JGA SEPT-OCT 08 - The Jewish Georgian

Page 16 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN September-October 2008
A long night engagement
few months ago, someone who knew I
enjoyed singing told me about a restau- Arant
that had a wonderful pianist and,
on weekends, an open mike. The restaurant
was McKinnon’s Louisiane. My wife and I ate
there many years ago, but I had completely forgotten
about it.
One weekend, I went there with a friend;
we had dinner and then went into the bar. (Both the bar and restaurant are completely smoke
free.)
A singer, accompanied by pianist Fran Irwin and her husband, Julian, on bass guitar, was
entertaining a small crowd. The first thing I noticed was how friendly everyone was. All the
singers seemed to know each other. On the walls of the bar are photos of current and former
singers.
Fran would call out a name, and that person would come to the front and sing. Everyone
took turns singing, and Fran was the ringmaster.
There are boxes with cards of song lyrics. Some of the singers knew songs by memory
and some used the cards.
I pulled a couple of cards from the box and told Fran I wanted to sing. After a few minutes,
she called my name. I was a little nervous, but the crowd was friendly, so I did my bit.
Everybody clapped, and I felt good—as well as relieved.
“Fran is wonderfully positive and encouraging to everyone who ventures to the mike at
McKinnon’s, filled with fear and trepidation,” says Beverly Hall. “I count her as a fast friend,
and I‘m so glad to have met her in the warm and convivial atmosphere she creates around the
piano.”
Fran has a great story, but she doesn’t like to talk about herself. When I approached her
about writing an article, she suggested I talk to one of her friends and regular singers, Jill
Snyder. Jill was glad to help.
Fran was born in High Point, North Carolina, and started playing notes on the family
piano at the age of four. She took lessons from the same teacher until she was a senior in high
school; the teacher wanted her to keep playing classical music, but Fran loved jazz, so she
stopped her lessons. At 13, she started performing in bands.
From 13-18, Fran had an “American Idol”-type talent show in one of the local theaters.
People came on the show and whoever won was carried over to the next week. Prizes were
given. The show was broadcast on three different radio stations. After the talent show ended,
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Julian Menter and Fran Irwin
Fran worked weekends at country clubs for several years.
One of the radio stations had an announcer who did a poetry show, and Fran played during
his readings. She also played her own selections.
In 1962, Fran came to Atlanta, where she worked in hotels and restaurants and performed
with different groups. Then she lost her voice.
Rather than stay in Atlanta, Fran moved to Birmingham, where she played piano. About
the same time, Julian Menter moved to Birmingham, too. One night in 1975, a mutual friend,
whose office was near where Fran was playing, told Julian that he might enjoy Fran’s music.
Fran and Julian became good friends. Later, romance blossomed, and they were married
in 1977. (Fran had converted to Judaism in 1975.) That year, they came back to Atlanta, where
Fran would work one-nighters or a week at a time. She was asked to fill in for one night at
McKinnon’s—and after 22 years, she is still there, with Julian playing bass guitar.
Fran is a lady of many talents. She painted most of her life, especially in the ‘60s, when
her daughter was ill, and her paintings helped pay the doctor bills. Three of her paintings still
hang in her house, but Fran no longer paints because she doesn’t have time. When Jill suggested
that Fran could paint when she retires, Fran asked, “What’s retirement?”
Fran has been known to install appliances and perform other home repairs. She once
painted her mother’s house inside and out.
Regarding those photos on the walls—Fran had long thought about displaying photos of
the regulars, but it wasn’t until about 10 years ago, when Ann Pinkerton won the Miss Senior
Contest, that the pictures started. Don Stewart’s picture was next. The collection kept growing
and continues to grow.
Fran said one of the most difficult times she faced at McKinnon’s was when one of her
favorite friends and singers, Jeannie Martinez, was diagnosed with a terminal illness. “Jeannie
had to go into a hospice. But she came out to visit McKinnon’s because she said, ‘If I am
going to die, I might as well be somewhere I want to be.’” Fran put up Jeannie’s photo right
away, because she did not have long to live.
Every New Year’s Eve, in one way or another, the group remembers those who are no
longer living. At one time, they lit a candle for each singer as Fran played clips of them
singing. However, over the years, the list became too long. Recently, the group released balloons
after midnight in memory of their fallen friends.
Joe Sadar says, “Fran is the original ‘Saturday Night Special.’ Not only is her ability to
accompany singers of every capability special, but also, it is her ever-present smile and cheerful
personality that makes every Friday and Saturday night at McKinnon’s a special event.”
Fran is always doing special things for her friends. She has recorded several of the
singers at McKinnon’s and her home, and she has prepared CDs for them free of charge.
During the Christmas/Chanukah season, she collects money for the Shepherd Center. And she
once produced a show called All Broadway, a Memorial Day benefit for the Atlanta Veteran’s
Hospital; she, Jill, and Rick Martin rehearsed for two months before mounting the show at
McKinnon’s.
“I’ve been singing with Fran Irwin at McKinnon’s Restaurant Fridays and Saturdays for
about 15 or 16 years,” says Rick Martin. “At times, the singing is questionable, and I lead the
list in this respect. But Fran’s musicology and taste in music is never less than superb. It’s
imperative that we preserve the music of the great American composers, and Fran certainly
does her part for the Atlanta music scene.”
Fran used to perform at nursing homes and assisted living centers, but doesn’t have the
time right now; however, she does share her time to support singers who perform at such facilities.
It is a joy to sing when accompanied by Fran’s piano and Julian’s bass guitar. Fran and
Julian have such wonderful smiles and are a perfect couple. Occasionally, someone will bring
a clarinet or saxophone and play along. The group makes you feel good and the atmosphere
is not intimidating, even if your voice is, like mine, just average.
Fran came to McKinnon’s to fill in for one night and, instead, stayed for one Long Night
Engagement—22 years. If you want to have some fun, enjoy good music, eat good food, and
meet nice people, come to McKinnon’s one Friday or Saturday night.
I want to thank Jill Snyder for getting much of this information from Fran. I think it is
appropriate to close with a quote from her: “Fran’s music is a large part of her, but her heart
is even larger. She is generous with her time, attention, and love, despite what she may be
experiencing. She is more than a friend or a talented musician. To me, she is family.”