Fan Stories

submitted by Bob "backflip" Adamson
10/14/02
my sonny story-

I first saw Sonny playing with John Hiatt & the Goners at Jazzfest 2000. That set was the highlight of my first Jazzfest at the Fairgrounds. I did see Sonny again, playing some nice Cajun music at the Fais-do-do stage with the Traiteurs. Finally got to see Sonny leading his own band at the Wolf Trap Blues Festival in summer of 2001. They played a terrific set and really had the fairly small crowd up & groovin' for tunes like "USS Zydecoldsmobile" and a rollicking "Congo Square" with Billy Payne from Little Feat sitting in on keyboards. Being a big Little Feat fan & grassroots supporter of the band, I was able to hang out backstage during parts of the show (when Sonny joined Little Feat onstage during Dixie Chicken) and had an opportunity to meet Sonny after the show. Of course, Sonny is a truly nice guy and really seems to enjoy talking to his fans & friends about music. He's a "fan" too when it comes to other musicians and it was nice to hear him talking about Little Feat until Bill Payne came up and they got to talking about all kinds of stuff! I ran into Sonny again later that summer when Hiatt & the Goners opened for BB King. Sonny was so cordial and welcoming to my buddy Morris, who is wheelchair bound with Cerebral Palsy. Morris insisted that we had to go meet John Hiatt after their set ended, so I wheeled him around to the bus area and Sonny pops out of the bus to greet us and even zips back in to get a sharpie to autograph Morris' ticket! Morris had attended the Blues Festival earlier in the summer, so he is now a huge fan of Sonny's and he got to visit with him for a bit. Sonny is very patient too, because it is difficult to understand Morris! Even though Morris got to meet John Hiatt too, I think he is more of a Sonny Fan, he loves hot guitar playing.

Since then, I've had other occasions to meet Sonny - in Seattle at the Experience Music Project & most recently at Little Feat's "Waiting For Columbus" 25th Anniversary show at the Lisner Auditorium in DC. The show was put on by the Guacamole Fund, as a fund-raiser for the Native American rights Fund, and for the Simpatico Foundation (to support the recovery of Sev Hayward, Feat drummer Richie Hayward's son who is in recovery & rehabilitation from a near fatal brain trauma). Sonny was in good company with other guests - Jackson Browne, Bela Fleck, Sam Bush, Levon Helm, Drew Emmit & Vince Hermann from Leftover Salmon, Joe Ely, Warren Haynes, Jimmy Herring, Lenny Pickett(from Tower of Power), Ron Holloway, the Allmighty Senators Horns, and Billy Bob Thornton! Stellar lineup, all there to support a great cause and to pay tribute to Little Feat and their classic live album. All the musicians were playing for free to help the charities. Sonny in particular has a big heart and is willin' to help a good cause. He is getting involved in our ongoing efforts on behalf of Sev Hayward (see www.faerea.com/feat). No ego trips or over-extended solos - just great music & lots of love & mutual admiration. Sonny was thrilled to be part of the show, and really played some fine slide guitar on Rocket in my Pocket, On Your Way Down, Mercenary Territory, and Let it Roll. Everyone got a little solo during Dixie Chicken also. Sonny spent a few minutes after the show at the reception telling me, Morris and others about his upcoming blues album, and all the other projects he is working on. He really enjoys jamming with Little Feat (and others) and is always happy to hear a "hello from Genny B!" as well as a "hello from Cheri in Seattle" who, as far as I can figure, are his biggest and most devoted fans!

Can't wait for the new album and for my next "shot of Sonny"


backflip Bob at the "pre-show" party before the benefit
(the guy in the yellow shirt) photo by Hank Randall

The two photos below were taken by Bob





Below are a few photos from the show that night when Sonny was on stage. If you'd like to see more photos from the whole event, take a look at Little Feat Photos And don't forget to check out their newest CD on Hot Tomato Records "live from the rams' head"
All photos below courtesy of photographer Hank Randall


Sonny with Paul Barrere 10/14/02





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