MODERN FABLE: THE MAN WITH THE SWINGIN' HEART

One day a man was rushed to the ER for heart failure. The doctors and staff worked desperately to keep his heart pumping and somewhat succeeded. The man was alive, yes, but he was full of tubes and drugs and the heart was artificially stimulated. His wife was in despair not knowing how to help. Of course one could always pray and one of the staff nurses suggested that she read to him or play some favorite music to keep his brain stimulated. The man was a huge Louie Prima fan and the wife directed staff to have Prima's music playing 24/7.

36 hours later, much to the surprise and amazement of all, the man's heart began beating without help. Many of the tubes and drugs were pulled and brain activity was strong. One of the attending cardiologist, a piano player who could read music, saw something striking in the man's ECG. It was a pattern, a melodic pattern and the doctor began to hum a tune as he read. A lover of early and mid-century jazz he came to a startling and insane realization: he was humming a Louie Prima tune.

Basin Street Blues/It's Sleepy Time Down South