Murray McLauchlan New York

My Birthday with Murray McLauchlan in New York 1976
⁠In 1976 I invited Murray to come to New York with me for the July 4th weekend and the tall ships. I had to fly down to pick up the van for the SORC sailboat Bonaventure V. The boat was racing in the Onion Patch in Bermuda and coming in to New York to go up the Hudson River and Erie Canal etc. back to Toronto and they wanted me to drive the van back. Besides July the 4th is my birthday and where else to celebrate but new York for America's 200th birthday.? An added goody was an invitation from the Canadian Norwegian ambassador to have a sail on the Christian Radich.
⁠(This was compliments of my sister who worked at Harbourfront in Toronto) we were using Murray's agent to book tickets. The trip got complicated, my bartender Laura wanted to go home to New York so I got a ticket for her, and then Krash's girlfriend Wendy wanted to go to meet Krash who was sailing to New York, (so I got a ticket for her. We no sooner were in the air than somebody phoned Murray's wife and told her Murray and Gary were going to New York with 2 women. (this caused serious problems)
⁠After much ado, we got a hotel room and I went to pick up the boat's van for transportation. As it happened I got a free parking spot around the corner from the Hotel. In New York on July 4th weekend etc etc. so we never moved the van until we left and took cabs. Laura took us to her old studio and the bar she used to work at. It was right at the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge which is a great place to hang out.
⁠This was beside the Fulton fish Market which was having a fair so we ended up spending the evening at the fair that was run by the mafia. Spending was the operative word for Murray he went a little crazy. One of the Hanky Panks had a life-sized stuffed bear as a grand prize. Murray decided he had to have it. After about 5 hours and 3 hundred dollars he finally won it. So there we were 2 o clock in the morning going back to the Hotel trying to stuff this giant bear toy into the cab. It wouldn't fit so after 15 minutes of trying Murray took a long look at the bear and said What the hell do I want with this for and threw it on the street. As we drove off the streets were empty.
⁠The fireworks at the Statue of Liberty were beyond belief. it was an adventure getting there. We hailed a cab to the end of The Battery' but when we got a couple of blocks away all the cars just parked in the middle of the street. The cabbie stopped and got out and said Cant go anywhere no charge and walked away. We followed towards the shore of the Hudson. Entrepreneurs had cleaned out some garbage bins and filled them full of beer so we got a dozen. finally, we got to the shore where there was a gate and grandstand seats for $10.00. Some guy said that's a rip follow me. We followed him through a hole in the fence. It was crazy it was marshland with grasses and rushes up to 7 feet tall. So here we are New York City following a complete stranger n a winding footpath through an unknown jungle. 5 minutes later we are at the shore in the best possible spot to see the fireworks. We give our friend a beer and wait. Without a doubt the longest most spectacular show I have ever seen The finale was a giant helicopter dragging the biggest Stars and Stripe flag i have ever seen Spontaneously 6 million begin to sing "Oh say can you see ... " Shit I never got such shivers up my spine, they wouldn't stop I reached down to get a beer hoping a big gulp would stop them. i clunked heads with Murray who had felt the same thing and the same idea.
⁠New York was crazy. We could not get to the Christian Radich for our sail. it was across the harbour and we couldn't get there. Idiots would throw shopping bags of lighted fireworks off the tops of buildings and everybody would have to run for cover. Boots and Spurs was not a country and western bar. Murray took me to the Bitter End where he used to play. he wore a white leisure suit. Krash and Wendy came with us. Krash split an entire jug of Sangria over Murray. The night before we left about two in the morning Murray climbed up a fence for one last look at some of the ships docked under the Brooklyn Bridge and a cop stopped us. Canadians I caught
⁠a Canadian with some pot the other night. he told me it was legal in Canada so I let him go.
⁠The ride home is another story.
⁠Made up for the Ship ride when the Christian Radich got to Toronto⁠Made up for the Ship ride.
⁠I spent a couple of weeks visiting The Christian Radich almost daily with Murray Mclauchlan. First, my sister arranged a trip on CR in New York which fell through. To make up for it The Norwegian Ambassador arranged a trip through the Welland Canal. I took Murray with me and we got through the canal alright but couldn't sail to Toronto because of the weather. To make up for this We were invited aboard for a sail with Lieutenant Governor Pauline McGibbon's party aboard a few days later. With all this time we became good friends with the Captain and crew. We had carte blanche aboard for the next week or so. Murray gave them a copy of all his records when he found out they only had Gordon Lightfoot records aboard. I invited them to my ' after-hours club' Where some came every night. When they left the Captain gave me a bottle of Aquavit and I can't remember what I gave them. It was a great time from sail to Party. (1976 My sister Gaille was a principal secretary at HarbourFront at the time.
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Hi I am Gary LeDrew
And I am writing a book
I was lucky enough to be in the middle of most things in sixties and seventies and got to hang out with some of the greats and near greats and characters of that time.

I was involved in the Art scene and was friends and hung out with Jack Bush, Harold Town, Gord Rayner Robert markle, Mickey Handy, Gerry Gladstone, Gershon Iskowitz etc. etc. and I have stories about all of them.
I was in the music biz and managed a few bands like Kid Bastien and hung out with most of them. I was a close friend of Murray McLachlan for years, and hung out with Mike McDonald, Danny Marks, Praire Oyster, Irish Rebels, Downchilds, Ian Tyson, Tom Cochrane, Burton Cummins etc. etc. of course I was the Lobsterman and sang with McLean and Mclean. I hung out with Cannonball and Nat Adderly whenever they came to town.
I was Toronto's leading bootlegger for 5 years everybody came to my afterhours club from the Rolling Stones to the premier of New Brunswick. And Joanie Mitchell sang there.
I won an Actress in a poker game, Helen shaver cooked me supper and I went out with a bunch of models and actresses.
Lesley McDonnell introduced me to Leonard Cohen , Rod Steward and Paul Shaffer for a few. I hung out with Leonard for a while. I survived a night hanging out with Hunter S. Thompson (sitting with tom Waites)I basically had backstage passes to Maple Leaf Gardens and Massey hall whenever i wanted and Bonnie Rait kicked me out of her dressing room.
In the Movie biz I was friends with Mike Ironside for years and Winston Reckert, Catherine O'Hara, Michael Sarrazin,I have lain on Elizabeth Ashely's belly while she shoved coke up my nose. I showed Johnny Hart and Jack Caprio a good time. I took Howard Duff to Lunch everyday for a six weeks and was on his xmas card list until he died. I drank with Richard Burton at least a couple of times a week for 3 months and he told me everything.
I lived on a lighthouse as a kid and took off sailing in the caribbean for 15 months. I took and sold all manners of drugs and in the seventies I was The guy to know in Toronto.
I was one of the few white guys go to the Elephant walk club. If there is one thing I hope to dispel is Toronto as a dull place.
To business I am getting old and not in great health, I am living on a basic pension and I have to Hustle with my art and web sites most of the month to get by. I am afraid I might die before I get all these stories down
My friend Richard Flohil is also raising money to write his book so far over ten thousand and well deserved Richard was instrumental to the folk and blues and jazz scenes in Toronto and tells a good story too. In my own way I was too, I helped a lot of people along the way and I never really cared about money , you wouldn't believe the people that never paid their bar tabs for starters. i just might be a little more fearless in my admissions. For I am not ashamed of anything I did there is lots I wish I had never done.