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How David Lee Roth’s uncle helped Bob Dylan early in his career
Bob Dylan was born in Duluth, Minnesota but at the age of 19 he decided to move to New York City to pursue his dream to pursue a career in music. Curiously, it was Manuel Lee Roth, known as Manny, owner of Cafe Wha? who gave Bob Dylan his very first job as a musician.
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Coincidentally, Manny was the uncle of David Lee Roth, who a few decades later would be a Rock star too, as the vocalist of Van Halen. Besides Dylan, many other famous acts played in his cafe. Some of them were: Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen, Velvet Underground, Kool & The Gang and Joan Rivers.
What Bob Dylan said about David Lee Roth’s uncle
A few decades later, in an interview with Martha Quinn in 1984 (Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage), Dylan talked about how that job was important to him. He was asked if he knew David Lee Roth and that Manny was his uncle.
“I know his uncle. I used to work for his uncle, as a matter of fact his uncle gave me my very first job. I have very fine memories of his uncle Manny Roth. His uncle Manny is a terrific guy.”
“Does David Lee Roth knows that? He gave a lot of people their first job since I remember. A lot of people who were (looking for opportunities) worked for Manny. Jimi Hendrix, Gordon Lightfoot, a lot of people. I worked for Manny as a matter of fact in all afternoons from 12am until 8pm, in the afternoon.”
“I worked also the day shift back then (playing). He had a cafe which stayed open from 11 in the morning until 4 in the morning. There was constantly something happening on stage. (…) To tell you the truth he didn’t pay actually, he passed the basket. So after you play (you pass) a hat, basket, barrel or whatever you wanted to bring. That’s why I started wearing hats,” Bob Dylan said.
Curiously, it was Manny who gave David Lee Roth his very first radio. The Cafe Wha? was owned by Manny from 1959 until 1968 when he sold the place due to financial difficulties. Later on he moved to Woodstock, New York and opened a diner and also worked in real estate in New York.
He passed away back in 2014 from natural causes, at the age of 94.