𝘽𝙀𝙉 𝙉𝙀𝙀𝘾𝙀'𝙎 𝙇𝙀𝙂𝘼𝘾𝙔~~~~𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝘾𝙍𝙀𝙎𝘾𝙀𝙉𝙏 𝙈𝙊𝙊𝙉

 

For me, the legacy, the reflection of Ben Neece was the tiny Mexican-bricked building on East 11th Street downtown, the Crescent Moon.

That 19th century building was built for music and, for several years, Ben made it such a happy, artistic, welcoming place.  

Yet, just as much as Ben set the tone, J.J, yes, J.J. Strubelt embodied that tone, welcoming music lovers the instant they opened the door.

There was nothing commercial about the place. No drinks were sold, no cover charge collected.  I have no idea what or if Ben paid the bands who graced those walls as it was all about the music.

Yes, it was big shit when Henry Lee came to town, but it was the same for Louie Villarreal and so many others like the Mexican rapper/drummer Juan Antonio Garza or the incredible Foncerrada family.

And beautiful Clem, adorning the place with that smile.

Conversations, serious conversations happened 'tween those walls and yes, sometimes Mary Helen Flores sat at the bar.

My late wife of 49.5 years, Nena, loved that whole scene so much. . . .  and, while it never came up in conversation, she was raised just a couple streets from Ben's family place on what was it, Avalon?  Nena grew up at her grandmom's place at 130 King Street, the last home uprooted for the Gladys Porter Zoo.  I used to wait for her out back as her grandma hated me.

Yeah, Ben, the Crescent Moon.  That was you man!