when did Mobley finally get off the junk? how long was hank in prison

[sidewinder]

I just realized that Hank left us 21 years ago today.

Wow. RIP, indeed.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

You do realize that he died on an Amtrak bench, homeless & penniless, right? Sleeping on a bench or sleeping in a gutter - not too far a stretch for a homeless broke.

Are you sure about the "Amtrak bench"? The local papers said he died in a hospital.

I know that I read that somewhere. Was it that Litweiler piece? Maybe he was found on the bench and they rushed him to the hospital? Can they declare someone dead in a train station or do they have to make an effort to revive them?

No matter what, it was a tragedy.

I believe that the person who knows the most about Hank's last days is Don Sickler... and maybe his wife Maureen. Didn't I read recently that Maureen and Don tried to help Mobley out near the end?

Kevin

[Chuck Nessa]

I know that I read that somewhere. Was it that Litweiler piece? Kevin

Not Litweiler's piece.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Back in 1997, I wrote this for the rec.music.bluenote newgroup in discussing the liner notes to a few of Hank's CDs:

"These give a good idea of what Hank's performance years were like and talk about what his life was like in his later years. They all portray a man who's addiction (and subsequent health problems) resulted in a bleak ending to a great musical career. In fact, the "Slice of the Top" notes paint the picture of Hank's final years, penniless and homeless in Philadelphia. I read in JazzTimes a few years back that Hank died on a bench in the central Amtrak station in Philadelphia. My favorite tenor player.... I wish I could turn back the clock to that time. Maybe I could have done something. Probably not. Wishful thinking though."

So if anyone has a way to search back issues of JazzTimes, they should find it mentioned in there.

Kevin

[Dan Gould]

Back in 1997, I wrote this for the rec.music.bluenote newgroup in discussing the liner notes to a few of Hank's CDs:

"These give a good idea of what Hank's performance years were like and talk about what his life was like in his later years. They all portray a man who's addiction (and subsequent health problems) resulted in a bleak ending to a great musical career. In fact, the "Slice of the Top" notes paint the picture of Hank's final years, penniless and homeless in Philadelphia. I read in JazzTimes a few years back that Hank died on a bench in the central Amtrak station in Philadelphia. My favorite tenor player.... I wish I could turn back the clock to that time. Maybe I could have done something. Probably not. Wishful thinking though."

So if anyone has a way to search back issues of JazzTimes, they should find it mentioned in there.

Kevin

Jazztimes had an extensive article that included a lot of quotes/info from the Sicklers about Hank's final years. One quote I remember said that when Hank was sober, he could still summon up the old magic. If I remember correctly the cover had a Mosaic Images print of Alfred and Hank in the studio.

[Chuck Nessa]

Back in 1997, I wrote this for the rec.music.bluenote newgroup in discussing the liner notes to a few of Hank's CDs:

"These give a good idea of what Hank's performance years were like and talk about what his life was like in his later years. They all portray a man who's addiction (and subsequent health problems) resulted in a bleak ending to a great musical career. In fact, the "Slice of the Top" notes paint the picture of Hank's final years, penniless and homeless in Philadelphia. I read in JazzTimes a few years back that Hank died on a bench in the central Amtrak station in Philadelphia. My favorite tenor player.... I wish I could turn back the clock to that time. Maybe I could have done something. Probably not. Wishful thinking though."

So if anyone has a way to search back issues of JazzTimes, they should find it mentioned in there.

Kevin

Don't have a bunch of old JazzTimes to search but ask you to check Litweiler's notes for "Slice of the Top" and quote the passages showing him " penniless and homeless in Philadelphia".

[Soulstation1]

nowhere in the SOTT booklet does it say mobley was "penniless and homeless in Philadelphia"

[clifford_thornton]

If I have time, I will do a reference search at our library today.

[Jazz Kat]

There are other ways to remember Hank Mobley.

[Eric]

There are other ways to remember Hank Mobley.

No kidding

[Shannon Dickey]

Yes, dig the above comment.

---HB

[Dan Gould]

Back in 1997, I wrote this for the rec.music.bluenote newgroup in discussing the liner notes to a few of Hank's CDs:

"These give a good idea of what Hank's performance years were like and talk about what his life was like in his later years. They all portray a man who's addiction (and subsequent health problems) resulted in a bleak ending to a great musical career. In fact, the "Slice of the Top" notes paint the picture of Hank's final years, penniless and homeless in Philadelphia. I read in JazzTimes a few years back that Hank died on a bench in the central Amtrak station in Philadelphia. My favorite tenor player.... I wish I could turn back the clock to that time. Maybe I could have done something. Probably not. Wishful thinking though."

So if anyone has a way to search back issues of JazzTimes, they should find it mentioned in there.

Kevin

Jazztimes had an extensive article that included a lot of quotes/info from the Sicklers about Hank's final years. One quote I remember said that when Hank was sober, he could still summon up the old magic. If I remember correctly the cover had a Mosaic Images print of Alfred and Hank in the studio.

I added it to Jim's thread with the scan of the Musician article, but after doing a search, it seems like this is the place where this piece, which I referenced above, belongs.

[Spontooneous]

I wouldn't take the newspaper report that Hank died at the hospital as gospel.

When someone dies on the street, or a hotel, or in any number of unusual places, the newspaper obituary will often say the person died at the hospital they were taken to.

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

GODAMIT I WANT A BETTER ACCOUNT OF HANK MOBLEY, WASNT SOMEONE SUPOSED TO DO A BOOK OR THESIS OR SOMETING?!?!?

I WANT SOME MORE DEATAILED RESEARCH AND INFO GODAMIT! WIL THIS EVER HAPPEN, OR IS IT JUST AN AMBITION OF MINE?>

[JSngry]

WIL THIS EVER HAPPEN, OR IS IT JUST AN AMBITION OF MINE?>

sometimes people who have ambitions make them happen their own selves...

[Dan Gould]

GODAMIT I WANT A BETTER ACCOUNT OF HANK MOBLEY, WASNT SOMEONE SUPOSED TO DO A BOOK OR THESIS OR SOMETING?!?!?

I WANT SOME MORE DEATAILED RESEARCH AND INFO GODAMIT! WIL THIS EVER HAPPEN, OR IS IT JUST AN AMBITION OF MINE?>

http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php...7&hl=mobley

[tkeith]

I know a guy in my area that was doing a Master's thesis on Hank. I'm sure he's a pretty good source, because he's worked it hard. He also uses spell check.

[AllenLowe]

CHEWY: HANK IS DEAD HANK IS DEAD FACE IT FACE IT HANK IS DEAD FACE IT HANK IS DEAD REALITYREALITY HANKS IS DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD FACE IT TRUTH DEATH GONE AWAY DEAD NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACKCHEWY: HANK IS DEAD HANK IS DEAD FACE IT FACE IT HANK IS DEAD FACE IT HANK IS DEAD REALITYREALITY HANKS IS DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD FACE IT TRUTH DEATH GONE AWAY DEAD NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACKCHEWY: HANK IS DEAD HANK IS DEAD FACE IT FACE IT HANK IS DEAD FACE IT HANK IS DEAD REALITYREALITY HANKS IS DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD FACE IT TRUTH DEATH GONE AWAY DEAD NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACKCHEWY: HANK IS DEAD HANK IS DEAD FACE IT FACE IT HANK IS DEAD FACE IT HANK IS DEAD REALITYREALITY HANKS IS DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD FACE IT TRUTH DEATH GONE AWAY DEAD NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACKCHEWY: HANK IS DEAD HANK IS DEAD FACE IT FACE IT HANK IS DEAD FACE IT HANK IS DEAD REALITYREALITY HANKS IS DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD FACE IT TRUTH DEATH GONE AWAY DEAD NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACKCHEWY: HANK IS DEAD HANK IS DEAD FACE IT FACE IT HANK IS DEAD FACE IT HANK IS DEAD REALITYREALITY HANKS IS DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD FACE IT TRUTH DEATH GONE AWAY DEAD NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACKCHEWY: HANK IS DEAD HANK IS DEAD FACE IT FACE IT HANK IS DEAD FACE IT HANK IS DEAD REALITYREALITY HANKS IS DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD FACE IT TRUTH DEATH GONE AWAY DEAD NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACKCHEWY: HANK IS DEAD HANK IS DEAD FACE IT FACE IT HANK IS DEAD FACE IT HANK IS DEAD REALITYREALITY HANKS IS DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD FACE IT TRUTH DEATH GONE AWAY DEAD NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACKCHEWY: HANK IS DEAD HANK IS DEAD FACE IT FACE IT HANK IS DEAD FACE IT HANK IS DEAD REALITYREALITY HANKS IS DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD FACE IT TRUTH DEATH GONE AWAY DEAD NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACKCHEWY: HANK IS DEAD HANK IS DEAD FACE IT FACE IT HANK IS DEAD FACE IT HANK IS DEAD REALITYREALITY HANKS IS DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD FACE IT TRUTH DEATH GONE AWAY DEAD NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACKCHEWY: HANK IS DEAD HANK IS DEAD FACE IT FACE IT HANK IS DEAD FACE IT HANK IS DEAD REALITYREALITY HANKS IS DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD FACE IT TRUTH DEATH GONE AWAY DEAD NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACKCHEWY: HANK IS DEAD HANK IS DEAD FACE IT FACE IT HANK IS DEAD FACE IT HANK IS DEAD REALITYREALITY HANKS IS DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD FACE IT TRUTH DEATH GONE AWAY DEAD NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACK

[JSngry]

CHEWY: HANK IS DEAD HANK IS DEAD FACE IT FACE IT HANK IS DEAD FACE IT HANK IS DEAD REALITYREALITY HANKS IS DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD FACE IT TRUTH DEATH GONE AWAY DEAD NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACKCHEWY: HANK IS DEAD HANK IS DEAD FACE IT FACE IT HANK IS DEAD FACE IT HANK IS DEAD REALITYREALITY HANKS IS DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD FACE IT TRUTH DEATH GONE AWAY DEAD NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACKCHEWY: HANK IS DEAD HANK IS DEAD FACE IT FACE IT HANK IS DEAD FACE IT HANK IS DEAD REALITYREALITY HANKS IS DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD FACE IT TRUTH DEATH GONE AWAY DEAD NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACKCHEWY: HANK IS DEAD HANK IS DEAD FACE IT FACE IT HANK IS DEAD FACE IT HANK IS DEAD REALITYREALITY HANKS IS DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD FACE IT TRUTH DEATH GONE AWAY DEAD NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACKCHEWY: HANK IS DEAD HANK IS DEAD FACE IT FACE IT HANK IS DEAD FACE IT HANK IS DEAD REALITYREALITY HANKS IS DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD FACE IT TRUTH DEATH GONE AWAY DEAD NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACKCHEWY: HANK IS DEAD HANK IS DEAD FACE IT FACE IT HANK IS DEAD FACE IT HANK IS DEAD REALITYREALITY HANKS IS DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD FACE IT TRUTH DEATH GONE AWAY DEAD NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACKCHEWY: HANK IS DEAD HANK IS DEAD FACE IT FACE IT HANK IS DEAD FACE IT HANK IS DEAD REALITYREALITY HANKS IS DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD FACE IT TRUTH DEATH GONE AWAY DEAD NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACKCHEWY: HANK IS DEAD HANK IS DEAD FACE IT FACE IT HANK IS DEAD FACE IT HANK IS DEAD REALITYREALITY HANKS IS DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD FACE IT TRUTH DEATH GONE AWAY DEAD NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACKCHEWY: HANK IS DEAD HANK IS DEAD FACE IT FACE IT HANK IS DEAD FACE IT HANK IS DEAD REALITYREALITY HANKS IS DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD FACE IT TRUTH DEATH GONE AWAY DEAD NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACKCHEWY: HANK IS DEAD HANK IS DEAD FACE IT FACE IT HANK IS DEAD FACE IT HANK IS DEAD REALITYREALITY HANKS IS DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD FACE IT TRUTH DEATH GONE AWAY DEAD NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACKCHEWY: HANK IS DEAD HANK IS DEAD FACE IT FACE IT HANK IS DEAD FACE IT HANK IS DEAD REALITYREALITY HANKS IS DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD FACE IT TRUTH DEATH GONE AWAY DEAD NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACKCHEWY: HANK IS DEAD HANK IS DEAD FACE IT FACE IT HANK IS DEAD FACE IT HANK IS DEAD REALITYREALITY HANKS IS DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD DEAD FACE IT TRUTH DEATH GONE AWAY DEAD NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACK NEVER COMING BACK

Dude - square that up and put a little tiny B&W photo of Hank with shades and cigarette somewhere near the middle and you got a lost Reid Miles classic!

[paul secor]

That just might be a bit too subtle for Chewy.

[ejp626]

So whatcha tryin' to say, Allen?

[Chalupa]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Workout-Music-Mobl...l/dp/0955090881

[Spontooneous]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Workout-Music-Mobl...l/dp/0955090881

Oh, dear. Just "The Music of Hank Mobley." Not "The Life and Music of Hank Mobley." Another entry in the burgeoning field of guy-writes-about-his-record-collection books that are passing for real jazz scholarship at presses that should know better?

[sidewinder]

Dude - square that up and put a little tiny B&W photo of Hank with shades and cigarette somewhere near the middle and you got a lost Reid Miles classic!

You forgot the piece of pipeline

[Chalupa]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Workout-Music-Mobl...l/dp/0955090881

Oh, dear. Just "The Music of Hank Mobley." Not "The Life and Music of Hank Mobley." Another entry in the burgeoning field of guy-writes-about-his-record-collection books that are passing for real jazz scholarship at presses that should know better?

Don't be so hasty to judge a book by its cover er, title.

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/acotterrell/

Workout – The Music of Hank Mobley

by

Derek Ansell

Hardback, 192 pages, £13.99, available from April 2008. ISBN 978 09550908 8 2.

This is the first full-length book to be published about Hank Mobley.

Among the great American modern jazz saxophonists, Mobley had been the most unjustly neglected – the truly forgotten man. Yet he played and recorded prolifically with the greatest legends of his era such as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, Lee Morgan, Johnny Griffin and Art Blakey, helping to create some of their finest work.

His best recordings are classics, characterized by an instantly identifiable sound and style, and constant musical inventiveness. But his loner personality made him his own worst enemy, many of his records remained unissued in his lifetime, and he died forgotten and destitute.

Now, at last, most of his recorded legacy is available on CD and he is recognized as one of the major figures of modern jazz. This book provides a detailed introduction to the music and a reassessment of Mobley’s contribution to jazz.