The Real Hollywood Thang (part 2)

Two days later we were on a bus on our way to visit Santa Monica. We've gotten pretty good at getting around the city by bus and metro - it's so much easier and cheaper compared to here- but this time we weren't sure we were going the right way. My father turned around and looked for someone who we could try to ask. Behind him sat a calm-looking slightly older dark-complexed man in a light colored suit and hat -a very bluesy New Orleans-style. My parents asked him for directions; he smiled and said that he was getting off where we wanted to go and he'd tell us when we arrived. The engaged in a converstaion; my sister and I pretty much ignored them and continued looking out the windows. Awhile later, my mom taps us on our shoulders, and introduces us to the man. His name was Terrell Leonard, better known as Ty Terrell from The Robins, a several-time Jazz / Rock-and-Roll Hall of Fame band in the 50s. Researching this I learn that In 1945 Ty joined Billy Richard, and his brother Roy Richard to form the "A-Sharp Trio". They turned pro after winning second place in Jonny Otis' talent show. In 1949 Otis merged them with singer Bobby Nunn to form a quartlet "4 Bluebirds." They later changed the name to The Robins and were pretty successful over the next few years.
On May 11, 1986, Bobby Nunn died of a heart attack at the age of 61, and Roy Richard died in California in 1978 at age 53. Billy Richard became a mortician, and Terrell “Ty” Leonard eventually went to work at a local Sears department store...which is where he was heading to when we met him on the bus that day, also wearing a Sears name tag.

When he found out that my sister and I are budding entertainers, he whipped out a business card with his phone number and email and told us he'd try to help us if we contact him. Tres cool.