Claude’s Commentary.10
April 12, 2014
By Claude Hall
About a ton of emails circulating regarding the 50th anniversary
of Don Graham in the music business. Nothing left for me to say except
“Great on You, Don!” I would hate to think of a world without Don
Graham. Especially my world.
Bob
Walker: “Claude, your mention of Stan and Sis Kaplan fired up a few
memories… but I don’t remember if it was George Wilson or David Moorhead
that brought me to Charlotte and ‘Big WAYS’. In any event, when I
arrived at the airport there was a jock there to greet me and give me
the keys to Stan’s new sports car. Well, I didn’t know Charlotte, so I
refused the keys and gave them back to the
jock on the condition that he pick me up at the hotel, take me to the
station and, following our recording session, return me to the
airport. Here’s where the stroke of two years ago comes in … I cannot
remember his name, but he went on to become a star of radio, played
Carla’s husband on ‘Cheers’ and frequently visited with Letterman. I
guess nothing was spared in giving me a driver that weekend. It just
came back, George and I shared a breakfast orange juice in Miami, so it
must have been David that sent me to Big Ways. I emailed Warren Brown
that you had included his attendance at David’s funeral while David’s
ashes had been shipped to Chicago for internment – which was the service
I attended.”
Anyone not know the name of the WAYS jock mentioned? If not, send me a three-dollar bill and I’ll email his name to you.
Morris Diamond: “Thanks
for your Commentary.9. You help stirrup the memory parts of my brain
when you take me on the Jazz trip to Greenwich Village and come up with
such great talent as Paul Butterfield. W O W. Speaking of the Kentucky Derby, in the early 70s I hung
out quite a bit with Telly Savalas ... since the-mid 50s when he was a
young producer of a late night DJ show on WJZ in NYC. He and film
producer, Howard Koch, each shelled up $3,000 to purchase a horse that
they renamed Telly's Pop. Of course, in those days, Telly was hot with
his ‘KOJAK’ TV show. The horse was winning races all over the place.
After winning the California Triple Crown for 2-year-olds, there was no
question that Telly's Pop will be the west coast entry for the Kentucky
Derby. Except that 3 months before the derby, Telly's Pop came down
with a chipped hoof ... ran a few races that way ... came in 6th & 7th ...
and there went his chance for the Derby. However, Telly was still
invited to the Derby to be the grand marshal and asked me to join him.
This is like going to the
Grammy's, The Emmy's, The City of Hope Gala and every notable affair in
our industry. I was in 7th heaven. We were treated like royalty. All
the mint juleps at parties ... in our box at the Derby was the Governor
of Kentucky. I cherish those days. At that point, Telly's Pop was
sent out to pasture ... no more races. It is estimated that the horse,
excuse the expression, in his hay days, earned close to a half million
dollars. It was fun while it lasted ... most of the fun being in the
fotos that were taken in the winner's circle.”
Normally, I’ll touchup a word here and there, but, Morris, I do love
your use of the word “stirrup” while talking about Telly’s Pop. Touch of a genius! Great on you!
Lyn Stanley: “Thank you, Claude! So kind of you.
Love the stories today! You have had such an interesting career ... and your political commentary is so right ON!! :))
Have a great week.”
Lyn,
you’re absolutely correct. I’ve had a great, wonderful life. I
suppose I was in the right place at the right time and got very, very
lucky! Guys like Don Graham and Frank Mancini and George Furness and
Juggy Gales helped me immensely. George Wilson and Harvey Glascock and
Frank Ward, too. The legendary radio man George Wilson used to take a
thermos of coffee and go to Disneyland and sit on a bench. Watch
people. His methodology of keeping grounded. I used to take Barbara
and the kids and go camping in
the Sequoias. You stare awhile at a tree 2,000 years old and it sorta
puts you back in perspective. Once, Bobby and Karen Vee and kids went
with us. We camped at Lodgepole along the stream. Karen made some
great s’mores. As you grow increasingly famous, Lyn, I recommend those
Sequoias. Big time! Can’t help you on the s’mores, though.
Joe Collins: “Claude,
you mentioned Don Graham in today's column. In the Summer of 1964, I
went to San Francisco for a visit, while working at
KVEC AM in San Luis Obispo. I visited Jack Carney, who was doing noon
to 4 p.m. on KSFO. While in the booth with Jack, he introduced me on
the air as a ‘young man, starting out in radio down in San Luis Obispo’,
then proceeded to hand me a sheet of ‘live’ copy for one of KSFO's
clients, and asked me to read it cold, right then, so I somewhat
nervously read it thru, and made no mistakes, on the air in San
Francisco at 18, WOW ... I could have passed out. Then, while visiting
Jack, a local record promoter came into the booth, and started hyping
Jack on some single he was promoting. The ‘local’ promoter was Don
Graham, who called on me years later when I was programming Album
Rock KBOS-FM in Fresno. I would often remind Don of that first time we
met at KSFO some 18 years earlier. Also enjoyed you mentioning Chico
Hamilton. When I was doing my jazz program, I used to play
‘Conquistador’
with Chico and Gabor Szabo on Impulse a lot. Bobby Dale used to play
Chico late at night on KSFO, and once in awhile, he'd play it on KSAN
during the times he helped Tom Donahue out on Saturday nights. Thanks
for your column.”
Joe Collins later: “ I
didn't mention this, but when Harve got out of Chino, for 2 weeks,
right after his release, David Morehead gave him a job as a board
operator on the KMET side of Metromedia, when we were on Wilshire Blvd.
across from the tar pits. Harve was my board engineer for my show for
about 2 weeks, then he shows up at KKDJ,
working for Rick Carroll. Harve used to laugh at all the Bobby Dale
stories I told him, (never told him the KSFO story about the night the
police were out looking for him, and Bobby's remark), but many other
Bobby stories. Bobby Dale was probably one of the 3 or 4 greatest air
talents I'd ever heard in my life. I delivered one of the eulogies at
his memorial service in San Rafael in 2001. p.s. You mentioned that
Bobby had an affection for Cutty Sark, and lots of cigarettes. He used
to light one off the end of the last one he was smoking. The only other
person I knew who smoked that much was Steven Clean at KMET. But,
Bobby didn't have one drink or cigarette over the last 10 years of his
life, due to health issues and his doctor's advice. One night, shortly
before he passed, we spoke over the phone, and I asked if he missed
cigarettes, and his answer was, ‘every day’.”
LAWRENCE MATTERS
I’m
going to talk of Steve Lawrence and his new CD “When You Come Back to
Me Again” on Curb Records. Lawrence’s voice hasn’t aged a bit and I
recall my years in New York City when Steve Lawrence and his late wife
Eydie Gorme were the darlings of WNEW, one of the greatest show business
radio stations in the world. Beautiful music on this new CD. Dream
music. Something to relax by. Love by. Loved everything, especially
“Dream a Little
Dream of Me,” “I Was a Fool to Let You Go,” and my favorite “Our Day
Will Come.” Ron Dante has accomplished an outstanding producing job.
I’m
positive that I caught a Steve and Eydie live performance together at
some point. Probably reviewed them for Billboard. Too many years have
passed for me to remember if it was at a WNEW private taping of an hour
special at the Blue Room or some other venue. And, of course, this act
was always on television or in some movie. They were literally an
important part of the American
life.
Thus
I’m so pleased at the staying power Steve Lawrence expresses. And not
just staying power, but a certain magic. This guy has done it all and
yet on this CD presents a damned good show. What a delight. What great
entertainment! If I might display a disappointment, it’s that Steve
stayed within his musical realm and my wish is that he explored more … a
different kind of song, different arrangements, a couple of exciting
young musicians to back his excellent vocals. But, more than likely
this particular CD
was the one aimed for … sort of a tribute to his late wife. But this,
good people, is THE Steve
Lawrence. Thus, I expected more. Something which would set my hands
clapping, my feet stomping and my soul soaring. Yes, I realize that
you’ve been feted by kings and queens, Steve. What a magnificent
career! My compliments.
I’m
“stealing” an email or two that’s been circulated, which was written to
Don Graham. Just to show what someone
currently in show business might think of the Lawrence CD. There were
many such emails, by the way, written to Don, all praising Steve as if
he were some kind of god. Which, I guess he actually is.
Barb Bailey to Don: “Thank
you for sending along Steve Lawrence's new album. I am old school. So
is Steve Lawrence & this record proves that old school is very much
alive & well! Great song choices & arrangements & he is
still singing great! I'll be listening to it in my car today while
in gridlock on my way to a meeting!”
Charlie Barrett to Don: “A
half century of 5 years before I 1st met you sweetheart ... congrats to
U ... is it 45 years ago since we were working BLUE THUMB RECS. w/Bob K
at Capitol circa 1969? ... yes ... tempus fugit. All my best to you
and so glad we both met our pal Jack R ... and all the goodness he
spread and left us all with.”
I
tried to send Barrett a note that I’d added them to my mailing list so
they could read this Commentary, but got a questionnaire and I’m too old
to mess with filling out questionnaires just so someone can read this
column.
Joey
Reynolds: “Don is one of the brightest men I have ever known, he is a
star behind the spotlight, an entertaining hit show when the event
fails, a smart ass before there was Howard Stern, and a compassionate
person in real life, you gotta love the guy. The only time I ever had
an issue with Don was at Martonis
where they guarded the grated cheese like the Holy Grail. When Sal
took over from Mario and Tony he kept the cheese in a vault. One day I
reached for Don's cheese at another table and he flipped out. I had an
easier time dealing with cocaine than the Pecorino Romano stinky feet
cheese. You know how it is when you can't have something you really
want? I am clean and sober 40 years from cocaine but have a cheese
addiction thanks to Don Graham.”
Brad "Martini" Chambers, who does the Internet show “Martini in the Morning”: “To my good friend, Don Graham -- I
wanted to add one more voice to the chorus of praise for Steve Lawrence
and this fabulous new album. Back in mid-February, I received the
attached email from Ron Dante. That the lead singer of the Archies, the
Cufflinks and producer of Barry Manilow hits like ‘Mandy’, ‘Copacabana’
and ‘Could It Be Magic’ thought he had to explain who he is speaks
volumes about the guy who produced this great comeback album for Steve
Lawrence.
“We
started playing Steve's incredible rendition of Barry
Manilow penned ‘I Was a Fool to Let You Go’, from the MP3 Ron attached
to the email. I couldn't wait for the CD! I remember playing the song
from Barry Manilow's ‘Even Now’ album, but hearing Steve's very
contemporary delivery is pure Steve Lawrence, and perfect for ‘Martini
in the Morning’. Reaction to this song and several others we're
featuring for our worldwide audience has been nothing short of amazing. Thanks, Don, for your efforts to make this great album a must-buy for every music fan. Thanks also to Ron Dante, and thanks most of all to Steve Lawrence for coming back to us again.”
Lord,
but I remember the Archies! My youngest son, Andy was a mere babe and
he was into “Sugar Sugar” and wore out an 8-track featuring the Archies
in that little MG that I drove at the time. You know, I sorta liked the
8-track.
OTHER MATTERS
Frank
Jolley at
Liberty Pictures, Hollywood: “Hi and thank you for your
column. Congratulations for keeping us alive. I'd like to extend
greetings (through your column) to names from my past who have both
inspired me, encouraged me and competed with me in various markets
namely: Red Jones, Woody Roberts, Bob Wilson, Danny Davis, Bob Walker
and Johnny Barger, just to mention a few. I'm still alive and kicking,
too. At this time we are in the process of reviving both ‘John R's Radio Show’ and Bill Drake’s ‘History’ via
ROCKHOUSE.mobi. Soon the net will be airing both Rockhouse and other
fine oldies shows for worldwide consumption. Hope I don't let anyone
down with my brand of Rock and Roll.”
Frank,
play a Connie Francis for me, will you? Just FYI, that photo you gave
me of you and other KBOX staffers with the McLendon banner still crops
up on my desktop. Gets a good chuckle every time! And, just FYI, I
guess we ought to mention the name of Ron Jacobs in connection to “The
History of Rock and Roll.” More than Drake, I think.
Ted Cramer: “Bob Robin was ‘Bobbin' With Robin’ on
WHB in Kansas City for several years. His real name (if this is the
same one and I think it is because he worked for Storz) is Bob Sticht
and when I was at WSM in the early 90s, Bob was at WAMB in Nashville
playing ‘Music of Your Life’ type stuff. He remained there for several
years. Hope all is well with you.”
And then Ted sent an email: “Cancel what I said. This was obviously not the same Bob Robin!”
Ted,
you can’t imagine how many times I’ve had guys tell me, “I was such and
such back on so and so.” The funniest time was when a guy in a nice
suit and tie and wearing gold-frame spectacles passed by at a meeting –
in Texas, I think -- and said “Hi” and I said “Hi” and he walked on and
then he stopped, turned, and came back and said “I’m Woody Roberts” and I
almost fell out of my chair. Recognize him? Not a chance! Last time
I’d seen him was in Hartford, CT, and he was wearing something like blue
jeans, a sweat shirt, and sandals. He was programming WPOP at the
time. And that’s the great tale Bob Weisbuch has written about in his
book “Hitbound,” as yet
unpublished. When Woody and Lee Baby Simms went up against WDRC and
Charlie Parker and Joey Reynolds and Bertha Porter. May the good lord
bless and keep Bertha Porter.
Read
in LARP.com of the passing of Dave Diamond … later had emails from
Timmy Manocheo and Ken Levine. This, I hated to see. Just about the
time he finished his KHJ stint in Los Angeles, Dave was hanging around
the West Coast Writer’s Conspiracy, an avant garde literary magazine
that Barbara and I published out of our living room in Bel Air. He had a
short
story published in the quarterly. And, about the same time, had a book
of short stories published. That book, autographed, is probably still
around the house somewhere. This is a recent email I had from Dave that
I thought you’d like to see.
Dave
Diamond: “So glad hear from you and to know you are well and happy.
When I left KFI and LA I had a teaching gig in Iowa for 16 years and I
have been here at Black Hills State University, in the mountains here in
Western South Dakota, I live a couple miles from the Wyoming line. I
was born and raised in South Dakota. I have been at
BHSU 17 years. I am semi-retired, prof. emeritus. I had a novel come
out a couple years ago – ‘COOL HAND IN A HOT FIRE’, published by Daniels
and Daniels in California. It is still available in Amazon. My best to
you and Barbara.”
We come, we do, we go.
Then: “I'm
Dave Diamond's assistant,
Amanda Goetz. Some of you may not have heard that our Diamond has
passed on earlier this week. I'm so sorry to break the news like this
to some of you, but felt a need to write this after hearing the word of
mouth rumors that some have come forward to me with. Know that Dave
passed peacefully in his home, and is now just ‘at a higher frequency’
as Steve Babbitt would say and wrote in the recent printings for Diamond
in the BHPioneer. Once again, I'm so sorry for each of your losses. We
all have a special place in our hearts for Diamond. If you have any
further questions, you may contact me at amandaraegoetz@gmail.com. I
believe a memorial will be planned to happen in Spearfish in about a
month or so. He would so love you all to come, drink, be merry, and
share your favorite Diamond tale. Keep spreading the good karma for
Diamond, and lots of love from me.”
It
was a hectic week. Still haven’t gotten to “Forgotten Hits,” a link
sent to me by Ed Salamon. My thanks, Ed. Soon, I promise. Your
review, too, Doc. If you jazz buffs haven’t discovered the writings yet
of Doc Wendell, let me know and I’ll put you in touch. I discovered
Doc through the late Jack Roberts, for which I’ve been ever grateful.
Alvin Herskovitz: “Claude,
you write about great musical moments. I recall one that occurred in
your house! Bobby Vee and Johnny Tillotson sitting together on your
living room floor singing and playing dueling guitars!”
Bobby
Vee is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. Last time he and
wife Karen were by the house, he gave my son Andy a private guitar
lesson. Of course, he’s known Professor Andrew C. Hall, poet, since
Andy was in diapers.
Just
saw a picture of Bobby and Karen Vee on their daughter Jenny’s Facebook
page. Karen was just out of ICU, smiling. New lung, according to my
son Andy. Bobby in a hospital mask and baseball cap. Hospital in
Phoenix. In two weeks, they expect to transfer her back to a hospital
in Tucson, a “winter place” for the Vees who actually live on a lake in
Minnesota. Karen was not a smoker. Just got handed some weak
lungs. Go get ‘em, girl!
Danny
Davis: “Hey-dere, The Ol' Hall of Memory! Just got off a 55-minute
phone-marathon with Buzz Curtis! (As funny as he always was!) Remember
Post Records ... did all dem' Gold Albums, for all dem' Top Forty
'giants'! Buzz hears from Al Hershkovitz in Bradon(?), Florida. I've
got the number, Claude, in case you ain't! Lemme know. I'll get it to
ya'! If ever a life lift is called for, Buzz 'doctors' that scenario
real well … and amplifies the 87 hospital days, and 5 (that's 5)
operations he just went thru!! No, good humored as I think I am, I
can't duplicate a 'Buzz delivery'! Best to you and every 'hall' in the
house!”
Our best to you, Buzz. Get better!
More
Danny Davis: “Claude-ie: Fund of Knowledge dat' you is: Has any reader
told you that 'legendary' Butterball /WDAS, Philly, Now broadcasts from
the right arm of The BIG GUYS couch! Died a couple days ago! A good
friend and a lovable 'eating machine'! Useta' plan trips to many
more than one restaurant/deli/bakery, at any time the stomach growled
and he could set up an entourage to go along to all of 'em!! (Me and my
bloat is gonna miss 'im!)”
Later, Danny wrote about the weekly show business luncheon out around Palm Springs: “Sad,
but true! Shecky was absent, but Buzz Curtis let us know about a Vegas
stunt Buddy Hackett pulled on the Scheck when he ordered Vanity Auto
License plates, and had 'em attached to a Vegas trash truck ... goin'
all over town, the plates reading 'Shecky'! (Only a thing from a funny
mind like Hackett, equal to Mr. Greene.) And plenty kudos for Jimmy
Rogers (yeah, Jimmy Rogers!) at the Dolly Sinatra Lodge Wednesday
night! (Nah-h, Jimmy doesn't really sing much, anymore!) but his
performance 'talk-singin', sez everybody, was 'dynamite'! Moishe Diamond
termed it as "sensational'! (Thursday, as I've written before, Claude,
is a 'kick'! I wouldn't trade Thursday for two Tuesdays!) John Doumanian
brought me up-to-date on Steve Tyrell's 'alliance' with Janine Sharell!
It's for real! And their happiness together is boundless! John
Doumanian was a promo rep, for Capitol, out of Chicago! Long time
friend of Steve Tyrell and Woody Allen! John once traded the entire
(almost!) Capitol catalogue for a brand new Volkswagen (the 'beetlle')!
(I gotta' finish MY book, Authorman!)”
Dick
Summer: “Hi, Claude, Great bit about the Butterfield Band. He was huge
in Boston too while I was at WBZ. I didn't know you were into Greek
music. You never even gave us a veiled hint you were a patron of the
dancing ladies ... all in the pursuit of your thorough understanding of
the music of the world, of course. I thought you might get a kick out
of this story about a lady from my book, ‘Staying Happy Healthy And
Hot’.”
“I got to know a cigar-smoking, truck-driving, witchy woman at WNBC. Man,
what a
woman. Her real name is Lisa, but her friends call her Olga. Olga the
Witch has long black hair, a voice like a purr with fur, and a long
slow-motion smile. I didn’t see Olga walk into the studio. I just looked
up, and she was suddenly standing there in studio 2b at WNBC Radio a
lot of years ago. The idea that she just ‘appeared’ was probably just my imagination. Maybe.
The 10 p.m.-to-midnight portion of my show was music, and midnight-to-2
a.m. was talk. I always liked to have ordinary people who did
extraordinary things as guests on the talk portion. So just before
Halloween, I asked for mail from folks who figured they qualified, and
Olga’s note said, ‘I’m a witch’. It was a slam dunk. The lights at the
WNBC studios were New York neon, and Olga purred
something about how comfortable we’d be if I turned off the overheads
and did our interview by the light of a candle she’d brought. Olga
worked well in the dark with just a candle. She liked candlelight; it
was enough light so you could just see a person’s face and especially a
person’s eyes. If it weren’t for the Federal Disc Jockey Act’s
regulations, plus the fact that my crack NBC tech/accomplice Vic
Lombardo was only one heavy-breath away — and, of course, the certain
knowledge that my Lady Wonder Wench was listening — things could have
gotten a little out of hand right there. Olga was fascinating. I mean
in other ways, too. She was a follower of the ancient pagan religion
called Wicca. It’s about love of
nature, gentleness toward humans and animals, and very ancient legends
about tall trees, shadow creatures, and the moon. No devil worship,
no broomsticks, and no haggle-tooth hags. Olga was beautiful, smart,
sensitive, and loyal. I invited her back for several shows and
eventually got to know her pretty well. As a matter of fact, she became a real friend to my Lady Wonder Wench, our son Mark,
and me. Mark was fourteen when Olga came into our lives. He often came
to the station with my Lady Wonder Wench and me on Friday nights. Friday
nights were ‘Mouth vs. Ear’ nights on my show. ‘Mouth vs. Ear’ was a quiz show. We always won, because we cheated. It was a lot of fun. On Olga’s first night as a member of the Mouth quiz-show team, she
was lively, happy, and braless. And that’s how she threw her armsaround
Mark and gave him a loud, juicy, bouncy kiss smack dab on the mouth. Mark was big with the girls at fourteen. But Olga was all woman. Mark’s
ears wiggled, his hands stuck out from his arms at a strange angle, and
I think he didn’t start breathing again until sometime late Saturday
afternoon. That was lots of years ago, but when I asked Mark yesterday if he remembered, he said
something like ‘Oooooh yessss’. And his eyes turned a little purple. Olga
fell in love and moved away with her guy a few years ago. I wonder if
you might know her. I don’t want to give you her last name,
for obvious reasons. But that wouldn’t be necessary anyway because
there’s only one Olga like this warm and wonderful witchy woman. If you
know her, I’d appreciate it if you’d ask herto drop an e-mail to
dick@dicksummer.com. Lady Wonder Wench, Mark, and I really miss that
cigar-smoking, truck-driving, fur-purring, witchy woman.”
Bob
Levinson: “Lovin' your weekly column and how it gets me up to date
with so many old friends and industry acquaintances. Cheers! A photo
you and other reader regulars (like me) might enjoy, taken earlier this
year at the launch party for my eleventh crime novel FINDERS, KEEPERS,
LOSERS, WEEPERS at Skylight Books in LA. From left: the one and only
wonderful ice cream king Dandy Don Whittemore; Joe Sutton, ex-MCA
Records exec, talent manager, PR guru, host of his long-running ‘Heart
of Hollywood’ radio show; Jay Lowy, ex-Jobete Music honcho and past
Record Academy two-term prez; Me; Macey Lipman, best of the best indie
music marketing and promotion guys, who's now doing (and selling) his
marvelous oil paintings and limited-edition lithos.”
Thanks for the picture, Bob
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