My first Speaker at my "Dinner at the Island" was an Austin area very loved and very experienced guy known as "Rick-a-Shay." He was the original roadie for Stevie Ray Vaughn in the early days of Austin, Texas' becoming "The Live Music Capital of the World." You can find the episode "Dinner at the Island 1" on my website. He spoke about those days, what it was like, going with Stevie Ray Vaughn (an Austin icon) from Austin to California. He brought a table full of memorabilia he had collected over the decades. After that first roadie job he went on to be the roadie and sound engineer for dozens of the most famous Rock musicians and bands.
This is my friend, "Rick-a-Shay" on the night I had brought my famous death metal (and Rock) drummer, Gabriel (on drums here) to Austin from Orlando to perform with who I considered to be the top pinnacle of Austin's Local Professional musicians, the Chris Max Band. I brought two others with me on this night, Dawn Maracle, and Jim Gough Jr. (mid-stage guitar in this video) whom I also considered to be the best of the best Austin has to offer. They already knew Gabe because I had already been bringing Gabe to Austin for several years and meeting the best musicians. Gabe had spoken at the same dinner as "Rick-a-Shay" at the Island on Lake Travis (where my upcoming Feb. 22, 2025 7-9 pm dinner will be.) Gabe had performed with the lady Rick-a-Shay goes over to say hello to, in the audience, and who is in these same sets of videos from this finale night, Dawn. You are looking at the best of the best, in my humble, lol, opinion - the top Austin local Professional musicians, the best.
So, what you are seeing is me greeting "Rick-a-Shay" as he enters the venue where we are all gathered so I can film a highlight of the Television show I created in 2014, "Texas Tales from a Lone Star." What is unusual is that Rick was banned from this venue. He knew all the musicians there, very well. He knew ALL the best musicians in Austin. I'm not sure WHY the venue had banned him but it probably had something to do with refusing to wear a certain something over his mouth and being very outspoken about it. Banned or not, Rick had the type of independent Texas spirit that had prompted him to show up for me anyway. I greet him accordingly. That's also why he left so fast, before he was asked to leave. You actually see me greet him at the door, us talking about the ban, then me walking away to go ask the venue if he can stay. They say no. He greets everyone and leaves. That's the last time I saw "Rick-a-Shay" because he passed away sometime last year.
I create "windows." Take a look...xo
Copyright 2025 Angel Isaacs All Rights Reserved
Written February 11, 2025 at 3:18 pm
