I just happen to have a copy of the script that was read from the stage, so here tis:
A Letter from Those who could not be here: Denny Jones.
Hello from the frigid northeast! We hope, no, we KNOW you are all enjoying Feat Camp! While unable to make it this year, some of us couldn't help but give some thought to things that could be done at Camp. Karaoke? Nah, that’d never fly. Pass the grapefruit? Ahh it’s been done to death. The one thought that we couldn't let go of was, to find some way to let Denny Jones know what he means to us all. We all get to scream when the band blows our socks off, but we don’t get to give Denny Jones a standing ovation. Without this HMFIC we get to buy tickets, go to a great show and go home. Can anyone remember when going to a Little Feat Concert was Just going to A great concert? Denny is not only there making sure that the band gets everything it needs, that all runs smoothly, He is the reason that We get to feel like rockstars ourselves for a day when Little Feat hits our town. From selling Merch to backstage passes, this man knows us as friends and for that special day we Are “in the band”. We are part of Denny’s job description.
Well, we approached the Band for their input, and they couldn’t weigh in fast enough. They were ALL IN where Denny’s concerned. They offer a few words to describe this Juggernaut that is Denny Jones
(Read band remarks)
We put some feelers out there in FeatFan land to take donations for a token of our gratitude, and the response was overwhelming. This struck a chord with A LOT of Featfans. But what to get … then we read this on Denny’s page at LF.net:
“I started out as a raw boned know-nothing and picked it up as I went along and I was learning from the best. I can still see Bill Graham there, showing us how to park. He was a hands on guy, dealt with ticketing, catering, security, parking - he was involved in every facet.”
Sound familiar? That’s it! Something from the Bill Graham collection!
(show Photo)
Our hope is that every time you look at this Denny, it reminds you how we all feel about you. You are our Bill Graham. None of this could happen without you. We will never forget this and hope this picture helps to remind you: Thanks Denny, we love you. Now come up here and get this, so we can give you a standing ovation!
Denny Jones is a bandit. He has a rabbit for a pet, and misses it while on the road. I know he sleeps, but he doesn't keep regular hours. Same thing with his eating habits. He is an anomaly. Denny is bright but unorthodox. He has amazing people skills. He has the wisdom to state things over and over and over again until it finally sinks in what he's talking about. He doesn't veer off message, or rarely does, anyway. He backs up the repetition with it being written on paper. Sometimes the message still doesn't get through. His patience is not unending but runs at a deeper depth than most. He is on a first name basis with all of his demons and angels that reside in his nature. He is a den mother, a sergeant, a prankster, a wearer of hats, a sports encyclopedia, a negotiator, a collaborator, a motivator and cheerleader, a caring person. He is the best of the best. He steals hearts, paints rainbows, converses with small animals and children of all ages, builds bridges and alliances.
He is the first into the fray, and the last one ever to give up. He didn't fall off the wagon yesterday; he in fact is one of those that helped build the original thoroughfare the wagon travels on.
Denny Jones is a bandit. He is my friend. Carry on, kind sir.
Bill Payne
Denny,
What can I say about our Denny...First and foremost, he's such a valued member of our 'little' family. He works harder than three people to insure that everything runs smoothly, what would we do without our daily 'Denny' sheet, I even wish I had it at home..... You're always
buzzing around, whipping everybody into shape, forever with a smile and a kind word for all. Frankly, I don't know how you keep it together, my friend, you are one amazing fellow, I hope you always consider us part of your extended family too. I don't know how we ever made it without
you!
Love ya,
Shaun
About our Denny ...
He's the guy that makes it all work.
He calms the mighty seas ...
greases the wheels of progress ...
and makes crooked things straight ...
He's the best that I've ever seen ...
I'm glad that he's my friend ... Richie
I first met Denny Jones when we performed with Steven Stills somewhere in Arizona. After dinner and a short time before we were to go on this guy comes up and asks if I have a steamer for Steven Stills shirt. He had heard that I had one and he looked like he really needed to borrow one soon. So, I loaned it to him and that was the beginning of a long and wonderful relationship. When Denny started working for us I was worried at first because I thought this guy must be on some real bad drugs to accomplish all the amazing feats that he was accomplishing. But it has been a long, long time and the guy is still performing miracles on a daily basis so I know that the secret to his amazing physical and mental stamina is love. I have never seen anyone go to the airport three times in one morning to make sure that everything was cool. Denny does not bat an eye at the prospect. If you are worried that a guest might be confused about how to navigate the backstage/will call scene, Denny has been known to greet them by name as they get out of their car. He is family and a genuine friend who makes you believe that he would do anything for you so you have to watch what you ask for cause he will make it happen. We could not do without him as we found out in the recent past. I pray that we always appreciate his love and never make him mad. Thank God for Denny Jones.
Fred Tackett
Well well...Denny Jones....you know his name is really Charles don't you?
Yes indeed , Denny Jones, a one-of-a-kind gin-u-whine road dog of the first order. We have been friends for 32 years and the amazing thing is Denny can remember almost every bit of what has happened during that time. He is a walkin' talkin' encyclopedia of the world of Rock and Roll and if you don’t think so....ask him who David Blue was and then sit back, put your feet up and be prepared to be amazed.
He is a gentleman, a scholar and a school bus and I wouldn't have him any other way. God bless the King, God bless Denny Jones.
Howard
Simply put Denny is superman. He always gets everything taken care of, never sleeps and is always in a good mood. He is the best tour manager I have ever met and am glad to have done so. Viva Toro Grande
Nick
Denny is a miracle worker. He reminds me of an old saying, "the difficult he does immediately and the impossible takes a little longer". He is the heartbeat and driving force of this organization and runs this ship with a passion and dedication that I have never seen before.
Thanks Denny,love and appreciation, always your friend,
Sam Clayton
p.s. Do you remember the "surf and sand" ??
What the hell is a TipiBoy?
Should I be wary?
Who stuck you with that?
You want me to have Denny kick his ass?
? HA HA HA !!!!!!!!
Kenny aka Mr. Big Stuff, Greek, Kgwon, Bottom Feeder, Golfaholic, Moon Calf
Ahhh the Denny-meister, where would we be without him? In total chaos is where, even though we seem to have plenty of that anyway, his influence is a steadying factor in a world where snafu is a daily occurrence. The daily Denny is the newsletter that some of us actually read and find most useful, gets us the where too and the what for of our daily grind... and I have to mention the time and effort he puts forth to make our travels as easy as possible, he is truly a work horse who puts us first always and in the long run, when someone of us asks the "why" of some aspect of travel, he's not like that parent who says, because I said so, but more like a calm sensei who spells it out so that even the hardest head can absorb the info... and last but not least, this man can sell oil to Arabs...we have joked more than once that we could just send Denny out on the road and have him peddle the merch and we could stay home and reap the benefits without ever having to play a note, and actually we have had shows cancelled on the spot and we still walk out having sold more merch than any other band at the venue....granted we have the most wonderful grassroots organization in the world that help Mr. Jones to the max, but its really Denny who drives the team forward in a most amazing fashion...god bless you sir, I wouldn't want to go to war without ya!!!
Paul
<snip,snip>
? HA HA HA !!!!!!!!
