Steve was a folksinger from Chicago. He was the one who wrote The City of New Orleans (Arlo Guthrie managed to get himself added to the credit later. Another story). Having become friends with many of the folksingers in those days, I often hung out at The Flick Coffeehouse in the afternoons. One day Steve asked me if I had a car. I was going to say, “This is MIAMI!” but just said yes.

He asked if I could give him a ride.

“Of course. Where to?’

“Variety Children’s Hospital.”

I knew it. I had been there as a patient as a child. It was just a few blocks from my home in West Miami. Literally right down Red Road from the Flick. Steve had a small, flute size hard black case with him. He asked if I could wait in the parking lot for him. I said of course. After a bit he came out and we headed back to the Flick.

I hesitated, but by then over time when he had come to perform there we had become friends.

“Steve, I don’t mean to pry but I’m concerned. Are you OK?”

“I have leukemia. I carry my chemotherapy with me when I perform.”

He died 15 years later. Public Television had a memorial show featuring him performing. Jenny Blackwell, the wife of George and cofounder of Soundtrack, my first music clients, and I were reminiscing about him. She was a nurse. She shared a story with me. After this many years I feel it is OK to share. Nowadays when a young man is going to undergo chemotherapy they have him bank his sperm so he could choose to have a child later. Cancer cells are fast dividing, like sperm cell. The chemotherapy attacks them as well.

Steve got into a clinical trial for a new treatment. Half are randomly assigned to the control group. A placebo. No chemotherapy. His wife became pregnant. They did not need to use birth control. Chemotherapy made him infertile. Until then. Jenny told me they were thrilled of course.

At this point in my life I find myself reacting more emotionally to memories and feelings. I am tearing up as I write remembering this sweet man I was privileged to know. Look up performances by him on the internet.