Feest Isolation Days – 17 November
Today’s desert island song is worth listening to before you read on. It’s written by
my old friend and mentor, Doc Pomus.
Johnny Adams sings it as a tribute to the man.
Doc was a prolific songwriter who I met when I was living in New York City waitressing in a music club called Dr. Generosity’s. Doc arrived several times a week to listen to the bands. His driver would drop him off and park his wheelchair at “his” table. As a boy he’d had polio, and later in life he couldn’t manage the crutches anymore and became confined to his wheelchair. He was larger than life and I was in awe of him. When I won a song-writing contest. the Manager of the club encouraged me to tell Doc. When I didn’t, he did. A few days later I found myself at Doc’s home while I sat across from his wheelchair, watching for what seemed like hours as he silently read every word I’d written and shared with him. When he finished he sat quietly and stared at me for a time and then said, “Baby, I’m going to tell you something. You can write. But this business isn’t for you.”
It was the start of a long and important friendship. I was in my early twenties and as luck would have it, I lived half a block away. He had a dog, Solon, that I walked regularly, and on the weekends when his carers and drivers had time off, I’d visit and we’d chat for hours. They didn’t call him Doc for nothing. I met his son and daughter who were about my age, and in many ways, he treated me like another daughter. He was down to earth and pulled no punches. I was fed up with New York, and it was his suggestion that I save up and travel to England. “Go have an adventure, think about what you want to do and enjoy yourself.” I’m not sure I would have ever thought of that on my own! When I returned from my trip and saw him for the first time, he said, “I didn’t tell you to go and get married!” But that is what I did. I fell in love with England and my first husband, who Doc never met, was there making it possible to stay. He met my son, and we stayed at his apartment when we visited New York years later. Terry met him first without me, and after their visit, Doc called to tell me I was now definitely on the right track. Nearly thirty years later, I couldn’t agree more!
I learned many things over our hours of chats. Turn a corner. Never ever give up on your dreams while there’s still breath in you….No matter how long it takes, or what happens on the way. I’ll think of him a lot while I’m on my desert island listening to my records!
This clip is from a trailer of a documentary about him. Thanks Doc. You really did help me turn my life around. And the gift of writing is still something I have!
Enjoy! Stay Safe!
With love
Kathy x