Reunited and it feels so good for Little Melvin
Poughkeepsie: A contemporary of B.B. King who took a different path meets up when a music-lover steps in.
Story & Photos |
B.B. King welcomes Little Melvin onto the stage |
"When B.B. King plays in Poughkeepsie," said an excited Little
Melvin, "I'm gonna go on stage and play him one of my own blues songs!
Boy, will he be surprised."
Melvin Underwood, 64, lives in Monticello. He's a rhythm and blues
guitarist who in his heyday headed Little Melvin and his Big Band,
playing with all the greats and touring with Ivory Joe Hunter. Years
of drifting and misfortune have passed since then, but he has fond
memories of B.B. King.
"But are you sure B.B. King will still remember you?" I very
cautiously and hesitantly asked. "Damn, yes!" Little Melvin was
adamant, and I think a bit annoyed at my question.
"Would you like to go to the concert?" I asked. "I'll pay for your
ticket. Cheap seats are $29.95."
On Jan 22, the day of the performance, I picked up Little Melvin from
his room. He looked snazzy.
He picked up his guitar, which he'd named Sara, and his Little Melvin
poster. He asked if I could bring his Fender amplifier. It was large
and heavy and he forgot to tell me that I had to carry it down several
flights of stairs.
As we approached the Mid-Hudson Civic Center, I called on mv cell
phone. I said I was "Little Melvin's chauffeur, and that he was
performing tonight with B.B. King. And we were running late." The
guy said to come directly to the service entrance in the rear. He did
not even ask who Little Melvin was. A half hour before show time, we
walked in the Civic Center's service door, Little Melvin first with
his guitar and poster. I followed, dragging the amplifier.
Breathing heavy, I announced,
"This is Little Melvin! He is performing with B.B. King! Where do
I put this amplifier?" Orange-shirted security men pointed me
up a flight of stairs to the stage.
Little Melvin asked to see B.B. King but was told he was sleeping, as
was his custom before a show, and could not be disturbed. Melvin sat
on his amplifier. He said, "B.B. King is coming through this door to
the stage. I can't miss him."
An hour after the opening act started, B.B. King came in looking
sleepy and wearing a heavy coat to protect him from the zero-degree
weather. He sat on a folding chair offstage.
Little Melvin slowly stood up, holding his poster. He walked to a
guard, whispered in his ear and gave him the poster. The guard took
the poster over to B.B. King.
Suddenly, B.B. King smiled an enormous smile and looked around.
Little Melvin walked over. B.B. King got up and they hugged.
A guard brought another chair over and B.B. King and Little Melvin
sat together head to head talking and laughing while the band played,
then B.B. King was introduced and walked on stage.
After his opening number, B.B. King said hello to the people of
Poughkeepsie. Then he said, "I was so pleased and surprised to meet
backstage my old friend who I haven't seen for many, many years. You
may know him as Little Melvin."
Jamming with BB.
"We worked in Monroe, La., 30 years ago," Little Melvin said. "I was
playing Monday nights at the American Legion Hall in Monroe, and
whenever B.B. King came to Monroe he would sit in with the band."
Backstage at the Civic Center
Reunited with B.B. King
And Little Melvin, wearing his light suede, wide-lapeled jacket, and matching hat, shuffled slowly on stage, waving, and shook B.B. King's hand, to a standing ovation. Then he shuffled off.
At the end of the spectacular show, B.B. King thanked the terrific audience, his band, his daughter and his old, old friend, Little Melvin. Backstage, after a few more hugs, B.B. King was gone.
William Brenner is a tax preparer who lives in Grahamsville and works
in Monticello. He plays tenor saxophone and met Little Melvin playing
with the Buddy Allen Band at Nina's Restaurant in Loch Sheldrake.
Little Melvin invited Brenner to sit in -- so long as he played very
quietly.
After staging a comeback in 1997, Melvin Underwood had to quit
performing recently after he was injured in a car accident. He has
plans for a new CD after he recovers and maintains a Web site at
www.LittleMelvin.com.
You can also reach him at 791-9970.
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