Denny Earnest

I was first exposed to live Jazz was in Cleveland Oh in the early 70's at the "Smiling Dog Saloon" on the west side. I was a up and coming young blues guy, and I'd go there to see Freddie King, I'd go every night, he'd send pitchers of beer to my table, real nice guy, and a monster player. My first real live Jazz was "Weather Report" the original lineup...... 1st album blown away, in the summer to come I saw Freddie Hubbard, Herbie Hancock "Watermelon Man", Brian Auger singing "Compared to What", and Les McCann, one of my favorites, the man could sing..... This club only sat 200 people, everything up close...... For those shows I'd often be the only white guy there.... those were the days and the times..... I know there's a guy who had a studio next door, he taped all the shows at the Smiling Dog, Richard Whittington, man I'd like to get my hands on those tapes......