A week before my old boss, I called him “Chief”, Jim Stewart, retired as principal and head basketball coach at Medora Jr-Sr High School in Medora, Indiana in 2003, he took two pieces of paper out of his wallet and put each one of them on the copier and handed me the copies. One paper was a list of thirteen schools he had worked in from Northern Indiana to Southern Indiana. The other was a unaccredited quote that was in Chief’s handwriting. It said:
I need to do the things I have to do before I can do the things I want to do.
Jim did things his way. He coached his way. He did not compromise. He moved on first, hence the list of thirteen schools he worked for.
For whatever reason, that quote struck me as I was watching and listening to Justin Hayward sing in Kent, Ohio this past Friday night. It seemed I was witnessing that quote for some reason.
In context, I spent the school years of 1998-1999, 1999-2000, and 2002-2003 working with Jim Stewart. Most of the things I got from him about his career were legendary stories. In a short time Jim Stewart and I developed an understanding and a friendship that stayed firm until the day he died. I miss all of it.
Today as my dear wife, Carrie, and I were driving by King’s Island amusement park north of Cincinnati, Ohio, I told Carrie I was at a Moody Blues’ concert there in July of 1988 and it was the first time The Moodies played the song “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere” in concert. Later that year in November at the Louisville Gardens their sound man, Gary Kundra (I believe), told me that was a less than memorable concert sound-wise. I don’t remember it that way. I was just glad to be there.
That is way it has turned out for me in attending concerts by The Moody Blues and Justin Hayward. I’m just glad to be there. And over the years 1986 to 2018 I have seen one of these shows 58 times be it in my teens, my twenties, my thirties, my forties, and now I am 50. How cool is that?
I make music too. I write songs. I record them. I have never tried to chase a sound that was not mine. I learned that from folks like Tim Krekel, Jim Stewart and Justin Hayward, three guys who followed their hearts.
On the stage with Mike Dawes and Julie Ragins, Justin Hayward gives it his all and seems more content in this trio setting that has jelled and found a wonderful on-stage mold in five years of playing together. I have never seen a show where three folks from such diverse places in time have a found the perfect balance in presentation and obvious joy in what they are doing. It is a wonderful thing to witness, really. Justin Hayward is 71. Julie Ragins is 51. Mike Dawes is a ripe old 28. When they grab instruments and start playing and singing, none of that matters. Music is what matters.
I have seen The Moody Blues at Red Rocks and in the big barns and arenas. Friday in a crappy old theater (I would visit again in a heartbeat) that holds 642 people, I saw Justin Hayward on the balls of his feet delivering vocals with everything he had to give. I saw Justin Hayward graciously thank the guitar tech, Chris, when it was time to change out a guitar or when he handed Justin something to wet his whistle.
I get the feeling that Justin Hayward has found time to do what he wants to do, thanks to the fact that he did what he had to do. He seems to be appreciating the moment. I hope so.
Last July Carrie and I walked out of The Ryman Auditorium and I told her that was the last Moody Blues concert I would attend. They played Days of Future Passed in its entirety and it was at The Ryman! As the last note of the encore song Ride My See-Saw was fading, we hit the door. It was the perfect exit at the perfect place.
Now, I will be glad to see and hear Justin Hayward sing again. He has an energy and an appreciation that is incredible to behold.
I think this traveling show is the one Justin Hayward sang about many years ago even though he didn’t know it at the time… “just what you want to be…you will be in the end.” He followed his own advice…just like Jim Stewart did.
Speaking the rights…
Danny Johnson