Tales of the Hat: Redbone, Walking Sticks and Castratos.

This hat has seen a lot - Mexico and New Mexico, Jamaica, a lot of Canada and chunks of the U.S., and a whole lotta festivals. This has been my mandatory folk fest hat for a number of years (can't really recall how many.) It's pretty weathered, stained, and doesn't hold its shape as well as it used to - but hey, neither does its owner.

So if you followed me on twitter, you know that I was roaming around the Winnipeg Folk Fest, soaking in sun, music, and the occasional cold beverage (though, some followers might have wondered what the hell was up with the guy that usually talks books and food... well, and the odd golf tournament.) I am usually a volunteer, but this year I was offered a chance to be a part of my friend's media team. He extended the offering by asking who I'd like to interview. The first musician that came to mind, even though I figured the chance was remote, was Leon Redbone. I knew him as an elusive character (and wonderful musician), and thought it'd be amazing to get a chance to talk with him - but truthfully, I didn't really think it would happen.

My friend, Paul, was in conversation with his manager back in New York and was told that Leon got a bit cranky on the road. Hearing this, I thought, well, we gave it a shot. Add to that, a representative from the festival (or another media person - not sure), informed us that Leon would not be giving onsite interviews. Paul, an experienced interviewer, media person, and general good guy, continued to pursue. He kept telling me this would happen. Somewhere along the way, we learned that the manager Paul had been talking to was in fact Leon's wife. This was good. Someone suggested maybe we should just interview her on the phone.

Meanwhile, I roamed the festival, continually bumping into people I knew (WFF is like that). I helped out on camera for a couple of interviews, tried my best to be the silent but steady camera operator. Late Sat. night I got a message from Paul saying the interview would happen, and what time could I get out there? I have to admit, earlier I was a bit relieved when it looked like it wouldn't happen. I have close enough to no experience as an interviewer to say that I have none. The butterflies were going pretty good. Then, when the possibility re-emerged - I was elated and yet even more nervous at the same time.

After a morning wedding of a friend - a lovely event - I had my wife drive me to the Festival Shuttle Bus (I changed from snappy wedding wear to folk fest regular, as she drove - donning the above hat as the last element). Still, time was really tight. I knew Leon was done his set at 4:45, and the bus would get me there, traffic willing at 4:30. Add a 10 minute, run/walk, and I should make it.

Turns out, I was there in plenty of time. Paul was involved in another interview, and Leon's set went a bit long. He was signing CD's in the music tent. As Paul wrapped his interview, I went over my questions - still kinda thinking, this won't happen, will it? Paul went to the music tent to talk to the person in charge of the signing, and he said he would return with Leon. I went into a sort of Waiting for Godot mode (sitting by the media tent, behind it, and at times in it.)

Nervous. Yes, definitely. There was a part of me that felt at any moment, someone would come up and tell me that Leon was too tired, and would be headed home.

I first saw him on Saturday Night Live, I think it was 1975. He came on and played Harvest Moon, and maybe, Diddy-wa-diddy. I was 12, and I went, "whoa, what is this?" This goateed, sunglass and fedora wearing old, but not really old, guy was about the coolest thing I'd ever seen. Sure, at the time I was listening to rock and roll, and Top 40, but this was just so very very different. Jump ahead years later in my 20's, when I finally picked up a guitar (after years with piano and trombone). And there was only one reason that I wanted to play - I'd learned of the bluesmen. Robert Johnson, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Bukka White, and of course, Blind Blake. I slowly picked up the country blues, and a bit of ragtime. Learning some Mississippi John Hurt tunes, and a bit of Blind Lemon, I thought back to that guy I'd seen on Saturday Night Live.

These memories were bumping around in my head, when suddenly Paul returned. I was behind the tent now, in a little area of shade we'd set up. Along with him walked Leon Redbone.

I guess it's happening.

Oh man.

Paul introduced me as the guy would be interviewing him, and he replied,

"I didn't do it, I wasn't there, it wasn't me."

It took me a second, but I got the inference (a good sign of nerves, that I'd missed the joke.)

As we got settled to begin, I noticed his skinny curved cane, more of a walking stick actually. I asked him about it, where it got it, what it was made of (bamboo) - without any formal beginning, the interview had started. A CBC producer friend told me once that'd I'd make a good interviewer because of my natural curiosity. The walking stick certainly was not in my set of questions, but inadvertently, it started us off talking about antique shops, and how they've changed, and old things, the past, and why Minneapolis is such a crazy place to drive through (for one thing, Leon said, it was like someone had painted a giant canopy of lights overtop of it).

I suddenly realized we were in the middle of an interview - so I found my way back into my questions. But as the conversation progressed, I discovered that the much more interesting and natural questions emerged not from my black notebook, but from my fascination with a man who loved music, and held the past with great integrity.

I felt things drawing to a close (or I thought I did), so I asked Paul to take a still of us. But then I said something, and Leon began another story about the Italian castrato Domenico Mustafa (how did we get talking about castratos? I have no idea). After the story was over, I thanked him for his music (and I am sure some other fawning things). I got up and began to gesture to an area beside the tent. Mr. Redbone suggested it would be better to have a bit of greenery behind us, and then pointed to a treed area - where he gave a poetic description of the light falling on the tree trunk.

Then it was over.

And I wandered away from the media tent, to get some air, release the excited tension I'd been holding, and basically find someone, anyone, to tell them who I'd just interviewed.

Many thanks to Paul and showbizmonkeys.com for making this happen. I'll be sure to post a link when the interview is up.

Comments

[david langdon]

Thanks for sharing this. Look forward to the interview but for now greatly appreciate the behind the scenes adventure.

[Craig]

Thanks very much for visiting. Interview should be up within the week - I am just waiting for editing.