Posted by West MobileBooth on January 26, 2006, from Santa Monica, California
One of our favorite people here on the promenade is stride pianist, Barry “The Lion” Gordon. He and his “side-kick” of three decades, Rick Harper (sitting behind Barry in the black shirt), can be seen on the promenade almost any weekend rain or shine. Barry pounds out old ragtime tunes on a beat-up machine, while Rick sits behind him tapping his feet and watching “the pretty girls go by.” 
Ask Barry about his life, and he’ll sum it up in a minute: “I’ve been doing this for 52 years. I’ve played for presidents and bums. I’ve had years where I’ve had two cars and cigars and lean years where I’ve barely gotten by. But I’ve never stopped playing and I’m gonna keep on playing. You have to push to be great. And whether you are or you aren’t is irrelevent… you keep on pushing… because life is in the fight.”
