'The Roar of L'Amour'
"Ah Yes Indeed"
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The stories of CHUCK KAYE - The Roar of L'Amour
DJ, VJ, HOST/MC, BOOKER, PROMOTER
10/84-11/88
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Email: ChuckKayeAYI@gmail.com
Embedded Files
JOHN Z. - Owner - not him, the other John Z
I didn't know John until I started at L'Amour on 10/19/84.
When I started, I was trying to figure out "who did what".
George was the most involved with bands
Mike was running the door
Frank was running security
John? I was not so sure
Even when I sat in on a few owners meetings, I wasn't sure.
Then one day early in my tenure, L'Amour had a "tryout Sunday" where bands auditioned.
I HATED the idea, but I didn't have pull yet.
Bands would bring all their gear, play 10 minutes then strike their gear as the next went on.
Even though I was playing songs in-between, the bands made so much racket that it was just hours of sound checking ... not fun for anyone.
The owners (Mike, George and John) set up a table and watched from the floor.
They were like 3 Simon Cowells sitting there with pen and paper.
They asked me to sit with them and I said no. I can give my vote from the booth, I felt silly being a "judge".
After a few bands, John comes to the booth and says "I am watching with you, the brothers arguing is driving me crazy"
You see the George/Mike dynamic was "George says the wall is black and Mike says it is white" ... meanwhile most times it was gray.
While John is in the booth, we are laughing hysterically at everything and everyone. We found we had the same sense of humor and I realized what John's job was ... to be Mr. Gray.
No, I don't mean he was a Reservoir Dog. I mean he was the gray while George and Mike were arguing over black or white.
John was the common sense guy.
After that audition night, John would start coming to the booth more and more to hang out. It was his little getaway and we would talk and laugh.
One night he told me that he got a kick out of my relationship with George and Mike. Neither treated me with disrespect, but I was as hard-headed as they were and would argue back.
Three A-types can be combustible.
John got a kick out of that.
He was truly the peace-keeper and glue of the venue.
Towards the end of my run, John became an insurance agent and took care of my Firebird and many staff/regular insurance needs and did quite well for himself.
When I resurfaced to do a "Chuck night" at the Staten Island club in 2009, I asked John why he got involved again. He told me that he had no idea and we laughed.
He told me to make sure to bust Mike's balls that night (like the old days).
He was still the same guy he was 20 years ago.
We last spoke about three years ago when a documentary was discussed.
John was always a solid guy, great sense of humor and the voice of reason in L'Amour..
A few months before i quit, I proposed a change to the owners that i thought would help the club (HERE), John came up to the booth and laughed and said "You didn't really think George and Mike would agree to that, did you?"
I knew my end was near.
After i quit, i returned to the club one night just to see old friends and explain my departure.
John sought me out and we talked for a long-time.
Not about L'Amour, just as friends.
Thank you John, I appreciate the trust, laughs and good times.
Oh and I made sure that was the last "audition night". I hated it and took over the local bookings that following week.
Chuck Kaye
Ah Yes Indeed
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I been approached to do a book, but due to my health it is not a realistic undertaking.In place of the expense of buying a book, I ask you think about donating to www.givesendgo.com/chuckkaye
This is the story of CHUCK KAYE - "The Roar Of L'Amour": A man in dire health, who is "the conduit of altruistic intention" - Newsbreak.comChuck was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation* on January 14th, 2020. After spending nineteen days (19) in ICU/Hospital, cardiologist determined he must have had A-Fib* for 5 years due to the severity. With an ejection fraction of only 10% (the amount of blood pumped out of a heart’s lower chambers each time it contracts), Chuck was not expected to live. After discharging 45 pounds of toxic fluid during that initial visit, Chuck has fought through homelessness, eviction and numerous ER/ICU/hospital stays and in April of 2025 (alone), he had three mini-strokes.
*Atrial fibrillation (Afib) is an irregular heart rhythm that begins in your heart’s upper chambers (atria). Symptoms include fatigue, heart palpitations, trouble breathing and dizziness.CHUCK CURRENTLY LIVES OFF ONLY $918.43 A MONTH FROM DISABILITY(which is less than his monthly nut)If you would like to help Chuck's 'quality of life', please consider donating
But PLEASE ... do not do anything you cannot do affordably
I been approached to do a book, but due to my health it is not a realistic undertaking.In place of the expense of buying a book, I ask you think about donating to www.givesendgo.com/chuckkaye
This is the story of CHUCK KAYE - "The Roar Of L'Amour": A man in dire health, who is "the conduit of altruistic intention" - Newsbreak.comChuck was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation* on January 14th, 2020. After spending nineteen days (19) in ICU/Hospital, cardiologist determined he must have had A-Fib* for 5 years due to the severity. With an ejection fraction of only 10% (the amount of blood pumped out of a heart’s lower chambers each time it contracts), Chuck was not expected to live. After discharging 45 pounds of toxic fluid during that initial visit, Chuck has fought through homelessness, eviction and numerous ER/ICU/hospital stays and in April of 2025 (alone), he had three mini-strokes.
*Atrial fibrillation (Afib) is an irregular heart rhythm that begins in your heart’s upper chambers (atria). Symptoms include fatigue, heart palpitations, trouble breathing and dizziness.CHUCK CURRENTLY LIVES OFF ONLY $918.43 A MONTH FROM DISABILITY(which is less than his monthly nut)If you would like to help Chuck's 'quality of life', please consider donating
But PLEASE ... do not do anything you cannot do affordably
Chuck Kaye and L'Amour owner John Z. - putting out fires
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