We continue legendary Seattle radio man Dick Curtis' autobiography, Me, Myself & I - We're on the Road Again. He wrote it for family & friends a few years ago, but has availed it to BlatherWatch. The book is fascinating glimpse, not only into early rock 'n' roll radio, but even more into the business of talent management and concert promotion in an incredible, crazypants time to be there: the 1960's, '70's and '80's.
In this section, it's summer 1976, and Dick is living in LA, working for Jerry Weintraub at Concerts West. When the American leg of Paul McCartney & Wings' "Wings over America" tour ended in LA, Dick got invited to a party...
I liked living in LA. I’d rented an apartment on the beach at Marina Del Rey, just south of the Venice Pier. I had a short 20 minutes drive to work, past the old MGM studios in Culver City winding through Cheviot Hills and I was at work in Beverly Hills.
Don’t pinch me, I might wake up! I loved everything about L.A. life.
Just to relate how different it was living in LA for me; at lunch in Beverly Hills where our office was located; say the Palm Restaurant on Santa Monica Boulevard, for example, you would see actors, musicians, agents and managers dining and chatting. Contacting these booking agents and managers might have taken days if you were living in some other city. Now these folks were your acquaintances. I quickly concluded that living in LA was a no-brainer if someone was trying to break into the music business.
Karen, my wife at the time, and I were invited to a party at the Harold Lloyd estate. It was a get-together at the estate of the long deceased silent screen actor celebrating the end of Paul McCartney’s “Wings Over America” tour which Concerts West had promoted. I had nothing to do with the tour and we weren’t sure we wanted to go but finally decided we would.
(photo: Linda McCartney & Paul (not pictured, Dick Curtis)
The invitation said everyone must wear white. As we neared the location of the party we saw people lining both sides of the street. Wow, we had no idea what the two of us were about to experience. Nearing the gates of the estate our car got the sign from an attendant to halt. We then were ushered into a limousine and the parking attendant took our car.
Pulling up to the estate we left the limo and walked into the foyer. On the left were four musicians playing playing Beatles music on strings in white tuxedos. Walking around the grounds were mime troupes and jugglers. The Los Angeles ballet was performing by an area of reflecting pools. The swimming pool area had been set up as a disco and music was blaring. The entire scene was lit by the production director for the musical group Chicago.
As Karen and I strolled the grounds with Terry Basset we passed Paul and Linda McCartney. We paused to say hi and a exchanged a couple pleasantries. The Beachboys were there, walking around like the rest of us. Everything was so mellow. There was a sit-down dinner out on the lawn and performing during the dining was the cast from The Wiz.
I had always wanted to see John Belushi’s imitation of Joe Cocker, but missed it when it aired on Saturday Night Live. I’d never seemed to catch the reruns but I’d heard how funny and incredibly real it was. If you’re not aware, Joe Cocker consumed huge amounts of beer as he performed at the time, and would get progressively drunk as the show went on; sometimes even getting sick. A pail was kept back stage for those unfortunate times. But now, there was John Belushi performing as we had our dinner, doing his imitation of Joe Cocker. It was just as good as I imagined it would be... only so much better in person.
Oh, the reason we were asked to wear white clothes? All of us were painted with psychedelic designs. Upon leaving the party ladies were given a long stemmed red rose with a note attached that read, “Paul and Linda thank you for coming.” This was the classiest party I’ve ever attended and the likes of which I will never witnesses again and to think that we had debated whether to attend!.
As they say, “Only in LA.”
great story.
Posted by: Puget Sound Blathers | October 15, 2011 at 08:24 AM
Would like to see more. Looks like a great read.
Posted by: Ed Bennett | October 15, 2011 at 06:07 PM
Please post more.
Posted by: Puget Sound Blathers | October 15, 2011 at 06:19 PM
Boring!! The Beatles never could sing! Neither could Paul McCartney! I know! I was there. I also listened to KJR and Dick Curtis was no Pat O'Day!
Posted by: Mohammy | October 16, 2011 at 11:45 AM