Business at East Coast Image started to pick up again. We suddenly got a plum assignment courtesy of Marty O'Brien. As I'd said before, Marty's work with Tigress had made him a major player in the music business seemingly overnight. And he always made sure we were along for the ride. But this time, Chris was having second thoughts about the new assignment we got through Marty. Not because of the subject, or the money, but the location.
"Nashville? Why there? Why did we get that place?" he said in a tone that reminded me of myself at times.
I suppose his feelings were justified.
We would be going there to shoot a group of music stars for Vanity Fair magazine's annual music issue. The locations had been kept largely secret and the photographers chosen only knew where they were going after they picked a city out of a hat. And we got Nashville. And a group of country music stars. I was looking forward to it; I had only been there once before for a family wedding and loved walking around the city, feeling the atmosphere and hearing the music coming out of the clubs and bars.
"I mean, do I look like the kind of guy in a pickup playing, what's his name...Willie Nelson on the eight track player?" he said.
"Well...now that you mention it..." I replied trying not to snicker.
"Very funny!" he said "OK, let's get to work." He said with a resigned tone.
Two days later we arrived in Nashville. Marty was there to meet us and was his usual self.
"There's my boys! Welcome to Nashville!"
Chris was grumpy all morning and I wound doing most of the talking to the record company reps we dealt with. Tim McCoy would be our connection here and we hit it off immediately.
"OK, guys" he started "We'll get started in the morning at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge"
Chris looked at me with an expression that showed how much he was dreading this job. I could tell the idea of shooting photos at a place called "Tootsie's" didn't thrill him in the slightest. Never mind the history of the place.
"Cool, I went there long ago...oh, uh, who are we photographing anyway?" I said
"Well, that's a mystery to me." Tim replied.
"Why?"
"Somebody leaked the info about this shoot and they're trying to keep this as low key as possible. All I know is it's someone big." He replied.
"Oh, uh, okay. I guess we'll know when we know, right?"
"Exactly, see you in the AM boys." Tim went off with some assistants.
"I need a drink." Chris said.
"Man, you're acting like a 5 year old." I grumbled as we headed for the hotel bar.
"Well, wouldn't you? We could've gotten Miami or New York...but noooo...look where we are?" he whined.
I gradually blocked out his whining.
The following morning I was up and ready to go. I was getting my gear ready when my cell rang.
"Dude...I-I-I feel like death now." A raspy voice said
"Chris?"
"Yeah...must've had too much to drink..."
"You had one beer." I replied.
"One...one too many..." he said.
"If you're trying to get out of this you're doing a really lousy acting job." I said.
"Dude...gonna die now."
I looked up at the ceiling.
"Why me?" I said to no one in particular.
