Shake Steady

Recording of the first performance of a song that started as an instrumental written by our saxophonist, Alec Cooper. He kept adding sections and asked me to write some lyrics. Our drummer, Shana Byas, said this should be about some badass dude! Before I thought of a family member or fictional person, the name Robert Smalls flashed like neon in my mind. Yeah, because of its similarity to Biggie Smalls! Good thing it did stick, because his story carries a deep thread in the Reconstruction of the United States. Exemplary, American history, during Black History Month or not.
When you find out about his story, you'll know why I was compelled to write something about the man
~ Sean
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Smalls
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Harper’s Weekly of June 14, 1862, recounts the escape:

A HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEEKEND to one our good friends, John Angel Archangeli ! Putting so many of us to shame on the dance floor, no matter WHERE that dance floor may be.