The Mike Longo Interview

Mike Longo sat at a restaurant in Ft. Lauderdale, Fl with his father and Cannonball Adderley in the early 1950s. At this point Cannon had been playing in Mike's father's band in what was the first de-segregated band in Ft. Lauderdale. At one point a member of the staff approached them and said; "you all can eat here but the negro has to eat in the kitchen." Mike's dad stood up and said, "if he has to eat in the kitchen than we're going with him."

The Stars Fell on Alabama that night as well.

*I had the privilege of meeting Mike in person and did an interview with him at his upper west side apartment. The next day en route to the east village the recorder I was using fell out of my pocket. Talk with the Spirits.

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