BOB RAFKIN - NEWS & EVENTS ARCHIVES (YEAR 2002):  
JUNE 2002
JULY 2002
AUGUST 2002
SEPTEMBER 2002
OCTOBER 2002
NOVEMBER 2002
DECEMBER 2002

JUNE 2002 - Cool surprise. Last November (2001), I sent my friend in Atlanta, John Kravet a copy of the Christmas CD, SIX STRING CHRISTMAS. So John calls me and says he's going to take it over to The Weather Channel (also in Atlanta). Well I said fine, not thinking much about it, actually not thinking anything about it. Then I get a call from The Weather Channel telling me they want to play three of the tracks on the air during the holidays. Great! So then I sent them VELVET HAND and so now they are playing tracks off of that CD. Thank you Weather Channel.  I'll be out in LA in July. I've got a few gigs booked. Yes, I know. I moved from there, never to return, but every now and then I get the urge to go back. When I get all the details worked out, I'll let you know where I'll be performing.

As for where I'll be soon, the News & Events page has replaced the old Calendar page. I was thinking about taking the gig info out all together, because so many of my gigs I don't advertise but then decided on this format. I'm starting to do more private events. These are the gigs I don't tell you about because you aren't invited. Sorry. Hey, If you know some place where I can do a public concert let me know. Anyway, I'm usually treated pretty well at these private things, though not always, as one foggy memory from years ago reminds me.  I worked this private New Years Eve party for Vincent Minelli at Chasens Restaurant in Beverly Hills. From it's humble beginnings in the late 30's as a shack that served chili, Chasens grew to be "the" place for celebrities to go and be seen. Legend has it that Humphrey Bogart and Peter Lorre once got drunk there and made off with the restaurants immense safe, which they rolled out the door and abandoned in the middle of Beverly Blvd. So there I am playing this gig. One of the guests was Ray Bolger, and I'm thinking, "oh man! This is the scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz". Bolger got up and danced this creative thing that I guess he was making up to the rhythm of our music. And I'm thinking, " this is history unfolding". 

So then break time comes along for the musicians. Now you have to understand that traditionally a table is set aside with food and drink for the players. Well that wasn't the way it unfolded for us troubadours. No! We were escorted by the headwaiter out to the lobby, next to the coat check room, and told to stand there quietly until our next set. Well, as unsettling as this was for a young musician, I can report to you that the story had a happy karmic ending. Chasens closed its doors a few years ago, never to reopen.  Well anyway, I'll get back to telling you about my "public" gigs. These are the ones you are required to attend. I'll be at O'Neils Irish Pub in Mt Dora Fl. on Friday June 7th from 7:00pm to 10:00pm. On Saturday June 15th I'll be at the White Wolf Cafe in Orlando Fl. From 7:00pm to 11:00pm.  That's all folks.  Bob Back to Top


JULY 2002 - Hello again! Well, I've got some dates to give you for the "BOB RAFKIN LOS ANGELES 2002 I SHALL RETURN" tour. It all came together so fast that we were unable to get tee shirts ordered for this great event, though we do still have a few OUT OF JERICHO shirts left for any of you who didn't get one during the promotion of that CD. Ok, get a pencil or turn on your printer so I can give you the L A gig schedule - Sat July 20th Borders Books and Music (in Westwood) 2:00PM.  Sun July 21st Toi Restaurant 1360 Vine St. (In Hollywood) 8:00PM.

While I'm on the subject of L A, John Kravet sent me a recently published book AMERICAN TROUBADOURS about nine singer songwriters from the 60's and 70's. I recorded with three of them during my L A days; David Blue, Tim Buckley and Phil Ochs. I'm mentioned a few times in the book as the intriguing stories of these songwriters unfolds. Reading these pages brought back so many memories of these amazing characters and L A during that time. Memories of THE TROUBADOUR, a great listening room featured so many of the great folk and acoustic artists of the day. It was not uncommon to see members of CSNY or Jim Morrison sitting in the bar outside the listening room. As folk music faded and the cost of booking great acts in this relatively small room skyrocketed, THE TROUBADOUR fell into obscurity. At that time, I lived in Laurel Canyon, haven for earthy music celebrities and hippy relics. What unique times!

Before closing, let me give you some dates here in Orlando.  Sat July 6th and Fri July 12th - The White Wolf Cafe - 7:00PM.  Sat July 12th Chamberlins (in Oviedo) 11:30AM.  Oh! I had more music on The Weather Channel in June. Keep listening in July.  Till next we meet again. Bob Back to Top


AUGUST 2002 - I'm back from LA, and what a great time. The gigs went real well. I was invited back and made some new contacts. But let me tell you about culture shock. Although I lived in LA for over 20 years, returning there after living in Florida for the last 11 years was like going from the moon back to Earth. It took me a few days to adjust, but then it was like I never left. I navigated those 10 and 12 lane freeways and busy surface streets like a native, cutting off drivers and squeaking left turns through red lights.

So now I'm back in Orlando, what a dilemma. Daily living here is so easy and affordable. Orlando is comfortable and safe. No fear of getting mugged in front of my own home, and yes, I do have my own home. As for LA, unless you are one of the few who can afford a 5,000 square ft. house in the hills, it's filthy, utilitarian and unattractive, to name a few of its good qualities. It's also diverse, challenging, stimulating and fun. And of course, it's the hub of the entertainment industry! What a dilemma. Oh, I already said that.  Well, one thing is for sure. The universe manifests infinite choices and possibilities. We never know what's around the corner. Hey! Before I go, here are my public gigs.

Fri. August 2nd O'Neil's Pub Mt Dora 7:00pm to 10:00pm • Sat. August 3rd The White Wolf Cafe Orlando 7:00pm to 11:00pm • Sat. August 10th Yalaha Bakery Yalaha 10:00am to 12:00pm • Fri. August 16th O'Neil's Pub Mt Dora 7:00pm to 10:00pm • Sat. August 17th The White Wolf Cafe Orlando 7:00pm to 11:00pm • Thurs. August 22nd The Main Street Cafe Homestead 8:00pm • Fri. August 23rd C G Cafe Lake Worth 7:30pm • Sat. August 31st Fogartyville Cafe Bradenton 8:00pm to 10:30pm.  Back to Top


SEPTEMBER 2002 - Hi, I'm back from a great weekend in South Florida. On Thurs. the 22nd, I performed in Homestead at The Main Street Cafe. Wonderful room, enthusiastic people, great stage and sound system. Thanks Laurie, for the booking and thanks for doing the sound Scot. Coincidentally, that weekend was the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Andrew. I sure picked a day to blow into town. On the 23rd, I performed in Lake Worth at C G Cafe. The Cafe is in the historic district of the city. I performed outside the cafe to a nice crowd of people. It was great to see some friends who stopped by to eat and listen to the music. Thanks for the booking Richard.

Well, I'll tell you, I've got a whole lot of respect for the traveling musicians who work 300 plus dates a year. When I arrived home at 3:30 am having driven 600 miles in 2 days, I was fried. This last winter, I drove 1000 miles to do a gig outside of Atlanta. It's too bad that the town I live in, Horlando Florida, is a city dedicated to betraying its heritage and the community for its lust of the tourist dollar. It's next to impossible for an acoustic guitarist to get a gig in most venues unless you know Margaritaville.  My thanks go to the White Wolf Cafe for providing a haven for working musicians who perform original music. It is one of the few genuine Orlando restaurants not made out of foam board. The White Wolf is not trendy or pretentious and not owned by the benevolent Disney folks. It serves real good food in a unique antique atmosphere. The antiques are for sale including the table your food is served on.

Well, I ragged on L A last month and now Orlando, but there are a few cities I lived in that I think are great towns. New York is at the top of the list, also Philadelphia, DC and San Francisco.  Before I close, here are my public gigs for September. I'll be at The White Wolf Cafe in Orlando on Sat. the 7th and Sat. the 14th, 6:30pm to 10:30pm. I'm doing a guitar clinic at Mars Music in Orlando on Tues. the 10th at 7:00pm. On Friday The 20th, I'll be at O'Neil's in Mt. Dora, 7:00pm to 10:00pm. On Sat. the 21st, I'll be performing in Eustis at The 2nd Annual Lake Eustis Fine Arts Festival, 11:00am to 2:00pm. Bye bye for now.  Back to Top


OCTOBER 2002 - Hello again. My offering for October is short and sweet. I received a phone call just a few days ago from country music artist Annie Simms inviting me to play guitar for her as the opening act for Don Williams U.K. tour. We will be performing the entire month of October in England, Scotland and Wales, 23 concerts in 27 days. You can get the details and find out about Annie through her web page www.anniesimms.com Annie is a wonderful artist. Also check out Don Williams' page www.don-williams.com.  Don's page has info on the historic theatres we will be performing in. Well, that's it. I've been moving in high gear getting ready for this "musical trip." No time to do much else. Bob  Back to Top


NOVEMBER 2002 - I’m back from a wonderful month touring the United Kingdom with country music artist Annie Sims.  We played over twenty concerts in October, opening for Don Williams.  The theaters and venues were exceptional, and the audiences were so appreciative of our music.  Also the weather was quite good for this time of the year.  I can’t say enough about the U.K.  We traveled from one theater to the next at night on a bus, sleeping in bunk beds.  At times it felt like living in a submarine.  (I never lived in a submarine, so I’m guessing) The upside of traveling at night was that we had the days to sightsee and explore.  The U. K. has so much beauty, and the people are extremely friendly and helpful.

I got home yesterday, Halloween evening, and today spent a “jet lag” afternoon on the phone and computer, getting up to speed on what’s been going on here.  I have just a few public performances as I wasn't able to book much before leaving on the tour.  I’ll be performing at the Barberville Folk Festival in Florida on Sunday the 3rd of November.  On the 8th, I’ll be in Orlando at the White Wolf Cafe from 6:30pm to 10:30pm (407-895-5590).  On the 30th, I’ll be at the Yalaha Bakery in Yalaha from 10:00am to 12:00 noon (352-324-3366).  Talk to you next month.  Bob  Back to Top  

DECEMBER 2002 - I hope you all had a big, happy appetite to take to your Thanksgiving dinner and a big, happy tummy to take home with you after dinner. I've been home now for a month following that great tour of the United Kingdom, reflecting on so many beautiful memories. November has been a busy month, playing catch up and working on CD number six, which I hope will be out by June of 2003. Hey, this year is going by so fast. Even the Florida summer, which usually seems to last forever was not so unbearably long. And now we are quickly approaching Christmas. I've already begun getting orders for my SIX STRING CHRISTMAS CD. 98.9 WMMO Radio here in Orlando will be airing it and Borders Books and Music will be selling the CD. I will also be selling it at my public gigs.

On December 7th and 8th, I'll be performing at a Christmas fair in Winter Haven, Florida called "Carols In The Park" from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. For info call (863) 293-2138. I will also be doing a Christmas concert in Orlando at Leu Gardens on Sunday, December the 15th at 3:00 PM with the very talented Mindy Simmons. For info call (407) 246-2620. I've got another gig coming up after Christmas to promote the Friends of Florida Folk CD sampler. It will be at Skipper's Smoke House in Tampa Florida on Sunday December 29th starting at around 3:00 pm.  Well that's all folks. Have a Happy Hanukkah, a Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year.  Bob Back to Top