[This maybe should be a Milledge Circle (Athens) post, but the groundwork was laid during Seal Place days.]
It was the best birthday I ever had. I pretended the party was mine. It was actually the Capricorn Records Annual Barbeque & Summer Games, a company tradition held just outside Macon at Lakeside Park. In 1976 the event happened to fall on my birthday. I was in my last year at UGA in Athens, majoring in graphic design, and had been trying to settle on a senior thesis/project. My attempt to affiliate the project with Capricorn did not pan out, but art director Keith Crossley remained supportive and encouraging, and kindly sent me an invitation to the label's annual party. |
| Invitation, 5th Annual Capricorn Barbeque & Summer Games, Lakeside Park, Macon GA, August 19, 1976 |
I was allowed to bring two guests. Cousin Hal agreed to drive, and our friend Dave came along, too. (They were both active Atlanta musicians and veterans of several local bands.) It was in the pipeline that then-Presidential candidate Jimmy Carter would be in attendance. Capricorn founder Phil Walden was a key Carter supporter, and they had become good friends. Cousin Hal had a 1960-something black Cadillac Fleetwood land-yacht at the time. We secured small, flapping American flags at each front quarter panel in an effort to make as Presidential an entry as possible. Many heads did turn as we pulled into the parking area.
It was a beautiful day, with a comfortable breeze off the lake and cool shade under the trees despite being in the dog days of August. Trails lead through the park past random open bars scattered along the paths. The barbeque feast was laid out buffet-style in the covered pavilion along the water's edge. Picnic tables were in another pavilion a short walk from there. That's where we ran into Andy Warhol and his business manager Fred Hughes. We had linked up with my friend Mike Duke and his Wet Willie bandmate Ricky Hirsch by that time. The photo below predates the term "photobomb," but qualifies nevertheless.
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| Andy Warhol (center) flanked by Fred Hughes (L) and Rick Hirsch (R). Rick slid into the photo frame at the last second. Andy, no surprise, was fiddling with a camera. Cousin Hal (in hat) and friend Dave are just behind Fred. [personal photo] |
Jimmy Carter arrived, too, along with his Secret Service contingent. He had attended a previous Capricorn barbeque while serving as Georgia Governor, and was casual, friendly, and laidback in the best sense. It was a day to enjoy good food, good music, and good people. It was not about campaigning and pressing the flesh.
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| 1976 Democratic Presidential candidate Jimmy Carter walking alongside Capricorn Records founder Phil Walden. [personal photo] |
A stage was set up a bit further into the trees, and jams unfolded throughout the afternoon. Many Capricorn musicians were there, and players stepped on and offstage in endless combinations. Again: casual, friendly, and laidback. There was a strong contingent from Atlanta. Around nearly every tree we ran into someone we knew.
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| Alan Walden (L) and Michael Duke [personal photo] |
It was a birthday party I could never have imagined. Not a care in the world. We said our goodbyes as the sun began to set, and headed back to the city. It was, as the late Lou Reed would sing, "Just a perfect day...such a perfect day."
