Jackie Lomax----a heart full of soul.

I am not quite sure HOW to address the loss of my dear friend Jackie Lomax. Our friendship was based on an odd combination of mutual friends, similar senses of humor, a love of French cars and, of course music. Always music. 

  He was blessed with one of those great distinctive voices that was both soulful and powerful. I think he felt that my Motown upbringing and ability to match any harmony, allowed us to toss vocal ideas around while  he worked out songs and lyrics. We did  just that over a 6 or 7 year period in the late 1970's of hanging around his apartment in Hollywood. 

He was a great guy to do just that with--hang around. We had matching 1967 Citroen's-----mine a DS21 Pallas and his a DS21 Cabriolet. The difference being simply in the interior. Mine a black leather and his a grey soft felt. Both beautiful vehicles and we enjoyed the special bond that came from our enjoyment of those rare French automobiles (and the ability to compare "repair" notes and share the same repairman!)

He introduced me to the British tradition of the "Pub" afternoon and allowed me to join him and his British "mates" for a game or two of "football" (soccer) at the "pitch" in Coldwater Canyon. Oh yeah---those "mates?" Usually consisted of a broad spectrum of British musician expats such as Paul Carrack of the band "Ace", assorted members of ELO and, of course, "football" fans and talents, Elton John and Rod Stewart. WHY Jack felt I was worthy of being included in these weekly games, I am not so sure. I think I was simply the "needed" member to fill out the team, because I was NOT a good soccer player! BUT---he was kind enough to always give me the "call." Though the games were not memorable, the after "gatherings" at the Cock & Bull Restaurant on Sunset were always worth it. Friends would join us and the bar would be turned into a raucous party. AND, you never knew who would be part of the crowd. One notable afternoon, Ronnie Wood and a few others happened to come in and Ronnie, very sheepishly, announced that he had just signed with the Rolling Stones. This was greeted with general jeering and harassment. "Woodie" joined Jackie, Rod, I and a few others at the table. I sat back and simply watched the exchanges and conversations that were tossed back and forth between these musical "pals." Jackie had those eyes of his twinkling and flashing and loved giving them all a good dose of his particular humor.

And, of course, his background in music allowed him to have that special "view" of just what can happen (or not) in the fame game of the music business.

His "situation" had become legendary. I'll shorten up the story here. One of his childhood mates was George Harrison. Jackie's band "The Undertakers" had a bit of local fame in Liverpool and had played at The Cavern---the Beatles favorite local club. Brian Epstein had decided to sign Jackie to a recording contract but could not make the final arrangements before his untimely death.When The Beatles began Apple Records the decision was made to sign Jackie. George wrote him a song "Sour Milk Sea" and the backup band on that first album consisted or George, Paul McCartney, Ringo, Nicky Hopkins, Eric Clapton and assorted other names of the British music scene at the time. Not bad-----your first album has The Beatles as your backup band PLUS legendary guitar "God" Eric Clapton and THE piano player then and now, Nicky Hopkins. As Derek Taylor said in the liner notes...."his voice is stronger, and the energy folks, the energy is FIERCE!"

I remembered that single when I first met him and marveled at his powerful voice-----and equally noted and marveled at the fact that it had come nowhere near to the fame everyone felt he deserved. When we would sit around and play---he on the matching blond Gibson to George's famous red one (and given to him by George as a gift)-----I was amazed at the ease of his singing and the heartfelt "soul" infused into that distinct voice.

With those kind of friends and that kind of "pedigree"-----how could you lose? Somehow, and due to endless discussed reasons and possibilities, it never came to be. I saw him perform numerous times in assorted attempts to re-start his career and the talent was ALWAYS there. I rehearsed with him in a studio a few times when he was working on new material and his professionalism and the talent that would join him at a moments notice was always a pleasant surprise. WHY it never "happened" for him was a mystery. 

His list of friends was impressive and the obvious respect they had for him spoke volumes. 

Here is an excellent example---One time, he called to ask if I wanted to accompany him to see Paul McCartney with his band Wings at the Forum in Los Angeles. Jack explained that he had box seats and 

that other people would be joining us but we were to go alone and meet them there. OK, good enough. We got down there early and found our (excellent) seats---a "box" of 6. We sat, and Jack, turning to me, said "Tom, I need you to be cool about this..." and he looked over our shoulders--"the others," he added. I assured him that there was no problem (wondering who might be joining us)---Jack sat in front to the far right toward the stage and myself next to him. As the lights dimmed for the first song, a few people came into the box behind us, quickly and quietly---Jack said "Tom, can you let them sit here?" pointing at the front seats----as I realized that our "guests" were Ringo Starr and a lady friend. I got up,  and moved to the row behind the 1st 3 seats. Just as the first song was finishing another few people came, crouching, into the box and, as I moved over to allow them, sat down. As the lights came up a bit at the end of the song, I looked down to the person behind Jackie,  now talking to him with his hand on Jackie's shoulder----and realized it was George Harrison. I quietly said hello to the lady with him, next to me, and Jackie looked over at me with his eyes a bit wide with a nod of "OK?" toward me. I waved it off---assuring him (but lying!!) that it did not phase me one BIT to be sitting with 2 of the Beatles watching a 3rd perform on stage. Again----Jackie's pals from long ago.......

He did his best to handle the endless frustration and continued striving to get the recognition he deserved. I even went so far as to try, through my own contacts in the music business, to get him SOME response to his phone calls and questions about lack of support and promised promotion. It was heartbreaking and, though handled well by him, an obvious embarrassment.

We always had a good laugh (as shown in the above photo---w/Jackie as the clown and myself as some Bigbird variation) and shared a love of art. His album cover, shown here and done by Klaus Voorman---famous for his Beatles "Revolver" cover----was one he was very proud of and we discussed his love of eagles and his connection to and understanding of the American Indian reverence for these powerful birds. I made him a golden eagle pendant that he proudly wore.

I moved away from Hollywood in 1980 or so---exhausted by the toxicity of the whole scene. I sold off my Citroen and remember calling Jackie to reminisce about the good times with our cars. I lived for a while without telephone or TV or any connection to my old "scene" and then moved to Lake Tahoe. Somewhere in there, I lost track of Jackie. I tried to contact him over the past 20 years and it was either lost phone numbers or messages left with each other but no real connection. I recently had done a bit of business in Ojai, CA and heard that he was there. I asked around during a visit and, though people knew of him, no one could direct me to where he lived. I was planning on returning to Ojai next week to meet up with a gallery owner after doing an Art Fair this weekend with the hopes of maybe tracking my old buddy down. Little did I know that he was in England attending a daughters wedding----nor that he had taken sick and passed away yesterday.

A rare talent and a humble, loving friend. Always ready for a laugh and able to simply floor me every time he opened his mouth and sang. Sadly missed and remembered with much thanks and love. R.I.P Jackie

The "Sunday Drive"----South Pacific style........

  When I first traveled to Tahiti in 1975, it pretty much looked like this painting by artist James Coleman. Not exactly but very close. The only "road" went around the edge of the island and was crushed coral. There were a number of dirt paths up into the valleys but you really could not call them "roads." Most houses were corrugated metal roofing or, even better, woven pandanus. Side walls were of bamboo tied together or simple cinder block. There were no glass windows---simply openings in the wall with sometimes a hinged board pulled up that could be dropped to cover the opening in case of severe weather. A very simple, easy life. For this Detroit raised boy who moved to L.A.at the ripe old age of 20, it was as primitive and "disengaged" as I could get.
   When people would ask what it was like, I really would fumble and have a hard time describing life there. You just----lived. Most houses did not have electricity. NO one had hot water.There were only about a dozen cars on the island of Moorea where I visited. You really didn't need one. When you are living on an island that is approximately 35 miles around, you quickly find out that everything is about the same----no matter where you are on the island. Head off down the road for a walk or bike ride and you will have the ocean on the one side and the jagged mountain interior on the other. Coconut trees, mango, banana, passion fruit and assorted other tropical fruit are abundant. There are not big beaches because there are not big waves inside of the lagoon to create them with wave action. You will have open spaces of palm trees and hibiscus flowers and then a small village of huts and houses and a "Chinoise" (grocery store). A church and maybe a fabric store or hardware/fishing supply.....then, repeat. I stayed at a hotel that was very much "self inclusive." Not like now when they want to keep you at a resort with all kinds of extra activities simply to have your MONEY spent there. Then----it was all there really was, so the hotel was "it."
   Life, for me, was---a run in the morning, a bike ride before breakfast, fresh fruit and coffee, a swim or snorkel, some lunch, a nap, a walk, sunset, fresh fish for dinner, fall asleep when you were tired---repeat.

   After a few visits, I noticed things were changing quickly. To accommodate the visit of the French President (Tahiti---"French Polynesia" being a French "protectorate"), they had paved the road from the airport where he landed to the village of Pao Pao---which was the island "capital." It was my habit to rest up with a nap or two on the first day I had arrived and then go for a walk at night to soak up the island "vibe." There were no lights on the road, but then, there were really no cars, so nothing to worry about. I would take off my sandals and walk barefoot. You could sense the edge of the road with your bare feet even if it was pitch black. You couldn't get lost either. Walk for a few miles along the edge and then turn around and come back---done! I would watch for the candle or lantern light off in the jungle showing where a house was hidden. Or maybe come along a few guys sitting out by the side of the road playing guitar.
   On one of my return night walks, a bluish light off in the jungle. I had noticed a few houses running generators for, I had been told, refrigerators but wondered about the "blue light." For a people that lived by the sunlight, I found it REALLY odd for the need of ANY electric light. When I asked, I was told----television had come to Moorea. Only one channel---from New Zealand---which meant in English! BUT, as I found out when I visited a friends "fare" (Tahitian for "house"), here were 3 or 4 Tahitians sitting around staring at the television. Enraptured and watching something they could not even understand.......oh well.....

  SO! One of the things that I completely understood, because, oddly, it was something I had grown up with in Detroit was the "Sunday Drive." After church, dressed up in ALL of their finery and the ladies in gorgeous woven hats, they would pile into the back of a pickup truck---sometimes what looked like 10 or 12 people---and drive around the island! Now-----a 35 mile around island would provide, even at about 20mph and with a stop or two, only about a 2 hr drive---MAX!! BUT---they would drive around and around---all day long! Stop for some fruit or maybe a swim. Say hello to some friends or gather some flowers. Trade fruit for fish or even select treats from a roadside stand. I joined some friends on one of these wanders and, after a few trips around, it had a mesmerizing kind of dreamy effect. Sun and shade and breeze and laughter. I found that I "got" the whole experience and understood the great party mood that set in.
    There was no hesitation what so ever from my girlfriend, Valiane, when I asked if I should rent a car (yes, by that time you could do that---even though they were basically someones "extra" vehicle that "may or may not" last through the day!) one Sunday so that we could participate in the Sunday "promenade." She was, as seen in the photo, a fairly jovial person anyway and would end up playing and laughing every day about ANYTHING but a ride? on a Sunday? Perfect!

 After gathering up a towel or two, off we went! We stopped for some sweet treats. Went for a swim. Valiane stood and stared at some flowers and breathed in the scent and smiled. And I watched her eyes twinkle.....
   On one of the drives around, she pointed out two spearfishermen coming out of the lagoon with, what looked like, a full dripping net "sack" they were dragging in the water. I noted that area and on our next "tour" watched for that location. Sure enough, as we came around a slight curve near where I thought we had seen them, Valiane pointed out a "chalkboard" sign on the side of the road-----"Langouste/salade/vin--22,000"  That translated to "Lobster/Salad/Wine"--(about) $15 US!
   Valiane turned to me wide eyed at the same time I said "Bien Sur!!" (Of Course!!) We had found our dinner "spot." On our next time around, we stopped at my bungalow and showered and changed clothes and headed out HOPING they would be open. When we got back to the same location, we were surprised to see no cars. We parked and walked down a little sand path toward a house that had some picnic type tables set up to one side and tiki torches lit. A BIG Tahitian guy was standing over by 2 barrel grills and greeted us happily. We were informed that, yes, these were what they had caught out of the lagoon that day and that, yes, the meal included (of course!!) baguette bread, fresh green salad w/vinaigrette, our choice of white or red wine, AND split grilled spiny lobster---all you can eat/fixed price!!

    Valiane and I sat down at our own table, sand beneath our feet, under the palm trees, with the moon coming up and tiki torches to light our meal, and we had the most delicious, perfectly cooked and seasoned meal I could have ever hoped for! The lobster were split, as shown, and seasoned with diced chives and butter, then grilled open side down over a manzanita wood fire. Served with a bowl of coconut milk to dip in, they were delicious.
     Valiane had long flowing hair down below her butt. She knew that I liked to see it free but there were times when she would look at me with a "I've gotta do this" look and tie it up into a "Victorian Ladies" bun on her head and "get serious!" This was one of those times!
    We took our time and each had----3? 4? tails and salad and bread with butter and red wine. I kept looking around at the trees or the moon or Valiane laughing while she ate and thought "This could not be more perfect......"

   I have been asked in my travels "What restaurant would you recommend" or " Where did you have the best_____?" and I can offer up "Try this" or "The fish was great here"  BUT-------I have never had a more magical meal than that one on a Sunday night in Moorea some 35 years ago.