A
Tribute to a Man We All Love...
Personal Mementos
(page under construction and
subject to change as mementos are received...
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One of my Father’s favorite movies is, “It’s A Wonderful Life,”
starring Jimmy Stewart. How ironic; it is of a man whose life touched so
many other lives; a man whose life made a difference in such a positive
way. This was my Father. So fortunate are the many who knew my Father; and
so very fortunate if you were close to him….he was a very caring,
understanding and great man. The things he taught me resonate with me
always. I hear his words often. I deeply miss him, especially the
closeness we shared and his daily calls to just say, “I love you sweetie,
just called to say hi," but most of all I miss him just being my “Daddy.”
You are forever in my heart Daddy.
I love you with all my heart.
Love, your daughter, Cheryl
[back to top]
How do you write about someone who is too special for words? Simple;
you can't. There is not enough paper, pencils or pens, or disk space on
any computer or the web to articulate how much it means to know that my
Dad loves me unconditionally, as I love him. There are not enough words to
say or songs to sing, that would give justice to the man that is my Dad.
There aren't enough hours or days or years to describe how much he means
to me. The one thing I can say is that, no matter what happens , no matter
what comes my way by my own doing or by someone else's seemingly effective
actions, daily grind, personal trials and tribulations, wars, tidal
waves and/or other natural disasters, the one thing I can always count on,
that can never be changed by anyone, or any force in life and/or death,
is that my Dad will always be my Dad, and I will always be his Daughter...
a bond which does not falter and cannot be broken. He promised me that
"our family has been together for thousands of years, and that it will be
for thousands more," and that it was no accident that we all "ended up
together." I believe him.
Many people, who Dad has touched deeply, have lost one of their great
friends...I'm sorry to all of you for your loss. May you find comfort, and
you are blessed to have support from your remaining friends. I lost my
only Dad. I don't have other Dad's to comfort me... unfortunately, it
doesn't work that way. Thank God, I too, have great friends and a
tight-knit family in which we support each other. On behalf of the family
and Dad, himself, I thank all of those who went above and beyond to
support the family for all of 2004 to the present, in this most difficult
time -- well, you know who you are.
My Dad will never leave me, because we are connected -- from my heart to
his.... wherever you are, Dad, I love you with all of my heart...and, to
my hero, thank you...
Thank you for your love.
Thank you for being you.
Thank you for all the wisdom you've imparted.
Thank you for always being so interesting.
Thank you for always being true to who you are.
Thank you for all of the private thoughts you shared, which I will forever
hold dear and keep between us.
Thank you for being so brave.
Thank you for being so funny.
Thank you for long rides.
Thank you for just "stopping by" with Robbie for no reason (or for a glass
of homemade wine!).
Thank you for being so bazaar sometimes!
Thank you for bringing music into our lives and for you and Robbie making
all of my musical projects sound phenomenal - further shows your
outstanding versatility and talent!
Thank you for caring.
Thank you for your love of the "C" and "F" word and all derivatives
thereof! LOL.
Thank you for being so understanding -- even in those times we deserved to
be ripped a new a-hole.
Thank you for putting up with us.
Thank you for changing my diapers.
Thank you for having more faith in me than I ever had in myself.
Thank you for peeling me out of the car (or off the floor) when my back
hurt so bad I couldn't get out/up myself.
Thank you for being so brilliant without ever having to say, or prove to
anyone, that you are.
Thank you for all the hugs and kisses.
Thank you for making us "put our sneakers on" during lightening storms so
we can watch the "zig-zags" over the ocean.
Thank you for the stimulating conversation and healthy debates.
Thank you for teaching us...well, everything.
Thank you for a good game of cards and winning everyone's money!
Thank you for all the great stories.
Thank you for always asking me to do the "mal occhio" prayer that Nana
taught you.
Thank you for being a pioneer, so innovative and being "first" at so many
things... you've spawned so many "Doc-wannabe's" out there who can only
dream of amounting to a fraction of you.
Thank you for always having the innate ability to be one step ahead of
technology.
Thank you for approaching everything you did with the excitement of a
child, no matter what the subject matter was.
Thank you for standing up for us, even when you knew we were wrong.
Thank you for leaving your legacy to us, in trusting we're capable of
doing it justice.
Thank you for that magical beach house, which holds so many fond
Cavalier memories too numerous to list.
Thank you for teaching us to respect the sea, and to embrace it at the
same time.
Thank you for loving Ronnie like your own son.
Thank you for having too much class to talk bad about people even when you
knew they talked bad about you.
Thank you for pointing out that other peoples' issues and problems are
just that... THEIR issues and problems... and for teaching us to ignore
and not to "take ownership" of any of it.
Thank you for showing us how to boat and fish - what great memories with
you and Pop and the rest of the family. (though Mom wasn't too happy you
let Tommy take the boat out alone at age 10!).
Thank you for your love of animals.
Thank you for being a TRUE professional.
Thank you for wall-to-wall toys at Christmas time.
Thank you for new cars as soon as we were old enough to drive (well, in
Tommy's case, two new cars!).
Thank you for pulling my tooth in our bathroom at home, even though I was
petrified it would hurt, when you assured me I wouldn't feel it - and I
didn't!
Thank you for teaching us respect, class and self-worth, and how nothing,
or no one, is worth compromising our integrity - it's coming in handy
these days.
Thank you for knowing our thoughts and feelings before we even told you -
you were always in tune to us no matter how near or far you were.
Thank you for your impeccable timing, on all fronts.
Thank you for being probably the only person in history to give up a
successful dental practice to go into the music business.
...and Thank you for having the brass balls to make such a change - most
people envy you for that, alone.
Thank you for being such hot shit.
Thank you for being so proud of us and our accomplishments - we owe them
all to you and Mom.
Thank you for always letting us be who we are.
Thank you for vests (with lots of pockets to hold your wompum cards!).
Thank you for being so tough on us sometimes, and so soft on us other
times - you always knew which way to swing that pendulum.
Thank you for "that look" you'd give us without ever having to say
anything.
Thank you for all the "Doc-isms" that only you could get away with saying.
Thank you for all the "C'mon's!" and "Yo's" - I really miss hearing them.
Thank you for screaming in my "male friends" faces until they turned white
with horror. LOL.
Thank you for being the only person to consume a family-sized chuck steak
and half gallon of ice cream at the same time - a bite of each, together.
Yuk!
Thank you for those stinky Shermans.
Thank you for literally paying me to stop smoking, and consequently
turning me into the worst x-smoker that ever lived... as you always said,
you created a monster. I'm so glad you did.
Thanks for loving my cooking... and those special dishes I only made for
you... like baccala salad.
Thank you for taking Nana's recipe for Ricotta Balls and turning them into
"Doc Fritters," - I still have a few from the last batch you made in my
freezer.
Thank you for those calls every day to say "Just called to say 'hi' and I
love you."
.....and for calling again 30 seconds later to tell me a joke,
.....and for calling again 30 seconds after that to say something else
totally unrelated - you are the ultimate communicator.
Thank you for painting the house black just to piss off the neighbors!
Thank you for being the toughest MF on the face of the earth, and the same
time, the most gentle.
Thank you for "Theodore Thaxton!"
Thank you for your support and for always being there.
Thank you for that beautiful, beautiful, golden voice of yours - there's
no other like it (made the women at Mom's work swoon!).
Thank you for all the other private things, far too personal to list
here...
There are just too many things I need to thank you for...
Just...thank you...for everything.
But most of all, thank you for just being my Daddy.
The last year for the family is too horrible to discuss, in so many ways,
but I know, in all of your stoic brilliance, you, and God, had a bigger
picture and a bigger plan for yourself, and for us. I know I've come out
of it completely fearless, which is what I need to be to carry on the way
you expect me to. Not once did you ever complain, and still, in your
condition, always remained more concerned about upsetting us first, before
thinking of yourself, as usual. And, as I sit in your chair, pretending
that I can somehow fill your enormous shoes, I know it's where I belong. I
underestimated HOW MUCH I REALLY LEARNED FROM YOU until now, but it's a
lot...and thank God. I hope you are looking down from heaven at the people
you've created, Dad, with proud eyes. Being Doc Cavalier's child has, and
always will be, an honor.
Oh yeah, and it's still 56 to 3!
With all the love that exists on earth and beyond,
I love you and miss you more than words can ever describe, Dad.
Your Beloved Daughter,
Darlene [back to
top]
Music & Business
Doc Cavalier : It's taken me a while to deal with the fact that the person
we know of as Doc has left this life. I think it fitting that he split
on the first day of the New Year. Just one of the life changing lessons he
taught me was that you could change your life for the better, and the way
to do that was to look at this day as "Day One". He was the first person I
knew
that really looked at the spiritual side of life (including the music
business).
When he managed my band back in the 70s he took a group of degraded
musicians and showed us we could be true artists. He taught us what it was
to be professional. Got us off drugs, and helped us put our lives back
together. We learned that communicating through music could raise peoples'
tone level.
These are all lessons I carry with me to every gig to this day.To say we
will miss him is an understatement. I wish him well in his next life, and
look forward to meeting up with him again further on up the road.
The
first time I met Doc was in Syncron Studios, I was in recording a song
with my band "ID". We were doing a song that someone had put together for
a DJ called "Rusty Pots" at the local AM station. The song was titled
"Hang it in Your Ear". It was going to be his theme song, or so we were
told. So there I am, I'm maybe 14 years old, it's my first time in a Pro
Studio, and this person I don't know (Doc) walks over to me and tells me
to " turn down." He then tells me to turn on my Fuzz Tone (an old Mosrite
). Next he asks me to play my part, listens briefly, proceeds to change it
a bit and starts singing the part to me; "Dum.., de Dum.., de Dum.., Dum
de Dum". He was writing a riff line for the verse of the song, and I was
doing exactly what he was directing me to do. We were working together
quite nicely, and even though I did not like the sound of the Fuzz, (I'd
rather have had my modified Fender Bandmaster cranked as usual), the part
fit the song perfectly. He smiles, walks away and I'm thinking; "Who IS
this guy....?". Fast forward a few weeks and we are driving down I-95 in
the band van, with the radio cranked, of course, and BAM ! There it is !
That Fuzz guitar line, jumping out of the radio speaker larger than life,
.... and it sounded Great ! Thanks Doc !
Over then next few years I was in Syncron many times recording demos with
JOY, TRICKS, etc. but it wasn't until I started playing with Tom Harper
and Rick Liso in a band named TRAD that I met Doc again. Doc quickly
became my friend, manager, and father figure to me. I spent many, many
hours in his office untangling the knots in the bands, and in my life. It
sometimes got very intense, but it always felt like a safe place to be. I
worked in many of Doc's bands over the next few years, but shortly after
"The Nelsen Adelard Band" morphed into "Dexter Beckin and the Risers" I
took my leave and moved to N.Y. to become a Studio Tech. That was about 23
years ago. Some of my fondest memories of Doc are of him playing
tambourine on our sessions, having coffee with him in the lounge, and of
us playing pinball with Rudy. Over the years whenever I was in CT I'd drop
by and see Doc for a quick hello. He was always gracious, personally
interested, and always found time to chat for a bit even though I
unexpectedly dropped in. It still feels a bit unreal that I won't be able
to do that this time when I come back for the tribute. I still remember
the big smile on his face at the "Big Sound Records" party in N.Y. when he
saw my surprise reaction when they played the just mixed track of my song
"Do Love You". That's how I'll remember him, smiling, knowing he had just
done something to make someone else smile.
I
was 18 when I met Doc Cavalier at Syncron Studios.Just out of High School,
working in a Band With Nelsen Adelard & John Puhl. (Both of which I have
not played together with since, but will be reunited together again at the
Doc Tribute Show).
Doc had a major influence on me from the first time I had met him. He
taught me what it was to be a Professional Entertainer, Artist, and what a
privilege it was to be on a stage. Yet, those lessons were minor compared
to what he taught me about loving oneself,others,and living life on life`s
terms.Where else could a young man go when the weight of the world was
caving in on him?Only one place for me,the inner sanctums of Doc`s office
at 10 George Street Wallingford, CT. Doc had a way of putting everything
into perspective and making you see it for yourself. He always made me
feel better about myself and whatever situation I was dealing with. He
would smile, look me in the eyes and say "that will be $50"You can pay
Edith or Rudy on your way out. He had a tremendous sense of humor and
compassion for people. Many of life`s lessons for me were learned at Trod
Nossel and that time period between 1975-1979. Doc was a special person
and I am grateful for having had him in my life. My wife and I
are indebted to Doc for his Affinity, Reality,& Communication that has
helped us keep it together. I loved him and miss him much, but his love,
wisdom and spirit will be with me forever. Now Let's Rock & Roll.
Christine, I am speechless and stunned. Last night at a gig at the
Towne Crier, they played your music over the p.a. system. It moved me to
my core, to hear your beautiful, soulful voice and the great recording
that you and Doc made together. I was so proud of you and I bragged to my
friends. I did not know of Doc's passing, but now I feel he found a way to
say goodbye to me.
Doc's spirit, his love of music, his essence was coming through the mix,
the board, the wires, the speakers, through soundwaves into the air and, I
like to think, right on through to the universe.
Doc did not really leave us. He's right here -- in the heart of the
groove, in the chime of the guitars, in the snap of the snare drum, and in
the soul of your voice every time you sing.
Love you, Doc!
Joe Cassetta/Guitarist
Jan. 2, 2005 [back
to top]
A
Tribute to Doc Cavalier says it all. It has been 24 years since I left
Connecticut and came back to Memphis. Doc and I didn't speak for 17 years,
and then in 1997 we buried the hatchet. After that, we talked on the phone
a good bit, several times a year. Then, when I finally entered the 21st
century and got a computer, we stayed in touch via email as well. He
always had something positive and supportive to say to me. And he was the
first person in my life to ever call me an artist. Doc and Trod Nossel
gave me a chance when no one else would, and my so-called career began in
earnest at 10 George Street. Half a lifetime later, I am coming back on a
giant arc to complete the circle, to pay homage to Doc. And maybe do a
couple of tunes.
The tribute concert is important on several levels. First, it is a
recognition of Doc's influence and vision, of many years of bucking the
odds and stubbornly supporting the artists he believed in. And for all the
old, unemployed, uninsured musicians like me, it's an opportunity to show
what we can't do anymore. Then there's the charity that benefits, and that
is really a good thing. But perhaps the greatest thing about all this is
that all of these people whose lives Doc touched will be in the same room
at the same time, an intersection of souls out-of-time, in Rod Serling's
neighborhood. I can't wait. And I will be really glad to see all of my old
friends as we remember Doc Cavalier the way we should. With our music.
Well, I've been running myriad thoughts through my mind, as how I
could could encapsulate my feelings about knowing and working with Doc
these past two decades.
Suffice to say that there are far too many memories for me to single one
out from another, so I think I will address it as more of what knowing Doc
brought me.
Having spent countless hours with him in the studio, I came to understand
that while he was producing our records, he was also helping me find my
own artistic voice, and raising it to a level I hadn't thought I could
achieve. To those who have not experienced this kind of support, it is
very difficult to explain, let's just say it is pure magic, it's not
plotting an artist's course, but helping them find their own.
This is really part and parcel of what it meant to having Doc as a friend
and mentor. The constant artistic and spiritual support that I have been
lucky enough to receive has helped me become a better person and musician.
While I mourn my loss, I also am so thankful that I had every moment I had
with him.
Those of us who were fortunate enough to work with him, or just hang out
with him, belong to an exclusive club. I hope those who didn't know him
can find their own "Doc", and have the wisdom to know how lucky they are.
--Eric Fletcher/Lead Guitarist and Studio Musician/Christine Ohlman &
Rebel Montez/TNA House Band
[back to top]
Blues Beat received some sad news from Christine Ohlman. Thomas “Doc”
Cavalier passed away on New Year's Day. Cavalier was the owner of Trod
Nossel recording studios in Wallingford, one of the longest-running
recording facilities in the world. His work was felt on the national and
international scene. He was part of winning Grammy recordings and made
blues recording legends such as Pinetop Perkins and Eddie Kirkland sound
even better. With all the acclaim, he continued his work helping local
bands succeed as well. Many of us have benefited from his works without
even knowing it.
Cavalier was in the music industry because he followed his heart. He
brought an energy and honor to the expression, a “record man.” His
personal talents and inspiration cover the gamut of the music business.
Born and raised in New Haven, he earned a medical degree and began a
successful dental practice. Then he decided life would have more meaning
working in music.
His early efforts saw him work with musicians from throughout the
Northeast. One of the most popular out of the Hartford were the Wildweeds.
They were a well known area club act. Cavalier took them national by
inking them to Chicago’s Chess/Checker family of labels. Here they
produced a string of hit singles including national charter “No Good To
Cry.” Another band that many Connecticut residents are familiar with
figured prominently in Trod Nossel, the Scratch Band. The featured
musicians are still making audiences happy. Names like Robert Orsi, Paul
Ossola, Mickey Curry, G.E. Smith, and Christine Ohlman can still be found
playing today.
Cavalier’s musical history will fill volumes. Starting with his early days
managing and recording many of Connecticut's legendary 60's rock bands to
Grammy nominations and awards. To honor his memory, friends are
celebrating his life, one of such sensational creativity and zest that its
ripples will continue to be felt for years to come.
You couldn't help it. If you grew up in Connecticut in that special era
just before radio narrowcasted rock'n'roll into an irreversible
brain-damage coma, you couldn't help but be influenced by Doc Cavalier --
even if you didn't know him from a cavalier attitude, a Chevy Cavalier or
the Cleveland Cavaliers, or from a phone book full of doctors. Looking
back as we mortals usually do when someone dies, I found a bunch of ways
the eternal hipster with the recording studio with the funny name somehow
worked his way into my life.
The first way I was aware of was when I was a freshman in high school, in
early '76, and heard that recording of "Rhiannon" that Fleetwood Mac did
live at Trod Nossel just before they became the hottest act of their era
-- the version WPLR used to play when we least expected it. I haven't
heard it in over 20 years, but I can still hear it more vividly in my mind
than the LP version.
The first way that I wasn't aware of until much later had to be when I was
about 15, 16, and heard this killer soul song on the radio that sounded
like NRBQ. Well, as I found out later, it was Al Anderson singing, but it
wasn't the Q -- it was this group called The Wildweeds, and the song was
so old that it was recorded at the studio before Doc even owned it. And
it's incredible how people still take to that tune. Out here in Fresno,
I've fallen in with a group of music-loving motor scooter fiends who have
a barbecue every Saturday, and not long ago, I burned a copy of my Wildweeds
CD to bring along, and my friends were astounded; they had never heard
anything like it. Some new converts nearly four decades later; can you dig
it?
Then there was the first bar band I ever took a shining to, back during my
first Christmas break from college in 1979 -- B. Willie Smith, at H.L.
WIlfred's in Hamden, Bob Boettger playing sax hanging from the rafters,
Bruce and Bob and the rest kicking out literally to "Route 66." And in the
midst of my immersion into new wave, punk and primordial hip-hop back in
college on Long Island, my early record collection included just one bar
band (and if it's done right, you only need one): B. Willie Smith's
"World's Greatest Songs," recorded at Trod Nossel.
Of course, back then I had no idea I would cross paths with Doc
professionally and personally, and when we did, it wasn't the usual blend
of peanut butter and chocolate. The intersection of our paths back in '93,
not long after I started working at the New Haven Register, was a wild
little junction named Cub Koda.
I came up to the studio one late afternoon to do a feature on Christine
Ohlman, and Doc and I got to talking. I didn't know before that point that
Doc was managing Cub, who was one of the true walking encyclopedias of pop
music; all his too-young and too-short obituaries citing him as the guy
who wrote and recorded "Smokin' in the Boys' Room" didn't even crack the
surface. He played R&B with Nathaniel Mayer in Detroit as a teen, played
blues with Hound Dog Taylor as a grown man -- and in between, recorded and
"produced" the worst band in the history of rock'n'roll this side of
Creed: the infamous King Uszniewicz & the Uszniewicztones, the Detroit
bowling alley lounge band whose songs were timeless, meaning they had no
tempo whatsoever. The first time I played their first album of tunes, back
in '89, San Francisco had its earthquake 90 minutes later. Seriously. It
was music bad enough to damage a bridge and disrupt the World Series.
Anyway, I made the mistake of telling Doc that I thought Cub was the real
King U; that this was a cruel joke foisted upon us by Cub and Billy
Miller, the guy who put out the record on his Norton label. Imagine my
surprise not long after when an envelope from Trod Nossel arrived at work.
Inside was an 8X10 of King Koda himself, roundly scolding me: "Hey Fran,
Where did you get the numb-skulled idea that I'm supposed to be King
Uszniewicz? I AIN'T, & given the man's singing & playing abilities, I
wouldn't be too proud if I WAS -- Bust you head, Cub Koda." It proudly
hangs on my wall looking down on me -- probably sneering -- as I write
this.
And Doc gave me one of the most enjoyable afternoons I ever had in my
years as a music writer. One Tuesday in the summer of '97, he called me
out of nowhere to invite me up to the studio. Cub was working on a new
album and Marshall Crenshaw, one of my all-time favorites, was in for the
day laying down guitar behind him. Not that I needed a reason to want to
get away from the office, but I was there in about 10 minutes. Marshall
was playing a black Vox Phantom 12-string -- the only time in my life I
wanted to commit a wanton act of larceny, as I'd never seen one before and
haven't since -- and Cub was in fine form, having fun. Shortly after,
sitting at lunch break with Cub, I said to him, "You know, I'm a really
big fan of the King." He looked at me quizzically. "King U," I said -- and
it was off to the races, as he regaled me with tales of recording ol'
Ernie Uszniewicz and crew, and went on to tell me about The Del-Tinos and
Nathaniel Mayer and Al Wilson and all these great Detroit memories from
growing up. It was wonderful. It was also the only time I ever got to meet
Cub, so you can imagine how much I cherish that. And I have Doc to thank.
There are other moments: the Labor Day picnic he invited me to down in
Westbrook ... the commiserating on the phone about Courtney Love's lengthy
diatribe on the music industry ... doing a story on this singer Melanie,
one of Solomon Burke's many, many daughters, recording at the studio ...
the time he and Christine and Tommy brought a friend to see The Reducers
at Sailfest in New London, and Doc introduced me to this quiet, modest,
unassuming man -- Andrew Oldham, merely one of the people who made The
Stones The Stones ... the day I was talking to Doc about the garage bands
I love so -- and, two days later, what arrived in the mail at work but a
pristine CD version of "I Can Only Give You Everything" by The Bram-Rigg
Set that I could play on my radio show.
And Doc had a little to do with my sendoff from Connecticut, though he
didn't know it. On my last regular show on WPKN in March of 2004, I played
King U one final time to torment my fans and loved ones. Harry Minot, the
station manager and a big King U fan, immediately popped into the record
library and then back to the studio with an original version of a song
butchered by the King -- "Little Dead Surfer Girl" by The Incredible Brass
Bed Band, a bunch of guys from Connecticut who recorded their album at,
you guessed it, Trod Nossel.
So you see, from my tortured adolescence into my tortured middle age, Doc
was there, directly or indirectly. I don't pretend to have been any closer
than I was to him -- many of the people gathered to honor him were a lot
closer -- but if he affected my life in these tiny ways, imagine how much
impact he had on so many others. Hope he and Cub are kicking back and
having fun ...
Who among us would ever have thought that Doc would leave us so
soon? With no hesitation I speak for all of us when I say I miss my
friend. I miss him deeply. We’re here to celebrate his life, and mourn his
loss.
I cannot speak for all who knew Doc, because he touched so many people in
his life, but I can speak for his extended family, those he nurtured
during the early pursuit of our music careers. Whether you be the
musician, the technician, the label owner, a roadie, the agent, the
manager, or the publicist, he taught us more than we could have ever
learned on our own.
Doc, as he was to many of us, was my mentor in youth, and my biggest fan
when I succeeded in our industry later on in life. He will be dearly
missed, and with me for the rest of my life. Doc was always a man in
search of bettering himself, and others around him. He succeeded at both.
In the early days of my career, there were few days that we did not speak,
but as many of us here know, especially those of us that moved on to
pursue our own dreams in music, you lose touch.
It was only recently, in the past four years, that I’ve reconnected with
Doc, and there were few weeks that we did not speak regularly since, and
always, Doc being Doc, offering his wisdom and insight….still as relevant
as it was twenty-five years ago.
For most, Doc instilled confidence. He taught us self-awareness, and how
to use it to our advantage, and taught us to fight for what we believed
in. It gave us all an advantage in most every aspect of our careers.
But the most important thing that Doc taught us was to believe, and
whenever that belief waned, it only took a late night call with Doc, and
after ten minutes, you’d be back on track again.
Doc seemed to be available 24 hours a day. I don’t think he ever actually
slept--at least it seemed that way to most of us.
In the early days, there were two types of people in our world…….the ones
who couldn’t wait to get a call from Doc………..and the ones that dreaded a
call from Doc. Depending on what you did, or how you acted usually
determined which side of the fence you were on--and even if you were on
the dreaded call side--you ended up loving the guy even more so, and all
seemed forgiven after your conversation with him.
When most of us started in the business one had to search quite hard to
find honesty and integrity, because the landscape seemed to be filled with
opportunist. Luckily, for many of us, Doc offered an alternative to the
way business use to be done. He also attracted those that were extremely
talented…..people who had a burning desire to succeed at their craft…….
and he allowed them to fine hone their trade, in an environment
that taught us the business side of our industry, while at the same time
nurturing our creative juices.
There were the group meetings, the one-on-one's….and sometimes you’d
wonder why all this time was needed, but he taught us that planning,
setting goals to meet, and be exceeded, were as much a part of our
livelihoods as the performing part.
With Doc it was an adventure everyday, and many were wild
adventures. There were so many good days, and with Doc, just as many
goods days of celebration after a successful gig, or goal met.
Doc was so much an integral part of our extended family. It is hard to
describe our bond, unless you are part of this close knit group of
friends. I sometimes wonder--what thread binds our unique group of people
that Doc touched? Why these unique individuals, from all walks of life,
all backgrounds, found a center, a common ground, a place to go, and be
with each other, and learn our trade.
For those of you that moved onto other fields, that were non-industry
related, you still carried a stronger set of ethics, and values, because
of your relationship with Doc. Doc was part of our nurturing, caring,
loving gang of friends, and one of our rousing celebrators of life. He
had this innate ability to make you feel like you were the center of it
all.
When Doc spoke with you there were no interruptions, no glances in other
directions, no “excuse me’s,” he just...enveloped you. If Doc ever uttered
a cynical, or a cruel, or a selfish word, the moment went unrecorded.
Those who knew him when he was younger, and those who knew him later in
life--all remember his largeness of spirit, his gentle instincts, and a
quiet rectitude that drew others to him.
Seen now, at a distance, his strengths as a man, and as a quiet leader are
only more impressive.
I’m sure that if Doc were here, he would say, thank you all for being a
part of my amazing life, and accepting me as I was, and always trying to
find the best in me.
Thank you for being a part of the GLUE…..….. that made us what we
are…friends forever. But now, here WE are this morning, gathered for
YOU, Doc, because we wanted, and needed….. so much…….. to thank YOU.
I still remember blue fishing on summer sun drenched days off Block Island
with Doc, and eating breakfast at 4 am at the Oar, just prior to heading
out to sea. It was days like these, outside of our industry relationships
that we really bonded, and I got to know the fun side of Doc.
I hope this comes close to summing up, and what our group of friends meant
to Doc. You all know what you meant to Doc, and hopefully we can find
closure….. in verbalizing these thank you’s today. When I look out at all
Doc’s friends and see your faces, I know, as Doc knew, that your
friendship is special and unconditional, and certainly not something to be
taken for granted.
Our gang of friends always tried to look out for each other, and find the
best in each of us. We cared for and took care of each other in bad times,
and good……and that is what keeps many of us friends today. It is part
of the intangible thread that binds us together.
I’ll miss his calls, with that unmistakable voice, always starting with
that punctuating, "FLASH!" ….his nickname for me……..he could never
pronounce my last name correctly, unless he was mad at me.
He had that ability--he was infectious, and when you succeeded, he’d look
at you, like, "Now, wasn’t that worth it?"……..and it was…….
That was Doc. We all have our special memories of Doc, and I know our loss
seems unbearable, but let us always remember those smiles……… that lilt in
his voice……. always bordering on a laugh, and his infectious “Come on’s,”
and “Let’s get this done”……
Doc will always remind us of what friendship means. If his life stood for
anything, it was for that bond of friendship, a bond that we still
have. I know that he would have wanted us to all push on, and not let his
passing slow us down, but who among us will not walk just a little bit
slower, or think a little bit harder before we take off on one of
our adventures?
In parting………..Doc, look down on us now…. here we are…….look what
you produced……look at your friends gathered here today ….. look at the
lives you touched, and what you meant to them.
No truer measure of man is that of how he touched his friends, with
kindness, honesty, selflessness....and love.
You measured up, Doc. Take a look around........you measure up.
We all love you...and goodbye, my friend.
(Remarks to be read at memorial)
Marc Gentilella
Principal/ENCORE Editor-In-Chief
Celebrity Access/EventWire
[back to top]
The tribute concert is a fantastic way to celebrate Doc's life and his
many
contributions not just to the industry; but to each of us who were
lucky enough to attract his personal attention. I owe him a huge debt
of gratitude for imparting on me what it means to be a professional in
every sense of the word. In addition, I wouldn't miss this once in a
lifetime opportunity to see so many of the old Trod Nossel gang again.
Thomas "Doc" Cavalier, the legendary founder and owner of Trod Nossel
Studios, got into the recording business when he purchased a Wallingford,
Conn. studio in 1966 and began recording garage combos like the Shags, the
Wildweeds, the Bram Rigg Set and hundreds of others. Doc spearheaded the
New England teen scene, giving East Coast bands a comfortable environment
where their music could flourish. Under an exclusive license to represent
the catalog, Sundazed has a definitive compilation illuminating the glory
days of Trod Nossel on tap for later this year. We will miss Doc, his
illuminating stories, his voluminous file of information and, above all,
the kindness he has shown us over the past years.
Christine... I didn't have to open your e-mail to know its message, your
title told me all. I have know you longer then most people in my life, I
have always known what Doc meant to you, and I am sorry for your loss. As
to Doc, all I can say was he was a great guy. I have always had a smile
come over my
face when I thought of him, and that smile will continue.
In 1988 I found myself in a state institution. Dark times. One
day I received a letter from Doc Cavalier. We had had mutual friends in
the
business. There was some mutual respect; but we had no relationship yet
here was this letter asking me to come see him as soon as I got out; here
was this piece of light in my hands telling me there would be a place in
his
organization and I should come see him.
I did. Broke, broken and lost. Cocaine addiction had ravaged my
finances, my family and my soul.
Trod Nossel Productions and Studios had strict policies about
felons and drug addicts. Doc Cavalier was a stickler for policy.
Nonetheless
I was hired on the spot as an engineer. I had never worked on that side of
the board in my life.
I worked at TNA for nine years. Through those years I grew,
recovering pieces of my soul in baby steps. I must have been impossible to
deal with some days. I know I was. I butted heads with Doc on many
occasions
and, though I would anger him at times torridly, he never turned his back
on
me. When I had personal issues he was there. We spent many, many nights on
the couches in the waiting room until the sun came up, when he would break
out the Columbian beans Andrew had sent and we would bask in the communal
bliss of good coffee together. We worked on so many projects together.
Most
of the time, when the working day was done for everyone else on our team,
ours was just beginning.
We smoked thirty thousand cigarettes at least.
Doc Cavalier took a chance on me. He allowed me to be who I was,
never tried to change me. He respected who I was and, most importantly, he
knew who I was -- because he took the time and care to look and discover.
Doc Cavalier looked, discovered, learned and grew, That¹s what
he was about.
That, and being a friend. I will never forget what he did for
me. I will never forget him.
A few years after Gil Evans' passing, an interviewer asked Miles Davis how
he felt about Gil being gone. Miles replied, "Gone? No way is Gil gone.
He's with me all the time!" We know you will feel the same way about Doc,
and your feeling of loss, while it will always be there, will eventually
become a full-scale celebration of his life and the happy cosmic fact that
you shared this sweet swinging sojourn on Earth together. No way is he
gone.
I
met Doc summer of 1983, after Brownsville Station broke up. Being married
to one of the original Detroit R'n'R bad boys, who loved the music but
hated the business end of things, management was needed. But if you know
anything about the entertainment business, you know finding someone that
won't lie and steal from you is very hard.
From the first meeting I knew, and told Cub, "Doc has the highest ethics
of any manager I have ever met. He won't lie to you and I know he won't
steal from you." He never did. Which couldn't be said about prior business
people who represented Cub.
Cub signed a contract with Doc that 1st year. Doc represented Cub, without
a contract, for the remaining 16 years. What Cub and Doc had was stronger
than paper. That was just the kind of wonderful human Doc was. We trusted
and respected each other. Because of knowing Doc our lives were better and
throughout those 17 years, Cub became a caring, thinking, positive human
being. Cub knew the entertainment part but Doc helped him realize life as
a positive to base his life on.
Many morning and evening phone calls, between Doc and myself, helped me
get through my loss. Somedays he was the only reason I stayed. Now all of
us must continue on without our beloved, gentle (but firm, when needed),
friend. A true giant, above all in this business. You will forever be
missed and loved. The footsteps you have left are large and deep.
Be well and know that I feel honored to be able to call you my friend. The
memories will forever remain and I will keep the stories alive.
I
can see my best friend, Doc Cavalier, clearly. The little things in life
(making an electric guitar "sound like the bowels of a dinosaur;"
listening to roughs of "Turn" and "Heart of Stone" in a parking lot in
Rockland, Maine; watching the Wolf's home movies) were imbued with
wonderful and deep meaning when Doc was there. He took me deeper into the
music, showed me how to survive (and how to help others survive) in a
nearly impossible profession, and he taught me how to be a best friend.
Randy Labbe
friend of Doc and Christine
[back to top]
In
nearly every person’s life, there are but a few about whom one cannot
think of the living world existing without those particular people simply
being there.
By comparison, consider a large, emotionally spreading and beautiful tree
that has stood for ages. You’ve seen this tree all your life. It’s outside
the realm of conscious thought or concern that you’ll pass by and not see
that tree in its familiar place; its shape and structure so magnificent
that it doesn’t matter what the season of the year is, but that the tree
is there. Its grace of form and majesty of presence is a constant reminder
of the fineness that is in our world. Whether you are there where the tree
is, or simply seeing it in your mind’s eye, you know it is there, and you
see the tree framed by everything around it: long blades of grass at its
base, and the clouds moving behind it as they form and change across the
beauty of the sky blue mind.
If we pass that way one day and see that a storm or some inconceivable
power has knocked the tree over, we might feel as though we’ve forever
lost some small part of our world as we know it; the world we’ve become so
used to. The loss of that one perfect spot in our world can only live on
in our memories, but by doing so, the tree endures forever, at least for
us.
It is fortunate then, that Tom Cavalier is such a perfect part of the
world in which we live. Those lucky enough to have known him as “Doc”
means that they were either family, a very close friend, or part of the
world of Music in which he spent and devoted his life.
Music, in all its forms is a singular element of beauty that adds to
life’s experience. Music has the unique ability to “lift us up” as living
beings. Ugliness drags the world down, so music becomes all the more
important as a sustaining influence. In his work with those who created
music, Doc became one of those magnificent and necessary entities that our
world can never get enough of. He is simply….there. To think of the world
as it is without him would not have seemed to be a conscious thought or
concern. It’s the reason why the human emotion of sadness and loss
threaten to overcome us to think that Doc is gone.
There is however, one great difference between Doc Cavalier and the noble
tree of this story.
When the great tree falls, eventually it is consumed by the earth in the
place where it stood, and only those who beheld its stateliness will long
remember it.
The music that Doc Cavalier created with fellow musicians past and
present, covering the globe, endures. We marveled at its stunning effect
on our souls when we heard all that he was a part of making the first
time. We’re fortunate to be able to have it now and forever, so that we
can embrace the experience again, and more, to offer that same mystifying
and extraordinary sensation to all who are to come after us.
Music, after all, does “lift us up.” It’s sad indeed to think of saying
goodbye to our friend, but we’re left with unending reasons to smile
at remembering the great gifts he left behind for us now, and for everyone
yet to pass through the world. His life, his work, and the place in which
he stood, will live on and not be consumed by the earth. Doc gives us a
reason to celebrate, and anytime we wish to merely think of him, he is
there, with us, in many places at the same instant; for there are many who
live in all parts of the world who will think of Doc with love and
gratitude always. For each of us who think of him in the same instant, he
is there with us all, in that very same moment; that infectious smile, the
sound of his voice, the charm and elegance that is this man, is there
always. We have lost nothing at all then. His gift of music is ours
forever, to lift each of us up as we live on.
Who among us could ever ask to be able to do more for our friends while we
live?
With Love and Thanks from
Bruce Alan Manke
Film, Video, and Music Editor
Wallingford, Connecticut
April, 2005
[back to top]
Doc really understood the spirit of rock and roll. I first met him
in 1977 at the height of the Punk/New Wave movement. I was living in
NYC but kept meeting all these incredible CT writers and musicians like GE
Smith, Roger C. Reale, Hilly Michaels, Van Duren, Cub Coda, all the while
wondering, "Where'd these guys come from?" You could trace all of
them back to Doc at one time or another. And who better to have as a
studio/record company owner at that time of rock and roll rebirth than a
guy like Doc, who was around for the first wave, the initial birth of rock
and roll, exemplified by his close friendship with the Chess brothers and
Sam Philips to name a few. Doc knew the spirit of rock and roll.
He could recognize that: "je ne sais quoi," that sets a true artist
above the ordinary.
I
was honored to have met Doc in April of 2003 when we decided to record our
second CD at Trod Nossel Studios. A recording wiz is the best way to
describe him. >From the first minute we met I felt so at home and so
comfortable. His suggestions as to how we should record our high energy
blues CD were right on the money. It was the most relaxing session I've
ever done, and truly his presence was a driving force in us wanting to put
out the best we could.
Truly a giant, and a great man. You'll be missed.
Steve Molnar Guitarist/Singer The BluesCasters
[back to top]
I met Doc for the first time on the day I was hired as Vice President
of Sales at J-Bird Records. I had been sitting with Jay Barbieri (then
president of the label) that morning and he suggested that I attend a
music seminar designed to attract new artists to the label. He told me
that the seminar was being held that afternoon at Trod Nossel studios up
in Wallingford and that Doc Cavalier was the studio owner and a major
contributor to J-Bird. I had (at the time…) quite literally NO idea what
to expect.
My background had been in retail and wholesale music operations and I had
not been involved on the “Label” side of things before. That said, I knew
what it took to market music products in the stores and to the consumers
and I knew what I would be looking for from a label from that perspective
(ie: retail). So my position seemed a natural fit, having been a retail
buyer, now I was going back to the retail buyers being able to speak their
language while selling in the label products.
I arrived at the studio somewhat early, and met Doc for the first time.
Admittedly I was a bit taken aback by his “gruff exterior”, but almost
immediately found a kindred spirit in Doc, both of us with a love of music
and a level of integrity that could be shared. Both of us, with only brief
conversation explored each others backgrounds and stories and I
immediately found (although I didn’t realize it in these terms at the
time) a mentor.
Doc made it easy to be around him, He was comfortable enough in himself
and that made others around him comfortable being there. …..
So the Seminar started and there may have been about 25 to 40 people in
the studio that day. Dave Rager was the Head of A&R for JBird and these
seminars were his domain. Dave had set this up and had advertised the
event in local papers and guitar shops, etc.I, therefore, was not
expecting to have to speak to the crowd, as the event was specifically
designed for the artists, discussions on contracts, the Internet, etc….all
of which I was unfamiliar with and unfamiliar with JBird policies,
contracts, etc…after all it was literally my first day.
Well as it turned out…Dave Rager was ineffective at best.
Doc introduced us both….and Dave took over, it being his event. After Dave
was done and no one had any questions…Doc asked me to say a few
words…..Whoa…Wait a minute…what does he mean say a few words…..ummm…….I
wasn’t prepared!
So I did….I talked about my background in retail and wholesale music
distribution, talked about retail accounts, opportunities, and what I
thought I brought to the Label.
Doc said I did really well, and that it was refreshing to have a music
person in the JBird mix. It took about 7 years and several really
challenging issues to really understand what he REALLY meant that day.
So the JBird saga began and Doc was always there as an advisor, mentor,
friend and confidant. There is no way I could have or ever will be able to
repay his kindness…..sometimes it came in the form of “Tough Love” (those
who knew him, know what I mean) other times it was a genuine affection of
kindred spirits, jovial, and deeply connected.
As the label grew, Doc was one of the first to congratulate me on success
and there were times when he was the only one to do so. When there were
“failures” he never placed blame, but rather asked if I (or we as the case
may be) had learned anything from it. We sometimes disagreed, we sometimes
argued as I had to “tow the company line” with him once in a while, yet
those times were few and far between. Still I found an eerie sense of
wanting his approval, his friendship, his acknowledgment and Doc had
become more of a father-figure to me than I had realized. Much more so
than the people I worked with on a daily basis.
It may have been borne out of our love of music, our respect for the
creative expression that came from one’s soul, the artistry which we both
wove into our business and the artists/performers wove into their songs.
I guess for both of us, our business and our reason for being in the
“business” of music was to write songs using the “business” as our
template, so our creative output was the Label, the studio, the consulting
business, etc as opposed to a “song”…it really was a song of sorts.
As time wore on in the JBird saga, Doc taught me more about the difference
between right & wrong, intent and actual outcome, consent, action,
fairness, ….and frankly….taught me more about my own inner strength and my
own place in my own world, than I ever learned from my own parents! (Yeah
I know there are too many “my own” phrases in that sentence…yet Doc was
all about that….being very spiritual, he was about “having a place in the
world, being here for a reason, Life Lessons….things don’t just Happen, we
create them, etc.).
I won’t go into any further detail here, but suffice it to say that when I
got afraid - I went to Doc, when I was angry - I went to Doc, when I was
afflicted – I went to Doc, ….Let’s just put it this way…He was the only
one to call me “Bobby” and the only one I allowed to.
I s’pose I could go on for days here, about Doc. That said, the truth of
it is…I’ll go on for my lifetime about Doc, because he was an important
individual in my life. I respected him, I believed in him, I cared for
him, I trusted him, I loved him and while his physical presence will be
missed, his spiritual presence has only gotten stronger.
There are no goodbyes here, because now I can talk to him without a phone!
Doc inspired me to obtain my own studio and to this day I treat whomever
comes into my studio with smiles and respect. Trod Nossel was the
only studio where I never smelled, saw or found drugs or alcohol.
That is the way I have it in my studio. Good vibes bring good music
-- Just like "Poppa Doc!"
Doc
was a bigger-than-life figure and was a huge influence on me in my
teens. When my own family was hard to reach, Doc was the guy I turned to,
and who seemed to care about my teen angst."
--Peter Neri/Guitarist/Bram Rigg Set and Pulse
[back to top]
Please join me today in celebrating the life of Doc Cavalier, a life of
such sensational creativity and zest that its ripples will continue to be
felt for years to come.
The great beauty of that life, I know, is its huge circle of influence.
Doc means something different to each person in this room today. His
intense and unique personal gift was the ability to sense—innately—each
fellow’s need for love and respect, and to grant beingness accordingly.
And he never stinted on that, did he? For him, the cup of beingness was
always full to overflowing…whatever you needed, you could drink, and then
drink again. There was plenty more where that came from, 24 hours a day, 7
days a week. He was there. The Doctor was always “in.’
A life like Doc's cannot be celebrated without acknowledging that each and
every moment was, for him, a new creation. Creation was EVERYTHING.
Whether it was mixing a track, consulting with a client, learning a new
computer program, or making the day’s lunch plans………in every moment,
creation was all. His life was, itself, a creation, and a gorgeous one at
that. With a supreme sense of ethics and an unerring sense of
professionalism, taste, and class, he set out to personify that wonderful
quote from Harry Truman: “Always do right. This will gratify some people,
and astonish the rest.”
A tireless supporter of the artists he championed, he was, of course,
himself an artist. He had the best ear of anyone I’ve ever worked with and
a peerless touch at the recording console.
Always enthusiastic, he kept paramount the idea that art is, first and
foremost, communication, and his mission was the presentation of that
communication in the best possible way. Sometimes—rarely, because his
standards were so high, but sometimes—he’d cross over from the role of
producer into the realm of “being a fan.” When that happened, his joy and
devotion to the artist knew no bounds.
His life was also a journey toward personal fulfillment in the
philosophical sense. He progressed to a 25-year study of the
Eastern-influenced writings of Ron Hubbard, codified as the technology of
the Church Of Scientology. In Hubbard he found a kindred spirit whose life
view mirrored his own devotion to personal integrity, individual
responsibility, and the importance of dreams as the mirrors of the soul.
He was, and is, a beautiful dreamer. I invite everyone here to come away
from today with a renewed sense of purpose and a simple joy in creating
each new moment. He’d really love that.
An
excited young starstruck Drummer with a hot local band walks into a state
of the art recording facility in Wallingford CT. 'Trod Nossel' and meets,
'Doc' Cavalier. He was the coolest, hip-est cat, and his ear and ideas for
putting the early 70's wave of Rock Music onto vinyl was right on the
money. I remember wanting to hang out there with him all summer, Doc and
the studio surroundings was inspiring, and things were a buzz.... I'll
never forget his comment to our manager, and the producer after a grueling
all day session, Doc walks in and says "That's the f'..n take.... that
drumtrack is really cookin'.......The man knew it, when he heard
it.........and I loved him for it.
A
few words about my friend, "Doc" Cavalier. I met Doc around 1966 when Brad
Davis brought me up to Syncron Sound Studios to do a recording for the
Brad Davis Show. From that day on, we became good friends and business
associates. Doc taught and advised me about every aspect of the music
industry, never once charging me a fee!
But the thing I remember most about Doc was our fishing trips together.
There was something about fishing that relaxed us and brought out a side
of his personality that most people did not see. We spent many hours
driving to Rhode Island and fishing off the beaches and then, later on, on
our boats. During these times we escaped the everyday pressures of the
music business. Fishing to us was a drug. We could never get enough of it.
We also shared these special times with Doc's sons, Tommy and Robby.
I will always remember the joy and happiness Doc brought into my life.
Doc was one of the hippest cats to ever walk the planet. My memory of him,
the bad ass shades and pack of shermans will always be in my soul. To have
known him was to love him.
I miss him very, very much.
I
think in so many ways we all owe a thank you to Doc.
Sometimes I didn't realize it until I was out somewhere on the road in the
states or in Europe, far far away from home and our little support groups
we all build up locally..and weird playing situations would arise and I
heard an old familiar voice in my head telling me how to handle it.
--Jon Puhl/Dean Guitars/jp@deanguitars.com (Guitarist, The Nelsen Adelard
Band) [back to
top]
ILX Resorts, Inc., 4/12/05, Sedona, Arizona
Dear Tommy Cavalier,
My awareness of the
visionary, Doc Cavalier, came while I was in my teens and my close
friends, Victor Mattson, Bob Sheean, and Sal Manzi were active,
significant participants in the regional music scene. Unfortunately,
I'm in Sedona, Arizona on a long-booked vacation and I sadly can't attend
the evening acknowledging the great effect Doc had on people - both
musically and spiritually.
Aside from my
friendships and relationships with talented musicians, and the performance
memories of talent at Cafe Nine, Doc Cavalier's name and Trod Nossel
Studios recognition were always on our peoples' lips, spoken of with
respect and appreciation!!
My wife and I are
saddened by not being able to attend but proud of the fact that we knew
him. We send our love and respect to you all and also our prayers
for peace and closure from a grieving perspective.
-Love, Mike Reichbert
(Cafe Nine, New Haven, CT) [back to
top]
Thomas "Doc" Cavalier-a Memoir
My first memory of Doc was in 1969 when I was about 16. I attended his Pop
Music Seminar, at the studio. After that, all I wanted to do was work in a
studio. I also heard Doc¹s productions of The Shags and Bramm Rigg Set on
the radio and loved them. After trade school I actually landed a job with
Doc and Bill Lobb, then chief engineer, at $20 a week, doing errands and
cleaning. Fast forward a few years, and I then became chief engineer.
To cut to the chase, I believe Doc¹s greatest contribution to us all was
the stability and safety he brought to our professions. He was honest all
the way and refused to compromise that. His dedication to artists,
especially his own, was unmatched by anyone I have ever met.
Another thing-we all know the personality type that smiles at you but has
a knife behind their back.....you know, things start going wrong and you
can't spot why? This type tends to attach itself to artists. Well, he had
the ability to spot this type a mile away and promptly blow them out of
the water. I¹ve been up close for a few of those and you could feel the
explosion. I wish someday soon we could all do that!
I was amazed that he left his established profession (dentistry) in one
day so he could buy the studio and manage his artists, but that was his
style-100% dedication, and he expected the same out of those around him. A
few typical Doc stories......
Recently a major blues artist in L.A. was talking about "Doc¹s Rock¹n¹Roll
boot camp", which consisted of daily 8-hour rehearsals, band meetings and
last-minute gigs.
He was an expert in the business side of music, to say the least. I
watched him perform the seemingly impossible task of undoing a 30 year old
contract, resulting in payment to the artist of close to 1/4 million
dollars. And some of us know the very famous producer/manager of that very
famous band? Well, Doc was chosen to manage his business.
As a producer, he was equal to the best, and he taught things to the best,
as well. He always had a vision in mind and stuck to it. His productions
were always about getting a quality result, with no compromises because of
time or money.
When it was just the two of us running the studio long ago, we both
decided we needed some physical improvement, so he came up with a new diet
from somewhere or other, which was bananas and grape juice and nothing
else......so about 10 days into that I drove up one morning, and was
greeted with Doc giving me the crazed horror-movie look through his front
window..it was hilarious! Humor was never absent, and I¹m still using some
of the jokes he told.
Another story-one Friday afternoon the rack of hard drives went down and
we were faced with a weekend of full bookings coming up and no hard
drives. It looked to me like we were cooked, because the hard drive
company was huge, and why would they care about us? Well, he got on the
phone, and 15 minutes later came back and said we would have a new hard
drive rack at 10AM Saturday shipped Fedex, at no charge to us, with
apologies for our problems!
A lot of people owe a share of their success to Doc, including me. He was
the glue that kept us together when we thought we were going to fall
apart.
This scratches the surface of what could be said about Doc, and to sum up,
he always operated at cause with pure intention, and really got the job
done, whatever it was.
With Love,
Richard P. Robinson
from Los Angeles, CA
March 2005 [back
to top]
Joan and I want to extend our condolences to you on this very sad
occasion. We always had the highest regard for Doc, as the following
will indicate.
I have always admired a man who had the strength and the courage to
"dream his dream." To do what one loves is a special gift from God that
few people ever realize, and Doc certainly acheived his dream in this
life.
To have shared a true love is indeed a gift from God that few of us are
Blessed to receive, and you and Doc certainly shared that joy.
Doc also played a big part in shaping Howard both musically, and
personally, and Joan and I are very grateful to him for his faith in not
only his talent - but in his soul as well.
There are two closing thoughts that I would like to share.... Doc's Soul
is in transition to his Heavenly Abode, where he will be greeted by
family members that have already passed on. His Soul and spirit will
never be far from you, and he will watch over you until it is your time
- when he will meet you again.
"Go rest high on that mountain, Son your work on Earth is done, Go to
Heaven a-shoutin, For the Father and the Son" --Vince Gill
My name is Bob Lacey, I was once known as Bobby Schlosser when I sang
in one of Doc's bands. Beau Segal e-mailed me this week to tell me about
Doc's passing. I can't tell you how many times I thought of him over the
years. He was one of the most unique persons I've ever met, and after
thirty years in radio and tv I've met a few.
When my girlfriend and I once were pulled into the North Haven jail for
the crime of being16 and alone late at night in a house, it was Doc I
called, not my own father to get me out. For a couple of years he was as
close to a father figure as I had.
I still quote him decades later. I can still see his warm, sad eyes and
the wry smile that would appear when one of the overly confident teenage
boys he used to handle (often me) would say some bombastic comment about
another band or a dump we were playing. I remember one night when Beau,
the guys and I took the stage at The Sherry Shack wth our new Superbeatle
amps and new Hammond B3 organ, we were so puffed up about ourselves we
barley acknowledged the crowd. Later Doc said to me "When you took the
stage you sent one message,'WE ARE HERE.' " I undersood what he was
saying. Without nagging or ordering, in a handful of words he cautioned
several young men about their ridiculous arrogance.
I wrote Beau a long e-mail about my life in Charlotte and my last meeing
wih Doc nine years ago. If he wouln't mind, and you would like to read it,
I'll send it to you. My web site is Bobandsheri.com. You can pick me up
mornings on a station out of Long Island. The station is on the web site.
Last Tuesday I devoted a segment to Doc, and friendships lost for so many
reasons. Lost perhaps, but not forgotten. He was one of those rare persons
you never forget.
My thoughts are with you.
TEXT OF LETTER TO BEAU SEGAL:
Dear Beau, About a month ago I was driving home and some station played
Chuck Berry's "Nadine." I had not heard the song in years, and for a few
minutes I allowed myself to slip through the doors of The Sherry Shack, a
roadhouse on the New York State line, and The House of Zodiac. I saw your
red drum kit, The Hammond B3, Peter Neri's comforting smile and a dark
figure in the doorway holding a brown cigarette. The sad eyes, the almost
claymation features. I wondered for a moment if he was still alive. Now,
thanks to your e-mail, I have the answer.
I will tell you a story that only you can fully appreciate. Eight or nine
years ago I went to New Haven to see Geoff, and frankly, take a look at
the old home town. I had a lobster roll in Old Lyme, walked around Yale,
saw my father's name on a new WW ll monument in Hamden, stopped by the
Oakdale, and while killing time waiting for Geoff, decided to see if
Syncron was still there. It had been twenty years since I had been there
or spoken to Doc. I kept driving around that crappy neighborhood, mad at
myself for letting the years dim my memory of the exact location. Finally
I pulled up to a plain, boxey building with no signs adorning it. I walked
up to the door and saw a small note which read, If you are taking or
carrying any kind of drugs, please go away. Thank you, Trod Nossel
Productions.
I opened the door and stepped into the lobby area, which had been paneled.
The old Hurculon couches we used to smoke dope on, were replaced by
leather. I remembered Doc's office was to the left and down a short hall.
"Hello, anybody here?" Nothing.
I heard soft operatic music playing. I had not seen this guy in two
decades, was he still here? Was that sign just an old warning? I turned
into the office at the end of the hall and there, in a room with black
walls, behind a desk, sat Dr. Thomas J. Cavalier. He greeted me with these
words,"Well, where the fuck have you been?"
I laughed out loud. The perfect comment shot with masterful timing, from
a true eccentic. We talked for an hour, telling each other what was going
on with our careers, and as I hugged him good-bye we promised to stay in
touch. I gave him my address and phone number, both of us knowing he would
never call or write. Both of us knowing we would never see each other
again. I will continue to miss him, or at least my 16 year old
boy's image of a man who gave up medicine to manage some kids rock bands.
You gotta love a guy who paints his house black to piss off the neighbors.
Love,
Bobby Schlosser Damon Roby Lacey
Lead singer, The Bram Rigg Set
[back to top]
Doc Cavalier was Rock & Roll.
Scuffed, energized, cool, proud, midnight,
tough, inspiring, serious, solid, to the fucking point,
beautiful, unflinching, real Rock & Roll.
Doc, you're aces in a world of duces . . . you will be missed.
I remember meeting Doc for the first time, in his cluttered, dark little
office with just that one light over his desk (was it a stained glass swag
light?), floor to ceiling shelves with tax reference books, business
books, tapes, etc. All you could see was his mouth smoking a long, dark
cigarette. He had dark glasses too, you couldn't see his eyes. His phone
would buzz. "Edie, Get me Andrew in London" The couch was so low to the
ground we had to look up at him. I'd been dropping off tapes for Bob
Lucibello at the Oxford Ale house for months with no reply, wouldn't take
my phone calls, etc. I finally resorted to going down there with a casette
tape player! Still no response. When I mentioned this to Doc, he picked up
the phone.. "Edie, get "Bobby" Lucibello on the phone" 5 minutes later
were booked for the first of many legendary "Ladies Nights" at the
Oxford. Ok what next? he said. Equipment? "Edie, get me Joe Bruno from
Bank of New Haven". Instantly, we had a $5,000 loan for equipment on Doc's
phone call.
I was a starving karate teacher, Jerry worked at a nursing home (changing
bedpans) Bob B. and Mike collected unemployment checks, Bob E. was
otherwise unemployed. Steve was in a local Orange, CT band called Greasy
Fred, that had just broken up. The first thing Doc said was "OK you're all
professional entertainers as of right now". "You...Go call the nursing
home and give your notice". "You guys...You've picked up your last
unemployment check." I want a cassette tape on my desk every Monday with
at least one original song. Next he set us up with health insurance,
credit union, bookeeping, taxes. It was the most exciting day of my life!
Then I saw the rehearsal barn. We all remember the barn, no heat! no
lights! "Raise Your Level" he would say. But Doc, it's freezing out there!
"You're a recording artist now! Get out there and get to work! "There was
heat; that little gas furnace, there was light; a bare light bulb. The
barn was like something out of the twilight zone. Through the cobwebs you
could barely make out what used to be recording studio. Dusty old
mike-stands, boxes, electronic equipment with "Synchron" stenciled on it.
A glass window to what was once the control room. It was a scary place. If
you were real quiet, you could almost hear the faint sounds of 1960's
bands like the Shaggs, the Worlocks, the Wildweeds or the Bram Rigg Set.
Then there were the gigs. You'd go from Tuesday $.25 draft beer nights at
Toads, to the Arcadia Ball (brawl) room (disco sucks) to the Grange Hall
in Uncasville, to Club 69 in Danileson. Courtesy of Johnny Parris. When I
first hear that name I thought, no... there can't really be guy named
Johnny Parris. Johnny was great! He had a great soul voice. He sat in for
Mustang Sally or Midnight Hour or something and us and showed me how to
work a crowd. In July 1978 B. Willie had 28 out of 31 days booked. I
remember playing two college gigs the same day on a spring weekend. Then
there were cancellations, no-pay nights. Driving four hours to "Deposit"
New York to play for 4 people. Driving 6 hours in a blizzard to Great
Gorge New Jersey and not getting paid. (we were two hours late) New Years
Eve in New Milford, Connecticut the night after a shooting in front of the
club, complete with chalk-marks and blood! Monday night in Portsmouth,
R.I. because the "Tall Ships" were in! (Mark Flash). "There' will be
banners everywhere". Every Tuesday, one summer in Cape May New Jersey
playing BEHIND a boat-shaped bar with a Louis Prima clone band. An
election night gig when the cadidate lost!
When we'd get discouraged, he told us about Paul Ossola coming in with the
Want-Ads looking for a job. "You guys are professional entertainers, he'd
say. You need to think like professionals, Raise Your Level, Write more
songs!" "Stay out of the clubs on your nights off, let them think
your working somewhere else". "Dress and act like entertainers. Don't look
like you just walked in off the street".
Create a "Vibe" a "Mystique". When refering to myself as a musician, he
said "You're not a musician, you're an Entertainer, People don't come to
hear your music, they come to SEE you play your music. Always give them
your best! You never know who'll be in that crowd. "Sting them...then
tickle their balls!" (he really said that) ..
"Don't ever forget, its a privilege to be on stage!"
Many years ago, Doc taught me to be ethical, how to look someone in the
eye, how to communicate, and confront. I'm basically a very timid person,
but I actually was able to run recording sessions, to handle all that kind
of chaos because of what I learned from Doc. Some of that came from
Scientology, but even without that I think Doc would have still brought
these qualities forth in the people around him. But I basically learned
how to function as a human being because of the times I spent working
around Doc. This was all around the time of Big Sound Records. That was
when I came up with Jon Tiven. Well, I don't associate with him anymore.
Those days I was so green, I just wanted to work in a studio, and there I
was! Right out of my basement!
The very first time I came to meet Doc, Jon and I were going to the studio
to interview Andrew Oldham. Of course, I've always been in awe of Andrew's
work with the Stones and the Small Faces, etc., but my first impression at
the studio was not Andrew, but the awesome experience of walking into the
control room and hearing a new recording in progress of the Kinks' "I'm
Not Like Everyody Else" (a rare b-side at the time). I knew I was in the
right place just from hearing that song.
Every thing Doc did was done to better the individual. He always had time
to take you in his office, close the door, and talk out your problems.
Sometimes people thought he was hard on them. He was. But it was all for a
good reason. Doc saw the potential in each individual, and he wanted to
bring it out to the front. He tried to solve things. He was always there
for you. He let me work in his studio, a total novice at the time, and he
trusted me to work with his Artists. He didn't care who I was, where I
came from, etc. There was no ego-trip. He saw a kid with some talent, and
a lot of problems and immaturity that he could help grow. He taught me
professionalism. If I made a mistake he came down hard. I don't remember
the anguish now, I remember it all as a good experience; the part of my
life where I learned to grow and cope. I was around other similar people,
all with great talent, and some with problems, too. Working with Doc was
learning to survive. What a teacher!
I just heard "No Good To Cry" on the radio yesterday.. That is such a
perfect record. I know Doc made many perfect records, and it doesn't
matter if they were the biggest hits or not. What matters is the way Doc
made our lives better. Although I have many regrets that my professional
career in recording never (as yet) really took off, I feel I took a better
path just experiencing things the way I did, because of the values I
learned from Doc. Maybe those qualities are incompatible with the record
industry itself. Real pop music is void of any honesty, feeling, or truth
anymore. What I'm trying to say is, if I had entered the music business
directly without kowing Doc Cavalier, I probably would have been a
casualty of the entertainment world by now. I'd rather be where I am now,
with what I've gained through my experiences, than be a rich,
uncaring super-producer right now.
Douglas Snyder/REPLAY Records/West Haven, CT
[back to top]
Although I never got to spend any appreciable amount of time with Doc, I
wished I could thank him for helping Doug to be the person he is today - a
sensitive, kind and generous man who believes deeply in right and wrong
and in treating people with respect. I know Doc helped him to bring those
emotions from deep within himself to the surface, and it is that for which
I will be forever grateful to him.
Doc saw a kid with talent, and helped to nurture that talent, but even
more than that, he was able to nurture the individual person to heights
that not too many seem to reach today. He brought out the honesty,
integrity and spirit that Doug holds true to each and everyday.
It was through Doc that I was able to meet and fall in love with a man who
I truly respect and admire. There aren't a lot of teachers out there who
can do that for someone, but Doc had the touch. I'm only sorry I wasn't
able to thank him before he left us. In my heart, I think he realized how
much he's done for people. He truly was a master at his craft - that of
human nature.
We
frequented Doc's studio in the late 60's and early to mid 70's on into the
80's.
Dan Zellman did our first projects in the 60's and Richie Robinson took
over engineering in the 70's. We did many, many projects in "the
studio."
The one that hit was a group called "Beggars Opera" changed to Beggars.
We did a song called "Shady Rosy" in 1971. It was a natural. One time
through for tracking, one guitar solo overdub, one vocal track and one
double of the vocal track. It was all over mixed and mastered in four
hours.
My brother John Solak released it under his "Creative Artists" label. It
became the most played jukebox hit in the history of New York to that
time. We knew the guy who owned all the jukes and he gave all us all the
figures.
"Brother Louie" was a #1 national hit at the same, and they negotiated
with John to release "Shady Rosy." The deal never happened but it is
still played to this day.
I loved Doc. You could talk to him anytime of the day or night. He
never seemed to sleep. One day he'd call at 7am just to say hi and then
the same night, maybe he'd call at 2 am, just 'cuz he thought of something
I might wanna hear about. I just can't imagine this world without him...I
miss you, Doc!
There was a time you could go to New
Haven on any night of the week and see three or four different bands. It
was an incredible, creative scene and Doc Cavalier owned it. Everyone
playing around at that time yearned to somehow be associated with Doc and
Trod Nossel. I was fortunate enough to play with some of the bands he
managed. He was a mentor to me. He was one of the most caring
individuals I have ever met. I am a better person for having known
him and honored to have been able to call him my friend. I’ll miss him.
Rich Suarez / Drummer / The Nelsen Adelard Band
[back to top]
I can't tell you how much this show is going to mean to me, to all of
us. The life I led in the ten years that Doc was my manager is the
foundation of the disposition that ha kept me feeling young even as the
calendar reminds me it isn't so. We were all so close for so long.
To look back and realize that thirty years have passed since I went out on
my own is a staggering thought. Having lost contact with so many
dear friends I had been accustomed to seeing on a daily basis, I can
hardly wait to see everyone. Such a pity that this is the only way
we all could be together again. Doc (and Rudy) would have loved
this.
THE SHAGS AND DOC CAVALIER – A LIFETIME ASSOCIATION
The Shags’ drummer, Johnny Tangredi, worked at the Jewish
Community Center’s Health Club on Chapel Street (now the Yale Art School
building) where Thomas “Doc” Cavalier was a daily member. At one point,
Doc asked Johnny why he wore his hair so long and Johnny told him he was
in a local band called “The Shags” and that we had a regional hit record
out. Johnny asked Doc if he wanted to come see the band play sometime and
Doc said OK.
At about the same time, we had parted ways with our first
manager, Sam Goldman, over the direction our music should take and also
our band image. So we were looking for someone to do the booking and
personal management. Carl Augusto (lead guitar and vocals) and I had
already decided on our musical direction, which included originals as well
as plenty of British and American rock and roll, rockabilly, blues and
soul. So “Doc” miraculously walked in at precisely the right time to take
the helm as business manager for a rock band, something with which he had
zero experience but plenty of enthusiasm.
When he first came to one of our gigs (I think it was a
high school dance in New Haven), he was dressed in a gray sharkskin suit,
tie, wore his black hair closely-cropped, sported shiny black leather
shoes smoking a cigarette and wearing – what else? – shades. What he saw
were five teenagers dressed in 3-piece pinstripe suits playing Beatles and
Rolling Stones covers in a room packed with screaming teenaged girls. I
remember watching him smile at what he saw so I had to assume that either
he was either pleased with what he observed in the room or he thought we
were a joke.
History proved the former was what Doc felt – and after a
brief introduction by Johnny, we sat and huddled with Doc. He said he’d be
happy to manage us if we would teach him about the music and recording
business, and in return, he would apply his business acumen – and that
other intangible thing he possessed, called “charm” – to make us
successful. Throughout the entire meeting, he smiled, he laughed with us,
he was genuine, warm and sincere, and we were convinced we’d made a great
selection in Doc. Thus began The Shags’ association with Doc, and all that
followed: Dee Dean, Aries Productions Ltd., Linesider Publishing (named
after his beloved Bertram yacht), Taurus Records (his first label named
after his astrological sign), Syncron Sound Studios (later renamed “Trod
Nossel Studios” after a character created by Lance Gardner, The Shags’
third bass player), Tom-Tom Productions (his first production company in
association with me), Cameo-Parkway Recording Studios in Philadelphia
(where The Shags recorded “When I Get Home” and “It’s In His Kiss/The
Shoop-Shoop Song”), Kayden Records, ATCO Records, General Artists
Corporation (the booking agency that also booked The Beatles: Doc
convinced them to also book The Shags!!) Walter Hofer Associates (the law
firm for The Beatles and, because Doc asked them, for The Shags also!) and
many recording sessions and gigs throughout the Northeast.
The Shags watched the Cavalier family grow. When we began
our association with Doc, Robbie wasn’t yet born. Cheryl Ann used to come
to gigs with Doc and was our #1 fan. Tommy used to bang on Johnny’s drums
at rehearsals. Darlene would sit on his lap while we played “Hey Little
Girl.” And we watched the Cavalier kids grow up into fine young men and
women who now have a special place in Connecticut’s music business as the
brains behind Trod Nossel Studios.
Doc was a generous man with a heart of gold and he took out
a loan for the money to purchase a pair of Vox AC-100 amps and a Vox bass
“coffin” amp, the first ones ever used in Connecticut. He set up financing
for a 1956 Cadillac hearse that we used to haul equipment, followed by a
1958 Cadillac limousine and, later, a 1964 Ford Econoline extended van to
haul even MORE equipment (at one time, we hauled around a Hammond B3 with
a full-size Leslie cabinet, 2 AC-100s, 1 Vox “coffin” bass amp, a complete
theater-sized PA, drums, guitars and accessories). Doc made contacts in
the entertainment business like no one else could at that time and booked
us in places we never thought we’d ever play in: The Oakdale Theater (4
shows as opening acts for the biggest bands of the day – Paul Revere and
The Raiders, Chad and Jeremy, and The Byrds -- as well as our own show as
headliners with The Bluebeats); The Bushnell (with Danny Thomas, Simon and
Garfunkel, The Critters, The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Five Satins and more);
Kennedy Stadium in Bridgeport (we opened for the Righteous Brothers);
Yale’s Woolsey Hall (we opened for Leslie Gore and Chubby Checker); and
the New Haven Arena (we opened for The Young Rascals and Peter & Gordon).
Doc saw the value of owning his own recording studio and so
he bought Syncron and renamed it Trod Nossell to begin a new career in
music and recording but also to provide The Shags with a private rehearsal
space and our own recording studio, not unlike George Martin and Brian
Epstein did for The Beatles, because Doc also saw in us the potential to
be as big as The Beatles in the U.S. and he told us that many times.
“Reach higher, go longer, do the very best that you can” were his
watchwords. He was never satisfied with the first take or the first mix –
we worked on songs until they were polished. Together, Doc and I produced
all of The Shags’ sessions and that partnership lasted for almost 5
years.
At some point in time, Carl and I felt that The Shags had
become stale, had exhausted their potential and needed to cease
performing. We went and talked to Doc about it and he agreed with us, but
only if that was joint our decision, but suggested we talk to Bennett
Segal, the Bram Rigg Set’s drummer, who was feeling the same thing about
his group. Doc was guiding us as a mentor, showing us the way to make
decisions, but he wanted us to be fair to one another. Segal agreed with
Carl and I and we formed the nucleus of a band that came to be known as
Pulse: the original lineup was me, Carl, Bennett, Peter Neri, Rich
Bednarczyk, Paul Rosanno and Lance Gardner. And we wanted Doc to be our
manager for this venture as well, as he had also taken the Bram Rigg Set
under his wing. The original name was “The Pulse of Burritt Bradley,”
which appears as the name of the band that sang the bubble-gum pop song we
released on ATCO – Can Can Girl – with Wildweeds’ Al Anderson’s mother’s
voice scolding us in the bridge (“You should have told me before!”). I
remained in Pulse for about a year, and we recorded a series of songs that
varied in style from Cream-like tomes to country and blues. I left in 1969
to pursue other interests, later reforming The Shags and then creating Key
West Trio to perform covers of music by Jimmy Buffett and The Beach Boys.
But I stayed in touch with Doc, and whenever I had a
question about copyrights or publishing, I’d call him and we’d talk about
the good old days. And they were – good old days that I’ll treasure
and remember forever, days that I’ll call upon whenever I need to recall
the experiences we shared with Doc. There were times we disagreed and
times we got mad at each other, but in the end, he was a special guy, a
character all his own, and one that I won’t ever forget. God bless him,
his family and his achievements in life and in business.
He
was the most optimistic man I ever met. Doc didn't just have a gift, he
was a gift to all of us. I will always be grateful to him for the
encouragement and support he gave me.