As I get older and trying to adjust to my new semi-retired career as a singer/entertainer … I find myself reminiscing more and more. Hard to remember what I did an hour ago but can still recall musical memories of days gone by. Today I was going through some old pictures and came across one of me and my old friend Fankie Ford. I sat for a minute running thru the movie of my mind of some wonderful times performing with the New Orleans Dynamo … Frankie Ford. I recall a memory at my restaurant, Atria’s at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. Frankie was sitting at a comer table with Fred Johnson, original “Blue Moon Bassman” of the Marcels, and old friend William Dell of the Wee Jams. I was on stage singing a cappella, DooWop songs with more old friends, Ceasar Berry and Norman Burnett of the original Tymes and Gary Bubba Daley of the Halos and ready to introduce our next group of singers. Frankie was busy entertaining the crowd with his contagious humor and stories of the music business. Frankie could have been a stand-up comic if he hadn’t chosen music as his career and was an entertainer even when not on stage. Another great memory was performing on a DJ Gus D’ Oldie show in Hilton Head South Carolina with La La Brooks of the Crystals and the Dynamo, Frankie Ford. It was a long day of rehearsals and sound checks and we had a few hours to chill out before the sold-out show. Everyone kind of went their own way until dinner … but off in a distance I heard a piano playing in another room. As I got closer it was like a magic signal luring me to the room. I looked through the window and saw Frankie Ford sitting at the piano. I couldn’t help myself … I knocked on the door and asked if I could listen. Frankie said of course and continued playing. It was then that I saw a serious side of Frankie Ford playing incredible concert type music and he then said ” you probably thought I would be playing songs by my many influencers like, Fats Domino, Ray Charles and Huey Smith” just then he started playing some very familiar Fats, Ray and Huey tunes. It was like a private concert/show being entertained by a Rock and Roll Icon. I need to talk about one more memory of Frankie Ford … one of my favorite movies is “American Hot Wax”, the movie about the great Alan Freed. Frankie was in the movie, playing himself! Thanks for the music and memories and all I can say is …”Ooh-Wee, Baby” … that’s my friend Frankie Ford! By the way … the license plates on his cars in Louisiana reads … Ooh- Wee, Baby!