Rabby Hertzberg
some of them we may not "like, love" anymore---but do concede our lives are better because they entered it.
when i was seven yrs old i was saved from a speeding car by a man i call "rabby hertzberg"
he rode in the ambulance to hosp as they needed to "observe" me as i was so tiny and they thought my arm had been injured---it hadn't.
the man was a stranger to our neighborhood and he wrote his name on a piece of paper while we waited for my father to come to the hospital.
he wrote "rabbi hertzberg"
when my dad arrived i introduced the man to my dad and said "daddy, this is rabby hertzberg.he was a rabbi----and i didn't know how to prounouce that---as i had never met one----
he would become my father's best friend til both of them died and my mentor in music and a member of our family---
my dad, an irish catholic---and rabbi hertzberg's family would become as one family.
my dad at christmastime, would proudly display a huge christmas tree in one window and a star of david in the other and i never forgot the day rabby showed up and walked up the sidewalk to our home and saw the star of david in the window---and my dad watching to "see the look on rabby's face"----
he would be called "rabby" by not only me and my dad and mom, but by some of his family too---i was rabby's prodigy--the little girl with the unusual vocal range and very stong singing voice---singing for the jewish parties as well as the christian ones----
rabby and my dad played chess and did most everything together and wrote songs together and argued over me and what music i should be exposed to----i had the two best mentors in the world and when rabby died, i was with his family--- where i belonged---we were "family"
when i performed with dave brubeck(with my own group) rabby was right there up front and center----and for all of the events for which i performed. he was a jazz enthusiast mostly---and so i got large doses of the best of the best from him.
i was thinking about him the other day as i was writing a new song and i thought--- i wouldn't be here to write this song. i wouldn't have done all the wonderful musical things i have been priviledged to do without "rabby".
i don't think it was a coincidence that he was walking on the sidewalk in back of where i was sitting on the curb--- writing a song(yes,i was writing music and lyric by five yrs old). i was obsessed with it. i still am.
two teenagers were joyriding and the car went out of control and sped onto the lawn and the tire marks were exactly where i was sitting when rabby yanked me to safety-----it was so fast---i had no idea what was happening.
take the time once in awhile to remember who changed you musical life for the better---even if you don't like them or think you despise them---do remember them---and do be grateful they were exactly where they were supposed to be and did exactly what they were meant to do------they were there----for only one reason----- they were there------for you!
bev. redding
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