Post #409048 by Otto on Sat, Sep 20, 2008 11:37 PM

After a long weekend in San Diego (Aug 14 - 17) I'm finally getting around to posting here in support of Jay.

I welcomed Jay's inclusion into the public foray of the Tiki scene back in 1999 as there were very few Europeans actively involved in Tiki at the level of Sven (professors of urban archaeology, that is)

Those of you who know my zine Tiki News may have seen Jay's great article about the UK's Beachcomber. That article alone should have ensconced Jay chronologically at the front of the pack in the European Tiki scene. Jay presented first hand knowledge and first hand research of a legendary UK Tiki bar whose existence we were not even aware of.

Add to that the fact that Jay can turn a Tiki tune as well as anyone flippin records on the Lounge scene and I'd say he has credentials enough to take on this task.

I'm not surprised that some of you would act quickly to poke fun at Jay since he has not been active on Tiki Central and upon reading his resume you may begin to wonder just who he is.

Reading Jay's resume is almost comedic. It seems unreal/untrue that someone could be on the cutting edge so consistently over so many years and with so many diverse trends. His wife actually asked him to cut his resume down because it might appear that he was bragging!?! That's a problem I'd like to have! Jay is some sort of culture Superman. (Jay STRONGMAN is his real name btw) And on top of that, Jay is an incredibly down to earth and modest guy. You probably didn't notice him and his wife Julienne at Tiki Oasis 8? They're not flashy and bragging and wearing $2000 vintage Hawaiian shirts and arriving in a limo and such.

Keep in mind that because he is writing the book on Tiki mugs does not mean that he is the foremost expert in the world, just that he has some knowledge and sensitivity to the subject, and is a good writer. I've read one of Jay's novels and I think he's a good writer.

I'm sure his Tiki Mug book will be an enjoyable read, good-looking, and set the high water mark for the subject.

Will it be as good as you would have done?
Will it be as good as that Tiki Mug book you have been dreaming about for ten years?
Probably not. (Sven, do you have a smiley face that I can insert here?)

I hope you all welcome Jay and the Tiki Mug book and I look forward to Jay posting more info here as it comes.

[ Edited by: Otto 2008-09-20 23:44 ]