Jacksonville Jaguars
GO JAGS!
11-25-2011
Mr. Natural song for Jacksonville Jaguars more information coming soon. Please check back.
Sweet Laura-line
08-25-2011
Each island visit has a last night. Whoever is leaving picks the activity. Last night, Friday, August 19 was Robin and Matt’s last night and they picked a shrimp/oyster dinner at the Rah Bar on the Jekyll Wharf.
Rarely could anyone use the word perfect to describe an evening. This evening was just that; perfect in every respect. The temperature was moderate, the setting sun was gorgeous, the food was delicious and a sea breeze was comforting.
As we arrived at the wharf there was an unusual crowd and a lot of activity. Part of the group was waiting for a dolphin tour while the rest were musicians setting up for the evening’s performance.
Whenever I see a band setting up I think of the line from the old movie,
Major League when the fans look at the new rookies and mumble “Who are these f***in guys?” Ironically just like the movie, you had to wait until the game started.
From the first song the band called Mr. Natural from Jacksonville, Florida, were very entertaining and talented. They played a variety of musical styles with equal skill.
Back home we are used to union musicians playing short sets and then taking long breaks. These guys played for over an hour before taking a short break.
The break was significant for two reasons. First, Laura, who had been relatively patient up to this point, thought it was an opportunity to leave. The meal was over and the metal seats hard.
Second, a band member made a contact with our table, and in the small world category told us his father was based at Maguire Air Force base and his family lived in Cherry Hill.
During this contact the drummer was told that Laura was a Neil Diamond fanatic and would appreciate any ND song. He said the band knew all of them and selected Sweet Caroline.
Although Laura was told what would happen in the future, she couldn’t exactly process it as she was tiring. Her vote was still to leave after the first set, and we did everything possible to get her to stay until the second set started.
After their break the band opened by identifying Laura as the “ULTIMATE Neil Diamond Fan” and playing Sweet Caroline. Laura got into it immediately as did the audience. It took no encouragement to get a group of strangers raising their hands and singing “so good…so good” at the appropriate time.
Laura’s joy was so immense that she was oblivious to everything around her, but people kept glancing at her singing and dancing, and the happier she became…the broader they smiled.
As the song approached the last chorus, the lead singer, Gregg, altered the words to be Sweet Laura-line. Luckily he sang it that way more than once because she didn’t get it the first time.
The joy of that event for Laura, her family and everyone who experienced it cannot be measured in words. It was the last part of a perfect evening.
The band went into their second set and Laura, her mother and aunt (along with many others) danced on the deck. A storybook ending to the entire night would be for Laura to have waited out the set and thanked the band personally. Unfortunately the second set was longer than her level of exhaustion and by 10:30 she was begging to go home.
Seeing us leave the lead singer tried to say goodbye, but anyone who knows Laura when she is on a mission knows that she didn’t hear him. Hopefully a copy of this essay will express our gratitude for his kindness.
One of the lessons that Laura’s life has taught me is not to judge a book by its cover. The same is true for bands like Mr. Natural; as they were setting up, question marks abounded, but from the first song you knew that they were good, really good and worthy of your time and tips.
Being stationed in the Jacksonville, Florida area our ability to interact with them again is nil but for any of my readers from South Georgia through Northern Florida if you see the name Mr. Natural on the marquee, be assured you’ll be in for a good time. I see from their website that they play at the Sun Dog Diner in Jacksonville among many other places.
The band can be contacted at www.mrnaturalband.com Check them out. Tell that Sweet Laura-line from New Jersey says hi.
03/06 – 03/13
Hey everybody!! Just to let you know, I’m hosting Karaoke at Cheers Mandarin every Tues from 9:30 – 1:30. It’s been a real blast!! I have over 85,000 songs to choose from, and I’m using the Mr. Natural BIG RIG. It sounds amazing!!
Thursday unfortunately got rained out at Jerry’s for bike night, but Lord knows we needed the rain!!! Friday night at the Sun Dog was a lot of fun. My dear friend Peggy Martin (Singer from “Not Tonight I’ve Got The Blues Band) came in with her friends from Alabama and partied hard with us !!! Peggy brought the house down with a little Tina Turner, it was great!! It was awesome to see all of our beach fans. Saturday at the Sun Dog was off the Chain!!!! Nothing makes my night at the Dog more perfect than when my beautiful son Zack , and his crew come to hear me play!! Thanks Z I Love You!!! Thanks to Curtis and all the staff for a great time.
As you can see the web site has been completely rebuilt!! A huge thanks to Billy Box (Mr. Natural’s Drummer) for building such an amazing site. We are going to be adding lots of pics to the site, so check them out…..you just might be in there!!!
That’s all for now, and please say some prayers for those in Japan and the tsunami victims. Be kind to one another, and remember “Music is a natural healer…Let us be your medicine”
All the best,
Gregg (Mr. Natural)
In Memory of Laura Roberts
Mr. Natural had the honor to play at Buffalos Wild Wings in Orange Park February 16th 2011 for Bike Night for a woman who recently passed away. She was greatly loved in our community and will be missed by those who knew and loved her. There is a testimony of strength and victory in her story that the band felt needed to be told. Laura was diagnosed 4 years ago with (stage4) lung cancer and was told she had about 4 months to live. Her son bought her a Honda Goldwing motorcycle at that time and they rode up through Alaska, Canada, the islands of the Carribean and throughout the U.S.A. This prolonged Laura's life for four more years. Sadly she passed this February 11th. 2011. She is no longer with us, but she still has Gold Wings.
Much love Laura,
Mr. Natural Band
In Loving Memory: Kelly Jordan
Nov.17,1961-Feb 12,2007
We Love You
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Hurricane Pattys - Flagler Beach, St. Augustine