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
God Bless!! I am sorry to say I have not seen or had any communication with Maryann. I did see John for a short few minutes a month or so before he died. Evon Priddy Purcell may have an idea of how to help you. She is on this site. She was 6 Corps. I do hope you find someone who can help.
Shari
I just got my digital camera and only have a few pictures, but i put one up of my sisters and me from the holidays, Joe and I, and an awful one of my kids. I'll try to get better ones on soon.
I Love you,
C
Marion
Do you remember me and Denise? I sure remember you! One funny incident was when a group of us were driving in a van back to Emporia and arrived LATE!! Oh my gosh! Craig let us have it up in the Wierwille library.
We live in the Northeast and it would be a blast if you moved to CT or NY.
GOD loves you,
Marion
Thanks for your kind words! I did Cmas vaca in Chicago, it was awesome, I love Chicago. My brother lives there, and my sister/brother own a cottage in Mich., about 1 1/2 hrs from chicago, on Lake Michigan so I go out every summer and vaca there. I am so blessed and encouraged by your life, by everyone's lives and it is strange how I now feel like a part of me that has been missing, is now being made whole. Only those of us who have been through the Corps, understand you, totally. I almost feel like, the people that I know here, don't totally know who I am, they can't. But you guys all know, we have history for sure, we all view life throught different eyes, than the rest of the world.
Love ya
Marian
How to insert am image or picture into these comments? It's easy. First your picture has to be located on a server somewhere like on this NING server. Just upload some photos that you mayu want to share or find the picture you want on a web page somewhere. Then just follow these instructions. "Adding Pictures"
Here is a picture of a blues guitarist Johnny Winter who I used to listen to a lot when I was young.
I am a total computer retard, so anything over and above "adding a comment" is a milestone for me.
I do not know Piluso, but after looking at his profile, it seems I should: like me, he's a creative, nut-job, paisan from New York.
Re: photos and videos of Emporia:
If and when I take them, you will be the first to know.
Significant structural changes at the campus: The leveling of the Married Corps/Way College student residence housing.
The removal and transfer of all the seats in Kenyon Hall to the newly restored Granada movie house on Commercial.
I believe you already know that the Wierwille Library has become the National Teacher's Hall Of Fame...http://www.nthf.org/
And they turned our football field/track into a public walkway and added a memorial headstone honoring the original Emporia College alumni.
Other than that, if you were standing in front of Kenyon, you'd feel like you were right back in the Corps getting ready for a run.
Now, let's see if I can send you a photo...
well, I guess not.
How do I add photos to these emails, John?
Love ya,
Vini