Posted 13 years ago
michelleam…
(59 items)
Mike Smith was one of the most famous New Orleans photographers, especially of musicians. During a Jazz Fest, the couple of old friends I had let stay with me wanted to buy me a Michael Smith present. There were fabulous shots of the Greatest Blues musicians...but this was the photo that really screamed at me...it is so New Orleans and soulful, like the Supper Clubs I went to once a week. Does anyone know more about Michael Smith? I was saddened to hear he passed away. On the bottom left of the photo is written "St. Catherine", in the lower middle," 224/12", and in the lower right hand, "Michael Smith,1974". Thank you for your help CW, Mich
Oh I love this photo Michelle , My sister would really love it . She is a pastor and has several healing rooms across US . I can ask her about it when I can catch up with her .
I think you and I have very similar tastes, Mani!! Thank you for the love!! Mich
Wow, what a treasure! Such a slice of life of New Orleans in days past!
Mich, I love this photo and the subject. Street preachers have always been a part of life in the south. I still know several areas where preachers get out and preach on the street. Thanks for sharing. TG
Hi TG, as my story says, we were at the Jazz Festival and Mike Smith was really famous for his Blues musician thoughts, but after living three years in New Orleans, this was the photo that I felt best expressed my experience and perceptions of The Big Easy. I should say that I moved there in summer, thinking it was tourist season and it was NOT!!! I got VERY poor, and went to a Dinner Party at a Supper Club run by Alberta and Johnny Harris Lewis, Gospel singers and wonderful Southern cooks. The Supper Clubs had come from a time when everyone would help each other with bills by having Dinners at each other's house at $3.00 for all you could eat. It was about 25 feet by 15 feet, the front room of their house, on 3rd and Daneel, and they had the best blues Juke Box in town. Johnny had played with BB King when they were young coming up in Twist, Arkansas. Anyways, the poor are always the most generous and Alberta somehow realized I was in trouble, so she would invite me to lunch every day, I was not allowed to refuse. She was worried I would refuse out of pride, and she was right. For those financially tense weeks, I had not a cent to my name, my rent and bills were paid, and I lived on the best Southern Food ever. Fried Chicken and Black Eyed Peas, Cornbread, Fried Pickles, etc...Finally the weather cooled off and I got a job and started making good maney and I took friends here almost weekly for a Dinner, and often went to Church with them. I am not the church going type but I am a singer. The music and powerful sermons caused a sort of reverie that made you feel like you wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. After Church, we would go to Trombone Shorty's, where the Wild Magnolia Mardi Gras Indians played every Sunday after Church. Alberta was a Mardi Gras Indian and the Wild Magnolias represented her people. The Mardi Gras Indians were the black slaves that escaped and were taken in by different Indian tribes. I loved them very much and the night that Alberta died she came to me in a dream and we talked about taking care of myself. When I woke up it was so real...I am not the zany spiritual type, but twice in my life I have had dreams where people who had just died visited me. No one will ever be able to convince me it was a coincidence, there must be a little space where the soul can visit friends and say goodbye!! Anyways, well, there's a story for you!! Talkative today aren't I? Mich
Great story mich,
I always enjoy the stories that go along with your items ! Thanks for sharing ! TG
Thank you Bellin and TG for the kind comments. Happy Easter to you all , too!! Love, mich
That is a great photograph!!
Great photograph and better story!
Thanks for sharing the photo and part of "your story".
Scott
Thank you scottvez, I was rather a bit long winded yesterday!! Love, Mich