They allowed it when they felt like using her.

And they slapped her back in ugly ways when they didn’t.

But Loretta Williams…

[Shakes head]

The woman she was.

She kept coming back for more.

DuShawn had had some troubles.

Did some jailtime.

Because of all that, it took Tom a while to track him down.

When he did, we were heading west, and Lyla was going to be with us for spring break.

The bus had just rolled into Denver and all Preacher can think about is getting his ass off it, getting in the limo that was waiting and getting to Stapleton to pick up Lyla, who didn’t arrive for another two hours.

[Laughs]

But there’s this big black guy, hair tapered, red tracksuit, he strolls up to Preach, man.

[Shakes head, grinning]

Security that’s there for us jumps to and there’s this booming, “Don’t touch me, dude.”

Preach looks toward that voice and fuck.

[Smiles largely]

First time I ever felt jealous, sister.

It was either that the foundation of the band was all about Preacher, and Shawn’s daddy and granddaddy taught Preacher everything they knew.

Or it was just that this guy was insanely talented, and he’d fill the bill for anybody.

But for our set in Denver, we not only had the keyboard set up, we had a grand piano rolled out.

During soundcheck, DuShawn sat in.

Then he played that gig with us.

And yeah.

Right then.

History, sister.

The real Roadmasters were born.

[Off tape]

Why didn’t McCade draft Williams in the beginning?

Because he’d done a nickel for grand theft auto.

Even when he suggested him, Preacher didn’t know if he’d be available.

He was in touch with the family, but we’ll just say, DuShawn was working out issues.

As you know, Williams contends he did not steal that car.

[Shakes head]

You’re young, sister, but I think you know, bein’ black just about anywhere, be it in the seventies, eighties, nineties, fuckin’ now, don’t matter you didn’t do it.

You fit the bill, say, you’re black…

You don’t have the cash to hire a decent lawyer…

You’re goin’ down.

DuShawn, well…

His daddy, Oscar, his granddaddy, Buddy, they were quiet legends in the biz.

They recorded, had mad respect, not a lot of commercial success, but everyone who heard their records, saw them play, knew they were the real deal.

Back then, there were a lot of real deals.

Think about this.

Every bona-fide new genre of music that has come out of the US of A had African American roots.

Jazz. Blues. Hip hop.

And rock ’n’ roll.

Who are popularly thought of as the greatest rock ’n’ roll acts of all time?

Elvis Presley, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

Now tell me, sister.

What’s wrong with that picture?

Now I’ll tell you something.