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I met Chuck through the Exotica mailing list (sometime in 2000 I think?). He e-mailed me to tell me that he liked my website. We traded music. He said he preferred to call rather than e-mail so he started calling me at work. I always enjoyed our conversations. We mostly talked about music and the exotica list. During one conversation, he mentioned his Mardi Gras parade group. I told him that I had always wanted to go to New Orleans. He said that the invitation was open and that I could stay at his house.
In January 2002, I let him know that I was seriously considering making the trip to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. He told me that he had stomach cancer but still had every intention of parading and celebrating Mardi Gras. I didn't want to impose and was prepared to drop the idea, but he insisted that I come and bring a friend or two. I arrived two days before Mardi Gras. Chuck was a great host and a fun, friendly companion. He was a very warm, positive and thoughtful person with a lot of stories to tell.
The Mondo Kayo Social and Marching Club is the parade group that Chuck started 20 years ago. The group has grown to include more than 100 members. Each year, Chuck picked out more than 7 hours of exotic music for the parade. I felt welcome by the group. They took their pleasure seriously. I never had so much fun in my life, marching in front of thousands of people, blaring exotic music, drinking beer and getting a superb view of the sites of New Orleans in the process.
The picture shows us before the parade on February 12th, 2002.
I met Chuck again in Chicago (near my home) in April 2002. I took him to several record stores. He had other things on his mind, though. His sister was in the hospital, dying of cancer. Chuck's own health was uncertain. One day the news would be good, the next day bad. This went on for months. I called regularly to check up on him. When I didn't hear from him and couldn't reach him, I began to fear the worst. I thought I was prepared for his death, but I still can't believe it. Someone who loved life as much as Chuck deserved to live a long life.
Sean Pearman
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