A CONCERT-ED EFFORT TO GET HOME

I returned from a mini-tour which included Tampa, Cleveland, Nashville and Schenectady last night, President’s Day, the 17^th. It was a tight schedule where we flew and bus-ed it. The most pleasant part of the tour was “living on the bus”. It was not a Greyhound bus mind you but a “luxury bus” with more than the comforts of home including two flat screen TVs, a fully equipped kitchen, sleeps 13 (each berth had its own TV), living room, etc. Don’t feel sorry for me man – I loved it.

Our drivers, Steve Hodges and Robert Pinkley, were the best and they deserve credit for taking such good care of us. We had to drive from Nashville to Schenectady overnight and man they got us there with time to spare. These two drivers were pros – just outstanding. This run allowed for no mistakes and like I said, they delivered us into upstate New York two hours early traveling close to a 1000 miles covering 5 or 6 states.  

When you are living on the road, you have “a home away from home” and we were performing at 4 consecutive concerts. It was an adventure and that last leg was a 17-hour drive. The Schenectady show was an afternoon concert so this was “a metal to the petal drive” and to arrive two hours early, priceless. Thank you Steve and Rob for your extraordinary driving and the care and friendship you offered me, The Imperials and our band. 

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention, as I have in previous columns, the shows in Tampa and Cleveland were in accordance with the Veterans of Foreign Wars. They have designated Valentine’s Day, each year now, to honor those vets who were wounded in action and some still hospitalized. The Tampa concert with The Spinners was at the Ford Amphitheater was so rewarding especially when you see these vets, front row, singing along to our cover of Sting’s “Every Breath You Take” or Teddy Randazzo’s “Hurt So Bad”. The Imperials and I are honored to perform for these great, sometime unsung, American heroes – our veterans.  

I am so proud to spend time and entertain these men and women who have given so much for our country. It pales in comparison though to stand onstage and try to perform for them. We did an inspired concert because The Imperials and I attempt to thank all the branches of service, our armed forces, and above all, we see concerts like these, a privilege to perform.  

I also want to thank Frank Cimorelli who coordinates these concerts and his staff who work the “Vets Concert Initiative” program. I salute you as well. 

WHAT A BAND!

I have mentioned in this column more times than I can count, how much I appreciate my buddies, The Imperials but this go-round, I want to write about our back-up band. These very talent musicians, especially the 4 who make up our rhythm section, a very special thank you and you are a band that should be applauded. Dale Herr on guitar, Willie Weist on piano/conductor, Eric Mauriello on bass and of course, our little brother, John DiGiulio on drums, collectively are a driving music machine that allows us to do the concerts we do. Without their “musical support net”, it would be difficult for us to duplicate our songs and our sound so effectively.  

I know what I am talking about. I’ve had lots of musicians back me up and I know how off it was before they joined our traveling road show. They are more than back-up musicians because they are apart of the Little Anthony & the Imperials’ sound. We benefit from their nightly masterful musicianship and although The Imperials and I are out front, without our band we would be rudderless. I salute you guys one and all.  

GOOD GOLLY, WHAT AN ICON 

The concert we did in Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry was with Little Richard and indeed, he is a rock icon. I’ve known Mr. Penniman since I started in this business at the age of 16. I remember seeing him at an “Alan Freed Rock And Roll show” at the classic Brooklyn Paramount. Clarence (Collins) and I used to sneak into those shows but I can’t reveal how. I’m saving that for my book.  

There he was, Little Richard rockin’ the show like nobody I had ever seen before. He is, to this day, a consummate showman. Seeing Richard convinced me that I had to be in show business, somehow, some way. Not only was he impressive but he could take an audience to a level no other performer could.  

Back when I was 16, I never thought or realized that I would meet him, let alone perform with him on stage. Now over 50 years later, I’m standing on the glorious stage of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on a show with Little Richard and The Tams. It was overwhelming exciting and to some degree, it saddened me as well. Richard needs to have a hip replacement and he is hesitant to do so. I am praying he goes through with it for it will give his worldwide audience more years of his talent and musical heritage. 

We hope to do more shows with Little Richard but unless he agrees to this surgery, we will have to resort to old film footage to see Richard in his prime. He is still vital and with a new hip, Richard could stand and rock the house down all over again. 
  

AN IMPERIAL FRIEND OF OURS 

I had to write this too: Kenny Seymour, you got a friend man. At this moment, a dear friend of ours and one of the most talented voice/arranger’s in the history of rock and roll is in a nursing home in Long Island because he is not capable of taking care of himself.  

Kenny had a massive stroke a number of years ago and it was a physical and mental blow he has had a problem dealing with. He’s an intricate part of Little Anthony & the Imperials’ history and to borrow from the Hollies, “he ain’t heavy, he’s my brother”. I had to mention Kenny because many times he lifted our vocals by his slick and creative vocal arrangements. I sure hope he recovers from his illness so he can weave his vocal magic again. 

The Imperials and I have a date coming up in Long Island and every time we are back in New York, we visit him. Kenny, we love you man! 

OPRAH – WHERE FORTH ART THOU? 

Oprah, we are reaching out to you because we would love to be on your show. While we were out on tour, I caught one of her shows while hanging in my hotel room. She is so engaging and entertaining and there are stories I could tell on her show that her audience would love. Oddly enough, Oprah’s show reminds me of my folks in Charleston, SC and some of my other relatives in Georgia. She keeps reminding me of my heritage and my people as if we were “blood relations”. My heritage from “down South” wove the fabric of “Little Anthony” and as I listen to Oprah discuss her upbringing, it parallels.  

Some things you can picture and I can see The Imperials and I doing a number or two first. Then sitting with Oprah talking about the families in the South, the Rat Pack, Las Vegas in the ‘60s, New York rock ‘n roll, Elvis, Bob Marley, Redd Foxx, Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke, Frankie Lyman, the racial strife we experienced and on and on. I hope it comes to be.  

IN PASSING 

Man, it saddens me to read about the passing a great like Joe Cuba whose classic hit “Bang, Bang” is now humming in my ears. He was a ground-breaker and he will be missed. His music lives on though. Joe Cuba was New Yorker like us and he transcended the sound we call salsa into one pop hit after another. He was a friend/neighbor of ours and I sure admired his music – “ah, beep beep”. We spent a great time with him in Puerto Rico a long time ago. See ya Joe. 

I also read where one of the original Ronettes passed, too – Ronnie’s sister, Estelle Bennett. Although Ronnie is upfront and The Ronettes 2007 HOF inductees, Estelle was a key ingredient in making The Ronettes’ “wall of sound” so addictive. I am going to dig out my Ronettes greatest hits CD and enjoy a good dose of “Be My Baby”.