This was a rescheduled event because John got sick the last time we were supposed to appear here (April 7th). Many of the people who showed up the last time and were disappointed that John wasn't there returned to get their books signed. Among those in the crowd were some notable attendees. Kevin Wooldridge, for instance, drove all the way from Columbus Ohio just to buy the book and get John's autograph (that's about a six hour drive one way). We bought him lunch. It seemed like the least we could do.
Alan Rosen and his wife Judy, both former WLS employees and long-time friends of John, also showed up and regaled us all with some great stories. Al contributed a few great stories to the book (including the secret to John's unique 'inside the record' approach, and about the night John did the Boogie Check with no delay system), but it turns out we should asked him for even more stories. He has a million of them. Maybe we should do an Alan Rosen book.
In a strange co-incidence, two brothers showed up to the event from totally different parts of town (Doug and Steve Bensing), and neither of them had any idea that their brother would also be attending the event. They bumped into each other in the parking lot.
Eckhartz Press publisher David Stern brought a bucketfull of shtick with him and entertained the crowd as they purchased the book. "Do you take checks?" one woman asked. "We take boogie checks," Stern replied.
Overall it was a very nice afternoon in Northwest Indiana. Thanks to the gang at Bartlett's for being so welcoming, and thanks to the many John Landecker fans for coming out to buy the book and say hello.
We have two more events coming in Northwest Indiana (on May 10 and May 15--details coming soon), and then we'll start staging some on the Illinois side of the border.
(Photos below: Bartlett's, the book signer John Landecker, John with Kevin Wooldridge--who drove six hours to be there, Judy and Al Rosen with John, John and Eckhartz Press co-publisher David Stern)
