Johnny Greer’s Blues - Part 12

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Spring is more of a theory than reality in Memphis. Until late March and beyond, temperatures can oscillate between near freezing and the high 70’s over the course of a couple of days, or even the same day if the weather is feeling frisky. The night Johnny played the Silver Palace was warm with a slight breeze. When Johnny pulled into the parking lot, gray clouds sailed past the bright waning moon in the sky, causing it to play peek-a-boo with the regulars who mingled outside.

Johnny got out of his car and grabbed the well-worn black guitar case from the back seat. He carried it in his left hand as he walked across the nearly full parking lot. The patrons outside greeted him with smiles and congratulations. “Heard you on the radio today, Johnny,” one older man said, and Johnny thanked him, unable to keep a grin from his face.

He walked into the bar. It was bustling more than usual, certainly for a weeknight. The moment Johnny entered, the bar burst into applause and cheers. The patrons were mainly, but not entirely, regulars began to crowd around Johnny to congratulate him and get a handshake or hug. A few people had copies of his album, and asked him to sign the covers. Johnny tentatively signed a couple of albums, and then people started shoving napkins at him to sign. A mixture of joy and panic flooded Johnny. He had not been expecting this by a mile.

Pete jogged from behind the bar and hugged Johnny. “Alright, give this boy some breathing room. That is if you want him to play for you tonight,” he said.

The crowd laughed and backed away enough for Johnny to make his way into the bar.

“Thanks, Pete. That was wild,” Johnny said.

“Get used to it, son. Ruth and I are proud of you, and I know your uncle is up in heaven grinning down on you like that Cheshire Cat.”

Johnny hugged Pete. “Thank you. For everything.”

“Alright, let’s not get all soft in here. These people want to hear a rock and roll star play. Get up there and give those folks a good time.

Johnny took to the stage to another round of applause. He set the guitar case on the wooden floor and took out the acoustic. The air was already thick with smoke.

“Thank you, all. I guess some of you heard me on the radio today.”

“You got that right!” someone in the crowd hollered out, and got a good laugh from everyone, including Johnny.

“I recognize most of you from working here. Means a lot to see you all tonight. And it means a lot to see all the strange faces here. I didn’t mean you got strange faces, now. Just that I don’t know you.”

Another wave of laughs. Johnny felt like he was getting more and better reaction from the audience than he ever had before. He thought it was odd that just being on the radio a couple of times would make the audience act differently than usual, but there was no denying that it had.

“I..I’m going to play this here old acoustic tonight. My Uncle Danny B….”

Someone whistled.

“Well, he left it to me, and I brought it up from Birmingham. Pete…let’s hear it for Pete.”

The audience dutifully applauded and cheered. Pete shook his head and waived away the attention.

“Pete let me play this old girl the first night I came here. The first night I was in Memphis. So, if you folks don’t mind, I’m going to play her tonight instead of an electric. Is that okay with you folks?”

The audience cheered on Johnny’s cue. He had never felt so in control of any room in his life.

“All right, then,” Johnny said, as he launched into his first song. The audience cheered and some people started to dance. Even with the acoustic guitar, Johnny was able to put a rock and roll coating on the old blues song he played, which kept the crowd on their feet dancing and clapping.

Johnny played hard for two hours, only stopping once to drink a beer and repair a broken string.

By the time he was done, he and the audience were exhausted and elated in equal measure. The room started full and just got more packed. If a Fire Marshall had stopped by, he’d have had to shut The Silver Palace down, assuming he wouldn’t have been drawn into the show.

After Johnny played his last song, he set his guitar in the case as the crowd burst into a roar of applause. The throng pressed forward and swept Johnny down to the bar. He was offered more free drinks than a man’s liver could take in a lifetime. More than a couple of girls in the crowd kissed him; more hugged him. A few slipped him their numbers. The room was loud and still full of cheers and shouts.

Johnny smiled, happy to talk to his new fans. After his third - or maybe it was fourth - beer, Johnny looked towards the door and saw a tall man step in from the shadows. It was Howard Gold. Gold was smiling, and motioned Johnny to come to him.

Without hesitation, Johnny excused himself and walked towards the door. The patrons seemed to part to make a pathway in front of him. No one spoke to him as he walked by, or at least no one said anything he could make out. Johnny was focused on Gold’s grinning face just beyond the threshold.

Johnny crossed through the door into the he parking lot that was still full of cars. The night was still warm, but the breeze had died down, leaving the air thick and calm, creating a muffled blanket of silence. No one was on the black asphalt other than Gold.

The agent clapped as Johnny walked out. “How’s it feel, kid?”

“Mr. Gold, it feels good. Real good.”

“Of course,” Gold said, slapping his meaty right hand on Johnny’s shoulder. “You remember tonight. And you look forward to what’s to come. We have quite a road ahead of us.”

Johnny nodded.

“Speaking of which,” Gold said, removing his hand from Johnny’s shoulder and reaching into his jacket. “I got a little surprise for you.”

He pulled out a red envelope and handed it to Johnny.

All the joy leached from Johnny’s face and his mouth went dry. He hesitantly reached for the envelope. “What do I have to do?

Gold chuckled. “Just open it.”

Inside on two sheets of paper were a list of locations and dates.

“What is this?”

“It’s your tour schedule, Johnny. I’ve got you booked in venues in Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama. Birmingham’s on there. You’ll get to play in front of your folks. No major venues. Mostly bars. A couple of fairgrounds stops. But, if this goes well and you sell some vinyl, that’ll go a long way to the next contract.”

“I don’t know what to say. Where will I stay? How will I pay for gas and all that.”

Gold laughed. “You’re going to be getting a cut of each show, plus, here….” Gold shoved $100 dollars into Johnny’s hands. “That should be enough to get things started. Mostly you’ll get to keep cover at the bars. I’ve got contacts in the area that’ll take care of the door, and the label is springing for your hotel rooms. You ain’t getting any five star rooms, hell some of these places don’t have anything that rates any stars. But you’ll be fine. You’re young. It’ll be a fun two months.”

“What about a band?” Johnny asked.

“You’ll be solo mostly. For a couple of the bigger shows we’ll have some local talent. My office will take care of all of the arrangements.”

“How long do I do this?”

“We got you scheduled for a couple of months. Your first gig is the Thursday after Easter.”

A hint of confusion danced across Johnny’s face.

“Something on your mind, Johnny?” Gold asked.

“I just assumed you….well. I don’t know. I guess I thought you weren’t a religious man, Mr. Gold.”

“Oh, that’s where you are wrong, Johnny. I am perhaps the most spiritual man you’ve met in your life.”

Johnny nodded.

“Looks like the party is breaking up in there,” Gold said, nodding to the Silver Palace. “Maybe you should go home and get some rest. You’re about to be a touring rock star.”

Johnny thanked Gold and walked to his car in almost a daze. As he climbed in, people started pouring out the door, including Pete. Pete watched Johnny drive away. He hadn’t seen him talking to Gold, but something wasn’t right. He supposed Johnny had hit a wall and just needed to get to bed.

Pete walked back into the bar and noticed Johnny’s guitar case on the empty stage. It had been a crazy night and Johnny must have forgotten it. Pete picked it up and put it behind the bar. He’d keep it safe until he saw Johnny again.

The next part will follow.

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