Sam Young Remembered

I first met Sam at the post-Insom 03' House Party at Bettye Brookfield's in Springfield, KY.

I had stepped outside for a smoke and from just past the light of the house I heard a voice call to me from the dark, "Hey, the real party is out here!"

As I got closer and my eyes adjusted from the glare of the floodlights, here was this fellow, leaning up against a pick-up truck, lighting his own smoke.

"See" he said as he raised his hand upward, the night was sprinkled with stars on a clear Kentucky night.

"Well yes indeed I do!" I said quietly, soaking in all that beautiful evening.

"You're James Walck, aren't you? I'm Sam" he said as he lowered his hand to shake mine.

We hung there, talked of the Insomniacathon and just reveled at this gathering, on this night, on this patch of the planet.

We stubbed the smokes and trotted back in where shortly after the next set of players came to Bettye's parlor room, Sam came to the floor and shared a few poems.

Here's a couple of VidClips from Sam's emote that night. They're short but say volumes.

View "Only A Poet and The Charlie Parker Blues" and "Tales Of A Brave Ulysses" .

On Friday, Janurary 21st Sam suddenly left this world for the next.

Not having been back to Kentucky since that star sprinkled night, I had made note to look him up when I got back down South. I enjoyed his company that evening and appreciated the fact that he decided to call to me from the other side of the light, that night, at Bettye's, to share a clean, clear Kentucky night.

So I say to you Sam, "Fare Thee Well, see you on the other side!"

In fond memory and reminisce,

James Walck