Late start, no mark in life.

sailormann said:
Wow that's great. I am very familiar with the Band and have always been a fan, but I didn't know that interesting bit of history. Thank you for sharing that.
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You are most welcome. Four of the 5 Band members were Canadians. Richard Danko, Robbie Robertson, Garth Hudson, and Richard Manuel. Ronnie Hawkins was a hard task master, and he ran the Hawks like a military unit. Fines for showing up late on stage, fines for not wearing a clean shirt each night, play a 4 hour bar set, then practice a further 4 hours into the early morning hours.

Hawkins arrived in Toronto in 1956 with Levon, looking for steady music gigs. Within 4 months they had put together the first of many Hawks lineups. Ronnie's biggest attribute was being able to spot raw talent, bring it on stage with him, and mold the musician to his formula. Hawkins eventually became the unofficial "Mayor of Younge street " which was Toronto's main downtown drag where all the hot music bars were located.

Hawkins knew a lot of people in the music business, and by the early 1970s he was friends with a huge number of stars in various style of music, from Jerry Lee Lewis, to Bo Diddley, to Gordon Lightfoot ( they played across the street from one another for years in Toronto ) to Bob Dylan. Dylan came to Toronto to play a concert at Maple Leaf Gardens, and the after party was at Gord Lightfoot's Toronto house. Hawkins and the Hawks met Dylan that night.

Within 3 weeks, Bob Dylan was offering a huge amount of money to lure the Hawks away from Ronnie, and become his back up band. This was just as Dylan was moving from acoustic folk to electric rock. The Hawks took the bait, and left Hawkins high and dry. He never forgot that, and his relations with Levon were strained from then on.

Hawkins rebuilt the band with some of the best Toronto players, and continued to pack the bars. He also opened the Hawk's Nest which was a NO booze club for teen agers. At that time in Ontario the legal age to drink was 21. The Nest was a gold mine for Hawkins, who owned it, and he also booked the bands who played there. Hawkins booked many US acts for national tours in Canada, under the name Big Town Music INC. He was a multi talented guy.

Some of Ronnie's friends were jerks. John Lennon and Yoko Ono stayed at Ronnies country home west of Toronto for 3 weeks. After the main Beatle and his wife left town, Ronnie found out Lennon had stuck him with a $9000 long distance phone bill. He was never able to get Lennon to pay it back.

Here is a link to a Youtube Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks title.https://www.bing.com/videos/search?pglt=43&q=ronnie+hawkins+and+the+hawks+youtube&cvid=067ef112ec9944a2ab8276a2e8751eba&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBggCEAAYQDIGCAAQRRg5MgYIARAAGEAyBggCEAAYQDIGCAMQABhAMgYIBBAAGEAyBggFEAAYQDIGCAYQABhAMgYIBxAAGEDSAQkyNDMyOGowajGoAgCwAgA&PC=U531&ru=%2fsearch%3fpglt%3d43%26q%3dronnie%2bhawkins%2band%2bthe%2bhawks%2byoutube%26cvid%3d067ef112ec9944a2ab8276a2e8751eba%26gs_lcrp%3dEgZjaHJvbWUqBggCEAAYQDIGCAAQRRg5MgYIARAAGEAyBggCEAAYQDIGCAMQABhAMgYIBBAAGEAyBggFEAAYQDIGCAYQABhAMgYIBxAAGEDSAQkyNDMyOGowajGoAgCwAgA%26FORM%3dANNTA1%26PC%3dU531&view=detail&mmscn=vwrc&mid=F59084F5625BBEC3AC09F59084F5625BBEC3AC09&FORM=WRVORC

Enjoy. Jimb.
 
"I am a black hole of events and achievements therefore rather than ’I am’. I am just the opposite."

If the opposite of "I am" is "I was", then that's a legacy.

But you're short-changing your daughters. They are your legacy. You don't know a fraction of the people they touch in their lives. They may have bettered hundreds of others whether the contact was casual, incidental, or familiar.
 

jimintoronto said:
You are most welcome. Four of the 5 Band members were Canadians. Richard Danko, Robbie Robertson, Garth Hudson, and Richard Manuel. Ronnie Hawkins was a hard task master, and he ran the Hawks like a military unit. Fines for showing up late on stage, fines for not wearing a clean shirt each night, play a 4 hour bar set, then practice a further 4 hours into the early morning hours.

Hawkins arrived in Toronto in 1956 with Levon, looking for steady music gigs. Within 4 months they had put together the first of many Hawks lineups. Ronnie's biggest attribute was being able to spot raw talent, bring it on stage with him, and mold the musician to his formula. Hawkins eventually became the unofficial "Mayor of Younge street " which was Toronto's main downtown drag where all the hot music bars were located.

Hawkins knew a lot of people in the music business, and by the early 1970s he was friends with a huge number of stars in various style of music, from Jerry Lee Lewis, to Bo Diddley, to Gordon Lightfoot ( they played across the street from one another for years in Toronto ) to Bob Dylan. Dylan came to Toronto to play a concert at Maple Leaf Gardens, and the after party was at Gord Lightfoot's Toronto house. Hawkins and the Hawks met Dylan that night.

Within 3 weeks, Bob Dylan was offering a huge amount of money to lure the Hawks away from Ronnie, and become his back up band. This was just as Dylan was moving from acoustic folk to electric rock. The Hawks took the bait, and left Hawkins high and dry. He never forgot that, and his relations with Levon were strained from then on.

Hawkins rebuilt the band with some of the best Toronto players, and continued to pack the bars. He also opened the Hawk's Nest which was a NO booze club for teen agers. At that time in Ontario the legal age to drink was 21. The Nest was a gold mine for Hawkins, who owned it, and he also booked the bands who played there. Hawkins booked many US acts for national tours in Canada, under the name Big Town Music INC. He was a multi talented guy.

Some of Ronnie's friends were jerks. John Lennon and Yoko Ono stayed at Ronnies country home west of Toronto for 3 weeks. After the main Beatle and his wife left town, Ronnie found out Lennon had stuck him with a $9000 long distance phone bill. He was never able to get Lennon to pay it back.

Here is a link to a Youtube Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks title.https://www.bing.com/videos/search?pglt=43&q=ronnie+hawkins+and+the+hawks+youtube&cvid=067ef112ec9944a2ab8276a2e8751eba&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBggCEAAYQDIGCAAQRRg5MgYIARAAGEAyBggCEAAYQDIGCAMQABhAMgYIBBAAGEAyBggFEAAYQDIGCAYQABhAMgYIBxAAGEDSAQkyNDMyOGowajGoAgCwAgA&PC=U531&ru=%2fsearch%3fpglt%3d43%26q%3dronnie%2bhawkins%2band%2bthe%2bhawks%2byoutube%26cvid%3d067ef112ec9944a2ab8276a2e8751eba%26gs_lcrp%3dEgZjaHJvbWUqBggCEAAYQDIGCAAQRRg5MgYIARAAGEAyBggCEAAYQDIGCAMQABhAMgYIBBAAGEAyBggFEAAYQDIGCAYQABhAMgYIBxAAGEDSAQkyNDMyOGowajGoAgCwAgA%26FORM%3dANNTA1%26PC%3dU531&view=detail&mmscn=vwrc&mid=F59084F5625BBEC3AC09F59084F5625BBEC3AC09&FORM=WRVORC

Enjoy. Jimb.
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What an interesting inside story. It sounds as if you were directly affiliated with the Band and Ronnie Hawks in some ways other than just a member of the audience or an adoring fan.
 
I'm good with the life I was given. I will only be remembered by few and maybe generations forward someone will inquire about me to fill a family tree. It's enough in return for a simple life.
 
sailormann said:
What an interesting inside story. It sounds as if you were directly affiliated with the Band and Ronnie Hawks in some ways other than just a member of the audience or an adoring fan.
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I was both a fan and an associate. I was one of the roadies for Jay Smith and the Majestics starting around 1963. Jay was a tremendous voice, and he was hired by Ronnie as an opening act when they went on the road doing 4 nights a week in the other towns in southern Ontario. For me that morphed into a steady job with Ronnie as an "odd job guy " .

My duties were varied, sort of like in the military, drive the equipment van, move equipment, pick up the dry cleaning, take musical or sound equipment to Long and McQuade for repairs. Make sure that everyone was happy with their rooms on the road, hand out flyers advertising that night's show at the local auditorium, and deliver new 45's to the local radio stations in the smaller Ontario towns for air play. Drive Ronnie home late at night, and pick him up the next day. The benefits ? Lots of late night poker games with some of the leading stars of the era, backstage at the Hawk's Nest.

Jimb.
 
jimintoronto said:
I was both a fan and an associate. I was one of the roadies for Jay Smith and the Majestics starting around 1963. Jay was a tremendous voice, and he was hired by Ronnie as an opening act when they went on the road doing 4 nights a week in the other towns in southern Ontario. For me that morphed into a steady job with Ronnie as an "odd job guy " .

My duties were varied, sort of like in the military, drive the equipment van, move equipment, pick up the dry cleaning, take musical or sound equipment to Long and McQuade for repairs. Make sure that everyone was happy with their rooms on the road, hand out flyers advertising that night's show at the local auditorium, and deliver new 45's to the local radio stations in the smaller Ontario towns for air play. Drive Ronnie home late at night, and pick him up the next day. The benefits ? Lots of late night poker games with some of the leading stars of the era, backstage at the Hawk's Nest.

Jimb.
Click to expand...
In the early 70's, 4 of us went to a New Year's event hosted by Ronnie Hawkins. For some odd reason, people were not on the dance floor .. except for a Janis Joplin look-alike who danced every set alone. Near the end of the evening, a female duo danced together.

The ride home on the subway was like being in a can of sardines, as it was free.
 
There wouldn't be two people that you call daughters had you not existed. For them to be happy and content and well adjusted, part of that is to see their parents in the same way. Most of us have not created great things for a lasting legacy. But creating great children and a possible future family tree is a great thing. We are given one life to live (as far as we know!) we have the power to shape it to be a decent one.
 
jimintoronto said:
I was both a fan and an associate. I was one of the roadies for Jay Smith and the Majestics starting around 1963. Jay was a tremendous voice, and he was hired by Ronnie as an opening act when they went on the road doing 4 nights a week in the other towns in southern Ontario. For me that morphed into a steady job with Ronnie as an "odd job guy " .

My duties were varied, sort of like in the military, drive the equipment van, move equipment, pick up the dry cleaning, take musical or sound equipment to Long and McQuade for repairs. Make sure that everyone was happy with their rooms on the road, hand out flyers advertising that night's show at the local auditorium, and deliver new 45's to the local radio stations in the smaller Ontario towns for air play. Drive Ronnie home late at night, and pick him up the next day. The benefits ? Lots of late night poker games with some of the leading stars of the era, backstage at the Hawk's Nest.

Jimb.
Click to expand...
What a fun gig! We had Roadies for some of our gigs when we traveled a lot but mostly we did smaller venues, nightclubs and such. Always tried for the house band jobs. Got to open and share the stage with a few well known acts along the way, Allman Brothers, Jimmy Buffet, Bertie Higgins, Little Feat, others. Some of the best times were traveling and playing the little hole-in-the-wall places for a week or two at a time. I still remember how the hair on my arms would stand on end as I counted off the first song of the night. Nothing in the world quite like it!
 
sailormann said:
What a fun gig! We had Roadies for some of our gigs when we traveled a lot but mostly we did smaller venues, nightclubs and such. Always tried for the house band jobs. Got to open and share the stage with a few well known acts along the way, Allman Brothers, Jimmy Buffet, Bertie Higgins, Little Feat, others. Some of the best times were traveling and playing the little hole-in-the-wall places for a week or two at a time. I still remember how the hair on my arms would stand on end as I counted off the first song of the night. Nothing in the world quite like it!
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I think you will enjoy this article. It covers Ronnie's life better than I could . link. https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/ronnie-hawkins-obituary-1.6470162

JimB.
 
Mr. Ed said:
hypothetically most people want a legacy to be remembered by. I am a black hole of events and achievements therefore rather than ’I am’ I am just the opposite.
I have 2 wonderful daughters and a wonderful wife so obviously some substance there. however nothing dynamic or meaningful in the real world.

Perhaps I feel cheated for losing out on 30 yrs of productivity and social growth. I appreciate my come back years from 2005 forward.
Comparably, the time and opportunity to leave my mark as a reference to be remembered by has long passed and forgotten.
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HA! As a youngster, I was going to change the world. Looking back, like you, I'm inconsequential. Even writing that, it seems like self-aggrandizement. In reality, no one individual can expect to have an impact that has far reaching effects. I'll die, and no-one will know or care. Not my idea of a glorious life, but a realistic one.

You know, civilization is chock full of people like me. How many people from your past do you really know about? What they went through, how they felt, what they thought? We, as humans, start with huge potential, but we most often end with... well, a puff of smoke.
 
It depends on how you look or wanted as a legacy.

As examples... Your daughters will continue your genealogy when they marry and have children. Legacy 1. We had a daughter and a son. Our daughter is the one now, hoping to carry our lines. Sadly, our son died at just 26 still single.

The work you've done if it's real items will survive in the archives. Legacy 2. Examples: Husband's work as Naval Ship Draughtsman has been filled away within the Archives. That's his legacy as every designs he made bares his name.

My own work, especially the disks onto which it was recorded and saved, are in the Archives as well. My legacy...

Finally, people who've you met in your lifetime, especially friends and acquaintances will remember you.

The possibilities for a life well lived is in itself, a wonderful legacy!

So, don't fret dear @Mr. Ed you've built a good one already!
 
I found my mark under the shamrock tree. Now I can rest easy never to be depressed again.
 
VaughanJB said:
HA! As a youngster, I was going to change the world. Looking back, like you, I'm inconsequential. Even writing that, it seems like self-aggrandizement. In reality, no one individual can expect to have an impact that has far reaching effects. I'll die, and no-one will know or care. Not my idea of a glorious life, but a realistic one.

You know, civilization is chock full of people like me. How many people from your past do you really know about? What they went through, how they felt, what they thought? We, as humans, start with huge potential, but we most often end with... well, a puff of smoke.
Click to expand...
Most my former school mates are dead, perhaps I will take one of their marks should one go on sale.
 
oldaunt said:
There is not much in life more meaningful than raising children to do well in life....
Click to expand...

That makes life inconsequential. Parents have their kids as a legacy, but they also still have a personal life, personal dreams, and goals, no?
 
oldaunt said:
You would rather they raised useless troublemaking brats who make life miserable for all around them like so many have been doing? If you are going to have them, do it right. That IS part of who YOU are.
Click to expand...

No, of course, I get it. But if the ONLY value proposition in life is being a good parent, then individually it all seems........ rather shallow. I was more focused on other achievement, goals achieved etc. If it's only about bringing up kids, we're really far closer to being monkee's than I thought.

And yeah, I'd like good behaved kids. If us kids so much as coughed during the news my father would slap us!
 
You can have a legacy. But it may be almost unknown or unknowable.
1. Children , especially if the bloodline continues on for generations.
2. Make a big donation of money to a charity or institution. Get it named after you in print
3. Your writing, published on the web or in print. Something significant, not just blogs or comments.
Ironically, a print paper may survive computers because of storage and access capabilities
4. Another creative output--art, film, etc.
5. Invent or discover something and use your name for it.
6. Your "legacy" may survive indefinitely but its creator is unknown. Do you need your name or image
to survive--that is much harder.
7. We never know if or when we do something that has repercussions and effects that were never
imagined. Sometimes the opposite of our intentions. You would never know! Many people, famous and
obscure are known for something small, they thought was insignificant and spent little time on.
. Artists, authors, athletes, inventors, business men.
8. Get a street, park, or something public with your name.
 

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