A brief introduction

I am Lee Cronbach. For most of my life I have worked as a local or ‘journeyman musician – never getting nationally famous, but rocking quite a few cities in the US In my time.

 I’ve played in all sorts of bands – R&B, rock, country, lounge, originals, and church – and in all sorts of gigs (jobs), from rock and R&B bands to jazz combos, jazz big bands,  norteño bands, voice class accompanist, leading church instrumental groups, and others.   During the process I met a lot of interesting and creative people: professional musicians tend to be pretty original folk. And I had quite a few wonderful and wild adventures. 

Most of my living has been made from teaching – the performances helped spread my reputation which brought me students and funding from friendly families. And just as with the musicians I worked with, a lot of great stories came out of these families and adult students once you get to know them. In Berkeley, then in Boston, then in Los Angeles, I met and played with free drum circles, designed to bring joy to everybody’s soul, and everybody’s soul to the Spirit/the Lord/Adonai (or whatever your favorite name is). Free drum circles have existed here for centuries - mostly underground until the 1950s- fighting racism with music and dance, bringing people together musically in joyous unity, a sneak attack on the racist colonialism which ruled the world until recently. Their philosophy is best described by Boston’s Tribal Rhythms motto; “A man drew a circle to keep me out, so I drew a bigger circle to keep us both in.” These circles were again and again life and soul savers for me. 

Another rewarding aspect of my music life has been the stories and lifelong friendships that came from it. And even some hard times – my increasingly unpleasant experience as a part-time teacher and grad student in colleges being the worst – gave me the reputation which gave me enough private students to be financially comfortable, and led to the church jobs of the last 20 plus years, which gave me money and musical and spiritual satisfaction.

 

And then in classes, as well as with private students, I befriended a whole lot more families with a whole lot more amazing stories. Research for my teaching led to interviews with some of the greats of American music of the R&B and rock era: Hank Williams’ sister Irene; Fred Wesley, a master trombonist with both James Brown and George Clinton; and the Rev. James Cleveland, a leading composer and singer of the classic gospel era.

 

For the entertainment of future generations, I have posted here the wildest stories and most ecstatic music adventures. For the education of young musicians, I have included sayings of my favorite teachers, photos of music manuscripts when I had them, and as an appendix a brief bibliography of the lives and sometimes the works of these geniuses who helped me and so many others.

One final note – I am a gay Jew (me and Brian Epstein: check out a Beatles bio) and went from wild gay living in the early 1970s to discovering the gay Jewish movement and synagogues in the 1980s which led directly to the 36 years of my life with Dr. Baldoz, not only a wonderful partner but a life-saving physician. (Those Jewish mothers who advised their kids to marry a doctor knew what they were talking about!). Since anti-Semitism is on the rise around the world, I have added an appendix, “How to Survive with Your Soul Intact,” which applies also to anyone whose cultural soul is under fire. 

And last but not least, this blog is dedicated to Melvin Wiggins, my composing partner, master congero, and good friend for 45 years. Rest in Peace – no, make that play in joy, along with Richard and Claynette Ramsey, Charles Holley, Curtis Jones, and the other drummers who saved my life and then filled it with holy joy. Each chapter is devoted to a different city or a different band, church, or group of music students. Each is illustrated when possible by a link to a song on YouTube featuring that band or group of students (by the way, even instrumental pieces are songs in my ears), and photos. If you are an aspiring musician, I have enclosed written samples of some of the exercises of my greatest teachers, and lists of their available books and internet postings. Since Black music theory and education is so often based on personal example, I have also included lists of autobiographies that reward intensive study - Duke Ellington and Dizzy Gillespie par excellence, not to mention Dr. John and Keith Richards. Also look for available links on the Internet. And if one musician praises another musician to the skies, check that other one out! (Reading what Mingus had to say about Duke Ellington led me to Duke who led me to the world!)

And one more tip – we humans can never be sure that the Lord exists – but you gain so much more if you just go ahead and believe anyway. Nothing lights up your soul like the belief, and when your soul is shining with light …… well isn’t that tremendous! 

So, with that thought in mind, click down to the Prelude, jump into my 1970 blue Ford Econovan, and let’s shoot down the San Francisco freeway, because a carload full of pimp slavers is trying to catch their escaped woman who is crouching terrified in our van as I jam on the gas…