STRIKING GOLD IN LAS VEGAS  

I guess with all the sadness that has been endured by us all after last week’s tragedy with MJ, it is kind of comforting to write my column this week in a “normal fashion”. It was back to business for LA&TIs - our manager Selwyn Miller called and said he had a call from the UK-based magazine, Goldmine. They wanted to do an interview with me and so we scheduled it for the other day.  

There I was at home awaiting the call. Goldmine assigned a Mr. Ian Wright and he called right on time. He wanted to do the interview in person and that was fine by me. I suggested he come over my house and we could do the interview leisurely. As you may have guessed Mr. Wright is British and yeah, his accent gave him away. When I hung up the phone, I wondered if he was calling from across the pond, as they say. I later discovered that he was right here in Las Vegas. 

I have to tell you – all this is kind of new to me. The media attention we get now is (I had to use a British expression here) over the moon. The magazine coverage, the TV news stations, rock radio, online radio, area newspapers, USA Today, AP, Reuters, Rolling Stone and now, Goldmine. It just keeps on coming and it is obvious that the Rock HOF is the catalyst – the gift that keeps on giving.  

I’m used to doing interviews and we all know I love to talk. However, the interviews I’ve been doing this past year have all been on a higher plain. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that direction. So, Ian rings my doorbell and as we begin to chat, we discovered we had things in common. Now, we were raised with the whole Atlantic Ocean in between our upbringings but guess what, both our fathers worked on the docks. Ian’s Dad worked the docks of Liverpool and mine, the docks of the Brooklyn Naval Yard. Our upbringing and our dreams were very close in nature and that kinship was a bond I did not expect. 

Let me digress (I love saying that word): Ian was there to work and that included doing a one-on-one interview and taking some photos during its course. I kind of envisioned the old Playboy interview where they had 3 photos and the in-depth Q&A went on for pages. Considering the interview went on for over 3 hours, I would have to say, I was close with that appraisal. Only difference is Goldmine is all music and not a skin mag, thankfully. 

Ian was a great interviewer and I had no idea all those hours flew by. During the course of the interview, Ian mentioned how although he did interviews, photography was his true love. He showed me the photos he did decades back of The Beatles. They weren’t famous yet and that was something he specialized in – photographing the then, new and upcoming mover-and-shaker British stars. All his photos were in black-and-white and as far as I am concerned black-and-white photos make for the most memorable portraits.

The feature interview in Goldmine will be out in a month or two and I can’t wait to see it in print. Sometimes when I do an interview, I don’t get to see or read the final result and I imagine that happens a lot. Also, Ian’s photos are available in a book entitled, “On The Brink Of Fame” featuring: the “soon-to-be-famous” including Mick Jagger, Prince Phillip, Ella Fitzgerald, Johnny Cash, Chubby Checker, Gary & The Pacemakers and Billy Jay Kramer & The Dakotas to name a few. Let me tell ya, Ian is a craftsman and his photos are a testament to that craft.  

Ian was particularly interested in my “Imperial Life” weekly column. Why do I do it? Do I enjoy writing? How did it come my way? Ian said that he has enjoyed reading the present and past columns and made comment on how it is kind of a diary. I never thought about it like that but he was on to something. As you know from previous columns, it is good therapy for me and in the interim I’ve learned a few tricks of the column trade, too.  

Ian contacted his Goldmine publisher in the UK and sent him a couple of my past columns. The publisher flipped out and was wondering if I would do some writing for them. I was dumbfounded and guess what? Goldmine wants me to interview Rod Stewart when he comes to Las Vegas in October. If that ain’t cool, nothing is and when you think I barely made it out of high school, my old teachers in Brooklyn must be smiling or shakin’ their heads in dismay -- one or the other. Like they say, “you never know”. 

HOW NICE IT IS TO HAVE FRIENDS 

My cell phone rang a few days before the Ian/Goldmine interview and it was my good friend, Jay DePland. We all call him “Jay-bird” and it was so good to hear from him. Now, Jay is a throwback to that kind of person who is a master of many talents. I’ve known Jay for over 30 years and he amazes me still because of his abilities like, he is a certified wide-body airline pilot and instructor. He works out of the old Pan Am building here in Vegas and last year, he arranged for me to enter a flight simulator. I brought along one of my grandkids and they let us take the controls. That kid is still talking about that day and for that matter, so am I. It was awesome. 

Jay-bird is also one of the most respected horse trainers in Vegas and maybe, the whole country. And that isn’t all, he was an FBI agent for many years and if that weren’t enough, he is one incredible drummer who worked with some of the jazz greats, Arthur Prysock, Lou Rawls, to name a few - a real “man for all seasons”. 

Jay-bird asked me would I like to join Kenny Bates, Evil Kinevel’s manager for 20 years, and him to go see Earl Turner and a wonderful lady singer I admire a lot named, Lani Misalucha.

These two classic vocalists have to be one of Las Vegas’ best kept secrets. Earl is a singer’s singer, ultimate performer and showman extraordinaire. I was so into their show that before I knew it, I found myself onstage. Yes, they invited me up but it still caught me off-guard. I am very respectful of stage performers and I don’t like to step on the stage apron unless invited.

It was the close of their show and MJ was naturally on everyone’s minds and lips. We did our tribute to Michael. It was a blast and we sang “I’ll Be There”. It must have gone over big because one of the best columnists in the country, Norm Clarke, who writes “Norm – Vegas Confidential” ran the following item: 

“Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honoree Little Anthony (Jerome Anthony Gourdine) of Little Anthony and The Imperials joined Earl Turner and Lani Misalucha onstage Friday in their “Voices” show at the Hilton during a tribute to Michael Jackson. They sang, “I’ll Be There”.  

Norm, on behalf of Earl, Lani and myself, I wish to thank you for that Sunday item in your Review-Journal column. You can add Norm’s column item to all those wonderful interviews I mentioned earlier. Man, I am so appreciative and I understand it helped Earl and Lani’s ticket sales too. I am just learning about the power of a column item and Norm Clarke is one of the best. Thanks again Norm and one good column (item) deserves another. It is my way of thanking you and I hope you can come to the Cannery on 7/11^th. 

In closing, I have to admit, I am a secret admirer of Lani Misalucha’s and hopefully, we’ll be able to record a duet some day soon. We could make beautiful music together. 

GOODBYE BILLY – GOODBYE KARL 

With the immense coverage of MJ’s death, pitchman Billy Mays was lost in the deluge unfortunately. He died in his sleep and although I did not buy Oxyclean or any of the other products he pitched, Billy was a more than likeable TV icon. I understand he was very friendly and always remembered where he came from. He started as a pitchman on the boardwalk in Atlantic City where he refined his yelling calling card.  

Billy was only 50 years old and it seems he had heart problems – an enlarged heart. I wish to extend my condolences to his family and let them know how much he meant to all of us TV consumers. Maybe I will order some Oxyclean in his memory.  

Another great in his own rite was “actor for all seasons” Karl Malden. This guy could act and some of the characters he portrayed like in “Streetcar Named Desire’, “On The Waterfront”, “Nevada Smith”, “The One Eyed Jacks”, “Patton” and of course, “Streets Of San Francisco” stole scenes from the rest of the cast. 

Malden was teamed with Brando in a number of movies and if you can steal a scene from Brando, you did something. Karl was 97 years old and as we all know, an Oscar winner. Although he is gone, his film portrayals will help him live on. And if his films were not enough, how about his American Express commercials where he quipped, “Don’t leave home without it”? Karl Malden’s career spanned 6 decades and his AE commercials were so popular in their day that scores of comedians and late night hosts parodied it. That is what I call leaving behind a legacy for the ages. See ya Billy and see ya Karl.