Buddy Tate discusses his time on the road

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Buddy Tate recounts a witty anticdot about his time touring

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Buddy Tate discusses the importance of practice

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Q: “You’re still on crazy time, aren’t you? As far as you’re concerned it’s breakfast right now or something – or yesterday’s breakfast or tomorrow’s breakfast!”

A: Buddy Tate: “Yesterday, I was really turned around. I was a little tired, too, yesterday. But my biggest one was, I think I told you about, when I played in Disney World. And I don't know if you remembered, but I came in. I'd been in Europe for about six weeks and I really wasn't tuned in for this Disney World, you know. And I went to Disney World, then they furnish you with a car and you don't really need it, but it's just a little bit of a vehicle. But that's...”

Interviewer: “With the apartment that you use?”

Buddy Tate: “Apartment and gave you a car and two big king-sized beds and it's a beautiful apartment that has everything. And I came in, I did a gig that night. I did my job, went home and watch the TV until 3:30. At 7:30, I'm wide awake and for ten minutes, I didn't know where I was. It's so funny. I looked in the watch and it said 7:30 and I know I'm supposed to have an opening at eight o'clock. I'm fully awake. I jumped up in the shower. I jumped in the car and drove across the compound and went to work. I walked in, the drums were covered. The bar was covered. I usually wouldn't start at about 8:20, they're opening with a quartet and they play maybe a couple of numbers before they're playing me up.”

“So I said, "These guys are going to be late tonight." And I sat down. I've taken a warm up and everything now. At about 8:25, I'm getting a little nervous, so it was like a mole in there. I go out and I speak to a lady and she didn't say anything. I was just speaking and I had my saxophone strapped round me. So then there were two workers, I walked up to them and I said, "Excuse me, don't this place open at eight o'clock at night?" And they looked at each other. Amazing they did one of these things, you know, behind my back and so they said, "Yeah, isn't that your picture there?" I said, "You know, last night," I said, "but then it looks like the band is going to be a little late tonight." They said, "Well, I imagine it will open at eight o'clock tonight. This is 8:30 in the morning." I feel sick, I was so mad.”