Music in My Heart: My Journey with Melody

I ask Melody if we can stay at the studio. It’s my first time here, and I’m pretty sure it will be my last. Melody doesn’t seem disappointed. She may like cars, but she likes music even more. Dwayne tosses the keys in the air and catches them again as he strides down a long hallway to the front door. But a moment later, he’s back. He says that the producer found another errand-boy so that he can hang back and look after us. His face is long. I bet he was already picturing himself behind the wheel of that fancy car. Melody apologizes, but Dwayne says not to worry about it. He wouldn’t want to miss learning how to walk.

He turns to the woman in the room, and asks if we know that that’s Mr. Gordy’s sister. She works for her brother, polishing up Motown stars until they shine. Melody says that if he ever wants to go into business with her, she would be happy to teach him manners. Dwayne jokes back and says that wouldn’t be too bad. Because then he could be the boss of her. For real.

We all laugh, but then he seriously says that he needs Melody’s help with something. Melody asks what, but he glances down the hall and says that he’ll tell us later. As he disappears into the rehearsal room, Melody and I wonder what that was all about. What is Dwayne’s big secret?

As soon as we climb into Dwayne’s old car to head home, Melody taps on the back of his seat and asks him to tell us. Dwayne spins around and rests his arm on the seat. He says that he’s cutting another record. A single. Melody is amazed. Two records in one summer is big. Dwayne cuts her off and says it’s not for The Three Ravens. He’s doing this on his own. He knows a guy who owns a small studio, and he owes him a favor, so he’s going to record some of his own stuff Monday night.

Melody asks if he’s leaving The Three Ravens, and Dwayne’s face turns serious as he says no. It’s nothing like that. But he wants to try a solo song. But Artie and Phil don’t know yet so it’s a secret. Dwayne’s face softens and he asks if Melody is going to help him rehearse. Melody nods and says that we both can. Tomorrow at Big Momma’s. I nod, remembering the last time we played music there together. I can’t wait.

On Sunday afternoon, we watch Melody’s grandparents pull out of the driveway. They’re driving to Canada for the Emancipation Celebration festival across the river in Windsor. It only takes a half hour or so to get there. Melody says a part of her wishes that we could’ve gone with them, but Dwayne needs our help. And she is right. When Dwayne arrives, he looks anxious. He says he’s got the jitters. Melody says that he never gets nervous, and Dwayne shrugs and says that he’s used to having an Artie and Phil standing beside him.

Dwayne sits at the piano and starts to play something slow and sweet. When he hits a sour note, he shakes out his hands again. He says he’s so jazzed that he can’t even remember the notes. He’ll be back, he needs his music. Dwayne darts out the front door and we hear the car door slam. When he comes back, he’s carrying sheet music in his hands. It’s handwritten and messy, but when Dwayne sits back at the piano, the music pours out of his fingertips.

When his song is done, Melody and I cheer like crazy. I can’t believe he wrote that. And he played it perfectly. Dwayne shakes his head and thanks us, but says he’s got to practice it away from the piano. The house band at the studio will play it for him so he can focus on his singing. Melody says that we could be his band. It’ll feel real that way. She points me towards the piano, where Dwayne’s handwritten music is set up. I shrug. Why not. As long as I can read it, I should be able to play it.

I sit at the piano as Melody disappears into the kitchen and comes out with a pan and a wooden spoon. Melody turns the pan upside down, tapping the bottom with the wooden spoon. It sounds like a drum, especially when I play the piano and sings along. When we finish, Dwayne doesn’t seem so nervous anymore. He’s got a house band right here, what more does a guy need? All he needs is a microphone.

Melody and I look at each other and grin. Melody goes to the fruit bowl and tosses Dwayne a banana. He stares at the fruit and then laughs. It looks like he’s going to have to change the name of his band after today. Dwayne and The Banana Splits. He peels the banana and takes a big bite.