I realized at the report of Ernie Edwards’ death at age 94 that no footage of him apparently existed on the Internet.
I decided to rectify that by mashing together footage from Canadian musician Melissa McClelland‘s “Pedal to Steel” documentary from 2006, when she embarked on a tour of Route 66. She visited Edwards at his Pig Hip Restaurant Museum before a fire destroyed it less than a year later.
I found some of the footage unexpectedly poignant:
According to the obituary, the visitation for Edwards will be Monday, with the burial on Tuesday.
Alas, the Orange Record Label, which released the one-hour DVD of “Pedal to Steel,” is defunct. So I’m not sure where you can order it.
“Pedal to Steel” also produced this sublime performance on the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge in St. Louis.
UPDATE: Bernard Schoenburg, a political columnist for the Springfield State Journal-Register, had this to say today:
I have fond memories of Ernie, complete with chef’s hat, helping keep this traveler both alert enough to drive with free-flowing coffee and feeling a bit better through friendly conversation.
In my early days as a newspaper guy — in the late 1970s — my boss in Bloomington thought I fit the bill to travel to Springfield during legislative session weeks. I’d stress out as I tried to keep up with goings on at the Statehouse. On many a Friday, I’d head north, exhausted and dejected. The Pig Hip became a regular stop to refuel. Ernie had known lots of legislators and other public officials. He was fun to talk with and always made me feel better about things.
About a year before the old restaurant — already converted to a museum — burned in 2007, I visited Ernie again and reminisced about those trips between Springfield and Bloomington. He was gracious as usual. A mug I bought, with the Pig Hip logo, is still a prized possession.
There is alot of video footage on Ernie Edwards including recent footage taken by a film crew working with the Illinois Scenic Byway. It’s just not online.
I never posted any video because there was something private and magical about Ernie. He’d learn forward with a twinkle in his eye and say “there was” or “years ago” or my favorite “I heard tell” and he’d tell you a story with lots of spins and turns. It was pure magic and pure showmanship. It was always like he was telling only you this particular story – not to be shared. In this world where everything gets sliced and diced into sound bites I would hate to think that someone could edit Ernie Edwards and make him into a giant buffoon or make him sound biased or racist, as he could so easily be taken out of context – he was a product of his generation and could so easily be misinterpreted.
One thing you knew for sure, Ernie’s mother was his biggest supporter and she’d go to any length to help Ernie and be there for him. The times Ernie grew up in were times of expansion, new fangled items, new ways to make money.
Ernie gave back, but never madea big deal out of anything he did. Ok, once in a while he made a BIG DEAL out of something, but even then it was ok. I’d give anything to walk in to visit Ernie one more time for him to start with “I have a bone to pick with you.” He will be sorely missed.
Plans are underway to celebrate his life on his 95th birthday August 5th, in Broadwell. Geoff Ladd will be organizing a celebration of the Old Coot’s life…details to follow.