ION INDIE MAGAZINE August 2014, Volume 3 | Page 43

-and the only thing preventing them from raping your whole career and future is the weight of
retaliation you carry against them legally if things go south.
Sounds harsh? It is. Do not leave yourself vulnerable to those lowlife agents or managers—or you will
spend decades regretting it. Any professional, established agent/manager has references that can be
easily checked out! And welcomes you doing so! The art and creative side of the music business is
blissful. The business end is sometime like a prison shower room…don’t bend over.
***
I marvel at the frequency of which musicians refuse to return calls, honor commitments or otherwise
cooperate with journalists who are trying to help them. Granted, we benefit by landing a juicy interview
that energizes the magazine—but I, as a working musician myself, don’t get how anyone serious about
promoting themselves could refuse free ink. I only attempt 3 times to track someone down, and by the
third no-response, I will never bother again. I have known and played with musicians who felt any
notoriety destroyed their “Punk Rock Street Cred”. Being a failure, in their estimation, was proof of
authenticity. Unfortunately, I know fellow Akronites who spit on the sidewalk at the mention of The
Black Keys because they are selling albums. Back when they were playing The Lime Spider and bars
on South Main Street, they were the “Cat’s Pajamas”.
As soon as they hit big and were the soundtrack of NCAA March Madness basketball, “Gasp…sellout!”
I do not know that this attitude explains everyone who never calls us back or doesn’t show up. However,
for a percentage of brooding iconoclasts, this is indeed the case. Well, good luck. I hope it all works
out for you. No one owes me anything, but I have plenty of time to check out career-minded serious
musicians and ditch the Syd Barret wannabees.
***
At 93 years young and still gigging regularly, Dr. Franklin Havis, D.C., shows no signs of slowing down.
A Naval Veteran of the Second World War, Havis began playing in 1925, and studied under the great
harmonica virtuoso Jerry Murad of The Harmonicats. Dr. Havis has a repertoire of literally hundreds of
songs, his favorites being “Spanish Flea” and “Nola” by Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass. Havis also loves
Big Band era music, and at this writing, has his suitcases packed for a festival in Eastern Ohio, hosted
by a dear friend in The Rubber Capital Harmonica Club, of which Dr. Havis has been a member for over
20 years. He will be performing all weekend with 50 of the best harmonica players in the United States,
and practices daily year round. Dr. Havis proves that enthusiasm and tenacity can extend a music
career long after many think possible. You go, Doc!