51 Comments
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Alan Paul's avatar

Thanks for reading!

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Fran Dance's avatar

Great post, Alan. Johnny gave you great advice. Duke Robillard and band played at our wedding, 17+ years ago. Many happy returns!

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Alan Paul's avatar

Thanks. Great wedding band!

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Conrad C Hanafee's avatar

We caught the rescheduled ABB show at the Ryman, the Allman Family Revival in Feb. Our first large venue show in a yr. It felt different of course w it just being about a quarter capacity I think. A great show & look for many more soon.

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Kathy Hurley's avatar

WOW! Alan, that was GREAT! So happy to get these insights into the people I've often admired and who have carried me through the years with their music. Keep it up, brother! I'll be looking forward to each one now!!!

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Alan Paul's avatar

Thanks Kathy!

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Art Canas's avatar

After watching many of your live q & a sessions last year during the pandemic I knew this was going to be a great read. You didn’t disappoint! I can’t wait to read the next one. Also happy anniversary to you and your bride!

Art

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Alan Paul's avatar

Thanks Art.

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Harry B's avatar

Johnny Copeland was great. You mentioned Koko, Son Seals and Lonnie. Great Alligator lineup!

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Alan Paul's avatar

all of them played Rick's in Ann Arbor regularly and I saw them, most of them many times. Because I loved them and treated them like stars, they loved me and I became the waiter for the bands. Served KoKo Taylor nachons many times.

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Simon's avatar

a great read...

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Alan Paul's avatar

Thank you.

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Kerry Rose's avatar

Alan-great stories from Johnny Copeland. I love the backstory on your future wife. As a fellow Wolverine, I love hearing any stories that start in Ann Arbor. Can’t wait to see what is next. Congratulations!

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Alan Paul's avatar

Tanks kerry. There will be a lot of Ann Arbor stories popping up in the months to come.

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Bob Ruggiero's avatar

What a wonderful story and remembrance of Houston's own Johnny Copeland! I actually discovered his music the reverse way - when Shemekia put out her first album in 1998. My only question...did you just WATCH him smoke weed? :) Great first column, and congrats on launching it!

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Alan Paul's avatar

Well, to the best of my memory, yes. He had a little wooden pipe he was filling and smoking. I ay have hit it at some point. Really don't recall. Finding these photos was amazing. I'll share some more. Wait til I tell my Allen Ginsberg story for the first time.

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David Kann's avatar

Let me begin again as a speck

of dust caught in the night winds

sweeping out to sea. Let me begin

this time knowing the world is

salt water and dark clouds, the world

is grinding and sighing all night, and dawn

comes slowly and changes nothing. Let

me go back to land after a lifetime

of going nowhere.......

Tonight I shall enter my life

after being at sea for ages.......

The one child of millions of children

who has flown alone by the stars

above the black wastes of moonless waters

that stretched forever, who has turned

golden in the full sun of a new day.

A tiny wise child who this time will love

his life because it is like no other.

Philip Levine

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Alan Paul's avatar

Heavy

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gautam padmanabhan's avatar

Loved the stories and thanks for the Billy Strings recommendation.

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Alan Paul's avatar

Right on. You're welcome.

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Garth B.'s avatar

Thank you for documenting music history and making your stories and images almost as engaging as artist’s music. After all, music is only the medium. Love to hear the human side of their world. Rich!

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Paul Grabsky's avatar

Loved the stories of James Taylor and especially Johnny Copeland which I can definitely relate to.

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Alan Paul's avatar

Thank you.

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Paul Lancia's avatar

Geez Alan, a Grand Slam right out of the box!!

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Dave Davies's avatar

Thank you Alan Paul for the variety and the insight. I’ve enjoyed your writing and your posts since you signed my copy of One Way Out in San Rafael. Keep up the great work!

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Alan Paul's avatar

Excellent. You're welcome. And thank you.

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Patricia Elaine Bryan's avatar

LOVE this first newsletter, Mr. Paul! James and Carol~WOW! Especially liked hearing the wonderful snippet about you and your beautiful wife! Thank you for sharing your fabulous stories, sir. As always, you NEVER disappoint!!

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Alan Paul's avatar

Thank you so much.

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