February 2010 E-News

Quote of the Month

"Every smile is a direct achievement." Yogi tea label

Blog

For those of you who were fans of our first album you might recall its dedication to Billy Carey and Richie Callahan. Billy called last week with the sad news that Richie passed away after courageously battling cancer. I have so many fond memories of Richie, beginning with his mischievous twinkling black Irish eyes. Richie worked on the American Stock Exchange back then but you'd never know it by his laid back, easy going demeanor. He and Billy had a "bachelor pad" on the upper east side of Manhattan, and after stumbling upon Aztec Two-Step playing in the open air of Central Park one afternoon, they'd regularly stop by "our tree" near the band shell to hear us perform - the same spot where we were discovered and brought to Elektra Records a few months later. We all struck up a fast friendship so when I suddenly needed a place to "crash" after being in New York City for only a few weeks, he and Billy graciously offered me their living room couch - a much needed sanctuary in the summer of ‘71. Later that summer I moved into a little Greenwich Village apartment on Gay Street with my muse and bride to be Joy, who I also met under that very same tree. That was our doorway I was standing in on the cover of our first album.

Richie liked our upbeat songs the best, especially "Almost Apocalypse," and always requested it whenever he saw us play. He and Billy flew out west and visited us during our first recording sessions in Los Angeles, then rented cars and drove us to gigs with Harry Chapin in New Jersey and The Band in upstate New York. After my son Rufus was born, Richie went on vacation with us to Bermuda which ended abruptly when his wife Barbara broke her hand after crashing her moped into a stone wall that had inexplicably jumped out in front of her on our way back from a night of revelry. Richie and Billy bought me a navy blue woolen pea coat that first freezing winter in New York City and I'll always remember playing "Killing Me" and "Strangers" for them, while they sat cross-legged on the floor of that tiny Village apartment Joy & I shared. Whenever I needed a friend, a career or marriage counselor, money for rent, or just a good laugh, Richie (and Billy!) was always there for me. So long Richie Callahan, farewell old friend.