-You know Chicago is very special to me
Because when I first went into show business, I was going to college in American University in Washington D.C
And I was in school about six weeks and I met this smooth talkin' banjo player, and we came to Chicago and it was very, very cold, about twenty five bellow zero, (and I) and I did not have a coat, and we worked at places like The Thickle Pickle, The Rising Moon, Old Town North, places like that
Those places were that time what they used to call "basket houses", and you would sing, and maybe a couple of other performers would sing also and they would pass a basket around and people would put in money, and then you would split it up and if you made six dollars that was a big night
Mister Kelly's was always like a place everybody wanted to play, I mean, big stars played here : Mort Sahl, The Smothers Brothers, Lenny Bruce
And so to be recording an album here is really a thrill, and to be playing here is really nice because when I lived in Chicago I lived in the Hotel Linkin
High class, right ? Six bucks a week
-The Hotel Cass ?
-The Hotel- No, I couldn't afford The Hotel Cass, nevermind
But here I am, back at Kelly's recording an album
And, having a good time I must say, everybody in Chicago has been super to me !
(Applause)
Thank you !