Tag Archives: Corky Laing

Roundup: PopUp Bagels, Hydration Stations, Fashionably Fun …

Posted on April 13, 2026 | 2 comments

PopUp Bagels — the Westport start-up that popped up during the pandemic, roared into regional and now national prominence, and has clearly outgrown its motto — “Not famous, but known” — is in the headlines again.

Bloomberg reports that Tiger Global has agreed to invest — at a $300 million valuation.

That’s “roughly 5 times what the startup was quoted at as recently as 5 months ago.”

“The buzzy bagel brand races to turn its TikTok-fueled hype into a national presence,” Bloomberg adds.

It describes the brand as developing “a cult-like following around its smaller, fluffier bagels, sold in limited flavors with a minimum order of 3.”

PopUp Bagels plans to open up to 300 locations across the US in the next 4 years.

The 30th store opens Friday in Chicago. Number 31 follows the next week, in Dallas.

Click here for the full Bloomberg story.

PopUp Bagels founder Adam Goldberg, with his Brooklyn Bagelfest award.

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Sustainable Westport’s UnPlastic Westport initiative is bearing fruit.

Donations have already funded 2 public water bottle filling stations: one at the Compo Beach basketball courts, the other at Winslow Park. Both will keep tens of thousands of plastic water bottles out of landfill.

Rendering of the water bottle filling station at Winslow Park …

Five more “priority locations” have been identified:

  • Burying Hill Beach
  • Old Mill Beach
  • Grace Salmon Park
  • PJ Romano Field
  • Town Farm Little League fields.

Three “wish list locations” — requiring more logistical planning — are the Wakeman Fields, Longshore and downtown.

The cost and installation of each station ranges from $5,000 for an in-wall unit, to $15,000 for a standalone, ADA-compliant one.

Sustainable Westport seeks individual donors, and corporate sponsors. Click here to contribute, and for more information.

… and the Compo Beach basketball courts.

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“Love + War” — the remarkable documentary about the professional and personal lives of Pulitzer Prize and MacArthur fellowship winner (and 1991 Staples High School graduate Lynsey Addario — has been nominated for 4 Emmy Awards.

The nominations include the biggest category — Best Documentary — along with others for Outstanding Editing, Outstanding Sound, and Outstanding Promotional Announcement.

Addario congrats her team — including National Geographic — and adds, “It took me years to feel comfortable letting a film crew into my life. Even then, it never felt entirely natural as someone who’s usually behind the camera, not in front of it. So thank you to our cameramen.”

She cites their “gorgeous (and subtle!) cinematic eye (and) powerful footage from Ukraine, often shot while under fire.

“It’s been amazing to share this film with so many different people across the world. I hope ‘Love + War’ continues to stand as a testament to a profession that became my calling, while also being clear-eyed about the complexities and sacrifices that come with it.”

Winners will be announced at Lincoln Center on May 28. “Love + War” can be streamed on Hulu and Disney+.

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As models get fitted, styled, and practice their runway strut, a few tickets still remain for “Fashionably Westport.”

The Westport Downtown Association-sponsored evening (April 25, 7 p.m., Westport Library) is a benefit for Homes with Hope. It features an actual runway, with friends-and-neighbors models from all over town, wearing outfits from over 20 local stores.

(Spoiler alert: One of those models is yours truly. Please don’t laugh — but please come to the show!)

The evening includes plenty of food, and a great silent auction. Click here for tickets, and more information.

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A full crowd packed the VFW last night, for a very special show.

Corky Laing — the former drummer for Mountain (of “Mississippi Queen” fame) — sat in with Gary Shure’s 10$Grand Band.

From the first chords, the place rocked. Do you know what I mean?

From left: Joe Whelan, Ray Schmidt, Corky Laing, Gary Shure, Ronnie Roberts, Michael Bertholf.

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More ospreys — and not the well-known Fresh Market ones.

This pair nests at the north end of Sherwood Mill Pond.

Are they surveying the scene? Planning dinner? Thinking about starting a family?

Whatever the answer: They look very intent doing it.

(Photo/John Kantor)

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Besides the ospreys, there was another sign of the season yesterday — a (finally) warm and sunny spring Sunday.

Boats and other craft headed to Cockenoe Island, off Compo, by the — well, boatload.

(Photo/Carrie Kuhn)

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Westport native and Korean War veteran Donald Switter died on Wednesday. He was 92.

He was studying architecture at the University of Connecticut to study architecture, but while drawing up plans realized his true love was outdoors.

Don pivoted, and started a landscape company. For years, he was one of the town’s top landscapers.

Many residents knew him as the man riding in a Jaguar convertible, with his English setter Mike by his side.

Don is survived by his sister, Phillis Fox of Unicoi, Tennessee; brother James of Winchendon, Massachusetts, and many nieces and nephews.

Don Switter

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It’s been a while since we’ve had deer in our “Westport … Naturally” daily feature.

These 2 look like they need a good meal.

(Photo/Richard Fogel)

Lucky (for them): Growing season is upon us.

Unlucky (for us): They’ll soon be chomping on our plants.

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And finally … on this date in 1742, George Frideric Handel’s oratorio “Messiah”  had its world premiere in Dublin.

If you’re free for the next 2 1/2 hours — enjoy!

(Hallelujah! “06880” is your 24/7/365, hyper-local go-to blog — “Where Westport meets the world.” We rely on reader support. Please click here to donate. And thank you!)

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Corky Laing’s Cowbells Clang Here Saturday

Posted on April 7, 2026 | 3 comments

They may be the most famous cowbells in history.

Corky Laing’s clanging introduction to “Mississippi Queen” — Mountain’s biggest hit — still resonates, 56 years later.

The band — which included legendary musicians Leslie West and Felix Pappalardi — broke up in 1972. They reunited periodically over the years, for projects and tours.

Corky Laing (2nd from left), and the band.

Laing continued to play percussion. He’s recorded with Ian Hunter (Mott the Hoople), Eric Schenkman (Spin Doctors), Noel Redding (Jimi Hendrix Experience), even Bo Diddley. (In fact, he got his start as a pre-teen, when the famed Ink Spots needed a drummer during a musicians’ strike.)

But he has never forgotten his Mountain days. This Saturday (April 11, 7 p.m.), “Mississippi Queen” — and other hits, including “Long Red” and “Nantucket Sleighride” — will ring out at the VFW.

Gary Shure’s 10$GrandBand offers a tribute to the band.

And Corky Laing himself will sit in, as a guest drummer.

Corky Laing (Photo copyright Joachim Jüttner)

It is far from his first time in Westport.

He lived here for a decade, from 1982 to ’92.

While here he invited Levon Helm, Felix Cavaliere, the Chambers Brothers and fellow Westporter Meat Loaf to play with him at the Levitt Pavilion. He jammed with bands at local clubs and bars.

He hung out often at the Compo Beach home of music executive Terry Coen, and his music-loving wife Gail.

Laing also befriended Harvey Skolnick, owner of the Liquor Locker. During the busy holidays Laing delivered wine for him, to customers like Paul Newman and Diana Ross.

The Liquor Locker. Corky Laing was a famous “employee.”

The other day, Laing recalled his years here with joy. He first came during a snowstorm, when the town was a “winter wonderland.”

He needed a check cashed. Skolnick did it, no questions asked. Laing thought this must be quite a town.

Not long after, he moved to Crescent Road.

This is nothing like Canada, where Laing grew up thinking he’d be a teacher. But playing with the Ink Spots — watching people looking up at “this little Jewish kid behind 4 beautiful Black guys, and smiling” — hooked him on performing.

He began playing loud — including timbales, which are now back in vogue, thanks to Bad Bunny — because he wanted to have a good time.

As for the cowbells to “Mississippi Queen”: that was just the way Laing counted the band in, when Mountain recorded it.

As engineers mixed the music, they decided to leave it — “for now.”

Meanwhile, Jimi Hendrix’s Band of Gypsies were recording next door. Laing had met him through the Montreal music scene, so he invited him to hear the tape.

Hendrix sat behind the board. At the end he just said, “Cool. Love the cowbell.”

The rest is history.

Corky Laing today, Mountain, Jimi Hendrix and an image of the era.

And the history continues Saturday.

The gig came about through Matt Zako, the local music promoter who has a mutual friend of Laing’s.

When Zako explained the venue, Laing was all in.

“Veterans are great guys,” he says. Back in his Mountain days, they worked in a VFW hall on Nantucket.

One of Westport’s best concert venues.

He’s excited to play with Shure, and the 10$Grand Band. “They sound great, and the set list is really good,” Laing says.

He no longer lives in Westport. But life continues to be good.

“Every day, I wake up. And every day, I play the drums,” Laing says.

On Saturday, he’ll do it again, back in his former town.

And with the most famous cowbells in music history.

Tickets are just $20. Click here to purchase.

FUN FACT: In 1969 — shortly after Mountain played at Woodstock — drummer N.D. Smart was replaced by Corky Laing. Three years earlier, Smart had replaced Chip Damiani as drummer for the Remains — the band with Westporters Barry Tashian and Bill Briggs — on their US tour with the Beatles.

(“06880” often covers Westport’s entertainment scene. And the town’s history — plus much, much more. If you like stories like this, please click here to support our work. Rock on!)

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17 Soundview: The Sequel

Posted on March 30, 2016 | 21 comments

A “notice of demolition” sits on the front of the house at 17 Soundview Drive. Such signs are common in Westport. But this home is special.

For one thing, every Westporter knows it. We pass it whenever we walk or drive on the beach exit road.

For another, it has an amazing musical history. Two years ago — when the house was up for sale — I recounted the story, as if its walls could talk.

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Ginger Baker sent a drum set to the house. Peter Frampton lounged on the front deck. Carly Simon wanted to buy it.

Those are just a few of the musical memories associated with 17 Soundview Drive. It’s one of the most handsome homes lining the Compo exit road, drawing admiring glances from walkers and sunbathers for its beachside gracefulness.

If only they knew the musical history hidden throughout the property.

17 Soundview Drive.

17 Soundview Drive.

It was built — like the rest of the neighborhood — as a summer house in 1918. One of Frank Lloyd Wright’s students designed it, ensuring harmony with the beach environment.

Francis Bosco — current owner Gail Cunningham Coen’s grandfather — bought it in 1928. A Sicilian immigrant and lover of opera, he tuned in every Saturday to NBC Radio’s live Met broadcasts. For years the voices of Enrico Caruso, Maria Callas, Robert Merrill and others soared from the living room, under the awnings and onto the beach, thrilling neighbors and passersby.

In 1982 Gail and her husband Terry Coen bought the house. She’s a musician and music teacher; he’s a songwriter and music promoter. Over the past 32 years they’ve lavished love on it. It was one of the 1st Compo homes to be raised, to protect against storms. The Coens added a secluded rooftop deck, and flower and vegetable gardens.

You can see the water from nearly every room in the house. This is the living room.

You can see the water from nearly every room in the house. This is the living room.

But the professionally designed, fully soundproofed music studio is what really rocks.

It — and the chance to hang out privately, yet in the middle of all the beach action — has made 17 Soundview a home away from home for 3 decades of musical royalty.

Ginger Baker spent many evenings talking about the birth of British rock, touring with Eric Clapton, and his childhood in England during World War II. He also recited some very bawdy limericks. In return, he gave Ludwig drums to Soundview Studios.

Ginger Baker, and his drums. (Photo/Wikipedia)

Ginger Baker, and his drums. (Photo/Wikipedia)

Peter Frampton brought his young family. They loved the warm summer breeze, and being able to sit anonymously just a few feet from the hubbub of a beach afternoon.

One summer day, Carly Simon said she was thinking of buying a beach house. #17 was her favorite, because it reminded her so much of Martha’s Vineyard.

Meat Loaf played Sunday morning softball at Compo. After, he headed to the Coens’. One day, he played his next single on the roof deck. No one on the beach could see he was there — but they heard him. At the end, everyone applauded.

The Remains reunited for the 1st time in decades in the studio. (Full disclosure: I was there. It was one of the most magical moments of my life.)

Eric von Schmidt loved to sing by the fireplace, and joined jam sessions in the studio. One day, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott rambled over with him.

Other regulars included Jimi Hendrix’s bass player Noel Redding; Corky Laing and Leslie West of Mountain; former Buddy Miles Express front man Charlie Karp; Eric Schenkman of the Spin Doctors, and guitarist/producer/songwriter Danny Kortchmar.

17 Soundview - roof deck

The rooftop deck is a great place to watch fireworks. It’s also where Meat Loaf played his next single, to the unknowing delight of a Compo Beach crowd.

Some of those musicians — and plenty other great ones, though less known — were guests at the Coens’ annual July 4th fireworks parties. The food and drinks were fantastic, capped off by watching the passing parade on Soundview.

But the real action happened when the fireworks ended. Everyone piled into the studio, and jammed till the sun came up.

From Caruso to the Spin Doctors, 17 Soundview Drive has seen it all. If only those walls could talk (or sing).

(The new owners will replace the 98-year-old house with a handsome new one. They’re making sure it fits in well with the streetscape. We’ll continue to admire 17 Soundview Drive. We’ll just sing a different song.)

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The Night Levon Drove Old Westport Down

Posted on April 20, 2012 | 8 comments

The list of great musicians who have played the Levitt Pavilion is long and storied:  Willie Nelson. Ray Charles. Smokey Robinson. Buckwheat Zydeco.

And Levon Helm.

Levon Helm, back with The Band.

Back in the 1980s — after playing with Mountain (“Mississippi Queen”) and at Woodstock — drummer Corky Laing moved to Westport.

On Independence Day 1989, he threw his “2nd annual 4th of July Picnic” at the Levitt.

The musicians and set list have been preserved on an obscure website, BootsDaily.com. It’s what you find if you dig through enough Google pages after searching for “Levon Helm Levitt Pavilion.”

Check out the band (not The Band — but just as good):

  • Corky Laing (drums, vocals)
  • Levon Helm (drums, mandolin, vocals)
  • Felix Cavaliere (Hammond B-3, vocals — former member of the Rascals)
  • Lester Chambers (vocals — former Chambers Brother)
  • Mark Clarke (bass, vocals — former member of Uriah Heep)
  • Plus “a few folks from Felix’s band.”

Levon Helm in 2007.

Among their 20 songs: “Can’t Turn You Loose,” “Rag Mama Rag,” “Up on Cripple Creek” (“NASTY,” the website says admiringly in all caps), “The Weight,” “The Shape I’m In,” “Groovin’,” “Mustang Sally,” “People Got to Be Free,” “Good Lovin’,” “Time Has Come Today,” “Mississippi Queen” and a “La Bamba/Maybelline/Roll Over Beethoven” medley.

In other words:  the best of the Band, Chambers Brothers and Rascals, played by guys who had a great time rockin’ Westport on the 4th of July.

Whoever runs the BootsDaily website added this information about himself:

I worked for a sound company in southern CT in the late 80s and early 90s.

Mostly I was a glorified moving man, long hours, shitty pay, and the women have all gone home by the time you break down and get the truck loaded again….

At this (Westport) show, because of a overbooked schedule, I ended up running monitors….

(This) was my favorite show I was ever involved with, and one of my high moments of 34 years of concert going.

It must have been one hell of a show. I can’t believe I missed it.

And today, we’re all missing Levon Helm.

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