marino Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 Fellow Keyboarders, a little help, please. I'm trying to track down something that I read many years ago on an old issue of Keyboard Magazine. It was an enclosed paragraph within a larger article, where Keith Emerson gave a colorful account of his only close encounter with Jimmy Smith. He went to see Smith after an ELP concert in the USA. He said that he was the only white person in the small club, and that Smith started to make fun of him, pratically forcing him to leave. I can't remember whether the main article was about Keith or Jimmy. I went thru my collection of KM issues and I found five (!) articles on Emerson and one on Smith, but none was the one containing that little paragraph; it's possible that I don't have that issue anymore. Btw I'm about 100% sure that this short story was contained in a box, separated from the main body of the article/interview. I would like to translate the story into Italian for some friends who mantain a Keith Emerson page. Is anybody willing to help me find it? I'd be really, really grateful! Carlo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerrythek Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 Keith had told me that story directly, many times. There are actually two... the first time he went to went to see Jimmy after an ELP concert, and Jimmy mocked him from the stage, a second time he visited him in his dressing room. No doubt it is in his autobiography - let me look for you. Edit: Sorry, it's not there. I seriously doubt he told the story in Keyboard.... Jerry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marino Posted April 28, 2020 Author Share Posted April 28, 2020 Thanks a lot Jerry!! I can't remember reading the story on Keith's book, but I read it 10 years ago... and I can't locate it anymore! Aaarrgghh. Edit: Btw, I'm pretty sure that the story was in Keyboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerrythek Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 Here's the story of their meeting (this is not exactly as Keith told me directly): https://www.facebook.com/CarlFPalmer/posts/when-keith-emerson-met-jimmy-smith-it-was-mid-1990s-at-the-vine-street-bar-and-g/1011094312302221/ Note the story headline is misleading, because the meeting did not happen in the mid-1990's - it was mid-70s for sure. But there was another element to it. Likely word got to Jimmy that some hot-shot rock keyboard player was in the club, or maybe it was just the sight of a long-haired white guy who stood out from the rest of the crowd. Keith said he sat down near the stage and Jimmy just kept glaring at him. And he switched up what he was playing to something really corny like "Waltzing Matilda", and kept playing it while just staring daggers at Keith. Keith was crushed, as Jimmy was a hero, and here he was seemingly mocking him. So that was strike # 1. The rest of the story only sealed his fate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerrythek Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 You're welcome. As I said, I just went through the book and it's not in there. But that FB post gets the main outcome of the meeting right, although some of the details vary from what I remember Keith telling me. He's told the story a few times during various dinners I'd had with him and others over the years. I can't imagine that Keyboard printed the story of Jimmy grabbing his genitals... the mocking of him from stage, perhaps. Jerry Thanks a lot Jerry!! I can't remember reading the story on Keith's book, but I read it 10 years ago... and I can't locate it anymore! Aaarrgghh. Edit: Btw, I'm pretty sure that the story was in Keyboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marino Posted April 28, 2020 Author Share Posted April 28, 2020 Ha! I didn't know about this more , um, 'direct' encounter... thanks again. Btw I'll keep searching for that little story in Keyboard, as it was a direct account from Keith's mouth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real MC Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 October '95, pg 46 KM occasionally published a listing of columns, artist interviews, etc every year or so. One of the best things I ever did was make photocopies of those listings and keep them in my file cabinet, where I can look up stuff quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real MC Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 Rick Wakeman in Prog Magazine recalls that he and Keith were best mates. They knew that UK rags like Melody Maker were pitting artists against each other, and they often joked "Did you see what they printed this week?!?" The rags were trying to make them out as bitter rivals. On one occasion they were enjoying tea at a pub when a citizen approached them and told them how glad he was to see them getting along. Right on cue, Rick tells the guy he hates that bastard Emerson, and Keith tells him he is suing Wakeman. The guy has this bizarre look as he withdraws, and when he is gone the two enjoy a good laugh. They badly wanted to record something together but the managers and accountants always got in the way, and sadly it never will happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerrythek Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 October '95, pg 46 KM occasionally published a listing of columns, artist interviews, etc every year or so. One of the best things I ever did was make photocopies of those listings and keep them in my file cabinet, where I can look up stuff quickly. Great sleuthing - I didn't have the time to start looking through every Keith cover story. So I've attached it. It's the first part of the story.... I didn't think he was going to share the other... but he told the story many times. Jerry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doerfler Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 educational thread for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marino Posted April 28, 2020 Author Share Posted April 28, 2020 Ha! I knew it was there - somewhere. And I knew my friends on KC would have found it in no time. Downloaded. Thanks a million!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerrythek Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 But wait... there's more! I was mentioning this thread to my friend Jack Hotop and he told me about this wonderful item: Go in around 31 minutes and there it is - Keith tells the story himself! Enjoy. Jerry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marino Posted April 28, 2020 Author Share Posted April 28, 2020 And - two more things: - The Wakeman story was priceless! - Maybe it would be possible to know which issue of KM that was? I'm afraid that I don't have it anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marino Posted April 28, 2020 Author Share Posted April 28, 2020 But wait... there's more! I was mentioning this thread to my friend Jack Hotop and he told me about this wonderful item: Go in around 31 minutes and there it is - Keith tells the story himself! Enjoy. Jerry Wow. Thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doerfler Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 Go in around 31 minutes and there it is - Keith tells the story himself! Enjoy. Jerry the keyboard players new handshake. NOT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marino Posted April 28, 2020 Author Share Posted April 28, 2020 Funny as hell - and more material on Keith and Jimmy Smith than I wished for! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Wright Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 the keyboard players new handshake. NOT :roll: Quote "I cried when I wrote this song Sue me if I play too long" Walter Becker Donald Fagan 1977 Deacon Blues Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real MC Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 the keyboard players new handshake. NOT Next interview with DeFrancesco: Joey, did you... shake hands... with Jimmy Smith? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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