House Musical Trio

I was the drummer for the Dana Kinsman Trio, which played at the Top of the Tower, as it was called back in those days, circa 1979 to 1981. Dana, George Lehman, bass guitar, and I were there 5 or 6 nights a week playing everything from the '20s through the early '80s. Dana was a Bing Crosby-type crooner who, if one closed their eyes and just listened, might have thought Bing was in the room. Dana, an exceptional entertainer would come in and listen to the room's ambient musical note, sit down at the piano, and play the note on the piano and announce it to Georgeand me---"It's a C# tonight, gentleman." "Swanee," "Ain't Misbehaving," "Sweet Georgia Brown," "Woodchopper's Ball," Moonlight Serenade," "Manhattan Skyline," "Feels so Good," and a crowd favorite, Dana's rendition of "My Kind of Town"---replacing "Chicago is" with "St. Louis is," treated every patron, young or old, to a song they knew and to which they could sing and dance. I can't even begin to think of how many people we entertained during our run---had to be thousands. We were set up in the middle of the restaurant, just to the right of the bar, looking across the river toward East St. Louis---beautiful, panoramic views every night. As a young, professional musician in St. Louis, I couldn't have had a better gig!

And I wish I could remember her name, she tended bar every night I was there. Bl8nd, wore glasses, and alwats looked sharp in her black pants, vest, and bow tie! We could never connect because when I asked her out, she was dating someone. And, of course, when she asked if I still wanted to go out, I was dating someone else! It just wasn't meant to be!

Great restaurant, great times, great memories!

1980-01-01

Don Kalil

Digital Story

Yes

Yes