Source: en.wikipedia.org
If you’re a well-known saxophonist, then the answer might just be: a guest spot on The Simpsons. Sonny Rollins, who in 2010 received America’s highest honor for artistic excellence from President Obama, will be appearing this spring in an episode of Fox’s, animated series.
In an episode that taps into the Tupac At Coachella controversy that happened earlier this year, Lisa doesn’t like the idea of a holographic representation of her late friend, and blues icon, Bleeding Gums Murphy, being used. Lisa starts a letter writing campaign in an effort to stop what she sees as holographic exploitation.
Enter Sonny Rollins, who through a holographic representation of himself, defends the label’s use of holograms.
In typical Simpson’s fashion, there is an interconnected to this Rollins casting. Rollins was the inspiration for the middle of the night bridge scene, in which Lisa Simpson first encountered Bleeding Gums Murphy.
In the 1950s and 60s when Rollins lived in New York, he had a habit of practicing on the Williamsburg Bridge. This is how he describes it:
In the 50s and 60s, Lucille and I had a small apartment on Grand Street on the Lower East Side of New York. It was a nice time. I had a lot of friends there and I was welcomed by the neighborhood people. Like most of New York, the Lower East Side has undergone gentrification but back then, it was a much more ethnic place.
I started practicing in the house because I had to practice, but I felt guilty because I’m a sensitive person and I know that people need quiet in their apartments.
I was walking on Delancey Street one day, not far from where I lived on Grand Street and I just happened to look up and see these steps that I decided to check out. And there, of course, was the bridge, the Williamsburg Bridge. It was this nice big expanse going over the East River. There was nobody up there. So I started walking acoss the bridge and said, “Wow. This is what I have been looking for. This is a private place. I can blow my horn as loud as I want.” Because the boats are coming under, and the subway is coming across, and cars, and I knew it was perfect, just serendipity. Then, I began getting my horn and going up there regularly. I would be up there 15 or 16 hours at a time spring, summer, fall and winter.
Source: sonnyrollins.com
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