Analog Keyboards

On Saturday, September 13, 2003, I was playing my trusty Hammond chop at my 20 year high school reunion. The greatest hits of the 70’s and 80’s were flowing freely from the band, and everyone was having a great time.

I started playing a wild, roaring solo over the rock chestnut ‘Sweet Home Alabama’. the Leslie was in high gear, the notes were flying, and glisses were spiraling up and down the keyboard with manic glee. Just as I hit the crescendo, the G above middle C snapped right in the middle. Hammond organ keys are not like cheap synthesizer keys - they are very thick, well built pieces of plastic. But the frenzied playing proved too much, and the key snapped in half. Of course, this took place just as I was executing and upward smear with my left hand.

The broken plastic shard neatly sliced my left index finger open along its entire length, and caught the top of my third finger as well. I kept playing for a moment, then stared dumbfounded at the ruin of the organ keyboard, as blood began spraying all over the instrument and floor.

Fortunately, my high school graduating class produced a couple of doctors, and three large butterfly bandages later, I was back onstage. I cleaned off the bottom manual, and played the rest of the night on that keyboard. A visit to Bob Schleicher, the Hammond guru, took care of the broken key. Now the organ is back to tip top shape, the bloodstains are gone, and my finger is healed. Onward!

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