| Party report by event organizer Michael David Toth |
Definitely a major highlight: in a last minute surprise, Light's grandson Lem (from Minneapolis), Light's sister's son Bob (from Canton), and Light's brother's daughter Pam (from Israel!- serendipitously in the area visiting her mom in Columbus) all made it to Canton for the event. Everything I've been told about Light's demeanor was how kind and friendly he was -- it must be genetic, as everyone was far above average on the fun and friendly scale. I regret that, making sure the records kept spinning and everything was under control, I didn't have more time to speak with them and hear them share more memories about Light. | |
|
Ambience included a sound-response laser light box that threw colored squares everywhere but didn't show up in any photos; periodic soap bubbles; Busby Berkely dance numbers, big band footage, 60s films, and more on a projection TV; and 100 slides projecting 60 different EL & related album covers, labels, and details. All the music played was Enoch Light's mid-60s unusual big band rock dance stuff: the "Discotheque" sound circa 1965-67, as well as some punchy representatives from the immediately-following "Now Sound" era. Daiv Whaley (right) periodically gave informative, entertaining history tidbits about Enoch. The historical accuracy of anecdotes of Light's affinity for spider plants, however, has yet to be determined. |
|
|
It was our intent to hold a dance contest, fueled by official Enoch Light party dancer Ms. Provocative, as she incited the crowd to Hully-Gully and Frug into the night. Over the course of the evening, we hoped to get ladies in the crowd to join Ms. Provocative on the go-go platform, and one talented dancing gal would be awarded the title of Ms. Persuasive 1996 (in honor of Enoch's Billboard chart-topping albums Persuasive Percussion and Provocative Percussion). She would receive her crown and a special prize after midnight. After knowing about the event for a couple months, Ms. Provocative decided to get a case of stage fright two days beforehand. The crowd was pretty rough despite Enoch's infectious beats, and with no dancing go-goddess to inspire them, there was no dancing except for a few minutes after midnight, with the event organizers, their friends, and the Light relatives. Hey, we had fun... Needless to say, we couldn't pull off our contest, and Pam walked home with Ms. Persuasive's award banner and crown. |
|
The event was held Saturday night, August 17, 1996. Enoch Light was officially born in Canton, Ohio on the 18th. At midnight, cupcakes were distributed to whomever in the crowd of 50 or so would take one, each with an individual candle, blown out after a rousing chorus of "Happy Birthday to You" for the late Mr. Light. |
|
|
What's a birthday party without presents?! Lem got a spare press kit and some extra flyers wrapped in Happy Birthday wrapping paper, and my co-organizer friends got Command LPs (Mike: Hyman's MOOG and Let's Dance the Bossa Nova; Daiv: Discotheque and Provocative Percussion) and while it didn't make her any more cooperative, Ms. Problematic walked away with the Persuasive Percussion CD I bought to thank her for all the go-go dancing she was supposed to do. It was neat to see the three cousins simply enjoying the chance to meet and catch up, and they seemed to be genuinely enjoying themselves. When I sent an initial message to Dick Hyman letting him know what we were up to and he put in touch with the Light family, I was not expecting much, and I certainly wasn't expecting relatives from Minneapolis and Israel to be dropping in. I basically went into this with the attitude that, if it was merely a handful of friends and I having a good time with an off-the-wall local event that memorialized this man and his music, fine; and if we got a good turnout, etc. all the better. The music and the LP art is just plain FUN. But to actually hang out with Enoch's grandson et al., have them be so darn nice, and see them truly enjoying themselves, that was a real honor that made it truly memorable and satisfying. |
Extra special thanks to Frank at
Joseph's Grille, Manges,
Whaley, Zombo and WAPS, Vik Trola, Robbie at the
Spaced Out site, Brother
Cleve, Richard Gradone, Dick Hyman, Mary Jack,
Julie, Lem, Pam, Bob, and
Enoch's whole extended family for their
encouragement and support of
the
event.
|
 |
