On a cold April Monday morning in 1970, Steve Goodman sat on a southbound Illinois Central train, gazing out the window. Beside him sat his young wife, Nancy. They were taking a day trip to visit Nancy’s grandmother, who was already in her 90’s, so that the old lady could meet the young man that her granddaughter had married.

Folks, when you talk about The Drifters at this point, you’re talking about 58 years of musical history and it’s a history that’s been marked by some of the great voices of American music including people like Clyde McPhatter, Bill Pinkney, Ben E. King and Johnny More. And I can’t tell you how cool it is for the Mojo Man to be here today with another one of those great voices of the Legendary Drifters, Chicago’s very own Jerry Hendrix. Jerry, thanks so much for joining me here today.

The other night I wanted to watch a TV benefit concert for victims of the disastrous storms that ravaged the Midwest and South in late April. Musicians from all over the nation were going to donate their talents to inspire citizens to give freely to help their fellow Americans. It’s the kind of thing that serious musicians have done for generations, for music has the power to move others to courageous and unselfish action.