Comments on: Updating the $1,000 Bin, Plus a Few More

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:41:32 +0000

The biography I read said that Hank was actually a pretty big Blue Note seller. He was actually a pretty big club draw as well when compared to the other Blue Note artist. He was never able to take it to the next level(miles, trane, etc) due to a variety of reasons though. I don’t think you will ever get an authorized biography as Hank has been dead for a while.
I plan to right a review of his biography this weekend when I get some free time.

By: zarabeth47

zarabeth47 — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 08:00:50 +0000

The whole “art” as art thing in play here! And the tortured artist effect etc etc…. classic!
RE: COLLECTABILITY – Hank was never a big seller so his earlier lps were printed in low numbers. Obviously the lps from the liberty presses were in higher numbers. This clearly follows the indexing rule in collecting circles! Rarity = Demand and Demand = Top dollar!
RE: HIS LIFE – Most artist attest to tough times in their lives. This is part of the art process for most. With all the sessions he did and the work he had playing nightclubs / shows etc etc he probably did make a fairly decent living for a “jazz” musician. We can not possibly know his story until an authorized biography comes out, which, might maybe never be as there might not be too may people still around that could tell the story let alone get something like that done. Sad really. His music will go on for a long time in my book!

By: Mattyman

Mattyman — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 19:01:48 +0000

Well, that changes a lot. One wonders why Gary Bartz would tell such a story…

By: Michel

Michel — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 18:40:24 +0000

Hello, the person i’ve contacted answer me yesterday. This person told me that Bartz statement is not true. Hank was living in a friend”s house at the end of his life in Philly.

By: Michel

Michel — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:15:46 +0000

I had a conversation with Hank Mobley before he died. Hank was a very prolific writer, but most of his songs were in different publishing companies, they’re all over the place and he just didn’t know how to get his money, even though he really needed it. At the end of his life, Hank was homeless; he was living in the Amtrak station in Philadelphia.”

I know someone who was a very close friend of Hank in his final years. This person has a completely different story about hank’a final years. I contacted this person two years go and she
gave me some infos about him. But she no longer wants to share it, unfortunaltely.

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:25:28 +0000

Will do Al, I’m going to try to get it done at the end of the week sometime.

By: Al

Al — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:52:09 +0000

Mike — please do a review. That would be great. I’m not posting as often as I would like, so all guest columns are much appreciated.

By: Mattyman

Mattyman — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:44:12 +0000

Maybe if Hank would have had a reliable management (if he had one at all), they could have collected that money for him. One wonders to what extent Alfred Lion was able to help him?

By: Mattyman

Mattyman — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:39:32 +0000

Hank died on May 30th and was buried on Saturday the 7th of June 1986, at Mount Lawn Cemetery, 84th Street and Hook Road, Sharon Hill, Delaware County - Philadelphia. At "find a grave dot com" they have a tiny bit more about this, you can find it here. Gary Bartz once told the following: "I had a conversation with Hank Mobley before he died. Hank was a very prolific writer, but most of his songs were in different publishing companies, they’re all over the place and he just didn’t know how to get his money, even though he really needed it. At the end of his life, Hank was homeless; he was living in the Amtrak station in Philadelphia."

By: Rudolf

Rudolf — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 07:05:34 +0000

Mike, that is a splendid idea, if Al approves…