Honoring ‘The Duckster’

Here in Madison we’ve named streets, buildings, etc., in honor of people who played a big part in our history. Lanier Drive; John Paul Park; E.O. Muncie School; the Drusilla Medical Building …

They’ve been the city’s founder, a banker and bankroller of the state’s Civil War effort, distinguished educators, an early female force for good in the city…  And now —

Don Youngblood ~ Copyright 1999-2010, Kentuckiana Publishing, Inc.

Two blocks of West First Street will be re-named in honor of a man whose name, face and music are well known to present-day Madisonians, most of whom couldn’t tell you who the historical bigshots were.

“The Duckster”, who laughingly described himself as “a legend in my own mind,” will be memorialized with “Donald ‘Duck’ Youngblood Way,” the new name of West First between Vernon and Cragmont streets.

The wiry, always nattily-dressed Youngblood played thousands of bar and club dates, benefits, Regatta Weekend engagements, and the like with his Hoosier Beats band over the years.  He pounded his piano in the style of his lifelong idol, Jerry Lee Lewis, and sang in whatever style the song called for — usually country or 1950s rock ‘n’ roll.  The Duckster was an original — a truly Madison original — as none of those other, “big name” people were, regardless of their contributions to this town.

Don Youngblood wrote songs as well as singing and playing them. I still remember his first recorded tune, “Window Pane.” Two of his other songs, “Boys in Blue” and “DUI in Old KY,” made national or regional charts. Both referred to encounters Don had with the police while driving after — let’s say, a few too many. It was a measure of the Duckster’s solid sense of self that he never denied the reasons the two songs took shape in his mind, and as a matter of fact, used the unfortunate experiences to help advance his career.

Don was a member of a large, working-class Walnut Street family. He manifested his innate musical talent and desire to be a troubadour to anyone who would listen, at a very young age. As a child of 5 or 6 years old he would serenade my grandmother, Elizabeth Wingham, as she sat in front of her house on North Walnut. He practiced on the family’s piano after his older brother, Bob, had finished playing in the morning and left for work. Piano playing runs in the Youngblood family; several of the younger Youngbloods still in our midst can tickle the ivories — although possibly not with the originality of the Duckster.

He not only had remarkable musical talent, but he knew how to “work” an audience. He was a showman. With an enthusiastic crowd, toward the end of a set he would sometimes get up and dance on top of his piano. Anything to keep ’em wanting more.

Don Youngblood lived on West First Street for more than 40 years, and was not shy about badgering city officials about the decrepit condition of the street itself. His urging, and that of others in both that neighborhood and elsewhere, finally produced a commitment in early 2008 to re-pave and improve.

But according to Councilman Pete Backus, when told of that, Don said, “Not in my lifetime.” The Duckster was ill by that time, and in November 2008, he died before the improvements were completed.

At the most recent city council meeting, on a motion by Backus, the council voted unanimously to re-name the two blocks of West First to honor Don Youngblood. The Duckster did not live to see it, but he’s going to be more than just “a legend in my own mind.”

But then, many people who knew Don and loved his music and his unique persona, were convinced of  that already.