Ray Deter's Second Line

We had planned on having more than one podcast this week. But technical issues in recording an interview with one of Ray's close friends set us back a week. But we managed to at least post this podcast in honor of our friend Ray Deter, who passed away on July 3rd as the result of injuries sustained when he was hit by a car while on his bike. It's simply a sound recording, without an intro/outro or narration, from a memorial gathering held in his memory.
Ray's Second Line podcast

 

I couldn't count the throngs of people who showed up in front of D.B.A. East Village on Monday, July 11, 2011 to join in a New Orleans-style Second Line procession in celebration of the life of Ray Deter, but it was clear that Ray had a lot of fans, friends and admirers.

With a mix of sadness for the loss of a good guy, a good friend and a beer scene icon mixed with the joy of his legacy and happy memories, a colorful band of spirited kindred souls followed an impromptu collection of various horned instruments (sousaphone, trumpets, saxaphones, clarinet), drums, tambourines, washbord, bells, whistles -- even a melodica! -- playing some soulful N'orlans standards, like Basin Street Blues.

The procession began at D.B.A. on 1st Ave. with many carrying candles, hoisting colorful umbrellas and waiving white hankerchiefs. It traveled west on 3rd St., spilling into the street, then south on 2nd Ave., turning east on 2nd Street to Ave. B, making it's way to Ray's home on East 6th Street, where there were repeated cheers of "RAY!" and much whooping it up!

I recorded a nice section of "When the Saints Go Marching In" with some inspired horn solos on my digital recorder. Though the sound quality is iffy, it does catch a bit of the spirit of the march. I don't think anyone will forget this high-spirited, utterly unique (for NYC) celebration, just as none of us will ever forget the high-spirited, utterly unique Ray. In heaven there is only the BEST beer...