away) from the mike a lot even though I tell him to stay upfront. I need him to take charge up front. When he stops singing, instead of staying with the mike and giving Ooh´s, Aha´s, Yea´s or, Come on, he moves far back from the mike and grooves on listening to the band. He's a good singer, but he doesn't sound nearly as good as Rocky on the Otis Redding stuff. He has a nice voice, but I'm just going to have to push him harder. I'm going to have to work him.

I can't believe that they are paying us $700.00 a week each with a house and all expenses paid, to work on an island. The original players are sure going to miss something. I wished they were all here. It was beginning to get cold in New York for the month of September so I'm really going to enjoy the warm weather.

We arrived on the island of Freeport. The door of the plane opened, and I immediately felt the warmth of the sun shining. Two people in separate vehicles met with us. We were then driven to the club called, The Jokers Wild. On our route to the club is a giant gambling casino. Gambling is for losers. I'm certainly going to avoid that place. We finally had arrived at The Jokers Wild. It is certainly a large beautifully plush club. Yesterday, we shipped our instruments through cargo at Idlewild Airport. Our instruments had arrived at the club quickly. The band playing at the club now will be finishing in two days. Then we will be able to set-up our instruments. I can't wait to hear them to see what they are like and what the crowd is used too. After viewing the club, we were taken to the house that we will occupy for the next month. The house is very big and comfortable. We asked the guys who are driving us around if they would take us to the beach immediately. They happily agreed. We arrived at the ocean and the sand is pure white and clean. The ocean is blue-green. I had never seen such beautiful sand. It is no comparison to the sand at Coney Island. This is truly a magnificent place. Then we returned to the house to get settled.

We had a few days to kill so the guys and I rented motorcycles. We rode around the island and found the people of Freeport quite unfriendly. In matter of fact, they were very rude at us. The people are cursing at us everywhere we went. We suddenly became very concerned, and we restricted our movement on the island until we learned what is going on around here. We stayed as close to the club as possible. The black inhabitancy on this island was very scary. Finally, one of the young drivers who picked us up from the airport told us to be very careful on this island. He told us that the inhabitancy of this island hates white people. He also told that the cops are the same way and are not to be trusted. Luckily, we had Mikie, the Mafia groupie who joined us on this trip. Mikie made me feel more secure. He's not afraid of anyone or anything, and he will keep an eye on everyone while he is here. That's the job I gave him!

We finally received a call from the drummer at the club. He is now in Cocoa Beach, Florida. I told Mikie to call him back and find out when he will arrive here. Mikie later returned to the house and told us that the ferry to the Bahamas is not running, because the waters are too rough. He also told us that the drummer will acquire a room for the night and that the drummer will try again tomorrow morning.

We settled into the house, took showers and then we went to the super market to buy groceries. We all had dinner at the house, and then we went to the club to hear the current band. The band they had sucked. Now we knew that the people are going to go crazy over us when they hear our music.

The next day, the drummer called and said that the ferry is still not running, because of the ruff waters. I became very pissed off. Time is running out. We are supposed to start performing tomorrow night. I told him to stay by a phone until I find a way to get him here. We quickly asked around, but we could not find anyone who would make the trip because of the rough waters. Finally we located someone with a large rowboat that contained two motors. Apparently, this man was willing to make the round trip for $200 dollars. The Mafia guy Mikie, said he would be willing to go get him. Mikie is not afraid of nothing. I gave Mikie strict instructions to bring the drummer back here under any circumstances. Get that fucker and bring him here. Mikie and the rowboat owner left the following morning at 6:00am and promised that they will return by 7pm the same day. Two hours before our opening performance. It was a twelve hour round trip. I called the drummer and told him that we are going to send a boat to pick him up. I said that Mikie and the boat should be there some time around noon. The drummer is going to have to pay for all this.

It is now 8:00 in the evening. The band had set-up the stage and now we are waiting for the drummer and Mikie to arrive. I explained to the manager of the club the situation and he understood. The band is not going to perform until the drummer arrives. It is now 10:00pm and still there is no word about Mikie and the drummer. The manager of the club told us that since the club is dead tonight, we can take the night off and start tomorrow night. We thanked him for his understanding, but we were now very worried. We were hoping that nothing bad had happened to them. However, I have full confidence in Mikie's ability to survive.

It is now 12:00 midnight, and still no word. The band members all went to sleep except for Ronnie the sax and myself. It is now 4:00am and Ronnie and I are now frightened. It couldn't take this long to return. Something had definitely has gone wrong. Ronnie and I passed out on the couch from mental exhaustion.

I am awakened by noise coming from the front of the house. I opened my eyes and seen Mikie and the drummer walking through the front door. I jumped up with excitement and hugged Mikie. He and the drummer looked exhausted. They seemed as though they had just returned from a week long African Safari. The drummer looked pale as a ghost. I asked Mikie why it took so long.

Mikie told me, apparently, the drummer was standing on the peer glancing out to the ocean looking for some kind of a big boat to appear. Then the drummer heard some one calling out his name. The drummer looked down and noticed this small rowboat, and seen Mikie calling to him. The drummer told Mikie, I'm not going in that boat. Mikie got out of the boat and physically grabbed the drummer and threw him into the boat and held him down as they proceeded back toward Freeport. The drummer yelled and screamed. Mikie told him to shut up, or he will throw him overboard into the ocean. Mikie was tough and big, and the drummer had no choice but to obey him. They had apparently run into extremely rough seas on the trip back. They lost one engine in the process during darkness. The waves were breaking over and into the boat. The drummer was crying all the way. Mikie wasn't scared as he shuffled water out of the boat continuously. The boat owner was incredible. He was following the stars back to Freeport. He is a real seaman, and although it looked very bleak, Mikie was not scared, because he knew the man knew what he was doing. The drummer on the other hand was crawled up in the corner of the boat screaming and crying all the way. They had finally seen the lights on the island of Freeport around 2:00am, but they had difficulties finding a way in, because of the many reefs. They circled around until the seaman recognized the lights on land. Mikie reiterated that the man is an incredible seaman. He was able to slowly find his way back into the island. They arrived at 5:00am safely. The whole band is laughing as Mikie told the story. I turned to drummer and said, "So you are you still afraid to fly?" He said nothing and went to sleep. I told Mikie how proud I am of him, and how happy I am that he is here. I gave Mikie a big hug for saving us.

Finally, the entire band is here ready to perform. Many of the workers at the club are black Bahamians. They did not say a word to us. I could tell that they are not too thrilled about white guys performing. I'm sure that they will change their minds once they hear us. The band began to play the black R&B songs with total funk. All the black worker's froze and watched us In disbelief. Then their faces began to light up with all smiles. After three songs everyone in the club was happy. This club is very big and there are only two patrons at this time. The rest are all the workers and bouncers. Soon the word got out that a very funky R&B band is playing at the Jokers Wild. It took a few days, but then the place became jammed packed. There was standing room only and a long line outside every night thereafter. The club had to begin taking reservations for tables. At last, a total success!

As the days went on, everyone on the island is talking about the new band at The Jokers Wild. The police department even came to see us perform. One policeman said that he was going to take the band out on Sunday night (our day off) to a prohibited remote part of the island where no whites had ever been. We were honored and accepted his invitation. Saturday evening, the original British guys who hired us at Trude´s arrived at the club during our performance. They watched us in confusion, but I could tell that they were happy about the clubs success and the sound of the band. During our intermission, I had explained to them the entire story about the break up and the reformation of the band. What could they say?

On Sunday as promised, the police came to take us to the remote part of the island. We were introduced to all the white men hater's as the funky group playing at the Jokers Wild, and we were immediately accepted with honor. The back country is primitive and funky. There are old shacks and bars, which are actually broken down huts. They served us drinks and food, but we had no idea what we were eating or drinking, except that it was pretty good.

One night at the club, I met a cute little beautiful girl who was living in the Bahamas. I began hanging out with her a great deal. After a while, I began living in the house where she is sleeping. She is staying with this wonderful person named Keith. She was not having any relationship with Keith. Keith was just a wonderful man who is not demanding in any way. We all got along very well, and through them, I met a lot of new friends. One night the girl and I and another member of the band and his girl got stoned on pot. We all went to the beach when it is deserted. On the beach, we laid down on the sand to enjoy the stars. We were all very stoned. It is extremely quiet. As I looked at the stars, they turned into little teardrops, and I could hear a slight musical melody. I hummed this melody to myself a few times. I kept repeating the melody over and over in my head so that I would never forget it. It was very quiet and no one said a word. We gazed at the stars for over two hours. The following day, I took the melody and wrote a song of that event called, Music in the Sky. I wrote the song in five minutes. It came so naturally as if it was already written:

"I hear music in the sky. Where is it coming from? I hear a soft pretty melody. Where is it coming from? Strange things are happening can you feel it?"

Most of my daytime activities on Freeport are now spent with my girl and all our friends. At night, I would have my own section of people at the club who came to see me perform. It is a most rewarding experience to have so much love directed toward me. After the gig I would head off with my little girl and friends. I no longer lived with the band.

Just before our third week at The Jokers Wild, the bass player's mother called him at the club and told him that he needed to return to New York on Monday to register for college. I went into shock! I told the bass player," You got to be kidding. Is this some kind of joke?" The bass player replied that he had to obey his mother, but that he would fly back in time for Monday night's performance. I asked him, "What are you going to college for when you are performing with one of the top bands in New York?" He replied that his mother supply's financial support and he had to obey her. Sunday is the bands day off and the bass player did return in time for the gig on Monday night. All the way back to New York, register for college and fly back to the Bahamas. Crazy! When the bass player returned he stated that he could only stay for a week. He said that he is going to start school early, and his mother wanted him to return home. I couldn't believe it. With anger, I told the bass player that he is fucking the band, big time. I asked him to please finish out the two remain weeks, but he replied that he could not. We had two more weeks remaining under this contract and the bass player will leave. What am I supposed to do? I am in shock! Luckily, I had my girl and my friends to console with under this deep depression and pressure. Things are beginning to fall apart again right before my eyes. I begged the bass player to stay, but he just did not give a fuck.

The band last week became a horror. I had to play the bass instead of the guitar. We tried playing without a bass, but it sounded too weak. The club began to clear out early, and after a few days the club became empty for the remaining week. The owner was pissed, but there was nothing anyone could do under these circumstances. We just had to fulfill and play out our contract. All the members of the band had become very disgusted. No one was into performing without a bassist. No one was into it and it sounded like shit! From great to shit!

It is time to leave Freeport and return back to the Big Apple. I was really depressed. I weighed the situation:

1. The band is mentally beginning to fall apart.

2. The new Rocky is a good singer, but he doesn´t have the spark or energy that Ray had.

3. The new drummer doesn´t have that spark either, although he is real good.

4. The bass player suddenly decides to tell us that he going to college. Very Bad!

5. I do not want to face the inevitable that I think might happen with the band.

I have this wonderful new girlfriend including all these wonderful friends. I should not leave. I would be a fool to leave such a loving, happy situation here.

Then I thought to myself, "The reason why I have this girl and all these friends is because I have this really great band. Would they still be as loyal to me if I didn't have a band?" I thought about this for the remaining days and realized that I stand correct. Without a band this relationship would certainly fall apart. This is how they met me, and this is how they know me. That is reality! Therefore, I will fly home to New York with the band to see if I can salvage the group somehow so we or I can continue with a band.

The entire band is now at the airport ready to board a plane to New York. My girl is here crying. She doesn't want me to leave. She is begging me to stay but I know such a reality is not real without the status under which they were attracted to me in the first place. There are also fifty of my new friends here to see me off. I am feeling very distressed, because I don't really want to leave them. I am in a daze not knowing what to do, but I know what I must do. I said my tearful goodbyes. I entered the plane. The band could not believe how many people were there to see me off. They all were shocked. The plane left the ground, and as I looked out the window at this sea of waving hands. I was in tears for about a half hour. After a while, I thought about all the days that my girlfriend and I walked down the isolated white sandy beach. I thought about the sex we had on the isolated beach. I then began to think of Keith and all his friends, and how he was such a wonderful loving person to me and made me feel welcome at his house.

When the plane landed in New York, Rocky and his Friends were finished. No one had the enthusiasm to go on with this band. We decided to be in touch with one another if any one of them had something going. We all said our goodbyes and we all went our own ways.

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