Comments on: “1961 in the Loft” by Virginia Wald

By: Gin

Gin — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 02:38:16 +0000

Hello Tommy,
Of course I remember when you and Lin followed me back to Cincinnati. Chase lived until the early 80’s and then was killed in a car accident on the way to his farm in rural Ohio. Due to my writing for the “Project” I’ve come to realize what a deep debt I owe to him for looking out for me those many years ago.

By: Frank Amoss

Frank Amoss — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:15:49 +0000

Lin,

I lived in the loft with Jimmy Stevenson durng the summer of ‘61. I remember You and Lin being there a lot. It was disturbing to me to see you living on the street.

The day you left new York I sat with you at the 5th floor window of 821, waiting for your friend to drive up with his car to take you away from that scene.

When you drove away I was glad for you and It is such good news to know your life has turned out well.

If Ted remembers me, tell him “Hi.”

Frank Amoss

By: Tom Wayburn

Tom Wayburn — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:08:17 +0000

Whoops. I said, “Hi Lin” instead of “Hi Gin”. I suppose it is an understandable mistake.

Tom

By: Tom Wayburn

Tom Wayburn — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:06:58 +0000

Hi Lin,

That was some story. Do you remember the trip Lin and I made to Cincinnati? We stayed in the basement of a house owned by Chase (who sang in a choir with my old friend Jim Brodhead when he was a kid). Rusty visited Ellen and me here in Houston a couple of years ago. We made a brief video of him talking which I will put on my website at http://dematerialism.net/rusty.mov when I find it. I am interested in a couple of things that you remember better than I do. The order in which I tenanted the little room on 23rd Street and 761 Sixth Avenue might be confused in my own mind. Also, I wrote that it was Clyde Cox’s loft next to the little room, but it may have been Sonny Carr’s loft. I think Sam would want us to straighten this out. I will talk to Ted soon. Eddie Diehl called the other day thanks to Ted.

Tom

By: ron free

ron free — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 10:06:06 +0000

i would echo many of sandy’s comments, virginia. thanks for sharing your story.
i had many powerful musical moments playing with lin at various lofts around the city.

i’m struck by how many of us from that era, who led lives of such tragic desolation in so many ways, can look back on it all now and say we have no regrets.

ah the vicissitudes . . .

By: Sandy Stevenson Krell

Sandy Stevenson Krell — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 02:05:27 +0000

Your story was so profound,thank you so much for writing it. It is a story of survival. Every time I open the blog a new memory comes blasting forth. I always hoped that when Sam wrote the “Jazz Loft Project” he would have a big party and we would all meet again. However I think the blog is even better because it gives us a chance to digest our stories. I remember you from the loft and I remember Lin and Sonny as well as Manny Durran. Over the years I have wondered what happened to all of you. Lin and Sonny were two of the most talented people that I met in the loft, as well as being so self distructive. It is hard to see such gifted people throw away their lives. I remember you being so young. I never knew what drew you to New York or where you disapeared too. It seemed our encounter was brief. I also remember Manny, who I always liked, but whose story I never new. I think we spent our first Christmas Eve with him. What happened to him? I remember that he seemed to look out for both you and Lin. I remember him saying that you were sleeping in the park and that you smelled like grass. He had a funny sense of humor.

The picture of Lin is heart breaking. He looks much like my former husband, Jimmy did when he passed away in Jan. of this year.

You, Virginia are a true servivor and you look great. Thank you for your story. I too have no regrets. I also feel that my experiances and the people I met in the loft enriched my life. I am not sure that you remember me but I am Jimmy Stevenson’s former wife, Sandy.