Inquisitive Quest

. The eighteen wheeler was accomplished behind the Derrick club,  Paul Ambrose the responsible pilot,  a cousin to Gary’s longtime friend the anomalous Glenn Froman.  Paul was inhibiting the accolades of the Saturday night entertainment  awaiting a departure hour to direct his transport east,  his trip a journey of frequent stops,  the final destination Indianapolis.  In the past, Gary having made his Master Charge credit card available for Paul to use, especially after spending too much of the company traveling expense money at the club.  Paul making an offer for Gary to accompanying him on his delivery escapades,  to experience  the vivacity of an  ‘over the road driver’ and visit his good friend Glenn whom had returned to Indianapolis.   Gary concluding he need a break from his routine and being Saturday night the club could do without him until Tuesday, yes he would accept Paul’s invitation.

  .  At 3 a m,  the Kerr McGee Corporation big rig loaded with a cargo of antifreeze pulled out,  the two were on their way to Indiana with stops in Arkansas and Tennessee.  Gary impressed with the highway perspective from  the Freight Liner, its panoramic view, with the CB  on channel 19,  there was a continuous vocal narration from the highway transport navigators.  Paul ascending his first stop in Conway Arkansas, Gary recalling   the music icon Harold Jenkins,  Harold having borrowed the city name,  better known as Conway Twitty, the name Twitty also borrowed from a town in Texas from viewing a map.  Memphis was the second stop, Paul unloading  a portion of his load at a Kerr McGee station, a local convenient distribution storage point, before continuing northward crossing the Ohio River at Paducah Kentucky.

 . Paul having entered the bridge approach  when discovering he was not on the 4 lane interstate  crossing, but on the narrow 2 lane  State High Oops!,  he was already consigned to the bridge when he noticed the sign, ” trucks wider that 96 inches prohibited”,  it was too late, there was no area for a turnaround,  continuing across the bridge,  the good-natured Paul making light of the problem, wondering why they hadn’t seen any truck traffic on the approach to the bridge.  The consigned delivery completed, the two travelers soon accosting the Indiana state line and Indianapolis, Paul dropping Gary off at Glenn’s.  Gary somewhat disheveled and tired from the lack of sleep,  making every attempt to enjoy a night-life excursion provided by Glenn.  The following afternoon a weary traveler achieving flight reservation, not sure how to evaluate his expedition, leaving it as an experience. 

. Upon his evening arrival at Oklahoma Cities Will Rogers World Airport, Gary placing a phone call to the Derrick, canvassing  for an available person to retrieve him from the airport,  his pickup still deposited at the club,  a club waitress arriving.    Resuming his presence at the club,  later Gary found himself alone in the process of closing,  a known patron,  Donny Sledge entered with a look of disdain.  Approaching Gary,  demanding an explanation for his girlfriend picking him up at the airport,  followed by an accusation of an illicit relationship.  Gary was perplexed,  explaining he had just returned from Indiana and  had no idea who was going to pick him up at the airport.  His explanation having  no avail,  Sledge evolving a handgun,  wavering it in a threatening manner, then discharging it, the projectile rifling overhead  striking the wall just above the musician.

. The explosive sound reverberating in the empty premises,  the pungent smell of gunpowder adding to the complexity,  Gary momentarily shocked at the action of his assailant,  was at a loss for disposition.   Sledge  retreated to the door,  his final words before exiting,  ‘if you mentioned this,  you’ll be a goner’.   Gary hesitating,  unsure of what to do,  then administering a call to a club acquaintance,  a retired lieutenant from the Edmond City Police department. 

. Awakening him,  relating the accusations and actions of Donny Sledge.  Indecisive,  Gary asking whether or not to report the incident to the authorities, a negative response from the ex-lieutenant,  telling him to remain silent,  then giving Gary assurance that he would resolve the incident.  The musician  discovering two days later,   Donny Sledge was  stopped for an alluded traffic violation, and was arrested for  weapons possession,  a direct violation of his parole.  Gary concluding,    there still exist a realm of justice.

The Derrick Club in Edmond

.  The   proprietorship of the Derrick Club taking a toll,  enacting a triad of volition,  physically,  mentally and financially.  Gary on the bandstand at night,  returning before  11:00 a.m. in the  mornings,  his journey on the Broadway Extension serving two purposes, a frequent stop to pick up  supplies,  and the daily housekeeping chores making the club presentable for the night and the noon liquid lunch  patrons.  The entertainment aspect of the club’s fiscal operation was a roller coaster  often  barely breaking  even,  the weekends producing just enough profit to instill it’s fortitude to continue.   A visit from Freedom Oklahoma businessman Bob French,  approaching Gary during a band  intermission.  Bob the proprietor the Freedom Cattlemen’s Cafe,  questioning if the band  would be interest in playing an upcoming dance at the Rodeo Pavilion Building.  Gary having no idea where Freedom was,  but the money was exceptional,  even if it meant having to find a band for the Derrick on a Saturday night, and with the band all in agreement, the gig was on.

.  Leaving from the Derrick, Bob Wallace joining Gary in Old Blue, Gary’s 66 Ford pickup to Freedom followed by a  number of loyal fans, the small  town located about 30 miles west of Alva on highway 64 then south on 50.   Once finding the pavilion  in this small community,  some of the followers from the  Derrick helping to unload and  set-up the band equipment. Gary somewhat questionable about the attendance, especially in a small town that doesn’t sponsor any nightlife.  The band starting promptly on time, but it turned out to be one of those night you had to settle with a lackluster crowd, Bob French blaming himself for the poor turnout.

.  The bands appearance completed, Gary more than ready for the return trip to Oklahoma City when in the midst of packing up the equipment he heard a popping sound, and a voice  call out,  ” someone’s been shot”.    Dropping what he was doing, he rushed outside.  Standing by the door was Chuck, a groupie from Edmond who had been helping with the band equipment,  he was holding his left shoulder,  wincing in pain,  saying that he had been shot,  babbling that  Norman Phillips,  another Edmond follower,  was the shooter.  An ambulance having been called but  would be a while having to travel 35 miles from Alva.  The sheriff’s department arriving almost immediately at the scene,  the musician realizing it was going be a long night.

.  Asking the band to finish loading his equipment in his pickup, Gary making a decision to ride in the ambulance to reassure a disheveled chuck that he was going to live.   The ambulance arriving  at Share Medical Center, discovering he wasn’t alone for very long, apparently the Woods County Sheriff had asked the other members of the band to meet at the hospital to answer questions about the who, what and why of the incident,  the narrative of the circumstances providing little as there were no witnesses save Chuck.   Jerry Willis returning Gary to retrieve his pickup and with the dawning of a new day discovering that chuck wasn’t the only person injured by the  incident,  the band was a victim too.  The local papers  propagating the incident about the shooting and the name of the visiting Oklahoma City band, the publicity not a good introduction for the Traditions.

.  The introductory journey to Freedom although disastrous  provided another opportunity.  Bob French who booked the VFW was somewhat of an entrepreneur.  Besides owning Cattlemen’s Cafe in Freedom,  he was involved with the RCA National Finals Rodeo held annually in Oklahoma City, having procured the publicity rights to, of all things a bull, not just any bull, but the retired Tornado owned by the legendary Jim Shoulders, un-rideable 2 hundred and 20 times until paired with Freckles Brown.   also projecting himself as a personal friend of the icon country band leader and singer,  Red Steagall,  another Rodeo familiar celebrity.  Gary receiving a Sunday night phone call from Bob mentioning he was at the Havana Inn, asking  Gary to meet with him.

.  Gary accepting the invitation, finding Bob waiting in the Copa Club, the man from Freedom apologizing for his past failure,  but asked about booking the band at a club called the Nite-Lite in Alva.  Questioning if the band would accept a Friday and Saturday Booking if the money was right and he could arrange it.  Gary saying he would give it some thought and for Bob to get back with him.  Later in the week,   a call from Bob confirming he had spoken with  Veldon Wolley the Night-Lites owner about playing a scheduled Friday and Saturday, adding, if they didn’t want to commute or spend money on a motel,  he could make arrangements for the band to  stay in a friends furnished double wide.  Gary having two weeks to once again find a replacement band,  beginning to wonder where this new-found road would end.

.  Unlike the journey to Freedom, there were no tag along fans joining the band for their first Alva appearance.  Gary and Jerry Willis in Gary’s pickup,  Bob Wallace, Kenny Cannada with their own transportation.  Unlike single night road engagement using only the Fender Rhodes, Gary loaded the Wurlitzer spinet from home with the rest of the band equipment, wanting to make a good impression at the Night-Light.  On arrival discovering numerous posters plastering the outside of the club and others having been distributed announcing their engagement, the only problem,  the posters had the name of the band wrong, announcing the band as the Persuaders,  not the traditions.   Gary surmising that Bob French was responsibility for the name change,  and in all probability not wanting to advertise a  band involved in the Freedom shooting incident.

.  Entering the club Gary finding the night-light prodigious, belaying its outward appearance like many others in rural Oklahoma.    It was a large 10,000 square foot windowless building able to seat well over 200,  the corner raised bandstand providing ample room to accommodate a band.   The night light also providing  sporting activities with three pool tables, air hockey and other gaming machines.  The club, probably by design, slipping under the ABC Board’s radar,  catering to an early evening underage college beer drinking consignment from Northwestern Oklahoma State College,  being  Alva’s only  late night after hours liquor serving establishment.  The club providing after hour’s enlightenment for the 2 a m closing customers from the Elks,  VFW,  Moose and other civic establishments.   Gary finding this new source of income more profitable even after the expense of hiring a replacement band for weekends at the Derrick.  and playing before packed house again,  instilled a sense of purpose.

.  A despondency began to infiltrate the character of the musician,  the correspondence with the daily commitment  to  the club had become a burden, finding it a non-fulfilling enterprise.  the endeavor a solitary responsibility and investment, what began as a shared interest was no more,  Gary desiring a way out.   A visit with previous proprietor  Bill Diehl to see if he was at all  interested in the club,  discovering that he had found other means of opportunity.   Gary finally writing off his investment, the financial aspect was of no great loss, but the time effort invested was.   The Derrick would close its doors, bowing to the custodial care of receivership, a walk-away solution.   Gary’s home life was experiencing the same tribulation, there was an apprehension of a failure, the couple beginning to find little meaning in their relationship.  A cloud of depression descending, enveloping one of  despondency, a lack of communication halting a search for a solution.

.  The engagements in Alva was an ongoing  success with a discovery of bookings at the Moose Lodge, Elks Club and other established venues on subsequent weekends when not booked at the Night-Lite, the out of town bookings giving Gary a relief from the depression brought on by the recent decisions and self inflicted guilt.  Veldon  Woolley,  the owner of the Nite-Lite Club  offering the band a steady weekend booking if they would no longer require a contracted wage,   willing to accept control of the door and play for the cover charge.  Gary convincing the band to accept the challenge, the club already at times overflowing,  and the number of customers  was continuing to grow.    Jerry Willis’s wife Darlene,  and her Oklahoma City Cattlemen’s Cafe co-worker Donna,  volunteering to monitor the door on Friday and Saturday nights, the club attendance exceeding all expectations.  With the weekends booming,  Gary and Bob Wallace deciding to expand the entertainment,   journeying to Alva a day early performing Thursday nights as a duo.

. The regular Alva residency of the  Oklahoma City band,  now named the Persuaders,   was the Western Motel, finding Bill, the owner,  giving the group special budgeting price accords for their regular weekend stays.  Gary discovering the motels  primary income discerned during the  week  consisted mostly from the transports of commerce,   the big rigs.   The bands motel occupancy would include Gary,  Jerry Willis accompanied by his wife Darlene and several friends that worked at Cattlemen’s in Oklahoma City.   Bob Wallace with his current friend Vicki also partaking of the motel and pool.   One afternoon, poolside,  everyone couldn’t help but notice when Kenny Kannada introduced a striking concert from Kiowa Kansas,  Jan Murrow. 

. Gary remaining resolute in his confines having invited his wife Kaye to join him on several occasions in the past, but always getting the same declination, given the same reason, they  might call her to work on weekends at the FAA Center.   As time progressed, the musician realizing mixed feelings when away from his Oklahoma City domain, The prevailing solace lifting, the encroachment of  concupiscence no longer prevalent but still a need of something,  or somebody. 

Kiowa – 1 mile

.  Gary’s  home life dissidence becoming a factor, an encroaching  desire of withdrawal surfacing,  the musician still able to continue fulfilling his musical comment,  finding the out of town weekly excursion to Alva providing a temporary relief from the dysphoria of Oklahoma City.  A lack of communication with his spouse propelling no chance of abatement,  with a resolute atmosphere prevailing,  the toll of adversity of the past year events having vividly been etched with in.  At a loss for direction,  a decision to let circumstances dictate the path  and the future.

.  The throes of summer finding the Night Lite Club and the Persuaders remaining an overwhelming success,  being approached with several booking opportunities.  An evening finding Gary,  being introduced by Kenny’s concert Jan Murrow,  to her boss Judy Stairs,  the owner of a ladies apparel establishment, and the president of the Kiowa Chamber of Commerce in the stateline Kansas community of Kiowa.  Judy asking about the availability of the band to play a Labor Day weekend dance.

.  Gary having been informed that Kiowa was well known for its gala Labor Day presentation, the visitors to this event doubling the town’s population.  The City events, renown for its free afternoon bean feed, craft exhibits, a tractor pull, an amusement ride concession and the Labor Day dance.  The offer spurring Gary’s interest, and without hesitation accepting Judy’s offer to play the labor day weekend event.

.  Kenny Kannada making a decision,  giving the band notice because of a sultana obligation in Oklahoma City.  Jan continuing  to attend, conversing with Gary and the band during their breaks.  The pianist was conscious of his station,  but when in  the company of Jan,  an acquisition of compatibility began to evolve,  registering an inauguration of more than just friendship.  In a moment effeteness and dereliction,  accepting Jan’s suggestion that they venture to her place in Kiowa for breakfast.  During the weekends before labor day, Jan a mainstay frequenting the club, Gary,  when in her company,  discovering a blinding solace never experienced before,  a patented subjectiveness over shadowing his resistance and vulnerability

.  The Persuaders didn’t please everyone labor day, when Gary had signed the contract,  Kenny Cannada was with the band, and Judy Stairs,  the chamber of commerce president expecting the country music talent to be performing.   Old Blue,  Gary’s 66 Ford pickup, as penned by Bob Wallace, was readied with the band equipment for the return to Oklahoma City,  Gary spending the night in Kiowa, was not looking forward to the calescent drive back to the City in the non-air conditioned Ford.  Viewing a Wichita newspaper,  discovering the central plains and southwest all attesting to the exceedingly high temperatures, with the exception of  Colorado Springs,  the temperature augmenting a high in the sixties .

.  An agrarian accord enveloping Gary, a wild but definitive purpose surfacing,  an excursion to find cooler weather,  Colorado Springs meeting the criteria.  It being less than a day’s journey,  Jan’s air-conditioned 71 Ford  Torino availing the transportation.  The Musician having no qualms about leaving the tarp covered equipment in the bed of the pickup parked in the residential area of  the quiescent domain of Kiowa.  The only concern was voiced by Jan saying, that her Aunt and Uncle, Esther and Charles Terry would be able to view the parked pickup in front of her rental from their residence on Coates Street. With the sound of John Denver’s Rocky Mountain High on the radio,  the ensuing journey began, the couple looking forward to the of cooling atmosphere of Colorado Springs. An early evening arrival, the morning, a planned venture to Pikes Peak, but discovering it was an hours distance, opting for a drive to Cheyenne Canyon and the road to Seven Falls,   called  “The Grandest Mile of Scenery” in Colorado. Their brief excursion coming to a conclusion, their time together resolving several unanswered questions

.  The perdition of the Night Lite presenting a quandary for the band, Vel apparently never anticipated the Persuaders would continually draw such a crowd,  coming to the conclusion of relinquishing  the door cover charge to the band was a mistake.  He could do the math,  witnessing the potential loss of income,  deciding to renege on the agreement.  The band  having no alternative but to agree to his terms,  at least for the time being.   No longer established as a fixture, the band  wasn’t without recourse,  enhancing other opportunities, partaking of the acquaintances made in Alva, availing  the Moose,  the Elks Lodge, an open air dance in Anthony Kansas,  and even a very high paying private barn dance sponsored by a wealthy farmer.

.  Gary’s home life continued on a downhill slope,  coming to a defining moment, congruent with his spouse, a decision was made that it would be in the best interest of both parties  for him to dislodge himself from the residence.  Packing nothing but his clothes,  he enrolled in a one-bedroom downstairs apartment in the Penn Apartments at Southwest 36th and Pennsylvania Avenue not far  from his home for the past 13 years.  The budding relationship between Jan and Gary  was on hold because of miles of separation,  the music commerce in Oklahoma City was in transition,  the number of accomplishments providing live entertainment was in declination.   An application of the past years of experience finding Gary utilizing his talent for retention,  traversing the highway when the expediency of local expenditures failed,  a combination of travel and local acuity filling the band.

.  Gary having a serious discussion with Jan about her moving to Oklahoma City, understanding the difficulty she would have confronting the contentions of her parents,  about residing with a married man almost eleven years her senior.  Gary also having a concern but accepting the inevitable, he would have to meet her parents.

The Penn Apartments

.  Gary’s first impression of Jan’s parents was one of apprehension, considering the situation, outwardly they displayed a politeness that could be considered typical of parents when introduced to a friend of  their daughters, but beneath the surface, he suspected a cloistered disdain because of his circumstances and his involvement with her.  To him,  the Murrow’s assessment of the musician seemed  more of a reaction to Jan’s past discretionary prose.  Gary surmising that the retrospection of their daughters two prior marriages may have had something to do with their sentiment.

.  Jan’s first marriage, the groom having just fulfilled his naval service military obligation,  the marriage inaugurated,  but abruptly ended with him according an annulment.  Her second and recent marriage was to a wannabe biker, whom she soon discovered was prone to physical abuse, resulting with her filing for  divorce.  Helen,  Jan’s mother,  openly displaying a concern about her daughter’s undertaking a move to Oklahoma City, but for some reason ignoring Gary’s marital status or questioning a concern about his intentions,  just a silent amplification of disapproval.

.  Jan arrived in Oklahoma City with her poodle Mitzi having decided to discount the wishes of her parents,  and with her arrival the clouds of uncertainty all but disappeared in Gary’s world, but at the same time realizing a new financial burden.  Gary deciding to approach the Penn Apartment management concerning their rent, having discovered  the waiting period he experienced before moving into his apartment, was cause by the unavailability of a painting contractor to ready the apartments for rental.  Seizing on this information,  he informed the manager that he was an experienced painter, and that in exchange for his apartment rent,  he would be on call to paint all vacancies on a ‘as needed basis’  with no per diem charge.

.  The lady  manager was more than susceptible to idea of no longer having to delay a rental because of a contractors schedule,  but would have to get an approval from corporate.  Gary soon receiving word,  corporate giving its approval and his apartment and utilities were now considered complementary.  Jan deciding it was time to look for work,  but was having a difficult time finding employment,  applying ,  being turned down  at 7 11  for being truthful on her application about having smoked pot, but her perseverance paid off,  accepting a nighttime position  at a packaged sandwich endeavor, which supplied their product to 7 11’s and other small convenient stores.

The ventured new life finding the bands Bob Wallace retaining an apartment in the Penn Complex with his steady girlfriend Vicki,  who was expecting, Gary suspecting it was the reason for Bob to mellow from his normal lifestyle. The vocalist providing a daily acquaintance,  establishing a new perspective to Gary’s outlook,  discovering that he shared nothing in common with Bob except music.  Bob was a pot smoker, Gary having been exposed to it as an occupational hazard years ago,  and admittedly having tried it,  but came to discover that after smoking pot,  a five-minute song seemed to last ten minutes,  so he never indulged again,  and like his closes friends Jerry and Glenn,  the only cigarettes they smoked cost 35 cents and came out of a machine.  The local bookings were scares, the 70’s having brought a change to the club activity of Oklahoma City, the musician surmised the boom days of  the clubs, like the top 40 music stations on radio,  were fast becoming a memory.

.  Gary lay prone beneath the 1966 Ford pickup in the Penn Apartment parking area,   removing the  starter during the thunderstorm induced deluge hoping that new brushes  would reconstruct its performing appointment.   Once removed, the dissembling completed, the rotor and armature looking satisfactory, but the brushes appeared worn to the point of almost  nonexistent, a glance at his watch telling him that  the temporal clock was evicting a halt to the starters final recovery.  It was 90 miles to Clinton,  and for the band to start on time they needed to get started.  Jerry Willis arriving, both knowing there was no way the band equipment would fit in his car, the excursion would have to be made in Gary’s Pickup as is.  The slope of the driveway onto Southwest 36th providing just enough roll for Gary to pop the clutch, the motor turning over.

.  The rain having receded in Oklahoma City,  but resumed again when traversing west on interstate 40,  the plastic visqueen covering the instruments loosening,  but still provided ample protection.   Arriving at their destination with no choice but to  leave the Pickups  running while they unloaded the instruments.   Gary having some concern about getting it started after the gig but luck intervened,  discovering a United Supermarket Store  two blocks away with a slightly slanted downhill parking area.  The only casualty during the trip because of the loosen visqueen,  was the Fender Rhodes,   a number of keys receiving moisture, when a single key was depressed it would be joined by another,  but as the night progressed individuality prevailed.  The night concluding *Ole Blue, Gary and Jerry finding an unassailable return to the City.

.  The band’s recently acquired young drummer Joey Marino’s first telephone call wasn’t too much of a concern, but the second registered an uncertainty, Joey on the line explaining,  he had loaned Bob his drums and now was unable to locate Wallace.  Gary following up with Joey’s call,  making some inquiries,  but like Joey,  unable to discover Bob’s whereabouts. It wasn’t very long  when he received a phone call.   “Coach”,   Bob never calling Gary by his first name,  always referring to him as Coach,  “I’m in California and don’t know when I’ll return”,  Gary somewhat taken back,  but the worst was yet to come,   the shocking news, Bob saying that he had hocked Joey’s drums in Albuquerque for gas money.  Now wasn’t the time to panic,  the band having several weekend Clinton club dates still remaining,  Gary needing a singer and a drummer.  Having heard that Kenny Kannada was still in town, driving for a tow-truck operator and possibly available, but the question was finding a drummer

.  A phone call to the Kelly Q’Ellar agency asking about a  drummer, Kelly surprising Gary, mentioning that his trio was not booked,  and although having never worked with Gary’s band he would play the Clinton engagements himself,  and with Kenny Cannada available, the Clinton engagement was cover, but uncertainty still reigned.  Without a full-time singer and drummer he didn’t have a band,  Gary somewhat hesitant about returning to a piano bar appearance.  In the past playing a piano bar was an option, but this time  with the current circumstances thrust upon him,  there might not be a choice.

Returning to the Piano Bar

.  Gary no longer an aviator of the road having removed himself from the  band, realizing it’s been over ten years since enacting a solitary performance.  But once seated behind the pianobar  at the Congress Inn on the Northwest Expressway,  the melodious conversation flowed from the keyboard with appreciative acceptance.   The musician was thankful for his Penn Apartment rent painting agreement,  and had a good working relationship with management.  The couple having set their sights on an  upstairs  balcony endowed, 2-bedroom apartment with a fireplace and street entrance,  if and, when it became available.  As temporal progression would have it,  it became available,  the manager agreeing to let the couple make the  move.   Life at the Penn Apartments improving, Jan  responding to a motel front desk clerk position,  acquiring some front desk experience working with band member Bob Wallace’s lady companion Vicki,  at a motel north of the Oklahoma State Capitol on Lincoln Blvd.

.  Paul Ambrose, the cousin of the anomalous Glenn Froman also finding  residence at the Penn Apartments,  his latest project being to purchase a parcel of rural property and construct a residence.  Paul succeeding in his prospective,  acquiring land in nearby Cleveland County, the property just south of the small community of  Noble,  asking Gary if he would be interested in assisting with the project for a token reimbursement for his time and mileage, Gary accepting, supplying his cement mixer from his once residence. The construction of a cement block reside beginning.

.  Paul having use his Kerr McGee eighteen wheeler employment as a stepping stone to a  trucking company who had turned him down for lacking sufficient road experience,  his new employer, the  nationally celebrated TransCon, Paul acquiring a  Oklahoma City to Los Angeles route.  When working for Kerr McGee his deliveries were deadhead, one way deliveries, no return load back, but not so with TransCon, sometimes having to lay over in Los Angles awaiting  a return load.  With layovers limiting his availability for his building project and,  to top it off, discovering his live in girlfriend was involved in extracurricular activity during his long absence.   His disparity bringing a halt to both ambitions.  Gary somewhat thankful to be relieved of his commitment to Paul,  the laying of the blocks wasn’t as difficult as he had anticipated, but the time to commute to Noble and the lifting and pouring of the 94 pound sacks of cement in the mixer was a physical challenge.

.  A return to the memories of the past, the pianist accepting a pianobar nightly performance at an old club, the Hi-Lo, with a new name, The Fifties Club.  Gary with the Untouchables having played this Classen Boulevard Circle club over ten years ago.  What was ironic,  the new owners Bob and Julie, a couple from Boston remembered Gary from the old Hi-Lo Club days and him recalling their Bostonian accent.  Gary and Jan both having employment success.  Jan’s finding a front desk assignment at another Lincoln Boulevard motel which looked to be a steady position.  Gary having visited with the two young owner entrepreneurs Art and Don on several occasions while waiting for Jan to finish her shift,  the two very much aware of Gary and Jan’s relationship.  Gary did have some reservations about her fraternization with guest after discovering a letter written to a visitor from Australia, worded such as for him to believe there was more going on than a platonic relationship,  but he and Jan worked thru the event.

.  Gary was blindsided,  Jan announcing that Art and Don had acquired an additional motel in Albuquerque, and that Art had asked her to join him.  Gary at first being naive at her leaving,  and at a loss to understand the unfolding events, then the cloud lifted,  there was more going on than just a job opportunity,  recalling an earlier past event.   Having arrived a half hour early to pick her up, waiting,  then watching as her and Art suddenly descended from an unoccupied room,  not having seen them  enter,  and when questioned,  she shrugged it off,  the two were just checking a vacancy.  With the news of Albuquerque, Gary confronted her about her and Arts relationship,  she answered by gathering her clothes and other items from the apartment,  loading them in her car, apparently having made up her mind to end her and Gary’s yearlong relationship.   Not wanting a further confrontation,  he remained outside the apartment until she had finished, then watched as his new found meaning, her dog Mitzi and the Ford Torino left for  Albuquerque.

.  With Jan’s sudden departure the increments of despondency prevailed,  the bereft of her presence giving misguided delusional thoughts about Gary’s worldly presence.  The Fifties Club nightly engagement and his music  providing a solace in attributions of despair, the club owners recognizing his despondency,  introducing the musician to an unexpected person, Arts previous girlfriend.  Gary not interested in dwelling on subject of her and Art’s relationship,  but remained in conversation long enough to determine she wasn’t surprised at what had transpired.  Gary making  a last effort placing a call to Albuquerque,  being told that Jan was unavailable,  but found Art coming on the line,  the conversation was brief,  confirming Arts’ interest in Jan but when asked, non-committal as to his intentions. Gary upon hanging up  placing a call to a florist sending a dozen roses to Albuquerque.

.  The musicians nights at the club were tolerable,  a result of meaningful resolve,  it was the daytime hours of painting in the solitude atmosphere of a vacant apartment,  that he would browbeat himself searching for an answer to whether he was the perpetrator or victim of the turn of events.  Gary having finished his responsibility at the Club for the night,  owners Bob and Julie,  and another couple just having extended the musician an invitation to join them for a bite to eat, when he was told he had a phone call.  Gary perplexed, in all his years of playing,  never having received a phone call while at work.  Answering,   it was Jan.   She was calling from the 7 11 across the street from the Penn Apartments,  unable to get in because she didn’t have a key to the deadbolt.  Gary was dumbstruck,  “what happened?”   Jan replying   “We can talk when you get here.”.

Gary having been blindsided by Jan’s abrupt decision to leave and even more awestruck with her return from Albuquerque.  Her arrival was short-lived, her Father to undergoing surgery in Wichita, feeling it was essential to be with the family.  Their renewed convergence found a lot of water under the bridge to attend to, but brought forth a promise and a pledge of certainty, including the enraptured vowels of matrimony.

The evolving circumstances having come unexpectedly, Gary acknowledging it was time to finalize his year-long emprise of marriage separation from Kaye with a final decree.  Having maintain a cordial repose with her, but uncertain on how to approach the subject of initiating the legal aspects to recede their 14 year marriage.  The two coming to an agreement, meeting in concert with her attorney on Classen Blvd,  Gary releasing the house and all possession, save his 10-year-old pickup, band equipment and clothes, the question of custody and child support a non-issue.   The meeting was  congenial with no animosity.

 At its conclusion,  they were within walking distance of a Beverly’s at 23rd and Classen Blvd.,  Gary asking, and Kaye accepting an invitation to dine, no longer as husband and wife but as friends.  Gary walking back to his pickup questioning a hollowness that came over him, a loss, experiencing an unexplained solemn emptiness or was it explainable?

Bud Murrow having come thru his surgery but remained in the hospital for an extended stay, Jan returning to Oklahoma City.   The couple discussing the  legal albatross that hovered over their heads,  not being able to marry in Oklahoma until the six month waiting period was absolved, Gary coming up with an alternative solution, the state of Texas.

Together the couple were on a mission, together shopping for the necessities to endow a marriage ceremony.  Jan discovering a pair of matching 16 kt. gold wedding bands embossed with a striking one of a kind rose design at Kay Jewelers and relegating their wardrobe to JC Penny’s, the bride finding a wedding suitable dress adding appropriate headdress, Gary sporting a new three-piece european style suit.  A decision being made, the couple deciding to journey to Wichita Falls, setting Thursday December 8th as the day of matrimony.  Gary researching Texas matrimonial law somewhat concern about any special out-of-state resident requirements.  The only Texas out-of-state requirement applicable to him was providing a copy of the divorce court filing which he had yet to receive therefore deciding it might best not to mention a previous marriage, let alone a divorce.

Gary calling upon Jerry Willis, his best friend and the best man at his marriage to Kermece (Kaye) 14 years ago to once again acquire the role of best man at a wedding.   Gary, Jan and Jerry engaging the Torino for the morning  2 1/2 hours matrimonial journey to Wichita Falls.  The threesome advocating a stop on the H. E. Bailey Turnpike for breakfast, glancing at the menu, the group was made aware they were traveling south, grits were available.

 Arriving at the  Wichita Falls County Courthouse, directed to the county clerks off in room 250 on the second floor,  the couple initiating the paper work being directed to a waiting area, their name to be called when a judge was available.  The small wedding party entering the judges chambers, a very congeal judge introducing himself , giving a brief explanation of what was to transpire and remarking that couples dress appearance was very presentable. Gary gathered from the intonation of the judges voice that not many Texans dressed for the ceremony.  With the Judge’s pronouncement, “I now pronounce you husband and wife”,  it seemed like the clouds of uncertainty had parted and a basking sun now lit the road of life.

 The drive back to Oklahoma City was somewhat anticlimactic compared to the anxiety on the way down,  upon arrival at their apartment Jan placing a call to her parents home in Kiowa discovering that her father who remained in the hospital had taken a turn for the worst, making a decision not to add to the families turmoil by disclosing the events of the day.  Gary wasn’t surprise,  during a visit to her parents overhearing a conversation between Jan and her mother that she could marry anyone she wanted to, but not that musician.  Jan’s decision not to mention the marriage wasn’t the worst news that day, informing Gary that she hoped he would understand but because of her dad’s condition she was leaving for Kiowa to be with family.

 Gary’s wedding day just got rained on, there were no words for his disconsolateness, spending his wedding night alone,  but even with this turn of events every cloud has a silver lining, including this day. The groom having achieved the impossible dream,  reaching the unreachable star, Janet Lea Murrow.

The 3216 SW 41 St. rental

.  With Christmas falling on a Saturday in 1976,  Jan insisting they drive to Kiowa for Christmas Eve,  spend the night and return after Christmas afternoon dinner, Gary knowing he would feel more like a spectator than a participant .   Upon arrival the musician noticing,  with no formal announcement of their marriage,  there certainly wasn’t any congratulatory conveyances from the family, it was almost like,  if they ignored it, it would go away.  He knew the family was aware of it,  because when the time came to spend the night, Jan’s Sister Gayle, her husband Steve Robb and family took the guest rooms, and there were no raised  eyebrows when Gary and Jan spent the night at the Guest Lodge motel. Gary realizing,  the families acceptance would come with time.

.  It caught Gary by surprise, a change of  management at the Penn Apartments , adding a second alteration to his  and Jan’s life.  The first being when she confirmed her suspicion that she was  expecting,  the second being, Gary’s rental agreement with the apartments manager, who had secured his vacancy painting,  in exchange for his rent and utilities , was no longer acceptable,  the new manager no longer interested in validating the agreement.  The couple beginning a search,  scouring newspaper housing ads for available rentals,  desiring to remain on the southwest side of Oklahoma City.  After several weeks, discovering a suitable three bedroom unfurnished house on Southwest 41st  that accepted pets, the landlord mentioning,  the previous tenants were a rowdy undisciplined group,  and that he and his wife were happy to have the young couple as tenants.

.  Gary asking the congeal owner if there was any way he could waive the deposit, that his wife was expecting their first child,  and there would be a lot of unforeseen expenditures, the owner agreeing to waive the deposit.  The couple encountering a challenge,  having little or no furniture moving from the furnished Penn Apartments, their rental having a lone appliance, a kitchen stove.  The Blind Store,  a composite facility of charitable exhibits,  similar to the salvation army used furniture outlet,   was located at short distance away on Southwest 29th  and Woodland.  The store accommodating most of their larger item needs,  refrigerator, bedding, divan, table, chairs and other household furnishings, all well aged but useable, the  accommodations beginning to project the semblance of a home.

.  Band member Bob Wallace having returned from California, looking up “the Coach”,   Gary having mixed feelings about Wallace after the stunt he pulled,  pawning Marino’s Drums for gas money to drive to California.  Wallace having found work singing with a trio,  headed by a guitarist with a nefarious repetition named Joey Lee, the group working three nights a week at a club on South Shields.   Gary’s Fifties Club booking was about to conclude as was the club, owners,  Bostonian’s Bob and Julie, having made a decision to relinquish their lease.  With the return of  Wallace to Oklahoma,  Kenny Cannada still in the city,  and Jerry Willis still available on weekends,  Gary once again began mulling it over about putting the band back together.  Joey Lee offering Gary a job to play piano with his trio,  after the first week,  letting the bass player go, Gary’s once again adding the keyboard bass.

 .  Joey Lee was going with a striking girl name Fran,  working from 5 to 7 as a nude dancer at a strip club on SW 44th and High St,  on occasion she would sing a few songs with the band, her and Joey able to sound identical to Dale and Grace when singing I’m Leaving It All Up To You.   Gary never felt comfortable around Joey, the pianist aware that Joey and Bob shared the same smoking habit and on one occasion stopping at Joey’s house to meet Wallace,  finding Joey at the kitchen table with two piles of black prescription capsules. It appeared he had bought a ketch of Black Mollie amphetamine’s to sell and was opening each putting half their contents in new empty capsules, selling the cut product, doubling his profit.  Joey Lee  discovering the bands drummer was mesmerized,   coming to work hours early to watch Fran, and fired him.  Bob Wallace resumed playing a make shift set of the drums.  Joey Lee discovering Fran had disappeared, supposedly with a customer,  entering the club with a gun, asking about her, then dropping out of sight.   With Joey not to be seen,  the band continued three nights a week adding a Sunday afternoon jam session. .  

.  The weekend nights going well, but Thursday was slow,  Gary coming up with an idea about an audience participation night based on the popular TV Gong Show, after several weeks his idea got gonged.  It was during a Sunday afternoon jam session,  Joey Marino who’s drums Bob had pawned on the way to California found Wallace,  the drummer sending a person in to tell Bob that he wanted to talk to him outside.  Gary and Jerry both suspected something was up,  expecting  Bob to say something about going with him, but  Bob went outside on his own.   About ten minutes later a battered and bloodied Bob stepped back inside, Gary was concerned with the open gash above Bobs eye, telling him he was going to need stitches, the drummer refusing.   Joey having beat the crap out of the street savvy Bob, Gary suspecting that Wallace offered financial restitution and probably didn’t put up much of a defense when Joey wanted satisfaction,  as well venting all of his accumulated pent-up anger.

.  An outward appearance having arrived, the maternal expediency of Jan becoming prevalent,  accepting an offer from Art and Don to resume a part-time front desk appreciation at the Lincoln Blvd Motel,  the couple welcoming the  financial endowment.  The second bedroom having been spoken for with the upcoming even, the remaining third bedrooms rendering a prospective room for an additional occupant to assist in the rental cost.   Julie, the daughter of the owner of the Island Club on S. Pennsylvania  seeking refuge from a dissevered home life experience  in search of  a  temporary residence finding the Willson’s offer accommodating.  The Islands club providing the introduction of a new drummer, Wallace renegaded to vocals.  Richard an expressed smiling vibrant personality, a definite plus for the band.

 .  The temporal experience during the months of his wife’s pregnancy,  the couple acquiring meaningful time together exploring the realm of Oklahoma City,  the museums,  touring the governing capitol buildings,  traversing to the  surrounding public attractions and a host of opportunities and if nothing else  just browse together at Crossroad Mall.  Gary participating in a new experience,  hand in hand a regular advance to the library on south walker or a preemptive journey to the Blind Store for the low-cost necessities to provide for the coming event.

 .  The musician introduced to a new source of income for the band, the Canadian Club,  an after-hours club just across the Oklahoma County line on highway #152 in Canadian County not far from the small hamlet of Mustang Oklahoma.  The unique club  procuring entertainment commencing at 2:30 a.m. and concluding at 6:30 a.m. but was better known for its backroom wagering sessions, invitation only poker, high stakes pool,  the club dutiful patrol by several well-endowed bouncers.   It wasn’t unusual for disputes to be settled in the parking lot, the Canadian County sheriff’ deputies staying clear of the club, but a hundred yards east just across the county line you could count on a plain clothes or  Oklahoma County sheriffs car on duty monitoring those leaving,  probably more interested in the gambling participants than the afterhours band nightlife.

 .  The double exposure on Friday and Saturday nights, the two gigs encompassing ten hours,  the band finishing at the Island Club at 1:30 a.m.  giving them enough time to tear down and travel the 12 miles to the county line and set up, Gary concluding the monetary compensation was worth the added effort.

Enter Robert Garald Willson

.  Bob Kneemiller was a very accomplished person with two portfolios’,  a small attaché containing a cue sick,  and a larger case, accommodating a trumpet.   His occupation bearing no conformity to their proprietorship,  both acquisitions being of a recreational status.   The astute pool player and trumpeter was employed as a structural engineer for the TG &Y Corporation, their headquarters being in Oklahoma City, Bob participating in developing a worldwide presence for the enterprising company of over 900 stores.   Gary availed on Bob’s trumpeting talent to encompass the band when an allocation of his appearance could be obtained.  Gary interceding for Bob at the Fairgrounds Arena, a RCA Rodeo National Finals entry desiring  a trumpet solo,  a fanfare announcement for the participant and his equestrian mount,  the trumpeter  performing the very familiar toreador bullfighter trumpet entry for this event.

.  Bob and his wife Pat living in the Twin Lakes area of North McArthur and northwest 63rd,   an exclusive residency with a waterway expansion adjoining the acquired residence.  A flag pole adorning the premise would find Bob raising and lowering the flag every day,  a nightly condenses of retreat being performed on the trumpet.  The trumpeter’s pretension, his pride and joy,  a 1973 Jaguar XKE,  V12,  a one of a kind for Oklahoma City,  the British mobile endeavor being remitted from the British Isle’s on one of his business excursions for TG&Y.   Bob handing Gary the keys and the opportunity to navigate this capacious transport,  a lasting impression of possible luxury being instilled in the musician,  an cordial friendship between the two and their wives being established.

.  Gary’s wife Jan, the mother-to-be having a chosen a signature name for her new-born arrival, with an unwavering  ‘aire of certainty the world will be graced with a Tiffany Rose.   Jan’s maternal expediency was approaching termination,  an apprehension of interrupting  labor pain signaling the approaching event.  Gary’s Friday night after hours musical obligation at the Canadian Club continuing, the two deciding the possibility of Jan accompanied him  but  considering her condition, it might be best to stay with   drummer Richard’s wife at the  Clubs nearby Mustang residence.

.  The band was in its final hour of  playing when Richard’s wife called the club,  the mother-to-be beginning labor avidity.  Gary telling the band they could either call it a night or continue on their own, he was on his way to Richard’s house.  Gary arriving,  Jan’s labor pains less than 5 minutes apart serving notice of immediacy, and with a phone call  an ambulance was dispatched to the Mustang residence.  The couple experiencing a red light and siren  journey to Presbyterian Hospital at 13th and Lincoln Boulevard on the eastside of Oklahoma City.  Gary signing the admittance form,   joining the mother to be in the labor room,  but her contractual  pain frequency  remained the same, a hold put on a delivery room entrance, the waiting began. Gary having attended Lamaze classes with Jan and was prepared, but when her labor pain resumed, it was with an intensity, the expectant mother no longer able to focus on the lamaze breathing exercises,  just struggling to endure, wanting it over with when the labor room nurse entered.

.

.  On the evening of July 2nd 1977 at seven oh two, with the assistance of doctor charles taylor the world was introduced to, not a Tiffany Rose, but a 7 pound four ounce, 20 inch radiant  boy.    Jan was somewhat disappointed,  having maintained a conviction with presumed certainty, her blessing would be a girl,  having never considered a boy’s name.  The new mother at a loss,  Gary conjecturing an adulation to the grandfathers, their first names a lasting  endowment  to both the Murrow and Willson family heritage.  The Universe greeting Robert Garald Willson,  the Hospital greeting Gary for five hundred, seventy five dollars and 50 cents,   a small price for such a precocious gift…