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This Blind Guy Bought Me a Drink

Back in the late 70's, I was in New York on business. My employer, back in North Carolina, kept an apartment in the city on Central Park west and 58th St. In the evenings, I would take in some of the popular theaters, pubs and small neighborhood pizza shops, and found my way into a few of the more popular night clubs. New York, New York! What a city! So much to do all hours of the day and night!

One evening, I caught a cab, and had my driver drop me off at the famous "Birdland Jazz Club" on W 44th St. All the best jazz men and women played at Birdland's, at one time or another - great jazz! The club is not all that big, so it was usually crowded. The night I was there I was lucky I saw one empty stool at the bar and quickly plopped down on it. I asked the two black guys sitting next to me if my stool was saved for anyone, the blind guy next to me said no. We started a small conversation about Birdland and all that Jazz! My new black friend then asked me what my drink order would be. He offered to buy one for me. We continued to carry on our conversation. I was curious why he was still wearing his dark sunglasses inside this already dark night spot. He told me he came to Birdland's a lot when he was in town and had even played there a time or two himself. "He did?" I asked myself. "Who is this guy? Should I know him? And then, it hit me! I asked my blind, black friend if he was Ray Charles! He smiled and said, "That's me!"

Dang! I had been sitting next to the famous Ray Charles, and "Ray" bought me a drink! Suddenly, I felt famous!

As the famous Rosanna, Rosanna Danna of the hit TV show Saturday Night Live used to say: "It just goes to show, you never can tell!" Although, I'm telling you now, this really happened! Me and Ray were in Birdland's back in the late 70's, and we had a drink together!




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