Way Corp group(s) I was in
Way Corps 8
Where I live
Emporia, Kansas
About Me
After leaving the 8th Way Corps at the end of 1980, I moved back to New York, played music, and attended college. I became a registered nurse and worked medical/surgical and psychiatric for many years. Married for twelve years; moved around the country a bit; then divorced; no kids. In July of 1994, an on-the-job injury to my lower spine disabled me and I was confined to a wheelchair for two years. During that time I turned my sights again to my first love: music. I started playing the guitar again and as soon as I felt I was ready I formed a Blues band called, Vini and the Demons. We made a big splash in the South for two years then moved to Chicago, with the blessing of a newly acquired friend and fan at that time, Bo Diddley. Four years in Chicago made us a household word and we did very well. But that industry has a way of eating you alive slowly and after seven years I just shut down. Long story cut short: I am now living in Emporia Kansas (irony at it's best) and working hard to get my body back into the swing of things. It's not pretty, but I can walk a little bit. I work a part-time job online and my disability takes care of the rest. Why Emporia? I had some friends living here who offered me a nice, old, country house to stay in about a year ago and I accepted the invitation. This is where I got my body together the first time (running my ass off in the Way Corps every day) so it made sense. Why not have my personal/physical renaissance happen here? It's like I've come full-circle.
My Interests
Music; movies; physical rehabilitation; women (can I say women? LOL); cooking; eating.
Employment or Career
My band's website is up and running again. Even though we are no longer a working entity I decided to keep it as an active archive:
www.viniandthedemons.net
If you Google Vini and the Demons or Vini Demon, that will give you a pretty good idea of what we were all about.
Music I Like
Yeah...I like music...LOL!
I have been a very humble student of these great Blues' pioneers for many years and actually had the privilege of meeting and becoming friends with some of them and their family members: Robert Johnson (played with his cousin Dave "Honeyboy" Edwards); Muddy Waters (his daughter Roz was an early fan, friend, and supporter of my band in Florida); Howlin' Wolf (his two daughters came to one of our shows); Willie Dixon (his daughter Shirli and son Butch managed my band in Chicago); Bo Diddley (played at least six shows together in Florida-he is a personal friend); Freddie King; Sonny Boy Williamson; James Cotton; Hubert Sumlin (Howlin' Wolf's guitarist); Little Walter; Blind Willie McTell; Otis Spann; Detroit Junior (Howlin' Wolf's piano man-we were his band for two nights at a gig in Chicago); and the list goes on...
Books I Like
Books too, you're asking me? O.k...well, mostly Shakespeare, biographies, autobiographies, and the bendable, shiny ones that have pictures of girls in bikinis. Wait, those are magazines, right? Do they count?
Television I like
House (Hugh Laurie had me as the Prince in Black Adder 3...the Gregory House character is a phenomenal effort); The Simpsons (D'oh!); Family Guy; South Park; Friday Night Lights (I'm waiting for someone to spank the coaches daughter...then I'll stop watching it); NCIS (Cote de Pablo can shoot me anytime); Ghost Whisperer (I turn the sound off and just watch Love bounce around).
Movies I like
Night Of The Living Dead-it speaks loudly to my generation.
Attack Of The Killer Leeches-it speaks loudly to my generation.
Plan 9 From Outer Space- it speaks loud...well, you know...
Pretty much any B&W Sci-Fi/Horror film made in the Fifties, regardless of how bad it is. For some strange reason, these films comfort me.
My Email Address:
vinidemon@hotmail.com
Comments
Ok, you live in Emporia, man. That is too much! You MUST take some current pictures for us. I will be glad to "develop" them for you and help you with posting them here. Take some of the Campus in its current state. See if you can get inside the buildings too. Take some of some of those places we used to go to I believe one was called Sonic, and what about that little place across the street? If you shoot video footage I will be glad to help with that too. Enjoy the site, Stay in touch.
PS - one of my favorite all time songis this one by the awesome SRV. This is in dedication of your love of the blues. Click on this video.
Do you remember me? You look great and hope that you get your bod back in shape. Emporia Kansas? That is irony, if I ever heard of irony. You are wonderful and hope all goes well for you. I am very blessed to have this website to connect with everyone!
We are doin the Blues Work of the Lord ....
I was so surprised at how many of these folks are Christian , and How Many we can reach out to ....
Besides the great time we all have together
check out this link ..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIRTdP3iJdw
this is one of the local gigs in an old empty barroom in Ypsilanti Mich
LOL!!!
What up Britt???
As usual I have no idea what you are talking about. Me do a hokie ending, Fugitaboutit!
It is so great to hear from you. I have thought about you many times. We had some fun times together and made some pretty good music. It kept us from having to go to TX and pick peppers. Would really like to hear some of your songs if you have a CD.
Your friend, who more than once needs forgiveness, and of course, fooled around and fell in love.
Hey Vin,
Just thinking about ya,
In a good way,really, ha!
wish you could grow a stasche like this huh.
Maybe when your allittle older.
Luv the picture, are we really related?
Much love brother,
we'll talk again,
John Delete Comment