compare myself to my hero, just saying. Joey and I went back to Hilton Garden
Inn. We got a good night’s sleep and were locked and loaded for the big day. Tuesday, December 3 was 50 years to the very day that Capricorn first opened its doors back in 1969. We ventured downstairs for the most excel- lent breakfast buffet, where we ran into Jimmy Hall having his breakfast with Randall Bramblett and Rick Hirsh. I also met Tom Ryan, the multi-talented instrumentalist from the Bramblett band. A nice guy for sure. I was supposed to return to the second
As an aside, I was kind of dressed up,
all black as usual, but with a bright red neck- tie and a nice crème colored hat. Folks kept telling me I looked like Dr. John. I took it as a compliment! (I was in the right place! At the right time!) I got to meet the super sweet Karla
Redding-Andrews and her husband. Karla is the daughter of soul superstar Otis Redding. Karla has the Otis Redding Foundation. They do much great work. Check them out!
https://otisreddingfoundation.org/ While we were signing, a lady came
around with a microphone and a TV camera- man. She said that she was broadcasting on Facebook live, covering the festivities. A very nice young lady, she interviewed Karla, Willie Perkins and then me. Seizing the opportunity to help promote my friend in the Silver Travis band, I called Joey away from whoever he was talking to and asked the interviewer if she’d speak with him about his band and new CD. I realize that was probably not the correct way to go about it, but it was either that or miss the opportunity. She didn’t seem to mind at all.
The book signing was one of the most
rewarding of my career thus far. I truly appre- ciated all of the kind comments, meeting so many wonderful people and signing my heart out. I had a passing thought. This must be how Pat Conroy felt at his signings. Not to
Duane Betts takes the tour.
floor at Capricorn for more book signing at 2 PM on Tuesday, but managed to brave the cold under the big tent behind the studio to catch a bit of the music. It truly was butt freezing cold! They had space heaters around the tent, but I couldn’t manage to get warm. I ran into more friends, old and new. Gil Swords, Glen Halverson, John Charles Grif- fin. Mercer President Bill Underwood spoke and welcomed everyone before the Mercer or- chestra blew our collective minds by perform- ing classical style versions of Allman Brothers songs “Whipping Post” and “Revival.” Jimmy Hall reunited with original Wet
Willie guitarist Rick Hirsh as well as Jimmy’s brother Jack and sister Donna Hall Foster and my friend Eddie Stone on keys for a set that warmed up the cold crowd. The set in- cluded the hits: “Shame Shame Shame;” “Country Side of Life;” “Everything That You
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