A Man Who Inspires People

Davell Crawford

One evening, after emceeing an amazing Davell Crawford set at the Prime Example Jazz and Blues Club in New Orleans, I was attempting to express my gratitude to this gifted artist for the amazing soul filled experience when he scolded me, “Why did you stop writing, Lloyd Dennis?” The thirty something year old pianist testy inquiry had the same tone as when my wife or my mother address me using both my names, never approving. Then he followed with, “People need that! You’re supposed to write!”

Well, I don’t know if I got his every word right (as I’m sure Davell will let me know) but he really touched my soul, and in a very powerful way flipped the script on me. Damn, how would I feel if Davell refused to come home and play for me/us.

So, I’ve begun to accept that I can write and am beginning to understand that when people have a talent, doing it is second nature, not a big thing, kind of, just what you are built to do. So, if someone like Davell, who has millions of things he could do, misses me writing, then I guess I’m a pretty good writer. Great drummers are the ones that amaze me. Each hand and foot doing something independent and they can talk, laugh, some even sing while they play… like there is nothing to it. So if writing is like drinking water to me, I guess I have a talent, but it wasn’t my doing. I was the first born in a generation, everybody talked to and taught me, and oh my teachers!

Trust me, I am not comparing my writing ability in any way to Davell’s genius, but he made me consider that whatever word craft I have, it was thirty years of people reading “The Love Doctor” that helped me achieve my present day persona and public reputation and recognition.  In three short sentences Mr. Crawford reminded me that I do, in fact owe the audience. Their acceptance of a former photographer as a writer and family authority has been a huge factor in whatever role I now enjoy as a leader and spokesperson for family values and improving outcomes for children.  So, just as Davell brings his gift home for the benefit of those who helped nurture and shape his career, I am “supposed” to do the same.

So I will write, with two differences.  First, just as trumpeter James Andrews has outgrown and discarded his “Sachmo of the ghetto” moniker which once served as a catchy phrase to introduce a cute talented kid with a trumpet, I will no longer write as “The Love Doctor”. I will still answer to it and consider being addressed that way as an expression of love, but that label has also served its purpose, but is no longer needed and in some ways is limiting.

Some of you will remember that my real name was completely absent from the first five or six years of “The Love Doctor” column in Data news. The theory was that no one was interested in reading a relationship column written by a guy whose business was photography.  Well the guise worked. By the time readers found out who I was they were five years deep into nodding their heads to every column I wrote. So, I’ve been around long enough… and been involved in enough… long enough.  From now on, I will write as Lloyd Dennis.

Second, it will be a monthly column. When I told my wife, Anne (Boo to many of you) that I was going to commit to writing again, she kind of went off, “Lloyd Dennis, when are you going to find time to write, you’re complaining now about not having enough time to…” (There goes that full name thing again) Before she could say anything  else, I said “Only once a month.” I could feel her blood pressure drop, “Oh, that might work”

My column will be available by e-subscription on on LloydDennis.com

I've included all my Love Doctor and Crescent City Live subscribers in this new e-mail list which will address topics that I believe will encompass the spirit of both those formats. Yes I will sometimes write about love and family and yes I will sometimes write about amazing entertaining and dining experiences I've had in the diaspora. So, without the specific specialties of those two previous outlets for my writing craft this column marks my full refusal to be limited by any theme, kind of like some of the younger musicians I so love refuse and refute being labeled for one kind of music. No genre pigeon holes for me either. Lloyd Dennis Will Write, PERIOD!

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