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| Date:
Thu, 14 Dec 2000 205628 -0600 To: shorty@danhicks.net From: David Lott Subject: Dan's Birthday in Medicine Park Music Hall December 9th Having owned a record store in the early 70's in Stillwater, Oklahoma - home of OSU - I was and still am a huge Dan Hicks fan. His earlier stuff (Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks from 1969 and Where's The Money? from 1971 were two of my biggest sellers. Both sold for a whopping $3.27 each. (obviously I wan't getting rich in the record b'ness) When I opened Medicine Park Music Hall in July of 1999, I had put together a "wish list" of performers I wanted to play my Hall. Dan was one of them. The music hall is the oldest music hall in Oklahoma and was built in 1920. Famed King of Western Swing and fiddler Bob Wills played here for his first time in 1929 (at age 19) and probably 10-12 times a years after that for more than a decade and a half. It operated as such up until the late 1930's then turned into a skating rink. In the late 60's it shut down for good. I purchased the old building 3 years ago and spent nearly a year and a half restoring it. We re-opened in July of 1999 and have been swingin' ever since and servin' up bodacious BBQ and great Tunes. When I had the chance to book Dan - I jumped at it. It wasn't until three weeks later that I found out by accident that it was also his birthday. What a thrill! What an opportunity! A young lady and her husband flew all the way from Baltimore, Maryland to the mountains and plains of southwest Oklahoma solely because it was also her birthday - and since they were huge fans - thought they'd wanted to share it with Dan. Two others, who also shared the same birthday, showed up. We placed balloons and cards at the their tables signed by the entire staff. Jeremy Kay opened the show and did a wonderful job. He played approximately 30 minutes and the audience was very attentive and appreciative. Quite a talented young man and very professional in his performance. We all wish him well. When Dan and the gang took the stage at 900 - the audience went nuts. The band looked dapper as hell. The fellas all dressed in black, Dan with his black and white shoes, black slacks and a white shirt blazened with red palm trees and The Hickettes lookin' sexy and as wonderful as one would hope. Dan joked around a bit - then the music started. Play list was 1.
Canned Music Numerous times during the show Dan mentioned the new "Beatin the Heat" CD - the Hickettes rang in with a harmony of "beat, beat, beatin' the heat." Dan was funny, witty and havin' a good time. After Collared Blues, Dan and the band left stage and the crowd went wild wanting an encore. I rushed thru the audience and onto stage with a huge white chocolate cake with golden frosting decorated with a half dozen palm trees and "Happy Birthday Dan" and began eggin' the crowd on. Dan and the band soon returned and the audience broke into "Happy Birthday" to Dan. I think Dan was caught a 'lil off guard, cause he turned his back to the audience for a moment, then turn back with a huge ear-to-ear grin on his face. I think he was pleased we'd thought of him on "his" day. Then
they went into an encore of: After the show, Dan signed CD's, ate cake, signed more CD's, and ate more cake. Think he liked the cake!!! Dan and the whole band signed our wall in the dressing room and joined the ranks of those who have played the Hall since I opened. Gonna be quite a wall one day!!! A good time was had by all. Thank you Dan - hope to see you again Friend. David C. Lott
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