- Good Things Happen When You Least Expect It!
By Doug Dalager
My sweetheart and I went to our neighborhood “hang”, the Belknap Lounge this evening for a pitcher and a pizza. She had just worked a couple of long shifts over the weekend at her “old” job, and put in a full shift today at her “new” job with four more days staring her in the face before she gets a break. I thought she might enjoy a brief reprieve from the workday grind, so at my suggestion we shuttled down the road to the “Knap.”
Fortuitously, she had received a free pizza birthday certificate in the mail last week from Belknap owner, Alan Jaques, so we decided to indulge in the two vices that few can resist…beer & pizza. As we began to dig into our pizza a fellow sat down beside us and requested a tumbler of Leroux Blackberry Brandy. Patrick the bartender apologized, saying that he had no Leroux behind the bar, confessing that he only had Phillips Blackberry available.
Our new friend said that Phillips brand would be fine, and gratefully accepted his evening relaxer. Having spent a night or two behind the bar myself, I suggested that he was dating himself by ordering the Leroux brand, a staple of the ’70’s and 80’s. While welcoming his libation, he acknowledged that time had passed him by, and then asked us if we minded if he played the piano for a bit. Expressing mild surprise we quickly and enthusiastically accepted his offer.
Although I’ve been a customer of the Belknap for going on twenty years, I had never witnessed someone actually play the old piano that is pushed up against the back wall of the bar. In fact, other than its ornate design, which is quite unique, I assumed it had little musical value and was little more than a decorative artifact that had somehow been overlooked for years.
I was soon proven wrong…
As it turns out, our new friend is a kind soul by the name of Bill Fisher, who moved to Duluth last year to assist his mother who has since passed away. He lives in West Duluth and journeyed to the Belknap in the East End of Superior specifically for the opportunity to bring that old piano to life.
Bill walked up the three steps to the “mezzanine” of the Belknap, finding his way to an old friend. Upon sitting before the keyboard, he proceeded to immerse himself into his music as though no one else were in the room.
In the process, he managed to make everyone present smile and gently nod their heads in approval. He later described his style of play as “old whorehouse piano for quick turn over.”
Inspired by his unexpected performance, I walked next door to the liquor store, located the last, dusty bottle of Leroux Blackberry Brandy on the shelf and purchased it. Returning to the bar with this relic from the past, I asked Patrick to deliver a shot of Bill’s favored blackberry to him as he massaged the keys of that old piano.
This video is but a snippet of the pleasure that Bill shared with those present…
