Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Leonard 'Snap' Fleming - "The Human Jukebox"
Sometimes when you go through New Orleans, you come across something so genuine and simply touching, that you have to just stand back, say "damn!" and count your blessings for being here.
Boo and I were hangin' out by the Mississippi one day on the levee and Leonard - or Snap, as the security people refer to him - stopped by to ask if he could sing a song. Hey I'm always game for something interesting, even if it doesnt include talent, but when Leonard began telling his story and broke into song, it all emerged as a positive. He sang Ray Charles, Otis Redding, and several other artists with his unassuming, soulful voice and we determined we'd have to come back and record him before it got too cold and we missed him - maybe forever - 'cause people on the street sometimes disappear.
Well, a few weeks later we made it back and recorded a couple of songs but the wind messed up the sound on 90% of the recordings, including an original song he'd written and sung to us. So the clip isnt too long but it gives just a feel of the soul this man, who's been singing on the streets since he came to New Orleans 40 years ago, loves to express to the lucky levee listeners crossing his path. So here he is singing "Come Home For Christmas":
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
some fun pics
