Caproni's Restaurant Voted Best Romantic Restaurant

The results are in and Caproni's Restaurant & Bar was voted the "Best Romantic Restaurant" by the readers of The Ledger Independent in the 2009 Best Of The Best Readers Choice poll. I am proud of the award and always enjoy playing music at this fine establishment. The food, service, and atmosphere at Caproni's are fantastic.

Men of Note Are Bowing Out

A nice article in the Lexington Herald-Leader: Men of Note are bowing out

I'll always remember the fun times I had playing with The Men of Note. My first gig with them was in 1976. Phil Collier was the lead alto sax player and we were both members of the University of Kentucky Jazz Ensemble. He recommended me to the band to play the 2nd tenor sax book. I enjoyed many gigs with them over the years. I remember that first gig in Frankfort like it was yesterday. That gig payed $30.

Football Season Is Here

Anticipation of another season of football enjoyment is exciting. Matthew is playing for the B. Michael Caudill Middle School Spartans. They played the new school's first annual Red/White game this past Sunday. Grandpa Hall & Grandma Kay, Papaw & Mamaw Lucas, Sharon, Michelle & I, and many proud parents and friends of the players were in attendance.


Matthew (#4) played quarterback on offense and linebacker on defense for the red team. They won the game in convincing fashion. Click here to see a slideshow of football photos. Luckily, there were no serious injuries during the game.

Playing Music In The Arlington Country Club Dining Room

I enjoyed playing this past Tuesday evening in the main dining room at Richmond's Arlington Country Club. This was the first in a series of August gigs there for me.


The facility is gorgeous and Arlington is known for the excellent food they serve. The pasta dish I had after the gig was very tasty. I am hoping for continued good crowds for these Tuesday night dinner gigs, as I had a lot of fun playing and would like for my engagement at Arlington to be extended.

My Bengal Buggy Is A Casualty Of The Cash For Clunkers Program

I loved my 95 Chevy Astro Van, aka The Bengal Buggy. I drove her 278,441 miles. She was always there for me.

The air conditioner wasn't working.

She took my family and friends to many Cincinnati Bengals games, even some road games. Her interior was decorated with "everything Bengals".

The cd changer wasn't working.

She took us on vacations, to all kinds of sporting events, concerts, shopping, numerous music gigs, and many other places. She pulled our bass boat to many lakes and creeks. Her sound system entertained us with the best jazz in the world. I had her outfitted with a cool Kenwood ham radio.

The power windows weren't working.

Her engine was still strong. I know she would have run for another 100,000 miles.


The brakes needed to be replaced.

The Cash For Clunkers Program was too tempting. A brand new car for less than $10,000...I just couldn't pass it up. Though I loved The Bengal Buggy, I sold her out by accepting the $4500 offered by the government program. Even after all she had done for my family and me over the past 14 years, I allowed them to take her to be destroyed. I am now in a grieving state of mind.

The battery needed to be replaced.

Oh well, we do have a new car. It gets 32 mpg. It will never be The Bengal Buggy, just a Nissan Versa, but it should get my oldest daughter through college and law school and still have plenty of miles left to drive by the time I get it back.

I have assigned our 1987 Chevy Nova (37 mpg) the duties formerly handled by The Bengal Buggy, though the Nova will never be referred to as "The Bengal Buggy". I have some Bengals interior decorating to do. Perhaps that will take my mind off of The Bengal Buggy's upcoming appointment at Baker Iron & Metal.