What does it mean to be a musical hero? Well, first, you have to make great music and get it out there to the people. Tommy succeeded at both of these things. That is very clear. But just as important is how you treat others. Often performers can play their part on stage, then, at the end of the night they have time for no one. This past May, on my first trip to Jazz Fest, I got to meet Tommy at a dinner-hour, restaurant gig up on Charles Street. I sat close, listening with joy to the sounds of his soul-sweet voice and effortless piano figures. At my request, he played "Double-Eyed Whammy", a classic New Orleans R&B tune if there ever was one. I had a hard time believing I was getting to hear it from Tommy Ridgely himself. After the gig was over, I probably should have gone home with a head full of memories, but I stuck around, asking Tommy's advice on a whole range of music & music business subjects. I am still struck by how giving he was -- as tired as he must have been -- with his time, with his ideas, with his support -- all this, to a complete stranger. That is the Tommy that I'll think of, and miss, every time I sing "Double-Eyed Whammy". |