Edward Tatoosh
"Tat"

"I met Tat not long after I arrived here. He used to come out of the Churchill Pub just up the street from where I was busking on Government St and ask me for songs, notably Jelly Jelly. I played the version I knew (via the Allman Brothers) of Billy Eckstine's song, "It stormed and started raining. I'm as lonesome as a man can be..." but he was having none of it, almost got mad at me. "That's not it!" he said. I was only 21 years old and a bit intimidated by him but we grew to like each other. Of course I got to know him over time and was impressed by the reverence many held for him, including John Fisher. John brought him to my house several times to record at least 3 CDs or cassettes. Tat had a big voice and loved to play music. He had got his start in 1959 in a band in Port Alberni (his hometown) called The Chancers, kind of old rock and roll by what I've heard. Even later on, he always had old rock and roll songs in his repertoire, mixed in with blues like Jelly Jelly and Big Fat Woman. Tat had lost his index finger on his left hand but still managed to play solid guitar or bass. A jovial personality endeared him to other musicians and fans. I attended the jam at Soprano's ... more...