the Mighty Hannibal and I

I love soul music. I also love Atlanta. Combine those two and you have the Mighty Hannibal.
I've loved his music for years, and thank god the wonderful folks at Norton records made it possible for me and countless others to hear what we probably never would have.
We lucked out and got invited to play a new years show with the A-Bones(Norton folks) in 2004 going on 05, and the Mighty Hannibal was the MC for the night. I was super stoked to meet him and we hit it off right away. Both of us from Atlanta and all, we figured out pretty quick that our families were loosely connected through the Atlanta preaching, Gospel, and civil rights scene(it's a small town) Me and him both coming from a long line of preachers and gospel singers, and both from families that helped initiate the Atlanta constitution(a plea to the president to end jim crow laws and other bullshit in the south) I decided right then and there that it was my mission to bring Hannibal back to his home that he hadn't graced with his presence since the mid 70's. It was a hell of a task, but it was more than worth it.
We got to know each other pretty fast. Mainly because he called, and still calls, about four times a day(he does this because he went blind about three years ago and other than what little music he listens to, talking is his main form of entertainment). He's told me amazing stories. From his days pimping with Larry Williams, to growing up with Gladys Knight and James Brown, even letting Ray Charles drive his car in downtown LA. Not to mention he taught marvin Gaye to dance.
I always had trouble believing what he told me because it was so unreal. But it's all true, he proved it and blew me away. I worked my ass off for months trying to work out this first show, while touring my own ass off myself. I put up almost my entire savings to garuntee his pay,hotel, and everything else.
And, we had to be the backing band.After endless deliberations(those dudes got fucked back in the day so it takes a while to earn their trust, can you blame em?) and practice preperation we were set. We had a date-January 12th. Hannibal calls me and says the city has a proclomation for him. I had no idea what that meant, and did'nt pay no mind either. I did'nt know Hannibal like i should have yet. The day finally came and i was nervous as shit. I picked him up from the airport and took him to the Highland Inn, where all the bands coming through ATlanta stay, and got him settled. It was instanly Hannibal time. First stop was moustache trims at the most amazing forgotten in time barbaer shop-which without Hannibal i would never be allowed in in a million years-we chilled and talked shit about people who'd been dead for decades, and ripped on eachother. Some of his old nation of islam and black panther buddies(hannibal was both, his islamic name is Walid) came up to meet us screaming "black power" and "africa now" as they rolled in. It was pretty magical, and an experience most young white kids miss out on. After a few hours of recounting tales from Atlanta in the sixties,lester maddox,james brown and throwing bricks in Selma it was off to our first practice. That was the hardest musical experience of my entire life. He was brutal on us, and there was a good 30 minutes where i thought it was over. we got past it though, and we all learned alot. Those soul guys worked their asses off. They don't fuck around. the show was amazing.
The "ATlanta proclomation" he kept hollerin about was no slouch either. The mayor Shirley Franklin, and the city council, including civil rights hero, Julian Bond had unanimously approved a bill making january 12th 2006, the MIGHTY HANNIBAL day in atlanta. It was official. It hangs in city hall. The show was incredible, and magical. Him and the Reigning Sound killed it. It was the most worth it pain in my ass of all time, and one of the best nights of my life.
Me and Hannibal have since become very close friends. He calls me his protege(sp)(i suck at spelling) and son and he's my(inhis words) mentor. He's been back to Atlanta tons and I always go up to the Bronx to catch up when i'm there. He's the last of a dying breed, but he's still turnin that mother out. He turns 68 tomorrow, and blindness, drug addiction, and fuckupedness isn't slowin him down a bit.
Happy Birthday Hannibal