“Imperial, a Los Angeles company, was a rhythm and blues/country label featuring Fats Domino, Frankie Ford, Rickey Nelson and Slim Whitman (a yodeling country singer).
“Many artists from 1954 on would use the old music revamped for the new era of Rock n’ Roll. Bill Haley recorded a version of, Shake, Rattle and Roll, a song done by Joe Turner. Fats Domino’s early songs which were picked up by other artists such as I Hear You Knocking by Smiley Lewis. Pat Boone copied Ain’t That A Shame. There were many more such as, See, See Rider, Good Rockin’ Tonight and Sixty Minute Man, just to name a few.
“My point being,” Mother continued, “Duke is a collector of memorabilia and records from the era. He’s a big fan of the music he says has feeling and soul. When Duke first met Jonas, he saw something in his face he later recalled. When the name Stallings came up concerning the arrangement for, The Long Road Back, he realized Jonas looked like the picture he had of Vernon Stallings, although Jonas was much older he had the same features. Duke called me when he got home. He said he would bet Jonas Lundgren is Vernon Stallings. Another thing he related which stymied him was the fact Stallings has been missing since 1951…some coincidence isn’t it?”
“What do you mean coincidence?” asked a mystified Mudd.
“The dumpsite, remember in 1951, you and I and the dumpsite!”
“You mean the guy they were beating on and was later rescued by three of your friends?”
“Yeah, exactly what I mean. Duke knows nothing about the dumpsite. His information comes from the fact he is a collector of music from the era that Stallings or should I say Lundgren came from. He apparently, according to Duke was a big-time producer.
“Amazing, absolutely amazing!” repeated Muddy. “Are you going to ask Jonas if this is true?”
“No, it’s not our business. After all he was almost killed and maybe he’s been on the run, or hiding out. I think I’ll leave it alone.”
“Why don’t you talk to Solly about it?”
“Good idea, I’ll do it,” said Mother. “Will you be able to keep cool when Jonas gets here?”
“I’m the original cool, you know…Muddy Cool! The Cool Mudd! Cool E!”
“Very cool, Muddy.”
The time passed too quickly, they had to get to the studio and the mirror would have to wait.
The studio bell rang. Mother opened the door.
“Come in, Jonas,”
“I’m ready to listen to the tracks.” Jonas said with a smile on his face. He looked at Mudd, “Morning to you.”
“Morning Jonas,” was Muddy’s quick greeting as thoughts of the dumpsite and the related happenings flashed in his mind.
Mother quickly interjected, “Let me set up the first track. I thought we might listen in the same order we recorded the songs.”
“Could we hear The Long Road Back first?” Muddy requested.
“Why not?” agreed Jonas, “after all we will be listening to all of them.”
“Sure,” said Mother, as he loaded the song, “is everybody ready?”
They nodded and Mother started the playback. The Long Road Back began as there was silence in the room, each one listened intently while scribbling some notes during the playback. When the track ended all had positive feelings about the track. The notes were about the final mix. Jonas confirmed his feeling, the female who sang on the demo should sing the final version. M&M agreed.
“The musicians performed with gusto on this track, I’m really proud to be part producer along with you gentlemen,” said Jonas with a genuine feeling of camaraderie in his voice.
“Yeah! Really cool.”
The next two tracks rumbled through the speakers. Everyone was upbeat with the work done by the musicians on these tracks as well. A few questions about the arrangement of Outta Reach came up but Mother assured them he could rearrange the track.
“How?” asked a mystified Jonas, “I’ve read about doing such things but it’s hard to envision when I never had a chance to see the new technology in action.”
“Here’s a quick lesson,” Mother said as he grabbed the sax solo in Outta Reach and moved it to the beginning of the song using a method similar to copy and paste on a word processor. When he played it back Jonas was amazed.
“It sounds as if it was done during the session. We need to have some time where you can show me a few tricks so the next time I can think ahead about the edits which can be made.” Jonas said with great excitement showing in his movement and his voice. “How long has this been going on. The only option we had back when I was doing this,” Jonas stopped for a second, “Oh what the hey! Let me tell ya’ll a story.”
Jonas Lundgren alias Vernon Stallings related the complete story to M&M. They never said a word. It was over an hour before he finished. They both related what they witnessed and about what they knew of the evening when three of Mother’s friends found Jonas. They had no idea Jonas was the guy being beat-up. As shocked as M&M were, Jonas couldn’t believe they were present and Lou, Herb and Freddie were friends of Mother. After a short time of silence as everyone reflected on the facts Muddy broke through with a statement only he could come up with.
“What was it like being buried before you were dead?”
A short pause and Jonas busted out in hysterical laughter. Something he would never have done as long as he had the secret within. But now it was as if a large boulder had been removed from his back and he could breathe deeply, laugh loudly and feel excited about life again.
“Thanks, Muddy!”
“Sure, for what?”
“Everything, and thank you Mother, the two of you have opened up the world I once lived in and it looks great.”
“Will you still be Jonas Lundgren?” Mudd asked.
“Yes, until all this cloak and dagger stuff is over with.”
“Back to business,” Mother suggested, “are we in agreement about all the tracks?”
“Yes!”
“And double yes!” from Muddy.
Mother looked at the wall clock and said with some urgency in his voice. “I have to get going. There is still work to be done. We have a new guest arriving later this afternoon and I want the place ready to meet and greet her.
“What’s her name?” asked Muddy with the curiosity of a cat.
“Margaret Sullivan Burns, she’s a Broadway show backer. Putting up money for different shows over the years.”
“Sounds like a winner,” Muddy remarked.
“We’ll see what Noodles says.”
“I think I’ll go and get myself a short nap and be ready for the festivities,” Jonas said.
Next week the strings and horns in two concurrent sessions. First strings on Helen Oh Helen and The Long Road Back, followed by horns on Outta Reach and The Long Road Back. They would then start to work on vocals for all three songs.
TwentyEight — Jonas Hits the Spot
Jonas stopped for a cup of coffee and a small pastry before returning to his suite. He had a feeling of euphoria as his walk was light and his heart full of thanks. His granddaughter was visiting with him and his new found friends helping him get back into the music business. He didn’t care if he became a producer again, he just wanted to be involved in one way or another. (Jonas had no idea the fake Belle was not his granddaughter)
Now he was determined to finish the list. Soon Solly would know the place and where the case may be located. Then he would be Vernon Stallings again for the rest of his life.
Belle was just leaving when he approached.
“Where are you headed
?”
“I have a bit of shopping to do and I may have found a job. I’ll explain when I get back.” (The fake Belle was getting closer in her quest to find the case with the jewels.)
“I’ll be here working on the list.”
Jonas put on the coffee pot, hoping the caffeine would stimulate his thinking ability and help him stay awake for a few hours. He was interrupted once when Solly called to ask about the list, Jonas explained he was getting close to finishing and thinks he has found the most likely place and four secondary spots. Solly was elated and asked for a phone call when he finished. Jonas put his thinking cap back on and dug in.
The clock showed 3:30 when Jonas took a deep breath and in a loud firm voice said, “finished!”
He called Solly who sounded ecstatic. He would visit Jonas during his half hour break, before the dinner crowd arrived.
By the time Solly arrived, Jonas had started a new list. The list contained five possible places. He explained to Solly; one of these is definitely the home of the case.
“I tried to hone down the list but felt I would prioritize rather then eliminate. Sort of leaving no stone unturned.
“Let’s see what you have.”
“Let’s start at the bottom of the list. My thoughts about Panama City, Florida where I stayed for less then a year. I was recognized by some local musicians. Although they were very kind I thought it best to move on. I had only been on the run for seven, maybe eight years. I stayed in an apartment over a garage on a large farm. I would rate this as the low spot on the totem pole.”
“Let’s discard it for now and move on,” Solly suggested.
“The next spot where I seem to remember the case more vividly was in the northwest section of South Carolina. There are some mountains there and it was sparsely populated so I stopped in a small town a few miles south of the North Carolina border. I was able to rent a trailer from a kindly old gent and stayed there for over two years. He enjoyed a smoke in the evening and would come around the trailer to talk. One evening he brought a corncob pipe he had made especially for me. We both started to have an evening smoke when the weather permitted. Unfortunately, he died one evening of a heart attack. I remember being apprehensive about being caught there so I quickly packed and cleaned out the trailer. I called the police from a phone booth near a bus stop a few miles down the road. I told the police what had happened to him and hung up. I was lucky and caught the daily bus to Nashville. I can’t remember if the case came with me or not.
“This could be the place,” Solly said. “But finding the case in an empty trailer or even in the old gent’s home would be very unlikely. Who knows what would have become of the case should it have been found. I would also call this a negative spot. What’s next on the list, Jonas?”
“How about a coffee, it’s ready?”
“A short one, black pleases,” Solly said. “I have a feeling you have a pretty good idea where the case may be. Am I correct, Jonas?”
“Yes, you are. Very good insight, Solly. Must be the FBI training showing through. I would go right to the number one place but I really need your insight, which you just showed me you have, to eliminate the other places or at least make them less relevant.”
“Thanks for the coffee, it’s very good.”
“All right Solly, the last three places are all possibilities because I can’t remember in what order I lived in each location. Each time I think I have it figured out I come up with another scenario. I give all three an even chance to be the place. If you have any questions ask, it may shock my memory and help get me the order correct.”
“Go on Jonas I’ll do my best,”
“The last three places are all within a day’s ride of each other. Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Lexington, Kentucky and Chicago. As I mentioned when I left South Carolina I headed to Nashville but the bus stopped in Murfreesboro and I decided to see what it afforded me. I liked the area and found a room over a hardware store. I worked as a clerk for about nine months before I moved on. The owner had a granddaughter whom he would care for while her parents worked on their farm. She was about eleven years old and a very bright young lady. She loved to sing while she was working in the store. She would clean and arrange everything without her peepaw saying a word. I told her she had a very nice voice and I enjoyed her singing.
“Her grandfather heard me singing one afternoon and asked if I could help his granddaughter with lessons. I told him I would if she wanted me to. Her voice was very country sounding and strong, I was sure she could be a good professional singer. After a few lessons she really showed promise. I wish I could have stayed longer to see how she progressed with her career in the music scene but one day two gentlemen came in the store looking for a bracket to hold up a muffler on their car. They were dressed in suits and ties not the norm for the area. They gave me a good look over before they left and I in my don’t-trust-anybody mode packed and left early the next morning. I left a note for the owner. I told him Donna was definitely headed for stardom if she wanted it bad enough. I was on my way as the sun rose.”
“Did you know for sure the guys in the suits were after you?” Solly asked.
“No, I had no idea, but early on when something bothered me I took off, never to return.”
“Well, where does the case come into the picture?” questioned Solly.
“I was so intent on telling you about Donna’s singing I forgot to tell you how much she loved the case. I was repairing one of the hinges one day when she first noticed. She loved the look and design; each time she spotted it she asked if I would sell it to her when I didn’t want it anymore. I thought about giving it to her when I left early in the morning but I can’t remember if I did, I don’t think so.”
“Good Jonas, I agree, I don’t think you left it, but you’re also right to consider this place as one of priority,” Solly said. “Do you remember the name of the hardware store?”
“I think it was Fargo’s Hardware and Farm Equipment.
“Good Jonas, let’s put this place at the top for now,” Solly told him, “and go to the next town.”
“Lexington, Kentucky, was the post office but the actual town was called Nicholasville. It was located a few miles south of Lexington. I found a farm again where they were hiring. They knew of a home, renting a room, attached to the house with kitchen privileges. I jumped at the chance and rented a small but very comfortable room where I stayed for almost three years. The work on the farm was hard but I enjoyed it and it was work which helped keep me fit.
“One day when I came home from work the landlady was there. She had told me it was time for spring cleaning. The case had been pulled from under the bed. She asked me where I had obtained it. I told her a story and when I ended with how lucky I was to get the case she offered to buy it from me if I ever wanted to sell. I thanked her and told her if a sale was on my mind she would be the first to know. As I recall, nothing was ever mentioned about the case again.” Jonas paused for just a moment and then continued.
“It was fall, I remember the trees were changing color. I thought maybe a move to a city where I could find some warm inside work during the winter. The farm work was outside for the most part. I thanked everyone and told them I was heading south to my sister’s place, saying she needed help since her husband had taken ill. They all wished me well when I left. I don’t remember the lady of the house being home when I departed so it seems I had the case with me.”
“Where were you actually headed?” Solly asked.
“You were paying attention.”
“My job!”
“I headed to Chicago, always loved the blues which came out of the clubs on the South Side. Junior Parker and his harmonica always stirred my soul. The trip took a little longer because I headed south. Some of my friends saw me off so I had to buy a ticket to Bowling Green where I waited almost a day for the next bus north. It was also a tactical ploy should anyone trace me to Nicholasville they might check where I h
eaded at the bus station. I arrived in Chicago late the next day. The sun was about to set when I found a motel where I stayed until I got a permanent address.”
“You never had a chance to get to know anyone for a long period of time, did you?” asked Solly, “Must have been tough. You get to know someone and then you leave.”
“No fun, definitely no fun.”
“What did you do in Chicago?
“Well, for about a week I hunted for a place to live. I found a few but wanted to get a job so I could be sure of working close to where I lived. I never owned a car during my travels.
“I always tried to live close to where I worked. There was a rooming house I really liked. There were always people to talk to at such establishments and I enjoyed the company at times. Not far from the place was a small bar which had a sign in the window saying, Blues Music Sold Here. That interested me so I stopped in for a beer. They had music in the place on the weekends. When I asked the name of the group, the bartender started to talk to me and finally asked if I was new in town and was I looking for work. He needed someone to keep the place clean and a part time bartender. He told me he was the owner and head bartender, said he was slowing down and needed a break from the long hours or his wife would leave him. He didn’t think she would, but he appreciated her trying to get him to take it a little slower. I of course said yes to the job. The hourly rate when I cleaned was not much, but he said the cliental usually tipped pretty well and I should make a pretty good living bartending twice a week and cleaning the other three days. He would come by and close the register for me so I would not have to worry about bookwork. I needed to give him a list of the liquor and beer which would have to be ordered and he hoped I could be here when it was delivered. I told him I would and could. A handshake and I would start work the next day.
“I walked back up the street and told the family I would take the room. It was perfect a few hundred yards and just around the corner from the boarding house. I moved in a few hours later with my suitcase and as I remember I also picked up the case. I had picked up a few pairs of pants and shirts along the way. The case was starting to show wear and I would have to replace it soon or it would fall apart. That’s the main reason I think this is where I left the case for good.” Jonas finished with satisfaction in his voice.