DINNER WITH ANDREW PERRY, RICHARD’S BROTHER

We was the table near you in the restaurant, you gave me an autograph to wish an happy birthday for my cousin julie I thank you very much, that’s an honnor for me to meet you. You are very beautifull and sweet.
Raphael

We was the table near you in the restaurant, you gave me an autograph to wish an happy birthday for my cousin julie I thank you very much, that’s an honnor for me to meet you. You are very beautifull and sweet.
merci Raphael

Dear Jane,

I think in the going back and forth between English and French something got lost and I would like to make a small correction.

The cans and rubber were the first instrument my parents, Mack and Sylvia Perry made in their apartment in Brooklyn during World War II when all materials were being mandatorily recycled. The only materials that they were able to purchase to make their Tym-tone Drums (still in our catalog) were #2 cans from hospitals and rubber sheets made from recycled tires. Later the business grew, of course, and moved into larger buildings.

Colette’s father Albert Bergerault, had another story, however. While in a German Prisoner of War Camp, during WW II, he made a wooden xylophone from lumber that he scrounged from available scraps. It can be seen in a photograph in the family archives that survived the war. He later went on to make world class professional xylophones that are known throughout the world.

I hope your movie makes it to US. A funny note: When you were married to Ted, I remade all your Christmas stockings, the ones that were sent through a store in BH to me in SF for refinishing. Also, I remember a needlepoint pillow that said “home sweet home”…it had feathers…we slipped our business card inside the pillow for posterity. Such strange 6 degrees. In college in the early 70’s you came to my college with your film on the war. 30 years later, I am redoing your Christmas stockings. 40 years later I am reading your blog from Paris. Enjoy!

Dear Jane~

Since I’ve been following your entries for a while now, I must finally return the generosity of your writings. At first I was certain you could not be writing the blog yourself. For heavens’ sake you’re so busy, my friend who first shared your blog with me and I agreed it might be an assistant writing your words for you as best she could while you scurry around your life. As a writer, I can now see that these are surely your words. No one else, no matter how close, could provide the insights into a life so full and so busy with humanity, humor, and hospitality. I’ve spent the weekend goofing off from my own life reading Russell Baker’s “Growing Up.” I have to say that you have a warm and engaging style in your writing that is much like his. Without wasting words you are able to pull the reader into your most delicious life. That you are so generous to do this when you could be working on the book your publisher awaits says a lot about you as someone who has taken the time and the risk over the years to share what you know and who you are with others so they might benefit. I so no reason why you would benefit from this kind of sharing other than the natural rewards from a kindness of the heart. Thank you from the Peanut Gallery of fans.

Chère Jane,
Nous avons été très honorés de passer une excellente soirée, en votre présence à la Brasserie LIPP à PARIS avec Andrew.
PERRY FAMILY est notre famille américaine depuis
40 années. Nous avons partagé ensemble bien des évènements heureux et malheureux. Bien que toujours dans nos pensées, nous regrettons beaucoup que SYLVIA ne puisse plus se déplacer en FRANCE, elle est toujours présente dans nos coeurs et j’ai beaucoup d’admiration pour sa très grande personnalité. Nous n’oublions pas les instants de bonheur passés à LOS ANGELES avec RICHARD (qui, comme SYLVIA, a une grande personnalité)
J’étais l’invitée, hier à la radio de ” FRANCE BLEU TOURAINE”pour honorer la distinction qui m’est accordée : ” la LEGION D’HONNEUR.”
Pendant 1 heure j’ai évoqué l’histoire, cette belle histoire ” BERGERAULT PERCUSSION FRANCE”, j’ai également parlé de notre rencontre, de ce que j’ai ressenti: votre écoute, votre sensibilité et votre gentillesse,
j’ai évoqué votre biographie, qui ne m’a pas laissée indifférente.
j’ai parlé de votre caractère de ” militante “,
je suis admirative et je partage ces mêmes valeurs.
J’aurais aimé vous recevoir en TOURAINE lors de
la grande fête organisée le 29 AOUT pour la
remise officielle de l’insigne de la LEGION D HONNEUR en présence de Monsieur NOVELLI Secrétaire d’Etat et de Monsieur DESCAMPS Maire de Loches mais vous m’avez dit que vous repartiez en JUILLET aux USA.
Je vous invite à visiter la Touraine, qui est une très jolie région de France où il fait bon
vivre, en présence de RICHARD lors d’un prochain
voyage en FRANCE. (je serai absente tout le mois de Juillet).
Mon mari et moi vous adressons toutes nos amitiés
sans oublier RICHARD. COLETTE
FERGEAU/BERGERAULT

Hi Jane,

I am an American living in Ibiza, Spain for thirty plus years. Just last night I met the grandson of Albert Bergerault who is here for a week with his wife on vacation. They were absolutely charming, even though my French is far from adequate, I understood that his grandfather was a brilliant musician and inventor and that his mother Colette had the privilege to share a meal with you in Paris.
So I just googled Albert Bergeralt and arrived to your blog!
I am originally from New Orleans and grew up immersed in Jazz, Blues, etc. and loved reading about these musical families and your connection.
I didn´t understand if you will be participating in a film on the same subject?

Best wishes,
Tyke Fortier