So I hung out for a couple of hours at the Reggae Block Dance on a night that turned surprisingly cool. It was a big crowd and seemed a happy one. Estimates from officials put attendance at about 2700 around 9:30 p.m. I was chatting with the staff of the Office of Cultural Affairs, who all were looking at a long day: From the Children’s Festival that started at 9 a.m. to the dance, which started at 7 p.m. and all the set-up and take-down that goes with it. There’s an awful lot that goes on behind the scenes to put on such massive events. Parks department personnel, according to Floyd “Ray” Swagerty, Jr., production manager of the city’s office of Cultural Affairs, worked almost around the clock to set up the opening ceremonies, Marion Square, the Sunset Serenade at the Custom House and then take most of it back down in two days.

Cultural affairs director Ellen Dressler Moryl stopped by with the latest logistical headache, trying to find a possible replacement for an ailing artist for a Sunday event. Warnell Berry the tenor/baritone slated to sing at Afternoon of Porgy and Bess was under the weather. “We’ll just start with ‘My Man is Gone,’ ” Moryl quipped. I was impressed that she still had a sense of humor. My guess is it’s a required survival skill in her position.

I had a wonderful, serendipitous meeting with members of Henry Turner Jr. and Flavor from Louisiana. The band drove up from Baton Rouge, a mere 17 hours by car. Apparently MapQuest made it look a lot easier than it turned out to be. They arrived about 4 a.m., says singer Nukie Miller. This was her first trip to Charleston, although the band played Piccolo a couple of years ago. The buzz on Miller is that she’s a rising star. 225BatonRouge.com calls her a “local soul tigress.” She’s no diva, though: down-to-earth and oozing soft-spoken charm. It’s a shame she won’t get to see the city, but here’s hoping she gets a chance to come back.

Here’s Dan’s latest video:

The Big Switch from Dan Conover on Vimeo.

Being from Lousiana, the band had some sad tales about the aftermath of Katrina. Ronnie Houston says there are people he’s never heard from again. Still, they say New Orleans is coming back, slowly but surely. Other members are Kenny G and, of course, Henry Turner Jr.

And did I say the music was great? It was. All of it. Too bad I didn’t have anyone to dance with… I blame Geoff.

Overheard: From a girl in short-sleeves waiting to cross the street at Calhoun and King: “I should have brought a sweater!”

From Floyd “Ray” Swagerty, Jr. (Production manager office of Cultural Affairs “If you see a (park service) guy snoozing in his truck, looking like he’s not doing anything, he deserves it.”

From singer Nukie Miller: “I like Charleston, the breeze here feels so clean. In Louisiana, it’s so hot and humid.”

This entry was posted on Saturday, May 24th, 2008 at 11:17 pm and is filed under Around Town, Music, News, Performers, Spoletians, Street Wisdom.You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.