FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS

I guess like you and every other baseball fan in America, I am saddened by the passing of one of the true great sports “voices” - Harry Kalas. He was 73 years old and you may remember him as the “man behind the mike at the Philadelpha Phillies games”. He was an institution and he will be missed. His “Outta Here” home run calls became a catch phrase that was understood internationally. 

Wherever you might have heard about or seen him, Kalas was one of the best. We will miss his lovely voice. His voice made the game more enjoyable to watch and listen to. The team president, David Montgomery sadly lamented, “We lost our voice today”. It was evident Mr. Montgomery was shaken by Kalas’ sudden death adding, “He loved our game and was a tremendous contribution to our sport and certainly, to our organization.”

It was ironic, yet oddly appropriate that Harry Kalas was found in the broadcasting booth before being rushed to a local hospital. Kalas joined the Philly organization in 1971 but prior, he had a long-standing relationship with sports including: an original member of the Houston Astros broadcast team and voice-overs for NFL films. 

Mr. Kalas was not an immediate “1971 hit”. He was not welcomed by the “city of brotherly love” despite being teamed with the late Richie Ashburn, the Hall of Famer. But Kalas called them one game at a time and he evolved into a now, beloved sports figure. In 2002, he received the Baseball Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award for his contributions to the game. “Good-bye Harry and outta here”.

WE ALSO LOST A DELFONIC

Also, one of the most beautiful sounding singing groups of the ‘70s Philadelphia was The Delfonics. We lost one of their founding members the other day, Randy Cain – age 63. Their harmonies on “La La (Means I Love You)” and “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)” -- what joy and pleasure The Delfonics are now echoing in my head. I wish to extend my condolences to the Cain family. Along with Mr. Kalas’ passing, this has to take a toll on the city of Philadelphia. Both men, if you think about it, were a “voice” in the growth of modern day Philadelphia. Their contribution remains ongoing. 

I love “the Philly sound” and to this day, there are times when I put on a CD and revel in Tom Bell, Gamble & Huff’s songs and every group that called Philadelphia home, like The Delfonics. With one Delfonic now gone, we can always resort to their legacy. The whole “sound of Philadelphia” community gives way when “Didn’t I” plays in the background. The Delfonics nailed it. Although Randy left the group in the mid-70s, he remained involved with the group. The cause of death was not determined. 

I LOVE IT WHEN WE HAVE AN AMERICAN PLAN

Congratulations to the crew of the ship Maersk, Alabama and a special “Hooray” to its Captain – Richard Phillips. The Navy Seals who executed the plan to free the Captain should also receive a special “Marv Apert – yes!” Although, it was necessary to take out the teen pirates holding Captain Phillips captive, the plan was quick and flawless. I salute you for completing this mission. You accomplished it with skill. There were no other options possible and you saved a kidnapped hostage, an American hostage. 

This operation to free Captain Phillips was a last resort with no other immediate recourse. The teen pirates from Somalia were determined to either kill the Captain or extract millions of dollars ransom from the owner of the hostage vessel. I agree with the American stance of not negotiating with terrorists yet many of the parent companies/countries of these ships have paid millions – Russia and Saudi Arabia come to mind.

These pirates are criminals and they are heavily armed. They have nothing to lose and millions to gain if successful. Up until now, when the French government and our forces used “deadly force”, it was pay the pirate piper. And then, wait for the next ship hostage seizure. Maybe, these so-called pirates will think differently when they approach a US or French ship in the Somalian weeks and months to come. 

This is a multi-national problem affecting our worldwide shipping lanes and the pirates of Somalia could care less what country they attack ship-wise. The battle is at sea where you have an advantage. We cannot go on land to fight again. We made that error previously by going after militia in their city strong-holds. If don’t recall it, watch “Blackhawk Down” and see what street fighting leaves behind, carnage and body counts. 

GRAMMY TELL ME TRUE

For those of you who heard the live broadcast of the Rock HOF Induction, you will recall Clarence talking about how Little Anthony & The Imperials are going for a Grammy next. I support Clarence’s statements and I too, think “You’ll Never Know” deserves to be at the least, considered for a Grammy. Like the HOF, the Grammy voting is limited to voting members and if we don’t promote it, nothing will happen. Call us egotistical or Grammy pie-in-the-sky but as far as we are concerned, we are going for it.

“You’ll Never Know” is a very important CD for Little Anthony & The Imperials. It is the first CD we put out on our own label. We produced, recorded and co-financed the CD ourselves like so many other artists and groups nowadays. Clarence produced “You’ll Never Know” and we’ve been working some of the songs into our concert show over the last couple of months. 

This “You’ll Never Know” is our dream come true. So we are promoting the CD concert by concert. We don’t have the backing of a major record group or the financing necessary to by print ads, radio time, co-ops, etc. So, we are going back to the old fashioned way of packing your trunk with records and taking them on the road with you. If we get enough retail sales and a Grammy nomination, Little Anthony & The Imperials will have earned it market-by-market.

SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION OR GOOD BUSINESS

Today, things are so different in the music business and yet, the same. When I write about doing all the wrong things one can do in a career, Little Anthony & The Imperials will have an “error chapter” unto itself. Little Anthony & The Imperials like to take chances and now, we can proudly say, those chances earned us the class stature and respect of the HOF induction. 

So, we’re out there with our “You’ll Never Know”. Shameless promotion – I don’t think so. It’s good business. I feel that if Little Anthony & The Imperialsdon’t promote our CD, no one else will. We are proud of this record. Who would have ever guessed that the 4-year old friends from Ft. Greene projects would not only be inducted into the Rock Hall Of Fame but, have a label - Imperials Plus - over 50 years later?

If Mohammed wouldn’t go to the mountain, then the mountain has to go to Mohammed. That is what Little Anthony & The Imperials are doing. We have a distribution deal with Sony Red but today, it is up to the artists to market their music region by region. The Imperials and I are out on-the-road promoting “You’ll Never Know”. It’s one of the things we do best. 

INVITATION FROM BOOTSY COLLINS

I briefly mentioned that Bootsy Collins (no relation to Clarence) was at the next table when we were at the Rock HOF last week. Bootsy said he is working on a new LP and he would like to have us involved. How cool is that?  

I think it’s got possibilities and although I do not know what Bootsy is planning, our backing and my vocals with “Bootsy” could be magical. As you can see, we still like to take chances – and there is still some rebel in us, too. 

MORE THANKS AND A NEW WISH LIST

Since our induction, fans have been lining up for The Imperials and me congratulating us in such a heartfelt way. You guys are the best and that includes our neighbors, people at the airports, hotels, the dry cleaners, friends at our respective churches, on the golf course, drug store, etc. In particular, my Pastor and his lovely wife, David & Vicky Shearin, your expression of love, spiritual guidance and continued support deserve many thanks. Thanks for being there.

I have to tell you this: I was thinking that our Rock HOF statues might cause a security problem when we went to fly out of Cleveland. The TSA people knew we were coming and helped us as we went through security. The TSA employees all congratulated us. This is one heavy statue man. If you happen to watch the now scaled down version of the HOF special on Fuse this Friday (5 PM), look at Smokey when he was holding two of the statues. This award is a treasured piece, in oh-so-many ways and it is also really “heavy my brother”. Seriously, it symbolizes a lifetime of achievement for Little Anthony & The Imperials. The HOF deserves credit here for their undaunted recognition of our hits’ and Little Anthony & The Imperials legacy in rock.

Now, to the wish list: I believe you have to dream and wish for things in life. They don’t always works out the way you planned them though. I also believe God has a way of making it right none-the-less, no matter what your faith is. So with the HOF Induction now etched in stone, LA&TIs are shooting for the following: a Grammy nomination, to perform at Lincoln Center again, do a concert in Washington, DC for the Senate or the White House, do a special performance at The Orleans/Las Vegas, have a long-running headline show here in Las Vegas, selling a quarter million CDs, Imperials on Oprah, perform on Letterman w/Paul Shaffer again, maybe sing on Jay Leno’s new 10 PM show and meet President Obama. You only live once, ya know.

The Imperials and I are so grateful for everything that has happened lately and we are planning to give some of the best concerts we’ve ever attempted. There are some who say, how can you retire from doing those classic “Doo Wop Reunion concerts”? Granted they pay us to headline but the shows are not what our audiences want from us. A half-hour set is music-hampered, cramped and overly trimmed due to time restraints. You have to see a full 100 minute Little Anthony & The Imperials show. Experience Little Anthony & The Imperials and you will know why we have survived 50 years. We’re good. 

I leave it at (this and) that along with all of the sincere “thanks and wishes” – Little Anthony.

We are in Westhampton, LI Friday, April 17th and then, Baltimore Saturday and Sunday at Harrah’s casino in Pennsylvania. I like extended weekends and then, back to Vegas.

If we aren’t one of the hardest working groups in show business right now, I’d be surprised. Now, I get it. When Lars from Metallica says they are “road dogs” I saw a whole new image. So are The Imperials but not like Metallica. We don’t do many arena dates but the 6/13th show at the Izod Center in the Meadowlands, will be. I’m looking forward to that show – our last “doo wop reunion concert” – ‘nuff said.