A Vivid Memory of a Fine Man
[nothing to do w/ The Music]

Ten years ago, my Mother-in-Law was in Mercy Hospital in San Diego. As she lay dying of Alzheimers and Cancer, it was a tough time for us all. I spent a lot of time just looking around at pictures in the hospital lobby - during the vigil.

Two pictures stood out among the many: A b&w glossy of a beautiful lady - Nan, I believe was her name. Seemed to be taken in the 50s. Her foto holds a place of honor at the exit/entrance to the main hospital lobby - Nan LoVecchio. The other foto that jumped out was this Good Lookin' Ol' dude who remarkably resembled a Certain Singer. Under his foto was the name Frank LoVecchio. Board of Directors guy.

Two and two finally hit home [dyslexic, ya' know] as the Good Lookin' Ol' Dude in the foto walked up to me. He didn't put his hand on my shoulder to talk about The Music. He wanted to know why I was there; who was ill; and could he pray w/ me.

We did. Ya' know, for about 20 min I had fellowship w/ Frank LoVecchio [knowing all the time who his *other* persona was] Not once - not one time - did we speak of The Music. I never saw him again.

Bein' a white *soul brother* I knew Lucky Ol' Sun first by Brother Ray. Only some years later by Frank LoVecchio's aka. Then, decades later, came a John Stewart gig at Jimmy Duke's house in 2003. When you listen to the live record made that night, you'll hear a guy rudely holler out: LUCKY OL' SUN.

That was me . . . and John sang it - right up there w/ Brother Ray and Brother Frankie

Lordy, have we been blessed . . .

Rez

There's a very lengthy and pretty good bio on wikipedia on Frankie Laine. He had a long and varied life, not just the singing, and sounds like his feet were always firmly planted - no swelled head there, or not much for long anyway.

Rawhide <insert sound of cracking whip>.