Xphillipjrx Member Username: Xphillipjrx
Post Number: 138 Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 11:39 am: | |
I went to the UM/Wisconsin game on Saturday. My brother and I were talking and the topic came to Shaky Jake. I asked a couple passing students if they heard of Shaky Jake and they both looked at me like, "Who"? I know two students isn't exactly a representative sample, but I'm pretty sure everybody knew who he was when I was there. So...any Shaky Jake sightings in A2? |
Detroitduo Member Username: Detroitduo
Post Number: 730 Registered: 06-2005
| Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 11:44 am: | |
Is this Detroit relevent? |
Wmuchris Member Username: Wmuchris
Post Number: 450 Registered: 06-2005
| Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 11:46 am: | |
Has anyone seen the Can-Man in Brighton recently? |
Motorcitymayor2026 Member Username: Motorcitymayor2026
Post Number: 1371 Registered: 10-2005
| Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 11:53 am: | |
His name is Fritz! |
Wmuchris Member Username: Wmuchris
Post Number: 451 Registered: 06-2005
| Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 11:59 am: | |
So he is still around? That's good. This may be a bit of an overshare, but when I worked at Pet Supplies Plus, that guy would come in all the time, and talk for hours. Sometimes he was allright to talk with, others it was just annoying. |
Danindc Member Username: Danindc
Post Number: 1784 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 12:00 pm: | |
I haven't seen Shakey Jake since Bagel Factory closed down around 2000. |
Motorcitymayor2026 Member Username: Motorcitymayor2026
Post Number: 1372 Registered: 10-2005
| Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 12:01 pm: | |
Fritzy sure is still around, making the rounds through Brighton. He can be fairly interesting to talk to. |
Pam Member Username: Pam
Post Number: 511 Registered: 11-2005
| Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 12:04 pm: | |
I thought I heard Jake moved to Florida. Remember the "I Brake for Jake" bumper stickers? |
E_hemingway Member Username: E_hemingway
Post Number: 967 Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 12:19 pm: | |
I heard he is still alive and in Ann Arbor this summer. My girlfriend and I were walking through Art Fair when I said to her I wonder if he was still alive because I hadn't seen him in years. We talked about him for a few minutes before the couple in front of us turned around and confirmed that yes he was still alive and in Ann Arbor and that they had seen him earlier in the summer. It's not exactly a shaky jake sighting, but its all I have heard of him for years now. |
Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell
Post Number: 3029 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 12:26 pm: | |
So who is he? Descriptions please... |
E_hemingway Member Username: E_hemingway
Post Number: 968 Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 12:34 pm: | |
Shaky Jake is probably the most famous homeless man in A2. He is mostly sighted in downtown where he often plays guitar and sings very simple blues songs. Over the years, he has developed sort of a cult following. He is even mentioned in Wikipedia. Shaky Jake bumper stickers are the biggest legacy. The bumper stickers said "I Brake for Jake!" and were quite popular during 1990s I think. He is still well known among the townies. Here is a photo of him. http://www.pbase.com/rhoover/i mage/25156284 |
The_aram Member Username: The_aram
Post Number: 5061 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 12:37 pm: | |
i saw Shaky Jake earlier this year over on South U. he's still kickin'! |
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup
Post Number: 1364 Registered: 06-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 12:40 pm: | |
Jake's not homeless |
E_hemingway Member Username: E_hemingway
Post Number: 969 Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 12:44 pm: | |
I had heard that, too. Some people believe he has a house. Some people believe he's rich. But the conventional wisdom as I understood it has always been that he is homeless. I don't know for certain one way or another. |
Chub Member Username: Chub
Post Number: 389 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 12:58 pm: | |
Shaky Jake coming at ya'! I remember the radio spot he did for WCBN. Very funny stuff. Living in Ann Arbor from '96 to '01, I remember seeing him almost daily, playing (if you could call it that) his junk guitar and singin' his jiggy jangle jiggy lyrics. The strangest thing I remember thinking about him, was that I owned and worked a guitar store in downtown Ann Arbor for 6 years and not once did he ever step foot into my store. Well, I guess he must have been buying his strings down the street at Herb's. |
E_hemingway Member Username: E_hemingway
Post Number: 971 Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 1:08 pm: | |
Shaky Jake might be one of the best known people to frequent downtown A2, but my two favorite people downtown were the Michael Jackson impersonator and the old black guy who drives around downtown on weekends in his big old cadillac playing blues songs on his radio with the windows down. |
Citylover Member Username: Citylover
Post Number: 1812 Registered: 07-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 1:12 pm: | |
Who needs strings??!! Jake has lived on Broadway here in AA for yrs_ had a stroke a few yrs back but is still getting around I wonder how he wold fare in Detroit? |
Goat Member Username: Goat
Post Number: 8825 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 2:15 pm: | |
Shot, killed or stabbed I'm sure. |
Xphillipjrx Member Username: Xphillipjrx
Post Number: 139 Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 2:49 pm: | |
I thought somebody would have posted it, but David Alan Grier's character on In Living Color (Wanna hear it? Here it go.) is based on Jake since Grier went to UM. As for relevence to Detroit, this thread is 4-5 away from the Reviving Downtown Flint thread... |
The_aram Member Username: The_aram
Post Number: 5062 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 3:07 pm: | |
E_hemingway, just like most of the notorious panhandlers in Ann Arbor (the "Spare any change my good-good-friend? Have a niiice day!" guy that hangs out near the entrance to the Diag at the intersection of E and S University, etc.), Shaky Jake is NOT homeless. |
Valkyrias Member Username: Valkyrias
Post Number: 346 Registered: 02-2005
| Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 3:15 pm: | |
my lil sis just graduated from u of m this past spring, and i have heard many stories of shakey jake and his antics. a former friend of her's befriended him, and just as others pointed out on the thread, he is not homeless and from what she's told me (and if i am remembering correctly) he actually lives with another *street person*, a woman who is referred to as momma cass. |
E_hemingway Member Username: E_hemingway
Post Number: 976 Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 3:25 pm: | |
Ahhh... the pandhandlers. I used to feel sorry for them and give them money once upon a time many, many moons ago. That was until I read an A2 News story about how they make anywhere from $10 to $20 per hour begging for money. My favorite was the obese woman who begged for money with her kids in tow. She would always be asking for money for food and have brand new clothes, usually some sort of jogging suit, and shoes on. Never saw her leave that bench. |
Beatsworking Member Username: Beatsworking
Post Number: 52 Registered: 08-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 3:43 pm: | |
Shaky Jake even has a video about him... available at Liberty St. Video |
Citylover Member Username: Citylover
Post Number: 1813 Registered: 07-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 3:52 pm: | |
His cd is a good bargain there are about 35-40 songs on it_ I am waitng for the shaky jake box set from k-tel |
Caseyc Member Username: Caseyc
Post Number: 639 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 4:56 pm: | |
Lyrics from "where this record is going", from his first album (courtesy of my brother's transcriptions): You wanna' know where this record is going? I'm gonna send this one to fifty states!! I'm gonna send it to HI-wai-uh, Hong-Kong-ah, Nova Slavvy HI-waii V05 n' I want it to go to Bever-wood, Hollywood California Down south Baton Rouge, Blindsville Because I want those people down there to know That a poor boy come to the city can do things just as good as anybody A normal person can't do what simple person can do So I advise you not to try'n keep up with me Because I'm faster than the wind .. wheeeaeaoughheough If you would vacation with me I will stay and teach you but if you try to beat me I'll speed up to 150 miles an hour If you try to beat me I'll speed up to 250 milesan hour and you'll be sorry Because I'm faster than the wind ... Wheeeawwww-hahaw-wheeeeeeawwww ww-snnxxxkkxxkkkxxk |
Caseyc Member Username: Caseyc
Post Number: 640 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 5:02 pm: | |
here's another good one, from his first album, entitled "End Song" (think ersatz Big Star jangle pop meets silverware in the garbage disposal with a soupcon of VanDyke Parks): This the story of the three Serv ... ahh ... Wiseowww... Gable, ... Dick and Clark The lord has seven servants The lord has seven servants and the seventh one is simple And when the time comes the simple man's going to destroy the devil He's is the only one that can destroy the devil the others can't destroy |
Danindc Member Username: Danindc
Post Number: 1786 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 5:07 pm: | |
Any of you folks in Ann Arbor, where can I score a Shakey Jake CD/video/t-shirt? I would prefer if the vendor could ship it directly to me, but if I have to, I'll trade DC schwag with ya if you score some Jake on my behalf. |
Caseyc Member Username: Caseyc
Post Number: 641 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 5:17 pm: | |
send me a Blelvis cd (the self-proclaimed "black elvis")....ran into him in Adams Morgan more than a few times. |
Ron Member Username: Ron
Post Number: 299 Registered: 03-2006
| Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 6:13 pm: | |
Since we're talking about the "homeless" on Michigan college campuses, does anyone remember the "can man" or "bike man" at MSU? He, too, was a mainstay at MSU, much as Jake was at UM. I also heard he was not homeless. Any info? |
Cablmich Member Username: Cablmich
Post Number: 1 Registered: 09-2006
| Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 11:06 pm: | |
I saw Shaky Jake this summer at the Art Fair and he was alive and kicking. Also, a couple of years ago I ran into him at Applebees when he was eating dinner with a young blonde co-ed. It kind of took me by surprise but I definitely respected the game. |
Malcovemagnesia Member Username: Malcovemagnesia
Post Number: 1 Registered: 12-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - 1:15 am: | |
Here is a WFMU (New York, of all places) blog entry about Jake with links to three MP3 files (from a CD you can buy). I'd buy it, but my girl would either hide it or chuck it if I dared play his music while she was around. p.s. yeah, post #1 for me, tho I've been lurking longer than December. |
E_hemingway Member Username: E_hemingway
Post Number: 980 Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - 11:47 am: | |
Welcome Malcovemagnesia. Quality first post. |
Andylinn Member Username: Andylinn
Post Number: 226 Registered: 04-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - 12:43 pm: | |
shaky jake is indeed still around. I saw him about a month ago. he still lives. still can't play guitar.
|
Citylover Member Username: Citylover
Post Number: 1822 Registered: 07-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - 1:43 pm: | |
Wonderful review from arwulf on the blog link from malcovmag.... |
Frenchman_in_the_d Member Username: Frenchman_in_the_d
Post Number: 51 Registered: 08-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - 1:54 pm: | |
E_hemingway, hahaha! I laughed my ass off when I read your "Michael Jackson impersonator" I see him every evening when I walk around with friends. He dances right on Liberty, between Division and State in a little drive-in covered with graffitis. He was dancing crazy yesterday: we were probably 10 watching him a cracking up. Prolly the next Shaky Jake?? I don't think the guy is homeless though. I'll try and talk to him next time... |
E_hemingway Member Username: E_hemingway
Post Number: 984 Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - 2:14 pm: | |
Nah, Michael Jackson isn't homeless. He lives in Ypsi last I heard. And the old guy in the Cadillac lives somewhere on the city's north side. Those guys aren't panhandlers but just cool little parts of Ann Arborcana. Michael Jackson is awesome. He's been doing the same routine in the same alleyway for years and gets better each year. |
Farrer Member Username: Farrer
Post Number: 587 Registered: 12-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - 2:34 pm: | |
While he's always been referred to as "Shakey", I think that on the casette (which I owned and is currently missing) and elsewhere's he's known as "Shakin' Jake Woods". I first encountered him whilst a young teen at a J&B festival where he sort of fit in and may even have been given a slot. He was most certainly given a slot at the two day "Free John Sinclair" benefit at the Grande/Eastown in '70 because he made it onto the event poster that I have (no, I was too young to go to any of it), so there's a Detroit tie-in for the nitpickers. My brother became a supporter and friend of sorts to him and picked up on many of his t-shirts, bumper stickers, cards and, of course, the now missing cassette. I think when brothers such as these notice that you still have the cassette but no longer have a cassette deck, they "indian-give". I particularly like the freely-associated references to animals like the signifying monkey, wise owls, quails, billy goats, snakes and also the "jokes". I like the "Ballad for the Young Girls" where he starts out "advising" them but quickly crosses over to his apocalyptic visions of judgment day where he can help with the "rules" and the "tricks" becuase he authored the rulebook and the trickbook, etc..... Glad to hear he's doing ok. F (Proud owner of two Jake t-shirts and former owner of cassette recording" |
Rugbyman Member Username: Rugbyman
Post Number: 61 Registered: 06-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - 2:36 pm: | |
Ron, the Wells Hall Can Man (or Santa Claus, depending on who you're talking to) died two or three years ago. His name was Ernie and he wasn't homeless either. Apparently he had a house in town, but didn't live high on the hog by any stretch of the imagination. Here's a link to one of many SNews writeups about him after his death: http://www.statenews.com/artic le.phtml?pk=21680 Strange though it may sound, he really was one of the bigger things to stick out in my mind about my time at MSU. There really was a lot of buzz on campus about him after his death and it was pretty surreal walking around campus and never seeing him again. |
Caseyc Member Username: Caseyc
Post Number: 642 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - 3:06 pm: | |
you mean this one Farrer? (lyrics courtesy of brother Samuel): This a poem, f'all the young girls Uh when they get eighteen or fifteen whatarea and what Now This is a certain age you remember one thing you gotta' know how to 'duct yersef in public You have to coalugrate yoursef be calm don't get excited try to do the best y'kin' you see . . . I say, I can't tell you when the date is ... but we gonna' have judgement day I know right now I know what year what the date but I can't tell you right now I know whats's gonna happen to th' world gonna get dark I know what to do reparin' now for when the worl' gonna happen y'all won't be able to live in the dark but I will because I know the rules I can survive better'n y'all could because I know the rules Y'see I wrote the rulebook and I wrote the trick book I know all the tricks and I know a couple dozen extra Wheeeeheeehiickxkxk aa I know a whole lotta' tricks but I don't want to tell you But I'll try ta' hep y'all the best I kin Try ta'be rea'ble ... |
Pam Member Username: Pam
Post Number: 514 Registered: 11-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - 3:16 pm: | |
quote:Wheeeeheeehiickxkxk aa
Casey your transcriptions and your description above (Ersatz Big Star etc) are hilarious. Makes me wish I had hung on to a copy of the Jake tape. |
Livedog2 Member Username: Livedog2
Post Number: 1253 Registered: 03-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - 4:24 pm: | |
Are you kidding? Shaky Jake standing at the SE corner of S. Main St. and E. Washington St. very much alive! Doing what he does best which is not playing that guitar!! Livedog2 |
Nainrouge Member Username: Nainrouge
Post Number: 79 Registered: 05-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - 4:30 pm: | |
I always thought "Shaky Jake's" would be a great name for a bar. |
Bagman Member Username: Bagman
Post Number: 75 Registered: 06-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - 5:43 pm: | |
I lived in Ann Arbor for 20 years before returning to Detroit. I ran three differant businesses there and Jake had an account at all three and paid his bill every month....in full, of course. Over the years have gotten to know Jake pretty well, and for people to think he is Rich, homeless, a begger, whatever they think is ok by me as it adds to the mystique. I saw him when he came to see John Sinclair at his gig in Ann Arbor two weeks ago. He's alive and well..... Fans of AA: Rumor has it that the Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival is going to return next year as the ORIGINAL AAB&J Festival with a killer line up like the awsome shows of '72, '73 & '74, you know the glory days ...stay tuned |
Ron Member Username: Ron
Post Number: 302 Registered: 03-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - 6:04 pm: | |
Thanks Rugby. He was certainly a part of the campus. Sorry to hear about his passing. |