Audio By Carbonatix
Norm “Sugarbone” Sloan was an outstanding bass player and a true gentleman of our music scene. Transplanted to South Florida in 1969, “Sugarbone” quickly immersed himself into our then-burgeoning music scene. Well-versed in playing blues, country, standards, Top 40, R&B, classic rock, and jazz-rock fusion in the bar scene, Sloan was most recently an associate of Charlie Pickett and Bobby Tak. Originally from New York City and educated in that city’s underground rock ‘n’ roll as well as Motown and soul, “Sugarbone” cast an impressive presence alongside his upright bass and his never-ending supply of hand-rolled cigars.
But whatever words I can muster now to remember the gentleman by, I think this quote from his MySpace page solidifies best the attitude and musical know-how that he represented for 62 years:
“As a teen I spent many days cutting class to go hang around
Greenwhich [sic] Village. One such day as I walked into an upstairs
restaurant on Bleeker [sic] & 6th known as the Tin Angel, I spotted
Jimi slumped over in a drunken stupor. Noticing his white strat slipping
off his lap, I ran over to grab it before it hit the floor. While
shaking his shoulder I called out; Jimi, wake up! Later that afternoon
my friends and I spotted Mickey Dolenz and Davie Jones strutting down
McDougal Street. We jeered, shot them the bird and threw whatever we
could pick off the ground at them. Oh Yes; I have been to Electric
Ladyland and I am experienced.”
That you were, sir, that you were. And South Florida will miss you dearly.
