Recruiting a Drummer
Looks like Nate, my son, is going to spend at least the bulk of his summer in Dallas, where he’s currently pursuing a Masters degree in musical performance at SMU, That means I’m going to need a drummer for my band, Country Dan Collins and the Human Shields.
So my ears perked up at yesterday’s football practice when I was told that Alphonso Smith, the former All-America cornerback at Wake who is now with the Detroit Lions, has a drum set and loves to play. Smith has been hanging around Wake’s practices this spring, which is always fun considering how much great energy he spreads around.
Given my first chance, I made my pitch, telling him he needed to sit in with my bassist Hootie and me at our regular Wednesday night gigs at the Garage.
“I might have to do that,’’ Smith said, which is usually another way of saying ``No way on God’s green earth. ‘’ But if he’s serious—as he so rarely is—and actually decides to sit in one night I promise I’ll spread the word as far and wide as possible. He may be no Ginger Baker, but nobody ever accused me of being Eric Clapton. It would be a blast, regardless of what we sounded like.
I couldn’t let him get away without a) telling him how proud I was of what he has done since leaving Wake, and b) giving him a little ribbing.
“I heard there’s another cornerback from Pahokee who is going to make everybody forget Alphonso Smith,’’ I said, referring obviously to redshirt freshman Merrill “Bud” Noel.
“I hope he does,’’ Smith replied. “That would mean we’re winning.’‘
As if anyone could ever forget Alphonso Smith.