could think of, every drop of blood, every word from my father’s lips, every moment of speculation and self-doubt from the moment I saw her at Shimmy’s that first time. I told her about Sal. I told her about the Mann Act and the year her father spent in jail. I told her how I’d sung him his song and how he told me not to be afraid.
She started to shake when I recounted how he said his mama called him the Bomb because he ruined everything he touched. I thought she was going to cry then, but if anything the tremors just wound her even tighter. She asked a few questions, and I did my best to answer them. When I didn’t know, I told her as much.
When I’d said all there was to say, she sat in silence for several minutes. Then she stood and retrieved the picture she’d slammed down an hour before.
“I need you to take me home, Benny,” she said.
I pulled on my coat and my shoes, picked up the bags I’d packed, and we left Pop’s apartment. I wasn’t sure when—or if—I’d be back.
The Barry Gray Show
WMCA Radio
Guest: Benny Lament
December 30, 1969
“Your song ‘The Bomb Johnson’ is based on a real person. It stayed at the top of the charts for months. Tell us about Bo Johnson, Benny,” Barry Gray insists.
“My father said Bo Johnson was the greatest fighter who ever lived,” Benny Lament says.
“Bo Johnson was also Esther Mine’s father.”
“Yes, sir. She’s the reason we sang that song. She wanted the world to know his story.”
“Bo Johnson never lost a fight in his professional career, defeating every opponent by knockout. I remember when he defeated James Braddock in ’38,” Barry Gray adds.
“He even knocked out my father,” Benny Lament says.
“He ended your father’s career.”
“He did, but Pop was never bitter about it. He and Bo Johnson were friends.”
“Bo Johnson’s career came to an abrupt end when he was incarcerated for violating the Mann Act—also known as the White Slave Traffic Act—in 1939,” Barry Gray says.
“Bo Johnson was incarcerated for leaving the state with Esther’s mother, a white woman that he intended to marry,” Benny says, his voice tight.
“The woman Bo Johnson intended to marry was Maude Alexander, an opera singer and heiress to a considerable fortune. She was the granddaughter of Thaddeus Morley and the daughter of Rudolf Alexander. The Morleys and Alexanders have become synonymous with names like Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, and Carnegie in New York,” Barry Gray informs the audience.
“Powerful people,” Benny agrees.
“They didn’t care for the song?”
“No, Mr. Gray, they didn’t.”
13
DEVIL ON THE DOORSTEP
Esther’s apartment was the same size as Pop’s but six people lived there. Money and Alvin weren’t home, but Lee Otis had the radio on and papers spread out on the table when we arrived. He jumped to his feet and began showing me his data.
“They’re playing us as much as they’re playing any of the artists in the top ten. We’ve all been taking shifts, listening. I’ve got it all right here. It’s not just in New York either. WABC has sister stations all around the country that pick up the Hot 100 countdown and rebroadcast The Barry Gray Show in the overnight hours in fifty markets. Uncle Ross said they played ‘Any Man’ in Philly. We got family in Boston too. They’ve heard it. Mama’s got a sister in Montgomery. She said she heard it twice in the last week, and she wasn’t even listening for it.”
Gloria and Arky Mine were watching a small television while Gloria ironed. As soon as we walked through the door, he turned it off and Gloria set the iron aside. She wore slippers and an apron over a pale pink dress, but there were pearls at her neck and rouge on her cheeks like she’d been to church. She kept running her hands down her apron in agitation, but Esther was stone cold at my side, and however much I didn’t want to participate, I couldn’t leave.
“We’ll talk about all that in a minute, Lee Otis,” Esther said gently. “Benny and I need a word with Mama now.”
Lee Otis looked sheepish. “I’m sorry about your father, Benny. He was nice.”
“Thank you, Lee Otis.”
Arky Mine told his son to get his coat. “Let’s go to the café, Lee Otis,” he said. “I need a piece of pie. You can bring a book.”
“I have pie, Arky,” Gloria protested, desperate. “You don’t need to leave.”
“Give it to Mr. Lament. He’s our guest,” Arky