Bill Graham, December 1981, by Gary Stoy

From MemoryArchive

Who: Gary Stoy
What: Bill Graham
When: December, 1981
Where: San Francisco

Bill Graham was one of the best “music” promoters of my age of music. He was an icon along side of the musicians he promoted. He enjoyed and promoted one of my favorite bands, the Grateful Dead. After moving to California, there were several occasions during GD concerts that I would find myself side to side with this ICON watching him scope the audience and watching the band.

It was my first Christmas alone on the west coast from my family (December, 1981) that I was Christmas Shopping in San Francisco. The shopper that I am, I went to a famous comedy place/bar that Robin Williams started his career. It turned out that the place was closed for a private party. There was an adjacent bar and I sat down for a drink. I started talking to this girl who told me that the private party was for Bill Graham’s birthday and the end of the Stone 1981 tour. After talking to her for awhile, she got me in to this private party for Bill. Salsa music galore, free drinks, the whole deal… After awhile I saw Bill walking around and talking to folks. I got enough courage and walked up to him and shook his hand and tanked him for presenting the best music groups of my life. I remember the feel of his hand, it was not really vibrant.