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Today is the last day for the NAB Radio Show in
Philadelphia. Next Friday I’ll review the important subjects
talked about on panels and at the water cooler.
……………………………………………………………………………………………
I was surfing the video cable channels last week and
stumbled into a recent video on the Bravo cable network of
Elton John and his group in concert at Radio City. It was
outstanding featuring a 100 person Bronx choir with Julliard
(sp?) musicians. Elton was in top form. WOW,,, a lot of
great music and memories!!!
In the seventies when Elton became the superstar that he
is…. he had Davey Johnstone, Dee Murray and talented drummer
Nigel Olson as part of his talented group. They thrilled the
world with their music. I know Nigel Olson. I think that he
and Gene Krupa are the two greatest drummers ever.
.
Olson and Krupa. Different decades, different styles…but
both full of wild electricity. And so it was with the
aforementioned Radio City concert. Nigel drilled home the
drum parts with such excitement and precision it was
impossible not to smile/smirk/laugh while watching. A great
performance!!! And he has plenty of showmanship as well!!!!
A few decades ago Nigel was vacationing with us in south
Florida at the Sonesta Beach Hotel on Key Biscayne. On my
wife’s birthday we had dinner with some friends, and then
went into the small hotel bar that had a three person
“cover” group on stage…who were very good musicians. We were
all in a dancing mood, and I asked Nigel if he would take
the drums for awhile. Nigel never played without his
personal sticks, gloves, and headset (to hear the rest of
the band). I knew that, and the friends with us knew it as
well…but we begged for an hour, and finally he said, “OK,
Pat Burkhart…I’ll play out of friendship…on this your
birthday”. With that he got up and walked toward the band.
They had already recognized Nigel in the audience. The band
drummer could sense what was happening, and slipped out of
his chair…as one song was ending and a segue to another
began.….he quickly handed the sticks to Nigel….who never
missed a beat and BLAZED into Miss You (the Stones hit)!!!
The audience immediately felt the jolt of lightening from
Nigel’s sticks, and hit the dance floor as if they were the
greatest dancers in the world. Yep, that is what Nigel can
do with his sticks!!! Unbelievable!!! The crowd went nuts!!!
I know because I was a witness… I WAS THERE!!!!
For whatever reason Nigel and I have lost touch through the
years; however, after seeing him perform from Radio City on
Bravo I am going to look for him when I am next in
Nashville, his home city. Nigel, we have some catching up to
do!!!!!
e-mail Kent
kent@kentburkhart.com
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