Love is not what you think it is ...
Yeah, dig that one. But this time, it REALLY isn't what you think. Preston Love was my hero and musical mentor. Maybe he was my best friend. (Or one of them, at least.) He just died a few months ago, in Omaha. When he came to our sleepy little town high school, in Iowa, to show us a thing or two on the saxophone, we ... um ... didn't really have any black people in the town. Imagine that.
Yeah, whitebread america got served some soul that day. Some people were actually afraid of him. We struck up a friendship over a few years, and I really looked up to him. I remember being 16 years old, and we'd drive over to Omaha, and he'd sneak us in these all black clubs. It was awesome. We were the only white people in there (yes, the Midwest is weird!) and we were KIDS. We stood out like crazy, and we were so into the music. Me and this other guy, also named Todd, ironically enough, would hang out in the wings, backstage, on the side of the stage, while Preston played the saxophone with his band. The cats in the little blues combo were much younger than him. They accepted us, even if the people in the clubs didn't, even though we were white, wet behind the ears, and SIXTEEN! Todd and I would swap stories with our parents, that we were sleeping over at the others' house, then hop in the car and drive over to Omaha, a few hours away. We got away with it a few times ...
It was then that I decided to dedicate my entire life to music. Through the highs and lows, I would be committed to my dying day. I still am. Music is the thread that binds, a universal language that spans the globe, devoid of any borders. He introduced me to the sacred brotherhood / sisterhood of musicians.
Yeah, it was amazing, Preston. Wherever you are, I thank you so much. (Todd talks to ghosts.) I learned so much. Any of you who were around me in Santa Barbara, a few months ago when I found out, saw how deeply sad I was. I was completely torn up inside. Only now am I even beginning to deal with the loss of my friend. I miss you so much, Preston!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Low, -Todd
Posted by calico at August 09, 2004 10:50 AM