I was invited to an exclusive private party at The Clift Hotel in San Francisco for Diana Ross who was embarking on a new venture “Ross Records”. a joint label deal with RCA Records. She was interested in meeting music executives in a few key markets to discuss the launch of her New Record Label and subsequent album “Red Hot Rhythm & Blues”. Here I was with my wife Nancy sitting on a couch drinking champagne and talking business with the most famous lead singer from the most successful female vocal group in Pop Music history, Diana Ross. This World Famous performer was discussing intimate details about her new project with me; and discussing how I could help her launch her record in the San Francisco Bay Area market. She told me that the Bay Area was always very supportive of her, from her early days in The Supremes to her solo career. We talked strategy, sales history, radio support and retail plans. She told me about working with Luther Vandross her producer and backing vocals on the record. By the way, The song “Dirty Looks from the album cracked the Top 10 R&B singles charts and went Gold. .So many players from the Wrecking Crew are all over the record. She discussed a TV special she was planning around the release date with special guests Etta James, Little Richard, her friend Billy Dee Williams, LL Cool J and others. She was a dream come true, sweet, honest, open and intriguing to talk to. I was also stunned when a letter arrived recapping our visit and Thanking Me for my input. Memorable to say the least.
Cyndi Lauper encounter
Needless to say I am a huge fan of Cyndi’s. She made her way to the Bay Area on multiple tours. On her “Hat Full of Stars” tour she announced that she was going to do small clubs and in San Francisco she had a stop at an intimate 500 seat South of Market Street club called Slims. When you get to see an artist in this setting it is like being in your living room. Performing many songs from her newest album of the same name, a stand out song at the time titled Sally’s Pigeon; a song about Teen pregnancy and back alley abortions.This song was co written with Mary Chapin Carpenter and helped make the album and tour deep and meaningful. You could just sense the performance had an undercurrent to it. Sometimes you just get the feeling of the mood.
Fast forward to the end of the concert and the mood changed with a trio of her hit’s as an encore to end the night. As fans made their way out to the night, I asked a friend to join me for a night cap at (the then Micro Brewery across the street) called Twenty Tank. Upon crossing the street and heading over I saw a couple in front of me, and it looked like Cyndi Lauper. I reached out and touched her shoulder and said Hey Cyndi the night’s performance was magic, Thank’s for performing in a small club. She stopped, turned around, smiled and said “do you think so”? I told her “I liked the material from the new album and that her writing on this one had deeper meaning”. She leaned over, kissed me on the cheek and said “Thank you, that means a lot.” She then said “hey have you met Pierre Andre” my percussionist! If you don’t know who Pierre is; do yourself a favor and check him out. Pierre is a Poet, Visual artist, Sax and percussionist who is into macchina. He was instrumental in taking Cyndi’s hit “Girls just wanna…” to another level with a Reggae Dub House version which they rolled out on this tour. Pierre was cordial and cool, adding to the already amazing night.
BB King
One of the reasons I was attracted to work at MCA Records was BB King. BB King spent his entire career at MCA Records. The man is an icon in the blues arena. My father was a huge BB King fan and growing up I dissected my fathers BB King record collection. When I joined MCA it was a pleasure to be able to work for the company but also have the opportunity to work with BB King and eventually take my father to a BB King performance and introduce them.
BB King was the most humble and gracious person you could ever meet and the story goes like this. BB King announced a tour and it would be coming to the Bay Area. He would be performing at The Concord Pavilion. I contacted management and was able to set up a private greet and meet. His manager told me that BB liked to do greet and meets prior to his performances and not afterwards. Everything was set. We arrived at the Venue in time to catch the opening act Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble. After their blistering set I grabbed my father and headed into the catacoms of the Concord Pavilions dressing rooms. Upon entry we were met by Stevie Ray Vaughn and his band in the back stage area. (I’ll save that for another story.) finding the signs pointing to BB Kings dressing room we made are way through the hallways to a larger than life man sitting on a stool at the doorway of his dressing room smiling and motioning to us saying “Come on in and meet BB King. The man was beautiful and friendly and nice, he had a couch, chairs, flowers on his coffee table and a credenza with a bottle of Cutty Sark with 3 glasses. He said “ Would you like to have a drink with BB King?” Of course we jumped at the chance, drinks and conversation ensued. After a while BB King stood up and said I have a present for your father. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a Gold Lapel Pin of his infamous guitar named “Lucille” and gave it to my father. Gracious and kind, BB King had a full heart and showed it on that night. We left heading out to our seats with a feeling of an amazing connection to one incredible human being. We watched as he dazzled the crowd and performed his consummate show, leaving an indelible image in our minds.