Chapter L (Last Dance) 2/18/23 (50)

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The time has come
for my return
Back to the place
where I began
to learn

An overdue reunion
at old CKY
And probably
the last chance
to say our goodbyes.

As busy as we were in Boston, Jim and I were, we still managed to find the time to fly back to Winnipeg for a CKY reunion.
Jim and I had worked there in the mid-sixties when he was the PD, and I was a board op.
(Jim pictured above with Deno Corrie, Me, and Burton Cummings)

When we landed in Winnipeg and were pulling up to the terminal, Jim sarcastically said, “Hey Johns, I think we’ve lucked out; the ground crew’s not wearing parkas.”

With some help from Ron Taylor and Embree McDermid, Michael Gillespie did a super job of putting the reunion together.
Unfortunately, we were a little late because most of the first team was already gone. Sadly my old friend Chuck Dann (Riley), who not only taught me how to do production but also produced The Jury’s first record, is gone, as is Dean Scott. (Chuck is pictured above, bottom left, and Dean, upper right.)
Also gone are news guys Frank Roberts, Mike Hopkins, John Pierce, and Bill Trebilcoe. (Frank and Mike are shown above interviewing the Beatles)
Bill Grogan, who replaced Jim, is gone, as is my good friend Jim Coghill who stayed up all night with me waiting for the birth of my daughter Candis. (Jim pictured below)

I sure miss singing with my old buddy Daryl ‘B’ .” (Daryl is pictured  above with  me at a Jury gig.)
Hey, and what I wouldn’t have given to be able to thank Cactus Jack Wells for teaching me that if I could handle him, I could handle anybody. (Jack is pictured below with the actor from The Millionaire, Marvin Miller)
What a great evening, it was fun catching up with Deno Corrie, Roy Hennessy, Embree McDermid, and Warren Cosford.
Hey, and even Bruce Walker and Terry Kenny, my bandmates from The Jury showed up along with my brother Reg.

Superstar Burton Cummings (The Guess Who) Had the best line of the night when Jim told him, “Hey Burton, I’m not a starf#cker, but my wife Barbara made me promise to say hi to you for her.” Burton responded, “I can understand you not being a starf#cker, Jim, but perhaps Barbara is?”

Speaking of Burton, his mother wasn’t expected to make it through the night, so he had to leave the affair early.
However, before he left, he did sing a couple of his hits along with a few bars of our first record, “Until You Do,” which he claimed he bought with his paper route money.

My guest at the reunion was my best friend from high school, Jim Quail, who surprised me the next day with a luncheon with our favorite teacher from TCI, George Darenchuk. (Jim pictured above with me)
It was great seeing Mr. Darenchuk and finding out that he was now leading a rebellion of cottage owners against some foolish city ordinance.

When Jim and I first met him, he was a rookie teacher at TCI, but after ridding himself of the likes of us he’d gone on to become the principal and then the superintendent of schools.
Good on you, Mr. Darenchuk, and may you rest in peace.
(George Darenchuk pictured below)

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Inducted Chapman into
the Hall of Fame
And did it on Natinal TV
which is not my game

Now I’m blogging
and writing three books
Hoping and prayin’
that God’s not ready
to give me the hook.

Life’s been wonderful
but it’s gone by
too fast
So I’m hopin’
these rhymes
will help make
it last

Not done yet
got more
chapters to go
Cuz now
I’ve got a Grandson
so we’ll see
how it goes.

 

 

 

 

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