Roy Rogers & the Delta Rhythm Kings

Sweetwater in Mill Valley is the scene for revelations.

One morning, I headed to a job interview with the jitters.
Gaynell Rogers, a dynamo manager for her husband,
Roy Rogers (not the cowboy, the slide blues guitarist)
sat with me in her office, checking my feeble resume:

*my fancy-high-school diploma
*an art career, as it was: college degree and home studio
*a mom
*a short stint at a sunscreen sales office,
under my sister's management.
*a brief bit as a go-for at Autodesk,
hired by a manager/friend
*a willingless to learn
*friendliness

The lavender walls and the garden out the window settled the butterflies.
Businesslike, yet gentle and friendly,
Gaynell hired me on the spot.

Ah, the first mistake!
The bass player, introducing himself over the phone,
asks, "So are you a Roy-fan?"
"No." I reply, like a dope.
Nice warm start meeting the band, hey?
I meant I was newly hired and didn't yet know Roy's music.

Well Gaynell set out to change that.
"Meet us at the Sweetwater."
a directive more than an invitation,
meeting Gaynell and Roy and a record executive
at the scene, important,
as if Roy was auditioning,
as if I was auditioning, too,
wanting to project interest, hopefully not phony,
no matter what showed onstage.

The set started and all concern vanished.
Revelation & revival shouted out and cranked up!
Rippin' and roarin'!

A friendship began that night.
Yes, business, too:
assistance in the office,
data entry for the fan lists,
editing news releases, liner notes and a bio.
advancing shows,
Answering phones and hearing:
"Hey, hi, it's Sammy Hagar, how the heck are you!"
Calling my sister, holding out the phone:
as Roy practiced his singing slide guitar in his office next door."This is where I work, can you fathom it?!"
Bonnie Raitt stopping by for a visit.

I moved on to work in schools,
but the music still thrills.
The friendship still holds.
One life changing interview with a dynamo
brought more my way than ever dreamed.

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