Wavy Gravy gathers musical friends

Wavy Gravy gathers musical friends and rock memorabilia for Seva
benefit concert

http://www.marinij.com/lifestyles/ci_13974351

Paul Liberatore
Posted: 12/10/2009

Wavy Gravy has been a hippie icon, a cosmic clown and a Ben & Jerry's
Ice Cream flavor. Now he's dealing with the demands of being a movie star.

Director Michelle Esrick spent the past decade trailing Wavy on his
do-gooder exploits for the documentary "Saint Misbehavin'," an
audience favorite at the recent Mill Valley Film Festival.

It portrays Mr. Gravy (as he's known in the New York Times) as a
tie-dye incarnation of the holy fool, a counterculture legend who has
selflessly used his celebrity in the service of humanity.

Since the movie came out, he can't walk his pet fish, Kilgore Trout,
down the street without being mobbed by aging baby boomers. At least
in some unlikely parts of the country.

"I can walk with impunity through Mill Valley, but if I go to Des
Moines, Iowa, nine cars stop and want me to sign their old Woodstock
albums," he told me. "I'm big in the provinces."

Wavy has taken his fame in stride for 40 years, ever since he
announced, "What we have in mind is breakfast in bed for 400,000" at
Woodstock. But film stardom has given him a big head.

A recent outdoor screening on a Jumbotron in Oklahoma was proof of that.

"To see my nostril get really huge was a chilling moment," he
recalled with a shudder. "When a train came by, it looked like it was
gonna go right up my nose."

I always know Wavy is calling when I pick up the phone and he tells
me I have Gravy in my ear. His calls are often to fill me in on the
good works of the Seva (Sanskrit for "service") Foundation, a
nonprofit he co-founded 30 years ago that has restored the sight of
more than 2Êmillion people (through cataract surgery) in India,
Nepal, Tibet, Cambodia, Guatemala, the United States and other
countries where people are in need.

"I can't think of anything better to do with my celebrity than shine
a light on Seva," Wavy told me, also mentioning his Camp
Winnarainbow, a performing arts program in Mendocino County for
children, including inner-city and homeless kids, who attend on
scholarships paid for by the rock concerts he organizes during the year.

On Dec. 12, Wavy hosts a Seva holiday show at the 142 Throckmorton
Theatre in Mill Valley with Marin's own Rowan Brothers, Moonalice,
the David Nelson Band and the always unmentionable "surprise guests."
All proceeds will support Seva's programs.

For a silent auction, Wavy has rounded up memorabilia and art work
from the Jerry Garcia estate, poster artist Stanley Mouse, rock
photographers Jim Marshall and Jay Blakesberg and the Bill Graham Foundation.

As he always does at this time of year, he'll be playing the role of
InSanity Claus.

"This is a sweet little Christmas show to celebrate everybody's
holiday - Kwanzaa, Christmas, Hanukah," he said. "Everyone's holy days."

If Wavy looks more relaxed than usual, it's because he's just
returned from the Sweetwater Spa in Mendocino, where he and his wife,
Jahanara, celebrated their wedding anniversary.

"It's was either our 43rd or 44th," he shrugged. "She thinks it's 43
and I think it's 44. But whichever it is, I've never missed one
because it's on Thanksgiving. Whenever I hear people go
gobble-gobble, I know it's that time."

Asked how he's managed to stay married for so long, he told me his
two secrets: "One, have a sense of humor. And two, don't get divorced."

Wavy, who's 73, survived all the hoopla around the 40th anniversary
of Woodstock, and is already looking forward to the next major
milestone - the 50th anniversary, when he'll be 83.

"Can you imagine what that's gonna be like?" he crowed, feigning an
old man voice. "If I can just survive to the 50th. That's my plan
anyway. I gotta make it to 50."
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IF YOU GO

- What: "Celebrate the Holidays"
- When: Reception 7 p.m., 7:30 p.m. music Dec. 12
- Where: 142 Throckmorton Theatre, Mill Valley
- Tickets: $50 to $100 through Seva only
- Information: Seva Foundation Holiday Party, 1786 Fifth St.
Berkeley; 510-845-7382, ext. 332
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Contact Paul Liberatore via e-mail at liberatore@marinij.com

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