Sir
Roger!!!
You should be a writer! What an incredible review! Well you went out there
and showed them you could do it! You done made us proud!!!!! I am happy for
you Roger. Your review made me feel like I was there. All the details brought
it to life. Thank you so much Roger for giving us all those little intimate
details. It makes such a difference and makes the story come alive. Well done
my man!
Thanks again, Glenn
"Roger B. Cunningham" wrote:
> Hello Glenn my good friend. Indeed, the details.
>
> A short clip from Field of Dreams, the movie with Kevin Costner:
>
> "Excuse me, can you tell me if this is heaven?"
> "No, uh, it's Iowa."
> "Strange, I coulda sworn it was heaven............."
> "Is there a heaven?"
> "Oh yeah, there's a heaven, it's the places where dreams come true."
>
> One Word for Tonight: INCREDIBLE
>
> This week started with a contemplative trip through Northern California to
> celebrate my 40th. Was accentuated by the release of SR. And ends with a
> birthday party tomorrow night and a trip overseas, I'm not sure where yet,
> planned by my wonderful wife. But, amongst all the activities stands one
> event which I am sure I can never top again in my life.
>
> I played guitar and sang LTTM with the Doobie Brothers at Chastain park in
> Atlanta in front of 12,000 people. I will NEVER, EVER forget the look on
> Tommy, Pat, John, and Skylark's faces when I walked out onstage with Pat's
> Blackie all set to play LTTM.
>
> Near the end of an excellent concert, Miles Lumbard entre'd us backstage
> and made quick work of security as he and I trekked our way stageside. As
> the band played China Grove, I glanced sideways at the 12,000 full
> audience, loosened my neck and breathed deep. Yesterday I had envisioned a
> moment of crisis and trepidation at this very spot, but instead, I was calm
> and ready to play the song.....shit, I had been ready for this my entire
> life....endless Saturday nights in the basement with cheap amp and guitar.
> As the time neared I asked the guitar tech if I could have something to
> play. He started for the tambourine, but I stopped him and asked " Would
> it be too much for me to ask to play one of the guitars?" He said "No
> problem, let me get you blackie here." We strapped on the solid body
> black electric guitar. I grabbed a favorite pick I had specially placed in
> my pocket, and the band ended China Grove to the deafening roar of the
> fans.
>
> Man, the crowd is much louder on stage, no wonder these guys get an
> adrenaline rush from cheering fans. You can see the fans too, not like I
> thought at all. I always assumed that the band could only see 8 or 10 rows
> into the audience and such. No way, I could see the entire arena almost.
> Lee Ann and the kids were on the fourth row along with my best friend
> Richard (who, true to this convergence event, actually KNEW Miles Lumbard
> from years back in Norfolk). Miles was stageside sending encouragment all
> along. Everyone was on their feet and clapping with hands over their
> heads.
>
> As Keith made a brief announcement about the auction and the Doobs support
> of the NVF he called me to come out. Proceeding outward I began stepping
> over the endless lines of power and AF cords. Smiling and aghast, Tommy
> and Pat were both holding hands out, for a quick five, surprised at the
> fact that some guy had come bumbling onstage with one of their guitars. I
> gave a quick wave to the crowd and an arm chuka, reminiscent of Kurt Gib
> son's rounding second in the Dodgers-A's World Series game 2 from the 80's.
> Skylark, smiling and laughing, gave me a firm clasp and said "RogBC. Good
> job man."
>
> As Tommy turned to the audience, he began the intro riff to LTTM and I
> stood and watched Pat to see when he was ready to join in for the 3rd
> measure. I played E on the 9th fret to match what Pat was playing and a
> hammer-on A on the same. Pat turned around to see what I was doing with
> the axe and squinted at my fretboard to see if I was really playing the
> song. After about two more measures he grinned and swung around to Tommy
> and John, who also looked my way and smiled. By then it was too late, I
> was into the song and there was no way I was going to miss a single barr or
> note. I joined Skylark at the mike for the chorus each time and backed
> away when the spotlight hit Tommy and Pat each time. Although the guys use
> ear feedback to assist, I could hear the song very well....another
> surprise. I sang a tenor match with Tommy but made sure that I didn't
> crowd Skylark on the mike. Skylark briefly torted, "You got it man!" as we
> backed away from the mike on the second chorus.
>
> Finally near the end, we began the rock-n-roll closure sustain where the
> guitarists just keep strumming the key note chord over and over very fast
> getting ready for the closure stoke. Two things occurred which I will
> never forget as long as I live. Pat walked over to me and we both crouched
> down as low as we could, face to face strumming on the E closure until our
> knees (actually my knees) could not stand it any more and we broke away for
> a whole band, energetic jumping slam closure stroke. All I could do was do
> it like being in the basement on Saturday
> nights.............duhhhhhhhhh,,,,,,duh duh duhhhhh DOOOOOWNG.... The
> crowd gets really noisy up there.
>
> Keith came out and asked me to join the whole band as we did the ceremonial
> Doobie bow to the audience. He and Big Mike threw out some drumsticks and
> my 7 month pregnant wife nabbed one of them, man she could move......
>
> As I bowed down with the guys, all I could see was the shoes on my feet,
> and I could hear the deafening roar of the crowd. Bent over, with my arms
> over Keith and Pat's shoulders, I looked at my loafers and time began to
> slow down. One of those moments in life where you can in briefness, see
> clearly, began. As I watched mine and all the Doobs shoes, sound began to
> grind slowly along, and I was prompted with one thought....
>
> "Roger, it's all gonna be OK. Take courage my friend, and do well."
>
> I wish my Doob brothers and sisters coulda been there with me.
>
> RogBC
>
> Roger Cunningham
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
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