I've mentioned this on the air in the past because it strikes me funny ….here goes...

In September of 1972, I was about to turn 14. My friends and I went to the local theatre to see "The Concert for Bangla Desh" film. We fell in love with Leon Russell that night….and I still love Leon. We heard news that He was playing at a stadium in Jersey City. We got tickets and we were crazy excited to go to our first "concert"…especially since it was Leon. I forget now, but I'm sure the cost of the ticket then is what a hotdog costs now at Madison Square Garden. None of us had ever been to a concert before and in my mind I was thinking that the scene would be organized and would have a mellow type of vibe, like the band shell in Central Park where the NY Philharmonic played.

So we all dressed accordingly, knit slacks, button down shirts, ties & zip up boots. Looking sharp, my parents dropped us off in a parking lot across the street from Roosevelt Stadium and said, "Have fun, see ya in a few hours". Talk about being naïve :) ...off we went into "hippieland" and had our minds blown! Talk about standing out in a crowd…..a sea of jeans, t shirts, freaky people and drugs galore. People passed out in the bushes, cops everywhere. .. there we were in SUITS!!! We were probably offered to get high on one thing or another about 30 times that afternoon…being straight, innocent young men, we turned each offer down……until a week or two later but that's another story for another time.

Anyway….we got to our seats and here comes LEON RUSSELL! The only thing I remember is hearing Jumping Jack Flash (because of the Film) & "Tightrope" (it was in the top 40). He was standing on his piano singing and throwing tambourines out to the crowd. That's basically the tale. I recall the scene more than the music. Once we got outside… we crossed the street, jumped into my parents' car and home we went. Little did I know right then what an impact that afternoon left on me.

In October of 2007, I saw Leon Russell at the Stanhope House. He looked good, sounded great and for a moment, I was sent back in time…

Dog Bites with Mike Watterston is a production of WNTI and airs Saturdays Noon - 3 PM Eastern Time U.S. - 91.9 FM or Online (Now On Air - Listen Now)

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