Saw him a couple of time over the years. One time was at a big drum summit hosted by Dizzy Gillespie at Town Hall in 1979 during the Newport Jazz Festival. Everybody was there including Jo Jones, Art Blakey, Roy Haynes, and J.C. Heard. Another time was a few years later at a fundraiser for Jo Jones, who was ill at the time. Many drummers got up and played, including Jo, who reprised "Me and You" with Milt Hinton, off a duo album they recorded together. One of the standouts of the night was Grady Tate, who didn't play, but just spoke. He started off, I remember, saying, something like "I am not here to play, but to attest...". And then he talked about how as a young man, he saw Jo play, and how after being mesmerized by his playing, he talked about how he saw Jo drink a warm beer, so as not to shock his system. It was a beautiful tribute. This took place at the Village Gate.
Rest in peace, Grady Tate...
