City Snapshots

a joker, a smoker, a midnight toker

He lives in a tour bus. He calls himself a “washed up old hippie.” And he pushes the vidalia onion dressing. The proprietor of Darwell’s in Long Beach, MS is a jack of many trades whose life is more colorful than the watercolors hanging in his restaurant. Darwell’s has been around for four years, but Darwell Yeager has been around much longer. Donning his signature ensemble—a Darwell hat to cover his pony tail and Harley Davidson eyewear—Yeager says with a smile, “Believe that I have lived.”

The grandson of a Romanian Gypsy, he calls himself “Forest Gump in real times.” Likening himself to the movie character who happened upon almost every major event of the 20^th Century, Yeager says he was at Woodstock; was near Mount St. Helen’s when it erupted; and was in the room when the Rolling Stones’ song “Time Is on My Side” was written in New Orleans. He’s also seen Elvis Presley and Paul McCartney live in concert. Not bad for a 55 year old musician, artist, and charmer. Born in Jackson, MS, Yeager has lived in California, New Orleans, and Baltimore (just to mention a few places) and claims to know Faith Hill, Hank Williams Jr., and the late June Carter Cash (just to mention a few singers).

A self-proclaimed “expressionist,” Yeager began writing songs at the age of 12. His favorite past time today is painting, and the back room of his restaurant is floor to ceiling with Yeager’s creations–with such titles as “Prejudice” and “Indecision.” A lover of living, he says the most beautiful life concept he’s ever heard is in John Lennon’s song “Imagine.” He’s seen a lot.  He’s done a lot.  And he says a lot. When asked if any of his story should be doubted, Yeager says with the most sincere of expressions, “I never lie.”