I've known Wayne since 6th grade when we went to St. Mary's grammer school together. We became friends and played miniture pool in his basement. We kinda lost touch when we went to different high schools, but reconnected when he got out of the army.
We actually shared a big old house that had been busted up into strange little apartments that all smelled of leaking gas stoves. It was 1227 Brown Street.
Wayne introduced me to drugs, as only a good friend could do. He had just returned from Germany with some blotter acid and asked me if I'd like to try it. The strongest substance I had previously experienced was Budweiser. We were sitting in Yogi Bear Chicken when he put a "hit" into my orange soda. The rest is a whole 'nother story.
After the Whitsuntide Singers, I traded off my Martin (like in the Gordan Lightfoot song) for a $100 bill and an Air Force Parka. I wore the Parka (when it was cold) and I bought a Gibson J50 with the money. I still have that guitar but it's in two pieces. Wayne bought his banjo at the PX and learned a few chords, the open "G" being his favorite. We worked up a few songs and the picture above is of us "performing" at The Commons at Southern Illinois University. We left an open guitar case for tips, but people took money out instead of putting it in!
Some of my friends (The Bad Rats) know Wayne from potato salad oriented festivities, as well as Kingston Trio Fantasy Camp. Wayne is a founding member of the renouned Midwest Outlaw Kazoo Band.
There is no better rendition of "Mr. Froggy Went a Courting" than Wayne accomanying himself on the Framus. I might be partial because he is my best friend.
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