Judy Davis, the longtime partner of the late Chet Helms, sent out her annual birthday card for Chet to his legion of friends and followers.
HIs birthday was Aug. 2 and he died in 2005 at the age of 69. He was a legendary promoter of rock music, creator of Chet Helms and the Family Dog at the old Avalon Ballroom, icon of the Summr of Love, loser to Bill Graham in the rock battles of the l960s, a great San Francisco spirit who spread good will and good vibes wherever he went. I wrote his obituary for the Guardian and ended with the wonderful story of how Chet died owing the city of San Francisco $30,000 for providing police protection for his 30th anniversary Summer of Love concert in Golden Gate Park. In the famous Chet tradition, he had neglected to incorporate the Summer of Love concert group and so the city went after him personally as the promoter of record.
However, I noted that, given all that Chet had done for the city for so long with concerts and good works, it was more than a fair deal for the city. B3
