Curtis Is Back
Randy Leonard
Last night The Portland Freelancer, published by local musician and writer Bill McDonald, reported that the Portland Blues community paid tribute to the late, great Paul deLay at the Portland Art Museum yesterday. Included among those that attended, according to Bill, was another local Blues legend, the great Curtis Salgado.
Today, Bill posted another piece expanding on Curtis Salgado's contribution at the Paul deLay celebration. According to Bill, Curtis gave the audience a treat by performing for them. As far as I know, that was Curtis's first performance since his liver transplant late last year.
This photo was sent to me by another fellow Curtis fan, Norm Eder. Norm took the picture of Curtis performing yesterday at the Paul deLay event.
What a bitter sweet evening it must have been for those mourning the passing of the legendary Paul deLay but also welcoming back the great Curtis Salgado.
Thank you, Bill, for the update. And thank you, Norm, for another outstanding photo of Curtis Salgado.
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11:39 p.m.
Apr 2, '07
I heard that Curtis played at a private party over the holidays. Whatever -- it's great that he's still doing it. The man's a walkin' Stax box, among other things.
Apr 2, '07
On that we agree.
Apr 2, '07
Not to nit-pick, but I'm pretty sure it was a liver transplant...
Apr 3, '07
That is hardly nit-picking, Mike. Thanks...I have corrected it.
Apr 3, '07
I am happy that you are happy. It was wonderful of Curt to so graciously participate, but the greater point to be made (and one I know Curtis would share)is this: The Portland Blues scene, stellarly and equally represented on Sunday night, is more than just one person; was qualitatively uplifted by the influence of Paul deLay; should not be taken for granted but should be vigorously and coscientiously supported; that this support should not be limited to one artist, one event, or one type of event. If you hung with Curt, you'd get a good idea of the substance of this world class Blues, most of it playing at the corner bar; moreso, you'd see that the substance of support for these musicians comes from other musicians, Curtis included. This is tantamount to the poor filling the coffers of the alms boxes with their own pennies. Don't let the legacy of a Paul deLay, or a Curtis Salgado for that matter, go for naught; remember the others, on any given night you can hear them play -- Lloyd Jones, Jim Mesi, DK Stewart, Mark DuFresne, Duffy Bishop, Jim Wallace, Bill Rhoades, Frank Goldwasser, Rick Welter, Patrick Lamb, Lily Wilde, Terry Robb, Allen Hager, Marco Savo, Dover Weinberg, Chris Carlson, and all the rest too numerous to mention. They were amply represented on that stage the other night.
11:43 a.m.
Apr 3, '07
Amen, David! Portland has such a strong blues community. We need to support them.
Randy, a tip of the hat to you for being such a great fan of Curtis'. Curtis Salgado is truly an Oregon jem and one of the hardest workin' men in blues today.
Don't forget that liver transplants are damn expensive and any contribution a blue oregonian can make to Curtis to help offset costs is greatly appreciated. Go to the Curtis Salgado website to help out.
Another little note: Curtis is an amazing songwriter. Here's a little sample for your enjoyment. Quick story about these lyrics. I asked him once where he got the inspiration for the phrase "Sweet Jesus Buddha The Doctor" and he told me that he met a man that would use that exclamation whenever he saw something extraordinary, something along the lines of "Sweet Jesus Buddha The Doctor... that cat could play a mean harp!" So Curtis took that and wrote a song from it. Kewl!
<hr/>When I was young in my younger days When I was knee high to a duck My daddy said son women want it all It’s never gonna be enough Then I met you I thought my dreams came true Everything was so complete But here you are you’re walkin out the door Gone and turned the tables on me
Sweet Jesus Buddha The Doctor Somebody help me Sweet Jesus Buddha The Doctor Love is never guaranteed
12:13 p.m.
Apr 3, '07
I meant to place this link to the audio for the above lyrics in my last post. Please click here to listen to Curtis.
Apr 3, '07
Randy, Didn't know you were a blues fan? I thought blues was probably on your long list of things to be banned. Hey, maybe you could sit in on a blues jam? I heard you're pretty good on the skin flute.
Apr 3, '07
Actually, Curtis performed at the Lloyd Jones/Tommy Castro show at the Baghdad on Tuesday, March 27th. Unbilled walk-on with both Lloyd and Tommy; did a tribute piece to Paul deLay then.
Hubby and I were surprised at the minimal turnout, it being spring break and all. The Aladdin shows don't run that late and the Tommy Castro show was a wailin' good time.
Apr 4, '07