Born, on this day, July 9, 1944: DC's beloved Root Boy Slim

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Fri Jun 8, 2012: Remembering Root Boy Slim, who died 19 years ago today.

Root Boy Slim



Root Boy Slim relaxing in his Takoma Park, Maryland home in 1980

Background information
Birth name: Foster MacKenzie III
Also known as: The Duke of Puke
Born: July 9, 1944; Asheville, North Carolina
Origin: Takoma Park, Maryland
Died: June 8, 1993 (aged 48); Orlando, Florida

Genres: Alternative rock, Southern rock, blues rock
Years active: 1978–1993
Associated acts: Ron Holloway

Root Boy Slim (July 9, 1944 – June 8, 1993) was the stage name assumed by American musician Foster MacKenzie III. He was born in Asheville, North Carolina but raised in Washington, D.C.'s Maryland suburbs. He was an exceptionally bright child with parents who were able to afford a series of costly prep schools, and he attended Yale University. He returned to Maryland upon receiving his bachelor's degree and was diagnosed with schizophrenia following an LSD-induced psychotic episode. In the 1970s, he formed his own alternative rock band, including musicians such as tenor saxophonist Ron Holloway) and an ensemble titled Crying Out Loud. Mackenzie's group was ultimately billed as Root Boy Slim and the Sex Change Band and The Rootettes. The band cultivated a dedicated fan base, largely confined to the Washington metropolitan area.

MacKenzie died in his sleep in his home in Orlando, Florida at age 48 and is buried in Fletcher, North Carolina. He was inducted into the Washington Area Music Association Hall of Fame in 2004.

Background

MacKenzie was an intelligent yet incorrigible youth, who was asked to leave several private D.C.-area prep schools, including Sidwell Friends School. He finally found his niche at Saint James School in Hagerstown, Maryland, a boarding school, where along with his studies, he played varsity football. He was accepted to and attended Yale University, majoring in African American studies, and graduated in 1967. He was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, where his fraternity brothers included future President George W. Bush. MacKenzie was a year older than Bush.

While at Yale, MacKenzie formed a band with classmate and fraternity brother Bob Greenlee, who was captain of Yale's football team. The band was named Prince La La and the Midnight Creepers. MacKenzie's growing dislike of authority and inner inclination to play pranks and his love of shock value expanded. Band members wore ermine capes, silver lamé hot pants and boasted that they were never invited for return engagements. The year after MacKenzie and Greenlee graduated, they returned to the DKE house during Yale's homecoming. Bush, who since their departure had become president of DKE, threw them out and banned them from the house.

After graduation, MacKenzie drove an ice cream truck in Washington, D.C. One day he suffered a psychotic break after a particularly high dose of LSD, and he climbed over the White House fence. The United States Secret Service apprehended him as he ran up the White House lawn. He told the officers he was "looking for the center of universe." They hauled him off to St. Elizabeths Hospital, the largest long-term mental hospital that serves Washington, D.C. That incident led to a diagnosis of schizophrenia, for which MacKenzie was medicated for the rest of his life.

{snip}

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. Previously at DU:

Wed Jun 8, 2016: Root Boy Slim (July 9, 1944 – June 8, 1993)

Root Boy Slim

Root Boy Slim (July 9, 1944 – June 8, 1993) was the stage name assumed by American musician, Foster MacKenzie III. Born in Asheville, North Carolina, he was raised in suburban Maryland, a few minutes from D.C. after his family relocated there. An exceptionally bright child, with parents able to afford a series of costly prep schools, upon graduation, MacKenzie attended Yale University on a scholarship, but returned to Maryland upon receiving his Bachelor's degree. Once back in Maryland, he formed his own alternative rock band, including some young but talented musicians including tenor saxophonist, Ron Holloway, and an ensemble titled Crying Out Loud. Mackenzie's act was from that time billed as Root Boy Slim and the Sex Change Band, and found a dedicated fan base, although it remained confined to the Washington, D.C. area.

You can find clips on Youtube of a few of his songs, but videos in which he can be seen performing are uncommon.

I was privileged to see him perform; sadly, that did not happen often enough.

He was such a source of joy. I miss him.

That'll do.