You always knew when Dale Mackenzie Gross was in the building.
He’d usually start in the Palladium box office to find out why we hadn’t sold all the tickets two weeks in advance for the trio of Scottish singers or Newfoundland step dancers or bluegrass pickers he was bringing to town. The lack of ticket sales – and there were never enough to keep him calm – got Dale excited and talking fast as he moved to our House Manager’s office, to our business office, to the custodian or anybody else who happened to be around before stopping outside my door.
Dale
“What are we gonna do about this show?” he wanted to know. He wasn’t angry, just excited. Dale wasn’t in the business of promoting. He was a music lover who booked performers he was passionate about and couldn’t always understand why the rest of the world wasn’t as excited as he was.
I’m telling all this because we lost Dale Lyndon Mackenzie Gross on Sept. 26 after a long illness. The folks from the St. Petersburg International Folk Fair – one of Dale’s favorite festivals – will honor him at their event this Saturday, Oct. 26, at 4 p.m.
Dale was one of the promoters I inherited when I took over the Palladium. And despite his excitable ways, I was happy to have Dale and his Caberfeidh Productions bringing shows to the Palladium. He loved Celtic music, he loved folk music and he loved bluegrass. He paid his bands royally, he threw parties for them at his house, and hired in great caterers to prepare gourmet food for the dressing room.
And despite our beer and wine only policy, I know he brought a bottle of aged Scotch to their dressing rooms for a toast or three after every show. And he loved his musicians though he know most of them didn’t share his Republican political leanings.
What I really loved was Dale’s great taste in music. His bands were always excellent, even if people here didn’t know them well enough to turn out in droves. He was always optimistic – “I think we should do this one upstairs. I just love these little girls and they can sing. I know people will turn out.”
Sometimes they did. Sometimes they didn’t but Dale and his wife, Sara Jean, loved hosting the shows and introducing the acts. We have missed Dale for the past few years that he’s been ill and home bound. We send our best wishes to his family.
Dale in his kilt
If you’d like to know more about Dale, please read on. This remembrance was posted by the Scottish Cultural Society of St. Petersburg. Dale was the founding president.
Dale Lyndon Mackenzie Gross:
Dale was born on September 3rd, 1944 and passed from this earth on September 26, 2019. He lived in St. Petersburg with his wife of 18 years, Sara Jean Buie-Gross. Dale’s parents were Cecil Gross and Birdie Pearl Gross.
After high school graduation in 1962, Dale entered into the Air Force where he trained recruits. He was stationed in Waco Texas. During his service time he was transferred from Texas to Florida and stationed at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa. He held the rank of First Leutenant. He had said that there was nothing like the beautiful water here in Florida. It was then he decided he would be moving here someday.
Dale was a Civil Attorney in St. Petersburg, Florida. He was licensed to practice law in Texas as well as Florida. He attended law at SMU (Southern Methodist University) in Texas. For many years his law office was located on 66th Street North, St. Petersburg. He was a member of the St. Petersburg Bar Association as well as the Florida Bar.
Dale was very involved in many organizations in the community and in the state of Florida. His support was unwavering and inspirational to the Scottish Cultural Society of St. Petersburg. In 2007, Dale was the founding President of the Scottish Cultural Society of St. Petersburg and remained its president until his club retirement in 2015. The SCS is a member country/culture of St. Petersburg International Folk Fair Society. (SPIFFS) Dale also served as a Director and member of the Board at SPIFFS for almost 30 years.
During this time Dale and his wife Sara Jean founded Caberfeidh Productions. Through this company, they brought many wonderful CELTIC, FOLK & BLUEGRASS musicians to Pinellas County. This was a project very close to their hearts as Dale had the passion and drive to bring this kind of music and culture to his hometown.
Dale had traveled to Cape Breton and said that it changed his life. The music and the general camaraderie in the Celtic spirit had such a profound effect on him.
From that point on in his life, he would say how much he loved the “Scottish Movement”… the knowledge that the Scottish/Celtic influence would be so strong to touch others hearts as well. That was the driving force behind Caberfeidh Productions.
Dale was a long time (over 50 year) Master Mason in Good Standing.
Dale was a longtime member of the St. Andrew’s Society of Tampa Bay. This was yet another way to celebrate the Scottish Culture that he dearly loved.
Dale was also a member of the Suncoast Tiger Bay club . He befriended and supported Republican candidates & officials.
Dale & Sara Jean were members and supporters of “Friends of Florida Folk”. FOFF is a Florida organization to support the Florida music & folk arts.
Dale Lyndon Mackenzie Gross is survived by his wife Sara Jean Buie Gross of St. Petersburg. He has 3 stepchildren: George Wayne Lloyd and his son Marley Callum Lloyd, Stephanie D. Cook and her husband Joel Cook, and Jennifer Brown of St. Petersburg.
Cards and Letters can be mailed to: Sara Jean Buie Gross
5011 Windmill Palm Terrace St. Petersburg, FL 33703
SPIFFS FAIR MEMORIAL SERVICE for DALE
Saturday, Oct 26th, 2019 4:00 pm
During the St. Petersburg International Folk Fair event
After the Parade of Nations & the New Citizen Swearing-in Ceremony,
a SPIFFS memorial will be held for Dale Mackenzie Gross.
This will take place at the waters edge by the Scottish Village
Vinoy Basin Park, Downtown St. Pete
please contact: Goody Haines scsclubinfo@gmail.com
Dale in the Side Door
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