I dreamt of the Soulman the night he died. In the dream he was holding court in the old WMNF building. Telling stories only he knew. Told the way only he could tell them. Those stories, like Bob, are now gone forever.
He died August 11 after many years of failing health and much suffering .
His show “Blues With A Groove ” was on WMNF Friday nights from 9pm to 12 midnight for over 32 years.
I met him at The Ringside in St. Pete in the early 80s. He invited me on his show and I was his co-host and partner for many of those years. I would fill in for him when he was off on “Official Soul Business “, which usually involved a show somewhere or a woman or both.
He took me many places I never could have gone.
A Juke Joint in Central Florida to see Clarence “CC” Carter. The Blues Ship in Ybor to see Junior Wells and James Peterson. Frankie’s Patio to see Bobby “Blue “Bland. Skipper’s to see Little Milton.
I saw him shortly before he died. He had a picture of Raful Neal by his bed and a Little Milton show poster facing him on the wall.
He told me Milton taught him about business and life. He told me Milton also showed him that you didn’t have to hit all the right notes to “get there.”
What Little Milton was to him, he was to me. And even though Bob is gone, he is with me every time I open the mic and play some Luther Allison. Party Time by Luther was his theme song.
The real Blues. The real deal.
Mama’s baddest baby boy. The best that ever did it and got away with it.
“Yeah Baby ”
– Written by WMNF Volunteer “Marvelous” Marvin Boone
Services are this Friday, August 20th – 2pm, 2021 at Sunset Memory Gardens 1105 N. US 301 in Thonotosassa, 33592.
Listen To Larry Lisk’s Tribute to Tribute to Bob on Mo’ Blues Monday Here:
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