September 7, 2025
Readings from On The Road
Who else could claim to be a muse to both Jack Kerouac and Bob Dylan? Nobody but Diamond Dave Whitaker. Within Diamond Dave’s agile memory are contained a compendium of the 20th century’s craziest, hippest, most insightful, most beatnik-ific happenings. He was there and he’s still here. Bike messenger by day, Beat Poet by day and night
As he exclaimed: “Here we are Still up for it, Still down for it, Still Around for it, Still Going for it, Not Ready to be in for it or out of it…not Yet.”
If, For some, Diamond Dave’s high-velocity delivery is too fast, please avail yourselves of the Transcript Feature. It actual allows us to absorb the Kerouac’s readings on two dimensions. Transcripts can be a valuable addition to the experience.
Diamond Dave’s reading and observations were the closing event of an historic Kerouac Celebration that we hosted at New College of California in 2003. Be advised, Diamond Dave was always a high-octane performer. He speaks and reads at high velocity so be prepared. This is no gentile parlor reading. (It is safe for work though)
You can actually read along if you use the transcript feature which is available regardless of the platform/App you are using. (I’m using iPhone/iPad/Mac)
As an improvising musician amongst San Francisco Poets, it was sublime and silly all at the same time. From the West Coast Beat-era poets to Late 90’s Spoken Word artists like Saul Williams poetry and Jazz were as fresh as the breeze coming in from the Bay.
I hope my regular readers have enjoyed this little series and for you new arrivals, welcome aboard, a rich experience awaits you here.
After the readings, Kerouac historian Gerald Nicosia conducts an interesting Q and A session for those seeking a more intimate look into the life and times of JK will savor. It will be posted later.
