Interesting tale:

It just happened that I was in the audience downing a few when Corky and Jim Schwall's band auditioned for BIG JOHN'S---the premier Old Town blues club in Chicago about 1965. They were a fine band. The early Vanguard LPs were standouts. Corky did a ton of work with Seji Ozawa and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in later decades. It was really ground-breaking work that led Corky to his recent delvings into CHAMBER BLUES.

While I was at the Mayo Clinic a while back, a fellow had to come in and do an interesting precedure on me every few hours. I was playing a cassette of Corky Siegel when he wandered in one day & he just freaked out. Seems he had tickets to see Corky in Redwing, Minnesota in a few days. He wondered if I thought Corky might sign an autograph for him. I told him I was sure he would---just go back stage and ask. He was amazed I knew Corky and walked out of my room a few inches off the floor. A few days later I got a full report on the concert as well as greetings from Corky. The fellow was amazed 'cause Corky said was sending another signed 8 X 10 photo in the mail.

The guy went on vacation and got his job changed. I never saw him again .

I eventually went home. About a month after I got home a photo, signed to ME, showed up from Corky.

I was really wondering why Corky was sending me this thing so I called him. It seems Corky had gotten the distinct impression that it was ME, ol' Art, who wanted the signed photo! He couldn't figure out why I'd want it, but he figured since I was in the hospital I must need it...

Well, we had a good laugh over the whole thing. To end the episode, I sent that photo to another friend of mine, also named Art, with no information or return address. He's probably still wondering why Corky sent him a signed glossy photo.

Reality beats fiction--once again!

Art Thieme