Reunion is music to jazz legend's ears
End of legal battle puts instrument back into the hands of
103-year-old
Legendary Houston jazz
musician Huey Long strummed his rare, hand-made guitar Friday afternoon for the
first time in nearly a year.
A smile spread across the
103-year-old's thin face as he cradled the smooth, polished guitar in his
hospital bed, his resting place since recently fracturing a hip bone.
"It's so
wonderful," said Long. "It seems more like a dream."
The reunion ended a legal
battle for the custom-made D'Angelico guitar between him and Nancy Tankelson, a
woman he said he gave the instrument to for safekeeping. Long said he asked for
the guitar back and Tankelson refused, prompting him to file a lawsuit last
week.
At court a hearing
Friday, state District Judge Ken Wise told Tankelson to return it immediately.
He also told her to return about $2,000 cash and memorabilia as well.
Tankelson agreed.
She said she is making a
documentary film about Long and needed the guitar for filming. She said she
would give it back but wanted to use it again to complete the film.
Anita Long, Long's
daughter, said Tankelson could use it again as long as it was insured and
handled with care.
"I'm happy,"
Tankelson said. "I want him to have the guitar."
Anita Long said her
father had told her he feared he would never see the instrument again.
He bought it more than 60
years ago in New York City, and it reminds him of all the good times and bad
times in his life, she said. He was able to hold onto it even in the times when
he had very little money.
According to the lawsuit,
Tankelson befriended Long in 2004, culminating in Long giving her power of
attorney. That has been terminated, said Ken Ward, Long's attorney.
The suit states that Long
allowed Tankelson to make a documentary film about him and helped her with it,
but later he could no longer assist her.
The lawsuit alleges that
she wanted Long to travel to Austin, Galveston, New Orleans and downtown
Houston for more filming and threatened to sue if he refused.
Tankelson, however, said
she never threatened to sue Long or asked him to travel when he was unwell.
Also, she said, Long signed a contract with her that states she could use any
of his memorabilia and materials to make the film.
The woman said that if
she had returned the guitar she feared she would not have access to it anymore.
The film is nearly
complete, said Tankelson of the documentary that is composed of interviews with
Long reminiscing, including performances with such jazz greats as Dizzy
Gillespie, Sarah Vaughn and Charlie Parker.