If you believe in fairy tales, you will definitely believe the story of Highjohn Records. It's the story of luck, fantasy and passion, and the point at which those things intersected. It's the story of a mandate that appeared out of nowhere, then took on a life of its own. The entrepreneur behind L.A.-based independent record label Highjohn Records is Robert Auerbach. Highjohn has just recorded a new CD by blues legend Floyd Dixon called Fine! Fine! Thing! According to Auerbach, "based on initial critical acclaim and worldwide radio airplay this CD could turn out to be one of Floyd's biggest."

Most blues fans have heard of Floyd Dixon, but who is this Robert Auerbach fellow and what are his credentials?

Robert's father was Art Auerbach, a Bay Area attorney-turned-club owner, who was at the helm of The Jazz Workshop during it's heyday in the sixties. All the jazz greats: Wig, Monk, Miles, Bird, Diz... they all played Art Auerbach's club at one time or another.

In fact, it was Art Auerbach that bailed Lenny Bruce out of jail in 1964 after he was arrested for the use of profanity during his comedy act at the Jazz Workshop. Lenny was back on stage later that night to report, in his usual style, the experience of having been arrested. This required Art to bail Lenny out a 2nd time that night, but by that time the club had closed so they all went home.

It may not have been that night, but one of those late nights when Art went home to his lovely wife Esther, Robert was conceived. Whatever it was about Art Auerbach that compelled him to be involved in the music business was passed on "and then some" to his son Robert. Legend has it that while Mrs. Auerbach was late in her pregnancy with Robert, the great Dizzy Gillespie rubbed her tummy while he blessed the unborn child inside.

On another occasion, at the age of 3, when Mom brought Robert to the club during the day he discovered Art Blakey's sparkle-red Rogers drum kit still set up on stage after a sound check. Before anyone could speak he had crawled up onto the stage and started playing those drums. Thusly inspired it is no surprise that he has been a drummer, although not professionally of course, most of his adult life.