Larry Kegan

[Willie]

I got Heylin's "The Double Life of Bob Dylan" (Part One) for Christmas, but couldn't get past the Intro, which skipped around a lot. I've given it another try, skipping the Intro, and have gotten caught up in it. I really like the description of Bob's teen-age years, when he was playing mostly Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis stuff on piano. At Camp Herzl, he met a fellow named Larry Kegan, whom he looked up to; and with a third, Louie Kemp, formed a trio. Until Kegan, in Florida, dived into what he thought was deep water, but turned out to be a foot deep, and broke his neck. Larry spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair, and Bob stayed friends with him until his death in 2001.

Here are some pictures of that time, from EDLIS: https://expectingrain.com/dok/who/k/keganlarry.html

And here, in 1981, is Larry singing "No Money Down" (first in Indiana, then in Boston), with Bob accompanying on saxophone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv_wJREjpoU

[Just Walkin']

Larry died on September 11, 2001, the same day Love & Theft was released. I didn't listen to it for 5 years because I didn't want it tainted by the times. I can't imagine how Bob must have felt learning about Larry the same day. His sister lives here in Minneapolis. We met during Dylan's performance at Northrup Auditorium at the University of Minnesota the night Obama was elected President through some mutual friends, a few of whom recollect their memories here:.
http://www.magicmarcproductions.com/larry-kegan-with-gene-lafond-and-scarlet-rivera-videos-2014/2014/5/8/32-years-ago-today-remembering-larry-kegan

[Willie]

I had a feeling you'd met Larry Kegan. That song he sings at the 5 minute mark at that link is very moving. (Scarlet was not on her game that night, unless there was something strangely wrong with the sound system.)

[Just Walkin']

I never met Larry, though I was fortunate enough to meet his sister. I was introduced to her by his wheelchair pusher on the Rolling Thunder Tour, a good friend and a talented musician in his own right..