Sherman’s march

As high school kids in Staunton, my friends and I always went record shopping at Back Alley Disc on Main Street, and Dave Sherman was the guy who held our attention. Although he grew up in Oregon, he had recently returned from Europe and, as he explained it, “being named Sherman, I didn’t want to settle too far south.” So he settled in Staunton, where he worked at Back Alley for 20 years. Sherman recently had a serious heart attack that left him flatlined. I got to talk to him about music—especially his connection to Delbert McClinton.

Spencer Lathrop: Delbert’s music?
Dave Sherman: He was pretty much un-known around here at the time I found out about him, and I was so in to him that I went to live shows and, between sets, I took people out to my car in the guise of doing cocaine, and then I’d play them Delbert. They all said that my coke was great—and Delbert was O.K., too. I took short tours with him, and in the early years of “Saturday Night Live,” Delbert was the musical guest, and I got to be backstage, in charge of the guest list. That was the most fun. Thursday through the after-party, where I got Bill Murray and Gilda Radner to laugh.

SL: The Delbert ocean cruise?
DS: During my heart attack, I was in heaven, and I promised myself that if I got through it, I would take the Delbert Cruise no matter the cost. I sent in the form, and they wanted to know where I wanted to stay, so I called them and Delbert’s wife, Wendy, got on the phone, and she said, “Don’t worry, Dave. We are going to take care of you.” Over 1,000 people listening to music that is way too good for the radio: Marcia Ball, Tommy Castro and Stephen Bruton. It’s like Christmas at home with your real family, instead of all those assholes that you’re genetically linked to.

SL: Best local shows?
DS: The first time Billy Price ever played in town at The Mineshaft. Arthur Arico ordered me to stay, so I did. Billy had six or seven pieces that got up on stage with Skip Castro. Koko Taylor at the old West Virginian. So much talent in a tiny space. Delbert on acid at The Mineshaft, after which he went down to the West Virginian and sat in with The Nighthawks and John Hammond. NRBQ was the first band that played at the C&O after they got their liquor license. We had regular, normal girls falling down. And DMB at Zipper’s on New Year’s Eve before Boyd had formally joined the band. They played forever. I love them. I have three daughters and sometimes it was the only thing we could talk about.

SL: New records?
DS: The new Marcia Ball is the best one she has ever done. Whitey Johnson, which is Gary Nicholson’s tribute to the blues. He sounds so black. And Mingo Fishtrap from North Texas State who sound like the Stoned Wheat Things with a horn section on speed.