From Cary Baker, The Baker/Northrop Media Group, LLC, a Los Angeles-based PR and cyber marketing firm

Cary Baker<cary@bakernorthrop.com> Date: Tue, 31 Dec 1996

I am a Chi native living in L.A. and grew up with my father taking me frequently to Maxwell St. circa 1969-73. I met and got to know Blind Arvella Gray, the blind street singer, and got to co-produce his one album. I had the privilege of seeing such other artists as Big John Wrencher, Granny Lattricebey, Little Pat Rushing, Big Walter Horton, Blind Jim Brewer and many more.

I also caught Bernie Abrams' Maxwell Street Radio store in enough time to buy several Little Walter and Johnny Young 78s on his own Ora Nelle label.

And the Maxwell Deli immortalized in the "Blues Brothers"? Ate there frequently, but preferred streetside Polish sausages myself (it was before I move to California and became a veggie, okay?)

When I was last in town, last July 4 ('96), I saw the new sterile Maxwell, although not on a Sunday. Maybe it looks better in action? But I shed a tear to see that so much of Halsted & Maxwell was razed. Progress, huh?

Cary Baker

Santa Monica, CA

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