Michael & Terri constructing & concocting this amazing road trip & creative interaction w/ poets & musicians in various cities & sites of arts that keep on unfolding. Keyword to all of this is “unfolding”, opening up & out.
Then via Michael via Joanne Kyger, heard that grand artist Arthur Okamura died last week in his Bolinas home. Arthur was born in Chicago & as a kid was part of a barbershop quartet that performed on The Major Bowes Amateur Hour on national radio. During the Meltzer family residency in Bolinas in the late ’60s, Tina & I wd often wind up at Joanne’s place w/ Arthur & others singing elevated versions of standards like “Sentimental Journey” & “Chattanooga Choo-Choo.”
A couple of years ago at Bob Callahan’s wake, Arthur & I reconnected after many moons. Once we ascertained that we were who we are, we both broke into “Sentimental Journey,” much to the bafflement of the assembled mourners. Arthur was a peerless artist & unbeatable pingpong player; a great ebullient presence w/ wry dry wit & always sweetly puzzled yet knowing beyond puzzlement.
David Meltzer
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