Louisiana Red Saves The Best For Last
LaDonna Jones and Pat White
He lost his shoes on the plane, he lost his passport and billfold while shopping for new shoes, but he didn't lose a moment in making new fans and friends. Louisiana Red worked hard for the city which welcomed him with open arms.
It started the minute he got off the plane, with a big sign at the airport saying "Kansas City Welcomes Louisiana Red." "This has never happened to me before!" he said Red performed at the Northwest Missouri Youth Correctional Facility on Friday afternoon. The gymnasium walls were covered with posters made by the boys, and Brenda Haskins had generously for a nice meal complete with homegrown tomatoes out of her daddy's garden and chocolate from the snack machine. She had Red fill in a map about the places around the world that he had visited.
Performance time came after the boys set up chairs and filed in. Red could barely hold back — he spoke before his name was announced. "Thank you for having me here," he said. "You boys remind me of me at your age. I'm gonna share some blues with you and tell stories about my growing up." And away he went, head lifting high and bowing low, voice strong and wailing, fist shaking in the air to punctuate the words and emotions. Painful looks crossed his face and tears filled his eyes as he sang of his childhood.
Boys and teachers alike clapped and tapped along and occasionally hopped up to dance. The final song of the set really got the crowd involved — "Shake Your Moneymaker." Red closed out with expressions of love for the kids and hope for their ongoing interest in the music.
Next stop: Big Eleven Lake that sultry evening in downtown KCK. This lovely little lake is surrounded by a nicely mown park where onlookers were waiting at scattered picnic tables. Off-duty police provided gratis security, and inexpensive soft drinks and food were available, providing complete amenities for the crowd — including the esteemed Mayor Carol Marinovich and her equally esteemed hubby, judge and blues bass guitarist/songwriter Ernie Johnson.
Cotton Candy & So Many Men led off the evening, with bass man Booger turning out a gymnastic performance, leaping from park bench to park bench. The lake carried the music nicely in every direction. The band sounded as good as ever — and looked as good as ever, with Cotton's golden earrings the size of coasters! While the set was changing, Red and Cotton got acquainted and he was taken into her fold, which he acknowledged on stage by calling her Mama.
Red may have saved his best for last on Saturday night at B.B.'s as he put on a blues show of he first order. Red and his all-star band — Charles Oakley (legendary drummer), Brian (former guitarist with Muddy Waters) and Randy (last bass player for Johnny Copeland) — put on an emotional show in an intimate setting that nearly defies description.
It began with Red gazing a Muddy on the wall and paying homage to his old friend with his own composition. Red shared stories of playing in the backyard with Muddy. Lightnin' Hopkins, Fast Finger Jimmy Dawkins and Red all the time displaying a his versatility on guitar.
Red's slide work, employing four different slides, and playing Chicago style, Texas style and of course Delta style, was an electrifying experience.
Following the first set and a plate of catfish, Red was up for a solo acoustic set. A National Steel guitar (it might have been an Ovation) came up from the audience. "I haven't had one of these in my hands for a long time," Red said as he took and took the audience on an acoustic joyride.
Pretty soon John Paul wanders in and begins to blow harp. Washboard Chaz strolls up and joins in. The jam was on, and Red was a man in his element, a fish in the sea, an artist having fun and letting us come along. Singin', cryin' and shakin' his fists, this is da blues.
At some point during the acoustic set, in comes Cotton looking regal and proud, as befits Kansas City's blues queen. She sat in the front row not five feet from Red, and a sound man had a mike in front of her in a heartbeat. So there they were — Red and Cotton letting fly and having a time. They almost had to yank Red off the stage so his band could take a break and set up for the last set.
They got rolling again around midnight, and by now you had Red, Red's band, John Paul, Washboard Chaz, Cotton and Cotton's trumpet and piano player, all jammin'. It was a magical moment for those of us crowded around the stage to see, hear and feel.
Red made a lot of friends in KC, but perhaps none as great as his new Mama, Cotton Candy. The emotion was obvious as he sang the entire last set to her. At one point he rose slowly out of his seat, approached her and gently touched her hand.
This was as good as it gets. A fan placed a bible at Red's feet and quietly slipped away. It was a special night for all Lindsay was overheard telling his wife, Jo, "We might as well sell the place 'cause we can't top this."
Red left a lot of friends and a lot of blues in town and if we're lucky we can use that welcome sign again. If he makes it back, don't miss him.
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Last Modified 5 August '98