To: Rande Is who wrote (32872 ) 8/25/2000 12:13:13 PM From: JLS Read Replies (1) | Respond to OT> The Charthouse...in New Orleans, a few years ago, my husband and I had one of the most memorable moments in our lives. After having dinner earlier with friends and family who were also in town, he and I weren't ready to head back to our B&B, yet we couldn't face the madness of Bourbon Street. We were in the vicinity of Jackson Square and saw a lovely balcony on the corner overlooking the garden. It was the Charthouse. We sat down around midnight and ordered a bottle of wine. I think we were the only people there, or at least it felt like it, on the balcony. It was warm outside so I guess most of the other patrons decided to stay in the air conditioning. Below, on the street sitting on a bench across from the church was this guy who looked like he had a pretty rough life. His hair hadn't been washed or combed for a very long time, we could tell from our vantage point. But then he got up and walked a few feet to the center of this cobblestoned area and started singing. He had a voice that was a combination of Van Morrison and Pavoratti, with a hint of Tom Waits's damage. He had chosen a spot perfect for it's acoustics so that his voice reverberated against the exterior of the church and wafted up into the night sky. We listened to him for over two hours as he wove his voice through the thick summer air, and were so enraptured that later we had a hard time recalling individual songs. I do remember his version of Morrison's "Tupelo Honey." It, like the night, was magical. There weren't many people around to hear him. It was late and he had chosen a unpopulated part of the Quarter, but it really didn't matter to him. I don't think he was singing for an audience. Like a true artist he sang for himself and for those lucky enough to pass by. As we were leaving we thanked and tipped him generously, as we were the majority of his audience at that point. And to this day we still recall the beauty of that special night. Ah, the Charthouse and the unknown street singer....
