"A lot of people out there are just making noise," says Capt. Dennis Wilson of the Ninth District, which includes Rittenhouse Square. "He actually sounds good."
Riley smirks when told of the support, unpacking his equipment near the spot of the arrest. He is proud to have helped hasten the city's relaxed stance, he says. He's even more grateful that the message - of course there's a message, Riley admits - in tunes like "A Change Is Gonna Come" can continue to reach city residents.
"You have to be the change you want to see in the world," says Riley, who plans to sing the Cooke tune at his Idol audition Tuesday in East Rutherford, N.J. "I want to be Bono."
There's also, Riley realizes, this small matter: If he has grown talented enough to have Philadelphia in his corner - and persuade cops to leave him be in the Rittenhouse corner - how could he fear a few stone-faced Idol judges?
"It's like a guy told me after a show once: 'We booed Santa Claus,' " he recalls.
Preparing to begin another set, Riley surveys his Rittenhouse space - benches filling, grass seating dwindling - and approaches the microphone.
"If you make it in this city," he says, eyes widening just a little, "you're golden."
Contact staff writer Matt Flegenheimer at 215-854-5614 or mflegenheimer@phillynews.com.
