In the music business, it is easy to focus on the negative: problematic gigs, cancellations, difficulty getting paid and of course the ever-present “Musical Politics.” Sometimes, thinking about good experiences in music can help compensate for the bad.
Today I was cheered up by remembering two instances of great kindness rendered to me by the wonderful pianist Ralph Sutton…
Around 1970, after previous exposure to the stride piano recordings of Fats Waller and James P. Johnson, I heard a record by Ralph Sutton—and instantly became a fan! His recordings from the 1940s and 1950s were not always easy to find, but I managed to track down most of them. In 1972, he was touring with the World’s Greatest Jazz Band and was scheduled to appear with them at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. My parents realized how much I admired Ralph Sutton’s music, so they took me to hear the WGJB at the Century Plaza. At intermission—before I realized how valuable breaks are to a musician—I introduced myself to Ralph and requested a stride piano feature. While there are some hair-raising stories concerning Ralph Sutton’s reaction to intrusive fans, on this occasion he was courteous and pleasant. Whether or not he played a feature, I felt honored that he took the time to talk with me.
