So, this is rather blast from the past type stuff. Found these images when I was looking for trumpet playing Dupree Bolton street photos shot on the streets of San Francisco. Those photographs might be used in a book on Dupree being written. Will post a link for the book, if it is published.
The first picture attached was made in 1985, in West Oakland (my friends called the place a ghetto). I was 21 and had traveled down to California from Canada in my parents RV, the trip lasted 6 months. We are sitting in a closed Jazz club called "My Favorite Things" which is named after a John Coltrane Album/Song.
On the right is Sonny Land a good friend and former professional boxer on the left is Bob Clemons an artist and one-time resident of San Quentin prison (Sonny and Bob met in prison). Bob was an artist who drew large pen drawings of erotic scenes from pictures in magazine, he was quite skilled, Bob was staying in the abandoned club as I was, my darkroom was in the place. I remember Sonny (who owned the club) one day on his hands and knees scrubbing the floor of the bathroom so I could use it. I was astonished at his generosity. I was always introduced as Gerry from Canada. Being from "Canada" seemed to help someway, somehow. We all became good friends, Bob and Sonny both taught me a lot, educated the naive Canadian kid. After 3-4 months with them, I left a better person.
The picture was taken (using my camera) and the meal we are sharing was cooked by a man named Ray. Ray and I became closer when he found out I was from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. In his younger days, sometime in the 1950s Ray had been the 3rd string quarterback for the Edmonton Eskimos, he told me stories from his time in Edmonton, in the CFL. I remember how Ray just lit up when I told him I was from Edmonton. We bonded because of Edmonton, go figure.
The meal was an old roast I had frozen in the RV I travelled down to California in, plus corn bread (first time I had ever eaten it) and a salad made out of what I thought were weeds in the back yard. Ray gathered them up all over the messy street area behind the club. I could not believe they were food, but they were. I remember the meal as one of the best of my life. It was delicious, especially the salad!
The second photo is me photographing Ray on the left and a man named Lewis on the right. Lewis and Ray were both heroin addicts, men in their 50s that were used up and near dying, old before their time. Lewis lived behind the club "My Favorite Things" in a little shack. He also educated me. How to walk through the ghetto safely (to avoid the hubuh-crack dealers, gangs etc.), how to have a certain look so people would not bother you. I remember he told me the only time he was afraid to walk in the ghetto was when he was with me. He knew the police might target him because he was with a white boy.
In the photo you can also see me with the camera and Dupree Bolton in the mirror.
Different worlds, lots of memories. I am very thankful I met these men and shared their lives for a short time.
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| Bob, Sonny and myself. |
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| Me, Ray, Dupree Bolton and Lewis |
