In 1974, Count Basie and his big band booked a free concert at Auburn University in Alabama. My friend and mentor Bobby D and I had a cover band rehearsal planned for the night of the Basie show. We had an upcoming gig and needed the practice. I tried to reschedule the rehearsal to a different day so that I could see the Count, but the rest of the band refused to change the date.
I worked at an Opelika, Alabama factory then, and injured my left shoulder on the day of the rehearsal/concert. I was using a hand-held disc grinder to cut through a steel bar when a passing forklift knocked me down. The disc cut into my shoulder and nearly struck my neck.
As I lay on the floor bleeding, a coworker said, “He’s not going to make it.” No one would drive me to the hospital until our foreman promised they wouldn’t have to clock out from work, then several coworkers offered to drive. I got in the car, and the driver said, “Don’t look in the mirror.” I looked in the mirror, and my shoulder looked bloody awful, yet it didn’t bother me. Maybe I was in shock. At the hospital, an ER doctor poured a cup of alcohol in my wound (I screamed) and stitched my injury. I vaguely remember getting pain medication.
I stumbled into the band rehearsal that evening and told the members that I was injured. I was medicated and didn’t communicate well. The band members thought I was lying so I could attend the concert. Fine, I tried to rehearse. I could barely play guitar and nearly passed out. I eventually took off my shirt and showed them the wound; then the band believed I was hurt. I sat and listened to the rehearsal (they sounded pretty good without me) and played the gig a few days later. I didn’t play that well. I usually have my guitar strap on my left shoulder when playing live, but I used my right shoulder for this show, to avoid the injury.
I quit the factory about two weeks later. Maybe I should have sued. I still have the scar.
Nine years later, I saw Count Basie and his big band at the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California. The great Joe Williams was the vocalist, and Bill Cosby was the Master of Ceremonies. It was a killer show. I suppose this made up for missing the Basie concert at Auburn University.