After her wedding service in 2003, Australian author Mandy Sayer found herself in a scene reminiscent of a New Orleans street parade. Musicians led her and her new husband, Louis Nowra, through the bustling streets of Kings Cross, Sydney, with saxophones wailing and tambourines jingling. This lively procession was a nod to her father, Gerry, a jazz musician whose funeral three years earlier had similarly featured a musical entourage. In her latest memoir, No Dancing In The Lift, Sayer reflects on these moments and the larger-than-life influence of her father.
Gerry Sayer, who passed away in 2000, was a man of contradictions. Despite being unable to read or write, he was a brilliant storyteller and a passionate musician. Mandy recalls how he fondly referred to her as his “hash baby,” a nickname born from the belief that she was conceived after he had ingested a block of hash. This whimsical detail is one of many that populate her memoir, which is addressed directly to her father.
A Life of Music and Sacrifice
Gerry’s dedication to music was unwavering. He practiced with evangelical fervor, often at the expense of family life. As Mandy writes, he chose “the longer odds of creative contentment” over “uncomplicated unhappiness.” Her childhood memories are filled with the sounds of jazz legends like Mingus and Coltrane, as her father drummed rhythms into her head, blurring the lines between music and language.
Reflecting on her father’s choices, Sayer poses a question that resonates with many artists: “How much are you willing to risk? How important is it to you? What are you willing to not have in your life?” These questions underpin her own artistic journey, one that has seen her transform personal hardships into literary beauty.
Family Struggles and Artistic Triumphs
Mandy’s parents separated when she was eight, a decision precipitated by Gerry’s realization during an LSD trip that he had married the wrong woman. Left with her mother Betty, who struggled with alcoholism, Mandy and her siblings faced a tumultuous childhood. They moved frequently, living in pubs and dosshouses, as Betty’s relationships with dangerous men forced the family into hiding.
Despite these challenges, Mandy found solace in writing poetry for her mother. This creative outlet not only provided temporary relief for Betty but also laid the foundation for Mandy’s future as a writer. Her memoirs, including Velocity and The Poet’s Wife, chronicle her journey from these difficult beginnings to a successful literary career.
Busking and Bonding in America
One of the most formative periods of Mandy’s life was the three years she spent busking with Gerry in the United States. At 21, she joined her 62-year-old father in New York, New Orleans, and Colorado, where they performed on the streets, often without permits. This chapter of her life is vividly captured in her first memoir, Dreamtime Alice, which won the National Biography Award in 1998.
“We almost turned breaking the law into a performance art,” Mandy recalls of their time busking in New York City.
These experiences taught Mandy resilience and resourcefulness, skills that have served her well in the literary world. “You cannot grift a grifter,” she says, reflecting on her ability to navigate the challenges of the publishing industry.
Legacy and Reflection
Gerry Sayer’s influence is woven throughout Mandy’s work, both memoir and fiction. His flair for improvisation and storytelling, despite his illiteracy, inspired her imagination and shaped her narrative voice. In No Dancing In The Lift, Mandy captures the humor and absurdity of her father’s life, ensuring that his legacy lives on.
“He was a very funny man,” she says. “Sometimes when I was writing, it was making me laugh so much that I scared my chihuahua.”
As Mandy continues to write, she carries with her the lessons and memories of her father. Her memoirs serve not only as a tribute to Gerry but also as a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and the complex bonds between parents and children.
