DEAR Sally,

How very sweet of you to "find" me in this Internet world of ours. When I first responded to your message via my cell phone I did not realize you had that wonderful blog established to honor Charlie's life and work. Now that I have seen it I am "blown away" by your wonderful tribute to a wonderful man. The pictures refreshed my old memories of good times with good friends around the lovely glass-topped piano at The Park Bar & Grill in The Woodlands, Texas. It was also great to see you in those photographs. I remembered you were beautiful, but WOW! I recall one rare night when my cousin Mike Byrne came over from San Antonio for a visit and we went to "The Park" for what he later described as the best prime rib he had ever had. After dinner in the dining room we made our way into the bar to enjoy Charlie's wonderful playing and singing. Somehow I was persuaded to sing a number while Charlie played. It was "SUMMERTIME" (...and the livin' is easy...), and My cousin still remembers my vocal as a knockout performance that brought the house down. I bet it was really Charlie they were applauding. The atmosphere around Charlie's piano was both cordial and inviting, and who knows how many fine friendships began there? I remained good friends with Joan Smalley and Maurice "Mo" Smith, and they even made their way up to my home in Rockaway Beach, New York for a visit to the address where I spend the half of my time when I am not in The Woodlands, Texas. Maurice and I continue to be good friends even after the sad passing of Joan a few years ago. Maybe Charlie is up there somewhere playing Joan a tune as I write these lines.

God Bless you and all of Charlie's family.

Love, David Dow Bentley III