Wednesday, January 31, 2007
CHICO WAS THE MAN
Blues drumming legend and Valley fixture Chico Chism died Sunday, and last night I drove over to the memorial party at the Rhythm Room, where he pretty much held court and had the run of the place.
I didn't know Chico, per se, but I'd met him several times, seen countless shows with his band or where he was backing up somebody big, and he was always as gracious to strangers as he was his best friends.
So needless to say, the Rhythm Room was PACKED last night. People dancing, drinking and partying to Chico's memory. The band that was on stage while I was there was a conglomeration of musicians who might be called upon at any time to back Chico up when he felt like playing a gig. (See, in 2002 he had a stroke, which limited his ability to play. But every so often he'd get the inspiration and his pal Bob Corritore, who owns the Rhythm Room, had a list of giggers he could call from.) The band included FOUR guitar players, including a kid who couldn't have been 14 years old yet, who positively ripped up the joint. Good stuff.
My two best memories of Chico Chism are the first and last times I saw him. The first time, he was opening for and backing Bo Diddley at the Mason Jar around 1988. He was milling around with Bo in the bar before the show, and as they started to set things up, I heard Bo say, "Well, at least I know I got a good DRUMMER tonight!" (Chico and Bo went back to the '50s together in Chicago.) And he did.
Last time I saw him was last summer at an open mic in Scottsdale. It was a blues bar, and my stuff isn't exactly blues but I went there anyway. It was a pretty busy night; lots of musicians and audience. Sitting close to the stage, at the first table in the door, was Chico Chism, dressed to the nines as always, and despite health problems, looking pretty good. He was there with a friend who had a digital camera, and he was posing with people, I presumed, because THEY wanted a picture with Chico Chism.
Wrong.
I got up and did my stuff, made everybody laugh, then got off stage. At this point, Chico's friend comes to me says, "Chico wants a picture with you!" Sure enough, I walk over, and Chico shakes my hand and says, 'Let's get a picture!" And we did.
So somewhere out there is a digital photo of me and Chico Chism.
Sure wish I had it now.
TT
(Do you need some drums
or other
live sound equipment for your show? You can find some great deals on
musical instruments here.)
Blues drumming legend and Valley fixture Chico Chism died Sunday, and last night I drove over to the memorial party at the Rhythm Room, where he pretty much held court and had the run of the place.
I didn't know Chico, per se, but I'd met him several times, seen countless shows with his band or where he was backing up somebody big, and he was always as gracious to strangers as he was his best friends.
So needless to say, the Rhythm Room was PACKED last night. People dancing, drinking and partying to Chico's memory. The band that was on stage while I was there was a conglomeration of musicians who might be called upon at any time to back Chico up when he felt like playing a gig. (See, in 2002 he had a stroke, which limited his ability to play. But every so often he'd get the inspiration and his pal Bob Corritore, who owns the Rhythm Room, had a list of giggers he could call from.) The band included FOUR guitar players, including a kid who couldn't have been 14 years old yet, who positively ripped up the joint. Good stuff.
My two best memories of Chico Chism are the first and last times I saw him. The first time, he was opening for and backing Bo Diddley at the Mason Jar around 1988. He was milling around with Bo in the bar before the show, and as they started to set things up, I heard Bo say, "Well, at least I know I got a good DRUMMER tonight!" (Chico and Bo went back to the '50s together in Chicago.) And he did.
Last time I saw him was last summer at an open mic in Scottsdale. It was a blues bar, and my stuff isn't exactly blues but I went there anyway. It was a pretty busy night; lots of musicians and audience. Sitting close to the stage, at the first table in the door, was Chico Chism, dressed to the nines as always, and despite health problems, looking pretty good. He was there with a friend who had a digital camera, and he was posing with people, I presumed, because THEY wanted a picture with Chico Chism.
Wrong.
I got up and did my stuff, made everybody laugh, then got off stage. At this point, Chico's friend comes to me says, "Chico wants a picture with you!" Sure enough, I walk over, and Chico shakes my hand and says, 'Let's get a picture!" And we did.
So somewhere out there is a digital photo of me and Chico Chism.
Sure wish I had it now.
TT
(Do you need some drums
or other
live sound equipment for your show? You can find some great deals on
musical instruments here.)
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