Yesterday we went to Sylvia’s to enjoy some soul food. We ate fried chicken, BBQ ribs, string beans, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes and candied yams. We also brought home some sweet potato pie.
Besides the great food, one of the nice surprises of the experience was that we had a table for two right in front of a trio (saxophonist, keyboards and drums) that played gospel music. The saxophonist, a man named Lonnie Youngblood, also sang some of the songs as well and even invited restaurant-goers to come up and take the microphone. At least three took up the offer and they did a very good job of singing along. I was impressed by Lonnie Youngblood because of the passion he put into playing his sax and that he was unabashedly Christian in his approach. He was selling a compact disc for those who enjoy “saxophone in the Lord.” We felt that we fit into that category and made the purchase.
Songs on the cd include:The Lord’s Prayer / In the Garden / What a Friend / Pass Me Not / Go Tell It on the Mountain / Amazing Grace / Battle Hymn / Closer Walk / Old Rugged Cross / How Great Thou Art / Near the Cross / Oh Happy Day / One Day At A Time / When the Saints (Medley) / Precious Lord / Rock of Ages / Peace In the Valley / I Won’t Complain / Sanctified Horn / I’ll Fly Away
I just googled “Lonnie Youngblood” and suddenly realized that I was listening to a man who had played saxophone alongside Jimi Hendrix and Chuck Berry. Egads …
1Miles Coleman on Oct 1, 2006 at 5:11 pm:
Well, I haven’t had a chance to listen live to Lonnie Youngblood or other musicians who have played along side Jimi Hendrix, but I found out while I was in London that my company’s office is literally right next door to St. Mary’s Hospital where Jimi was declared dead on September 18, 1970 (incidentally, the day after I was born).
2Daniel B. on Oct 2, 2006 at 7:09 am:
It’s completely tragic that Jimi Hendrix died the way that he did. And I can’t think of that without also thinking of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s early death. (Sigh)