THE DAILY BEAT: Happy 82nd Birthday to David Amram

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Happy 82nd Birthday to David Amram

From left to right: Larry Rivers, Jack Kerouac, David Amram, Allen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso (in white hat)

World-renowned musician/composer David Amram, whose verve reminds me of the Energizer bunny, turns 82 today. If you're reading this blog, you probably don't need an introduction, but David was a friend of Jack Kerouac's and is a pillar at the annual Lowell Celebrates Kerouac event. In 2009 we swapped autographed books there, his (Offbeat: Collaborating with Kerouac) for mine (The Beat Handbook: 100 Days of Kerouactions). I'm not sure he remembers that but he always recognizes me at Lowell and we exchange a few words.

David Amram and Rick Dale at Lowell Celebrates Kerouac, October 2009

David's inscription on my copy of his book

David Amram with Crystal at Cappy's, Lowell Celebrates Kerouac, October 2012

This year at Lowell, David and Jack's good friend, Billy Koumantzelis, took questions from the audience at Cappy's. It was wonderful to listen to them reminisce. Click here for a picture.

Click here for a number of links and some of David's memories of Jack, including his obit for Jack in the 1969 Evergreen Review.

Happy Birthday, David, and many more. "All joy for music and stay beat."

See you in Lowell next October!

1 comment:

Crystal said...: David is the youngest 82 year old I've met. His passion for life is always written all over his face.; November 17, 2012 at 12:09 PM

Post a Comment

Reviews of The Beat Handbook

Gerald Nicosia, author of the acclaimed Kerouac biography Memory Babe, said The Beat Handbook is "full of Jack's heart."

Jared Randall, author of the excellent book of poetry, Apocryphal Road Code, said this about The Beat Handbook: "Sometimes a book comes along at just the right time. In my wandering pack of experiences, I find they often do. Enter The Beat Handbook by Rick Dale."

Kenneth Morris, Kerouacian extraordinaire, said this:
"I just finished reading Rick Dale's beautiful utterance and call to action of Kerouac mind-set and zen sensibilities. It made me laugh and reflect on my own life and road I have naturally grooved into after absorbing the Kerouac canon. The road less traveled always had my name on it. And that has made all the difference. The Beat Handbook 100 Days of Kerouactions reaffirms the attitudes and ideology that made the Beats and Kerouac the important men of ideas that America (and the world) thirsted for, needed, and swallowed whole. Beautiful, absorbing, Top Ten whipsmart from my articulate, tender-hearted friend and fellow traveler. Highly recommended."