On the Noel Rockmore Trail

April 9, 2010 Friday – New Orleans - Keeping up with the little old ladies….. Shirley Marvin, Gypsy Lou Webb & Ruby

This adventure started out with the noble mission of picking up Gypsy Lou Webb, 92, in Slidell, LA and bringing her to the French Quarter to help her complete her paperwork at the Christopher Inn (Retirement Living) in the Fabourg-Marginy neighborhood bordering the Quarter. Lou’s sister recently passed away at 95 and the house Lou lives in will soon be up for sale. The concept here was that a road trip to the potential new Lou digs would be a worthy adventure and that we would pickup Rita Posselt (Rockmore girlfriend from 78-83) and her mother Ruby along with my mother Shirley (the octogenarian set).

    Shirley Marvin, Rita, Gypsy Lou Webb, Tee & Ruby

Things went fine upon arrival as this photo shows but when Rich returned after circling the block a few times all hell was breaking loose with agitated women all around. Tee had actually abandoned ship early and let me know there was a paperwork snafu and Lou was not happy and that perhaps we should all take a walk while everyone calmed down. So that is what we did.

 
As we walked down the road a bit we passed an old building with a mural of a man on the side. Lou stopped in her tracks and said, “That’s my husband Jon, God I miss him.” Jon died almost 40 years ago yet there he was staring down and he and Lou were having a moment. It’s nice to know that a love like theirs never dies or fades away. The timing was great, everyone felt better and we decided to stop in at The Spotted Cat for an afternoon beer. That’s us at the bar in the photo below.

 
Of course, they were having a free Lindy Hop dance class with a live band in the middle of a random afternoon (it is New Orleans). Tee and I worked up a sweat dancing and decided to join the ladies for a beer except they were all on their second one. We had reservations at The Upperline Restaurant for 7PM and I started to gather the group to go but some insisted they wanted just one more beer. Little old ladies can pound them down, who knew?

     Shirley Marvin, Gypsy Lou Webb, JoAnne Clevenger

The Upperline Restaurant was a joyous treat as it always is. JoAnne Clevenger was out front doing the flowers as we arrived and escorted us in as we all stopped to pay homage to Rockmore’s Homage to The French Quarter. Shirley, Lou and Joanne called out names to all their old friends, most of them deceased but living on in Noel’s work. What a special group that was and what a special time that will not occur again. The eccentric little French Quarter village that took care of their own no matter what happened. You guys were very fortunate to have shared that time and space - you know who you are.

April 8, 2010 Thursday – New Orleans - HNOC - 11th Annual Bill Russell Lecture - George Lewis

This was our first HNOC (Historic New Orleans Collection) event and was Rockmore related in many ways. Rockmore painted George Lewis several times as well as his close friend Bill Russell. Tom Sancton, who played clarinet this evening, was taught by George Lewis. Tom wrote a book on George Lewis, Songs of our Fathers, which mentioned Rockmore. Rockmore’s favorite painting negatives shot by Jack Beech from 1961-1981 are housed at the HNOC thanks to the generous donation of Gene Daymude. Tom Bethell, Rockmore’s friend, whom we visited earlier this year, was mentioned for his book on George Lewis.

 

    Tee Marvin & Barry Martyn
 

The event was fabulous and packed to capacity. It was as much a musical performance by the trio of Tom Sancton, Barry Martyn & Fred Lynne as it was a lecture. Tom’s clarinet playing is just as smooth and sweet as it gets, he learned from the best. Barry Martyn is not only a great drummer and singer; he is an entertainer that plays the crowd even while he lectures. He compiled and edited a book by Bill Russell titled New Orleans Style and recently just did a book, George Lewis: the Inside Story, with co lecturer, Nick Gagliano, who managed George Lewis in the early days before Pres Hall. Another college jazz fan turned manager story by wanting to help keep the music going.

 

  Tom Sancton & Barry Martyn Playing George Lewis at Bill Russell lecture
 

The evening ended with lots of music, a book signing and lots of mingling. We saw Dodie & John Kid Simmons, longtime Rockmore friends as well as we met a lady named Sylvia Barker, see photo below, who just happened to be the daughter of famous jazz musician, Danny Barker, who Rockmore painted! Then it was on to the Alpine to meet more Rockmore related friends. What a trip!

  Danny Barker's daughter Sylvia & Tee Marvin