“September morn. We danced until the night became a brand new day. Two lovers playing scenes from some romantic play. September morning still can make me feel that way..”
I spent a very enjoyable few hours this afternoon connecting once again with someone who means the world to me.
The man who stood up with me at my wedding in July of 1990 was here to help celebrate his mother’s 90th birthday today. My wife and I were invited to join in the festivities.
I have to tell you a little about him. Of all the people I call “friend” in this world he is the only one who has the word “best” in front of it. Not only was he my “best man,” he is also my very “best” friend.
His name is Don Bader. Some of you who are former Montrealers might know him better as “Don Richards.” He was a familiar face and voice in many nightclubs around Montreal over the years. Not only is he an accomplished singer and musician, he is also an extremely talented songwriter, too. He wrote enough songs to record an album some years back. I even played it for a time on my radio show.
I have worked evenings for quite a few years now. This show, as I have mentioned in an earlier blog, started in the early 1908s. He was an instrumental part in helping me put together the concept of background music behind my spoken word material. He was also a guest on Lovers and Other Strangers from time to time. For a time he even hosted his own radio show in Montreal. When this show was in its infancy, he was a huge source of inspiration to me.
Today was his mother’s 90th birthday. She lives at a beautiful home for elderly and retired people. Don made arrangements to bring his equipment all the way from Montreal to serenade her as well as all the other residents. It was a fabulous show. He played music that brought back fond memories for those in his audience and there were even a few tears. One of the songs he sang in English and in French was September Morn, which is why I decided to include a few of the lyrics at the beginning of this blog and the song itself to start my radio show tonight.
His mother was surrounded by family and friends on this very special day, and her son played a performance that would do any mother proud. My wife and I enjoyed listening to him sing once again.. When I think of a “September Song,” I will always think of this milestone birthday, today.
My thanks to his family who made my wife and I feel very welcome.
And if you want to know the origins of my son’s name, here it is. My son’s name is Donny, that’s true, but he wasn’t named after me…
Neil Diamond sang these lines so well…and so did my friend, Don, today..
“September morn. Do you remember how we danced that night away? Two lovers playing scenes from some romantic play. September morning still can make me feel that way…”
***
Don Jackson
