[JPL] Thank You Studs

[Mark Ruffin]

I first met Studs Terkel in 1985 when I was hired as jazz editor at Chicago
Magazine.  At that time the magazine was owned by the great classical radio
station WFMT and Studs had an office there.  That first meeting was quite an
impressionable one on me as he talked to me quizzically, checking to see how
much jazz I really knew and what kind of person I was.  I remember being so
inspired by him.  He was already an old man then and I remember him telling
me that being a writer or a musician were among the very few professions
where aging actually could make you better at your craft.  Over the years I
saw him as the epitome of his message.  

I was fortunate enough to interact with him on a number of occasions and was
ALWAYS amazed at his memory.  But my absolute favorite memories of Studs
involved working with him on a unique collaboration with the famed
Steppenwolf Theatre and the Chicago public radio station WBEZ.  On one show
Studs was the moderator of a conversation between saxophonists Von Freeman
and Franz Jackson.  No one knew that these two guys...well, let's just say
weren't the best of friends.   The friction on the stage was palpable and
Studs became more of a referee than a moderator.  He used humor and that
incredible storage of memories he had to keep these two old men from
battling each other.  At the end of what was a very long day I remember
Studs looking haggard and tired and I thought a little pissed at it all.
But to my surprise when I mentioned such to him, he gave me the classic
Studs glint and smiled and told me he was having a ball.  

He was and will always be the main inspiration for me as a writer.  In 2003,
when I was fortunate enough to be a semi-finalist in the Sundance
screenwriting competition, I sought him out to thank him and explain how he
was an inspiration.  He didn't seem to have any idea who I was but was
extremely gracious.  Then a few weeks later I saw him at WFMT and again his
memory surprised me as he spoke about meeting me at Chicago Magazine and he
gave me that glint and thanked me for contacting him.  He was an amazing
man.

Mark Ruffin