CORKY IN INDIA - PART TWO

When we last spoke, within the reference of the India Story, we were preparing to leave for Delhi ...

**...Tomorrow we would all get up early and fly to Delhi. We were going to spend many days rehearsing with 700 Indian Children. This would culminate in a concert at the 90 thousand seat Nehru Stadium (where the rehearsals would also take place). All of us who were to go on this adventure: Dr. L. Subramaniam (Mani); his assistant Venkatesh; Kavita Krishnamoorty (number one playback singer-star of India); Lucky Ali (Grand-hearted Indian pop star) and his large entourage; Dr. Raman (the mild mannered manager); his wife-Goddess Shouba and his sweet and nutty Mom (who for now was back in Bombay); and all of us: Jorge Strunz (the blurred fingered flamenco-style guitarist) and his wife-manager Kathy; Jon **Ganga** Weber (a giant of a man, giant of a pianist with a giant mind, and a giant heart) and his exotic girl friend Leena from Astonia; Kim Menzer (didgereedoo, 62, and dances too); Miya Masaoka (Japanese Koto queen) and Jiebing Jang (erhu queen from Shanghai); Devesha (Mani's engineer); and a few miscellaneous drum masters -- were very very excited about this concert and knew we were about to embark on a very special musical journey. ...**

We arrived at the twelve star Taj Palace in Delhi to a reception that made us feel like we were foreign kings on a mission of peace. We were escorted out of the bus and up the three sets of cascading marble stairs of the Taj, by tall dark military men in their best and whitest of uniforms (sans rifles). Maybe they weren't soldiers after all, but they were very serious about making us feel officially and intensely welcomed. In the exquisite palatial marble lobby we all stood between the gothic pillars as the most beautiful Indian Princesses in the most beautiful saris, scattered rose petals at our feet and placed enormous garlands of fresh flowers over our amazed heads and then served us a sweet mint tea as the team of hotel managers took charge of the business at hand. Before we knew it we were in our rooms with our luggage and equipment without having had to lift a brain cell or a finger. Not exactly your home away from home -- not exactly your Holiday Inn -- not exactly your Motel 6, but it would do -- we were *road dogs* after all, we were flexible and we were accustomed to accepting what was available. :-)

We met for our first of many dinner gatherings (at one of the 2 gourmet restaurants in the hotel) and talked about plans for the following days among other subjects.

Lucky Ali told us that when he performed at Nehru Stadium last year he drew the full 90,000 fans with crowds of fans in the streets who couldn't get in. So though we scanned the papers and did not see any promotion Lucky thought with Mani and Kavita and himself as well as the Global Fusion entourage, there would be no problem filling the stadium with the help of just a few adds in the paper and word of mouth.

We were all excited about sharing this music with the Delhi people and we were excited about performing together as a group of new found friends, and we were all looking forward to meeting and rehearsing with the 700 Indian children -- and most of all we were looking forward to sharing the performance experience with the children at this Global Fusion Concert celebrating the Millennium. And throughout the days to come this excitement only grew.

Mani gave us the opportunity for a few days of rest, a little sightseeing, some shopping and the sharing of delightful conversations and meals (We would find ourselves hanging out down at the buffet in the Taj Hotel - voted in the top 5 in the world - sometimes four times a-day.

BELOW THE BELT
One morning while sharing a beautiful breakfast buffet of delicious Indian creations I got into a conversation with the members of Lucky Ali's entourage. They were asking me about harmonica breathing techniques. I began to explain to them about a yogic technique that I use to clear and freshen my nasal passages. So here I am explaining to these East Indian guys about this yoga technique; **I get a glass of warm water, you see, and add enough salt to bring it close to the PH balance in my nasal passages. This way the water won't have that burning sensation that is so unpleasant. Actually a nice warm saline solution is very soothing.** They all nodded as if they already knew something about this. Without hesitating for a moment or realizing for a second that these are East Indian boys and they may even already know more about this then I knew, I continued forward in my expert dissertation for the education of these young men in the relationship of nose and universe; **You see, I take this glass of soothing warm saline and I essentially drink it through my nostrils!** I was surprised at the lack of surprise and the lack of ooohs and aaaahs. Never-the-less I continued without a pause; **You see, as the water gurgles through my nostrils I let it out through my mouth, without swallowing, thus cleansing and clearing my breathing passages.**

With a quality of confidence that could only come with thousands of years of culture, Lucky Ali's drummer responded; **Actually my good friend, that is not the way to do this. By bringing the liquid into both nostrils and then out of the mouth, one takes the risk of some of the polluted water trickling unnoticed down the throat. This of course is not good and not healthy. Common sense will tell you this. The way I do it -- the proper way -- is to take the water in one nostril and let it out the alternate nostril.** It was exactly at this moment that Lucky Ali's manager entered into this serious debate and by the look in his eye and the tone of his voice we all knew he already won this debate. There was a moment of silence before he spoke; **I don't do it either way my friends. I simply take it in through my mouth and very naturally let it sprinkle out down there.** -- simultaneously punctuating his statement with a glance and a pointed finger a little below the belt .

On the last morning of our series of full days off Mani suggested that we might want to possibly go with him and Kavita to the stadium to meet the kids -- today they were going to just work with tapes for rehearsal purposes so we were not needed until tomorrow.

The complete group of us arrived at Nehru Stadium anyway to find much activity. To our surprise the colossal stadium was being used for the Olympic track & field trials as well as for the rehearsals and upcoming concert. Taking up almost the complete field which was surrounded by the 90 thousand seats were athletes running, jumping, twisting, throwing, flying and falling all over the place with officials and miscellaneous spectators scattered here and there. To one side of the field in the area between the track and the bleachers was a temporary stage. On this old wood-tied-to-bamboo & jury-rigged stage was a long table. All along one side of this table were chairs facing the bleachers across the table tops. Protecting the stage and a section of the bleachers from the blazing sun was a tarp made of large sheets of silk, plastic, and whatever. This spontaneous sun quilt was suspended by many bamboo poles. Under this **function way ahead of form** ceiling sat 700 radiating Indian children in the bleachers. On the covered stage, facing the kids, sitting on two of the fourteen or so chairs, we saw Mani and Kavita. They were taking turns speaking into an echoing microphone and giving the children instructions. Sometimes Mani would stand up and conduct the Children while a tape of the orchestration was played through the system speakers. At one point, Mani noticed that we had entered the stadium so he waved us up to the rickety stage. Mani introduced us to the kids; **...the greatest this ... the greatest that ... ** The kids cheered. Then we sat on the stage watching Mani and Kavita coach the kids in very complex and difficult phrases and songs.

The songs were based on bits of ancient Indian uplifting and soothing melodies called ragas. The music and lyrics were beautifully crafted by Mani, and the delicious syllables were so carefully and sweetly articulated by the children that one could almost taste the articulations as they rolled out of the bleachers on a wave of exotic music. The ninety thousand that were expected in Nehru Stadium in a few days were in for a treat.

Mani and Kavita were very tough on the kids. They worked with them about two hours straight before a lunch break. They wouldn't let the kids get away with anything. They demanded the highest discipline both artistically as well as behaviorally. At times this made some of us more spoiled westerners roll our eyes around in our heads. But there was a lot of love for the children coming from Mani & Kavita. They really were giving themselves to the children. I understand that Mani and Kavita turned down many offers to be able to work at the children's individual schools over a six month period where they got the smaller groups of kids started on the very difficult new songs that Mani wrote for them. Kavita even gave up a major film track to be with the kids..

I remember when I was a little boy, and my dad was put in a position where he felt he needed to discipline me and he would have a hard time holding back from laughing aloud. He had so much love for me that when he had to pretend to be mad at me in order to make his point he knew it was just such a big lie. Both he and I knew what was going on and I could always see the love in my dad's eyes. One time in my life I gave a spanking to my step son. It was a very great moment for both of us. He is now in his late 30's and we both still laugh about it together all the time. If giving discipline appropriately can be done as an expression of love I would think it could possibly be a good thing after all.

Mani reminded me of my dad. He had the look in his eye that expressed such great respect and love for these children - at the most serious times it even came out as laughter and you could see that it meant a lot to the kids - they knew Mani and Kavita really cared.

We had two full days of rehearsals at the stadium with Mani's entourage and the 700 school children. The children's familles and teachers were also present and sat in folding chairs behind the temporary jury-rigged stage. (The main stage was to be built on another side of the stadium for the performance.) Most of the band had to sit about 50 feet from the rehearsal stage and on the ground because I guess the promoter was not able to furnish a *snake. * (A snake is a bundle of cables that allows the performers to be on the stage while the sound mixing station is set up at a necessary listening distance from the performers.) There was also not enough amplifiers provided by the promoter so the musicians had to be leashed directly to the PA sound equipment which had been set up about 50 feet off to the side. Kavita, Mani, Lucky, Kim and I all shared two microphones that had long enough cables to reach the stage. We were all assured by the promoters that everything would be in proper order for the actual performance. But in the mean time we were spread far apart and had to make due. None of this really mattered. We all had the greatest time and the kids were enthralled to be able to sing with all these great artists from all over the world. And all these great artists from all over the world were enthralled to be rehearsing with these incredible children. Now there would be one more full day of rehearsal and the next day -- the performance -- and by the way, this was going to be on October 24 - my birthday. What a birthday! The anticipation from all of us, the children, the teachers, and the children's families built to a fever pitch!

That evening the instrumental rehearsal at the hotel with the band was postponed because Mani and Dr. Raman wished to first speak with all of us. We met for dinner. Mani sat at the head of the table, Kavita to his right side. I sat to Kavita's right and my wife Holly to my right. Lucky Ali, Dr. Raman & Shouba sat around to Mani's left and directly across from Holly and I as the rest of the troop squeezed in tightly around the table. Mani seemed very sad. We were all ears. Mani's words went right to our hearts like darts;. **The promoters said they are canceling the concert.**

There was a painful silence. Beyond the fact that none of us saw or heard any advertising (and the lack of advertising seemed very suspicious to all of us from the start), I won't get into any explanation as to our understanding about the promoter's motives and schemes. This was the same promoters that canceled the other 3 concerts. I can only say that their design brought us all to our knees -- not because of the immense financial loss to Mani or our own personal disappointments -- but because of our thoughts about these incredible, beautiful school children. It was devastating. Remember when Mani greeted us all at the bus back in Bangalore? With tears in his eyes he addressed all of us explaining that all of us being with him here in India was a dream come true. Now all anybody cared about was the children. Months of preparation with the children and the hours and hours of rehearsals - and the excitement -- heartbreaking.

Mani assured everyone that they would get paid and that all expenses would be covered. This turned out to be a promise fulfilled. Beyond this statement, there was no reason to have a discussion about any financial concerns. We knew Mani was taking a major loss. The conversation moved immediately away from; **Why** right to; **What can we do for the children?** The suggestion was made by Mani and Kavita that we spend the day rehearsing with the children and tell the children ourselves what has happened. The suggestion brought immediate and unanimous support.

We all arrived at the stadium. Holly and I were wearing sunglasses. It was a good thing too. As soon as we saw the 700 kids waiting anxiously in their seats for us we looked at the other artists, who were also wearing shades, and we all started laughing because we could all see the tears rolling down on each others cheeks from under our sun glasses. We all hugged each other and cheered each other on. Our job was to somehow bring joy to the day -- not more sorrow. A great teacher of mine said something like; **No matter what you do - don't bring anybody down.** And if this should apply to anyone it should at least apply to musicians and performers.

We rehearsed with the children for many hours. The children and their singing was sweeter than ever. The musicians played their hearts out. It was time to make some announcements. I whispered into Mani's ear; **How about if some of us play for the kids?** Mani nodded in approval and announced to the children that Corky Siegel will perform for them. I walked up to the stand up microphone and said; **I am going to be 57 years old tomorrow. In 57 years I have never heard such sweet singing. Thank you for singing for me. It is a great birthday present for me.** At this point the kids spontaneously broke into *Happy Birthday* quite moving. Then I sang and played a piece for them on harmonica and did a bunch of crazy stuff including running up the old rickety ramp to the bleachers right up to the kids. I was very animated for them and they loved it.

Then Lucky Ali and his band performed for the kids. The kids loved that - he was their pop star hero. Then Jon Weber played a wild virtuosic boogie woogie on the keyboard sometimes standing as his fingers flew across the keys. Kim played a tune on his flute and then announced that he was about to play a piece called the Sleeping Lion and asked the children to listen very carefully. He pulled out a giant digereedoo - a long wooden hollowed out branch traditionally blown in one end by the Australian Aborigines, producing out of the other end, a procession of very rhythmic animal sounds. In this case a sleeping lion was produced by a white guy from Denmark of all things. At some point Kim woke up the sleeping lion and all the kids jumped up in their seats as did all the members of the kids families who were crowed behind us as did all of us. The lion growled from Kim's digereedoo and filled the Indian night air with thunder -- and after some danger and excitement the lion just curled up and went back to sleep at Kim's expert coaxing.

The kids loved all the performances and screamed and cheered with delight at every appropriate moment throughout. Now there was silence. It was time for all of us to make sure our sunglasses were secured -- even though we were well into the evening.

**Dear students,** Mani began with his smooth and calming voice (and all of this is only to the best of my recollection); **We have some unhappy news to share with you.** The silence became deeper as he continued;

**Our concert has been canceled.** Those were the words no one wanted to hear but everyone was attentive as Mani explained; **These musicians came from all over the world to perform with you. These musicians are ready to perform. These musicians did not cancel the concert. We are ready to perform with you tomorrow but the concert has been canceled by the promoters and they have not up to this moment told us why. However, all of us discussed this last night and everyone wants to come back and do this concert with you all at a later date. This concert will even be better so all is not lost. Thank you for all your very hard and dedicated work. I love you.**

We did all we could to hold back yet another set of tears when Kavita took the microphone and continued speaking to the students; **Dear children; Thank you so much for all your work. I'm so sorry this had to happen but everything happens for the best and I'm sure this will hold true. I want to tell you that I came to you to teach you something. What I have to say is that it is you that have taught me. **

Lucky Ali then cried out; **Children, it has been the greatest honor working with you and I am very upset that the concert has been canceled. We are all ready to perform as Mani has said. We all want to perform. It is not us, it is not the musicians who have canceled this concert. We were all very excited about working with you. We don't even know why the concert was canceled. Why was this concert canceled? Where are the promoters right now? If there is even one of the promoters out there why don't they come up right now and explain to you why they canceled this concert you worked so hard to prepare for? Where are the promoters now?** Lucky faced here and there with his hand saluted above his eyes looking for some response; **Will one of the promoters please come up here and explain all this to these children?** Lucky's pleas were not answered. There was no response. No one showed up. But the parents began screaming and shouting and demanding answers. The children and their families had to sacrifice so much to make this happen. What we didn't know is that each child had to pay the promoters some money in order to be part of this. We didn't know about this! Mani had to calm the parents down and assured them none of us knew anything about this and we all whisked our way out of the stadium. Before I left the stadium a number of the children came up to surround me. They presented me with some beautiful and heart touching child-made birthday cards they put together between the time of my performance when I announced my birthday and this moment of exit. One card read; **happy birthday, I shall never forget your sweet music.** another card read; **You have done escellent songs corkei, happy birthday.** They told me they loved me. We traded hand-shakes and bows and smiles and I left the stadium with the entourage -- sunglasses still in place pretending that they could really hide the full range of our feelings.

The entourage would all meet in the morning at the lobby of the Taj hotel and get the final word on the cancellation. We were all hoping the promoters would have a last minute change of heart but this never happened. Plan **B** is that we would all hop on the bus and spend the day at the Taj Mahal.

As most of the entourage met in the lobby later that next morning to get on the bus, Dr. Raman (Mani's manager) seemed to be a little anxious. He was running here and there. He seemed to be holding on to a secret. He came to us and said with trepidation in his voice; **The trip to the Taj Mahal has been temporarily postponed and we will meet at noon in the restaurant for just a moment.**

When my wife and I showed up to the restaurant we were greeted with the verse of a very ancient and familiar American song that was customized just for me; **Happy Birthday** I was also greeted with two giant gourmet cakes filled with candles of blinding proportion -- that's how old I am! I was also greeted with gifts and hugs. I was getting all the attention (probably the reason I became a performer in the first place). Instead of having the concert or going to the Taj Mahal, Mani and the kids and Lucky Ali and all the entourage decided to celebrate my birthday. Wow! I didn't quite know what to do. What great friends. What a tour! What a story! What a sweet musical family. What a birthday! What an intimate end to an amazing tour. Thank you my dear friends!

After a stop in Bangalor to record the **Lullaby** with Mani, my wife and I headed back to Chicago. As we got off the flight at O'Hare we noticed a women dressed as Dorothy -- of all things! She had the gingham dress and the whole nine yards. My wife commented; **You know, we just came home from a perfect trip to the wonderful and exotic land of Oz and there is Dorothy herself waiting to greet us.** We clicked our heels three times and headed home.

Yours;

Corky Siegel