I play guitar and like to sing. Making music has always been a big part of my life. But, at one point in my life, it seems the world was getting me down so much that "the music just wouldn't play". It just sort of dried up, like it does sometimes. None of the music I was hearing moved me, and I certainly didn't feel much like playing or singing.

One night, I was in the kitchen and the TV was on in the living room. I wasn't paying any attention to what was on until I heard this singing that sort of perked up my ears. I went into the room, and there--on some re-run of "Sanford and Son"--was Scatman Crothers and Redd Fox sitting around a kitchen table doing a duet of "All of Me". Scatman was playing the tenor guitar and singing the words and melody, while Redd was singing scat harmonies around it all.

I'm not sure I can explain it very well, but the performance captured my heart and just swept me away. I couldn't stop my feet from moving, I was so caught up by the rhythm. And the harmonies were...well, it was almost like I was hearing music for the first time. I know it might sound silly, but it was one of those moments that changed my musical life...and also raised my spirits a whole lot.

Before long I'd found myself a baritone ukelele at a garage sale and began to make up doo-wacka-doo style arrangements of jazz songs from the 20's and '30s--songs like "Pennies from Heaven" and "Sunny Side of the Street". You know, happy songs. The arrangements I made up were and still are a real hit with people, especially with children--and, of course, with folks who grew up in that era.

Also, I was driving a taxi cab at the time. So I'd take my uke with me and sometimes play for customers. They especially liked it when I started to scat the words.

Not so very long after, I was saddened to hear of Scatman's death. I'm sorry that I never wrote to him to thank him for giving me that musical moment and the inspiration. But, if you're listening now, Scatman... Thank you.