« Karen Montoya Stresses Tax Equity in Re-Election Campaign for Bernalillo Co. Assessor | Main | Domestic Violence and Animal Cruelty: Legislature Designates Today “New Mexico Link Awareness Day” »
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
ABQ Councilor Don Harris Chastised for Boorish Behavior by Tower of Power Drummer (With Letter)
Albuquerque City Councilor Don Harris, a Republican who represents the city's District 9 around Four Hills, got blasted for his alleged boorish behavior at a recent concert in a letter written by renowned Tower of Power drummer David Garibaldi. The drummer's credits include work with artists like Patti Austin, Natalie Cole, Larry Carlton, Mickey Hart's Planet Drum, Jermaine Jackson, Ray Obiedo, the Buddy Rich Orchestra, Boz Scaggs and Talking Drums, in addition to his work with Tower of Power.
Before and after the band performed at the annual bash of the Hispano Chamber of Commerce at the Albuquerque Convention Center on Saturday, Harris made his way backstage with his son. He's accused by Garibaldi of entering the band's private space uninvited, gobbling down food meant for the band, dissing musicians in front of the band members and swiping a pair of drumsticks from Garibaldi's kit. The drummer didn't mince words in charging that Harris felt justified to do as he pleased because of his political position:
"Obviously, the rules don't apply to you...The dressing room was our private area, and you had no right to be there without permission...I guess you thought because you're a city council member, you can go where you want, and take what you want."
"...I hope we don't meet again...you're what's wrong with politicians today."
Harris, who claims it was all just a misunderstanding, has sent an email apology to Garibaldi and says he'll return the drumsticks. Which version of the story is accurate? You decide. Check out Garibaldi's scathing letter -- which was sent to Harris and the rest of the City Council:
Don,
David Garibaldi here. I'm the drummer with the Tower of Power, and we met Saturday evening at The Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce gathering. Ever since our meeting I was troubled by what transpired, so I thought I'd drop you a line and express my thoughts to you.
Just to recount the events surrounding our meeting...
Prior to our show, you and your son came into our dressing room without asking and introduced yourselves to me, our guitarist Jerry Cortez, and trumpet player Mic Gillette. You wanted your son to meet us, which we were more than happy to do. We spoke for a few minutes and you mentioned that you were a lawyer and a politician and that you played saxophone at one time, had studied music and when you began to play after graduating, you said music wasn't a very good life.
You expressed this to some folks who have been very successful musicians all their lives. I'm 63 years old and have been playing the drums since the age of 10, and a working musician since the age of 17. As a boy, my dream was to travel the world playing the drums...I'm living my dream. My work is well documented and my reputation speaks for itself.
After the show I again saw you and your son backstage, and you showed me a pair of drum sticks that you had taken off of my drum set. I was pretty surprised and said that your taking them wasn't a good idea. i didn't want to make a scene and allowed your son to keep them...you said something about not knowing what the "protocol" was. Then, in the dressing room in front of most of the band members, you asked me why that wasn't ok...I replied "because you didn't ask".
Again, I didn't want to make a scene and embarrass you in front of your son and said he could keep them, but in retrospect, I should have asked for the sticks back and said what I'm saying now. Our dressing room is our sanctuary before shows where we can relax and focus on our performance, so I wasn't expecting to have to deal with you in that way.
That "protocol" you mentioned isn't really protocol...it's my property, and you had no right whatsoever to to my property. You're a lawyer and should know this. Obviously, the rules don't apply to you. The dressing room was our private area, and you had no right to be there without permission. Again, I guess you thought because you're a city council member, you can go where you want, and take what you want. Sorry. You took my property without my permission, and thought it was ok. Your now son thinks it's ok too. Where did you get this idea that you could take what's mine without asking?
You came into our dressing room without an invitation, ate our food without asking, and also took my drumsticks without my permission as a prize for your son. Yes, it only a pair of drumsticks, but sir, they're my drumsticks and they mean something to me...they represent my life and all I've worked for.
I hope we don't meet again...you're what's wrong with politicians today. You represent yourself and your own interests and definitely showed how little respect you have for what I do. You're not welcome at our shows. We've been doing this for 42 years, and are serious about our craft. We're also serious about the impression we leave behind.
Your bio says you studied the saxophone with the late Jackie McLean...one of the greats. I'm a fan of his and often listen to his recordings. You studied with someone who understood the tradition of the instrument and respected it. Based on your behavior, I wouldn't include him on your bio...if he knew what you were up to, he probably wouldn't approve of it.
It was an embarrassing moment, totally unacceptable and I have no recourse but to write you, and to Cc your colleagues on the city council, so they'll know what kind of person they're working with, if they don't already. If I knew any media people there in Albuquerque, I'd be including them here as well.
Aside from this, it was a tremendous event, staffed and attended by some very nice people...my compliments to a very professional Joe Bufalino and his crew for making us feel welcome.
Respectfully,
David Garibaldi
Drummer - Tower of Power
February 10, 2010 at 12:50 PM in City of Albuquerque, Music | Permalink
Comments
for having read this. What does this have to do with my like? How does this make me a better citizen after reading it? There is a child involved. I thought they were off limits.
I respect this site, and I would hate to see it develop into New Mexico's version of the Huffington Post.
Posted by: I Am Dumber | Feb 10, 2010 2:08:32 PM
Don's son is a cadet at NMI so I think he can handle it. Don't you think Harris is a bad example to his son by treating musicians like they're his chattel? You must be a Harris supporter
Posted by: Will | Feb 10, 2010 2:41:11 PM
I do not thik this story has any place in the media because it is nothing more than a personal attack. I doubt Harris is a thief. This story sounds like a hit designed by a democratic Rove who will exploit anything to score political points. I thought democrates were better.
I challenge people to write Benton, Garduno, O'Malley, and Sanchez to ask them what they think. I would anticipate they disagree with this post.
Posted by: Tommy | Feb 11, 2010 6:22:06 AM
I think it reflects on Harris's character and his view that he's so important he can do what he wants. The voters need to know it. Thanks for the story. The Albuquerque Journal had a report on it too so I guess they think its news.
Posted by: Renatta | Feb 11, 2010 9:18:04 AM
I think it is outrageous that Harris would invade the private space of the musicians, take their food and swipe a pair of drumsticks. What a schmuck!
Reminds me of my visit to my Norwegian relatives, who own a resort and OFFERED to host me for free for a few days. I still have a bathroom floor towel as a souvenir. BUT I ASKED IF I COULD HAVE IT AND OFFERED TO PAY FOR IT! They graciously gifted it to me.
How would Mr. Harris feel if someone walked into his office at the city hall and swiped something off his desk? His nameplate, perhaps? An engraved pen set? A picture of his family? And the excuse was 'Oh, I ran for city council myself once...'
Posted by: Ellen Wedum | Feb 11, 2010 9:24:12 AM
"Don's son is a cadet at NMI so I think he can handle it.
So if a kid is in the military academy we can exploit them? I thought republicans exploited our military.
Posted by: Tom | Feb 11, 2010 1:19:32 PM
"The Albuquerque Journal had a report on it too so I guess they think its news."
Since when has the Journal reported the views of those who support this blog. It is important to be consistent when making an argument.
The Journal also reported the crap put out by Jim Scarantino from the Rio Grande Foundation. Now we are defending the Journal?
Posted by: Tom | Feb 11, 2010 1:25:19 PM
How is this story "exploiting" anyone? If anyone exploited anything it was rude Mr. Harris. Get over yourself Tom. This is obviously a factual story so what's the problem? You must be friends with Harris or something.
Posted by: Sean | Feb 11, 2010 2:43:44 PM
People want to chastise a Councilor and his son because a musician gave his son drum sticks and asked for the sticks to be returned. Musicians are far worse than the most self centered of politicians.
John Mayer told Playboy that he was not open to having sex with black women, describing his penis as "sort of like a white supremacist"
When I watch porn, if it’s not hot enough, I’ll make up backstories in my mind. My biggest dream is to write pornography." John Mayer
Someone asked me the other day, “What does it feel like now to have a hood pass?” And by the way, it’s sort of a contradiction in terms, because if you really had a hood pass, you could call it a nigger pass." John Mayer
When my first record came out, I was still saying, “You’ll see. Check out what I did. Eat it.” It gave me this reputation for being really arrogant. I probably should have stood on top of a roof and yelled, “Fuck you!” That “I’ll show you” John Mayer
So we are expected to believe a world renown musician's perception of reality? I think there is more to the story. Those who have worked in the entertainment industry understand the.....quirks of the entertainers. Take what they say with a grain of salt.
Posted by: Mike | Feb 12, 2010 9:50:35 AM
Mike-So because John Mayer is a jerk it means that all musicians are jerks? I guess that would mean if there is one white male who is a murderer it means all white males are murderers.
The drummer didn't give his sticks to Harris. Harris took them as if he were entitled. From the looks of this thread I think Harris got all his pals to defend him. Maybe he should defend himself.
Posted by: Music Fan | Feb 12, 2010 10:10:13 AM
Music Fan-
Have you ever met Councilor Harris? Have you ever requested a meeting? Have you ever even called him? Were you in the dressing room? Were you at the event? Did you talk to him at the event?
If the answer is no, how can you be certain the story is true?
Why would you bring race into this story? Are you accusing Harris of being a racists?
Below are links to a few riders for musicians. Not all musicians are jerks, but they are demanding and often unreasonable. Work in the industry and tell me musicians act in a manor society expects from most people.
Jennifer Lopez https://www.thesmokinggun.com/backstagetour/lopezrider/lopezrider1.html
Van Halen https://www.thesmokinggun.com/backstagetour/vanhalen2008/vanhalen20081.html
Jay Z https://www.thesmokinggun.com/backstagetour/jay2009z/jay2009z1.html
Why do you hate politicians? Do you hate Obama? Do you have Bush? Do you hate Denish? Do you hate Johnson? Do you only hate public officials that have an R after their name?
Posted by: Mike | Feb 12, 2010 11:37:50 AM
If Harris is as crazy as his supporter Mike, we're all in trouble. All this post does is show the letter and give Harris's answer. Those are facts. People can make of them what they will.
Mike again claims that if some musicians are not up to snuff, that means all musicians are suspect. He crazily thinks my example is about racism. It's about the fallacy of your "logic" Mike. Just because one person is brown haired for example does something bad it doesn't mean all brown haired people are bad. Get it?
I don't hate anybody but I think Harris acted like a rude jackass.
Posted by: Music Fan | Feb 12, 2010 12:37:22 PM
I worked in the music industry when I lived in Hollywood. I met this drummer on more than one occasion, in a session and at shows, and he was a jerk. He was condescending and expected PEOPLE, not employed directly by him or the band, to serve him. He treated "the help" with disrespect. I have a problem with him and other people in the industry like him. Arrogance was the reason I chose to leave LA area.
I do not know what happened in the dressing room. I only think, based on my interactions with one individual involved, there is probably more to the story.
Have you ever met either of them?
You chose to specify race in your post. I could write a long email about the racism you exhibited in your post and send it as proof of your racism. Those people who did not get your side of the story might believe the email. They would then consider you a racist.
Posted by: Mike | Feb 12, 2010 1:55:36 PM
Oh, now you know him too. Before it was only other musicians. You're blowing smoke.
Posted by: Music Fan | Feb 12, 2010 1:58:58 PM
I do not know either of the two individuals. I have interacted with one.
In a previous response you made reference to logic, and for some reason you continue to make ad homineum arguments to support your conclusion. Even if I were crazy, that does not prove my arguments to be false. Harris is a Republican, therefor, he is a thief. This is the argument made by you and this blog, and it is yet another ad homineum argument.
I could say, you are a racists, therefor, you are untrustworthy. You might a racist, but that does not mean you are untrustworthy. The premise does not support the conclusion. It is a fallacy to chose this premise. It would be effective because the word racist will illicit an emotional response. This would divert the attention of the audience and cloud their ability to make a decision.
Posted by: Mike | Feb 12, 2010 4:44:37 PM
I'm reading this thread and thinking this Mike guy is off base. Where in the post does it say anything about Republicans being thieves?
Posted by: Charlie | Feb 13, 2010 9:51:18 AM
So what is a public official supposed to do when attacked like that, assuming that the account of the musician is not true? Here are the choices:
(A) Refute the e-mail line by line and, even though right, nevertheless reinforcing the accusation that the public official is a jerk while keeping the story alive; or
(B) Say, "oops, sorry" and move on.
Harris did what he did because he had no real choice.
Posted by: Thinking about it | Feb 16, 2010 1:30:59 AM
