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http://www.popstar.com/Jimi_Bertucci/
http://www.youtube.com
http://www.livestream.com/theethnicnetwork |
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Keith Elshaw In
The Grooves - Q107 FM
Jimi B. Jimi
B A & M 9069 - Jimi ( Bertucci ) B's
career has been incubating for 10 years since he fronted "
Abraham's Children, " a band which had a lot of success
in Canada. Through ups and - (more
reviews and news). |
 " I will never forget
the tragic morning of August 24th. I can still feel the anguish
and unsettling in my stomach with just the mention of..(get it now) |
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JIMI RECEIVES CERTOSA
AWARD |
Corremio Certosa
2005 Premiato
insieme a Cordiano, Simonetta
e BarillariÈ arrivato in Canada a 6 anni con una chitarra
per bambini di plastica e ora è uno dei più grandi
interpreti della musica pop e rock del Nordamerica. È
Jimi (Vincenzo) Bertucci, nato a Serra San Bruno in Calabria
nel 1951. Sabato 22 ottobre è il suo compleanno e domenica
23 gli viene assegnato il premio Certosa 2005 per il suo "eccezionale
contributo all'arte" dall'Associazione San Bruno. Insieme
a lui, per il 2005 saranno premiati presso il Renaissance Parque,
al n? 2800 della Hwy 7 W., a Concord, il ministro provinciale
per lo Sviluppo Economico, Joseph Cordiano, Michael Simonetta
e Domenico Barillari.Bertucci, nell'intervista rilasciata al
Corriere, rivive con intensa commozione il suo viaggio nel 1956
dalla Calabria verso il Canada e la sua successiva affermazione."Il
giorno prima suonavo la mia chitarra giocattolo sul balcone di
casa mia a Serra San Bruno e il giorno dopo ero sulla nave La
Roma diretto in Canada. Lassù mi sono anche perso e mia
madre dopo che io l'ho ritrovata, per la gioia mi baciava, mi
abbracciava ma mi dava anche qualche scapaccione". "Abbiamo
abitato a Grace Street - racconta - vicino la chiesa di San Francesco,
su College e lì ho affrontato il difficile inserimento
nella realtà canadese. Ho lottato a scuola per superare
le differenze che c'erano. Non parlavo inglese e vestivo con
i vestiti italiani che mia madre mi dava; finché un giorno,
per non sentirmi diverso ho chiesto ai miei di darmi i jeans
e le scarpe da ginnastica". Dal suo racconto, Bertucci fa
emergere il suo carattere forte e determinato. "Ascoltavo
la radio e ho detto: voglio anch'io "entrare in radio"".
E  Vincenzo
Bertucci ha realizzato il suo sogno grazie alla collaborazione
dei suoi genitori che lo hanno assecondato. "La svolta è
arrivata nel 1964. Vado al negozio Julio music store - continua
- vicino all'angolo dove ora c'è il Diplomatico e il proprietario
mi fa vedere una chitarra elettrica, la Hofner, come quella dei
Beatles e mi chiede se mi piaceva. Mi brillavano gli occhi e
dico di sì e quello, facendomi quasi svenire mi dice:
prendila è tua. I tuoi genitori l'hanno prenotata per
te tre mesi fa e finalmente è arrivata". "A
15 anni poi decido di non andare a scuola e dedicarmi completamente
alla musica. I miei non si oppongono alla mia decisione".A
raggiungere il successo, a insegnargli la musica e a insegnargli
a suonare il mandolino, la chitarra e la fisarmonica ci ha pensato
suo zio Salvatore.Bertucci da allora ha sempre composto la sua
musica e ha scritto i suoi testi.Nel suo ultimo cd Passion &
Innocence, fatto col suo gruppo Abraham's Children racconta i
suoi ultimi 30 anni di vita professionale e racconta soprattutto
la vita a College e Grace Street. In questo cd, c'è anche
una canzone in italiano. "Si chiama Sempre - dice Bertucci
-è una canzone d'amore e l'ho scritta e dedicata a mia
nipote che si sposava. Era il mio regalo di nozze".Ma Bertucci,
con un'altra canzone ha fatto felice anche un'altra donna: sua
madre a cui nel 1972 dedicò la prima canzone in italiano:
Bye, bye bambina occhi blu. Uno dei tanti successi come Goodbye
Farewell, Gypsy, Thank you. Data pubblicazione: 2005-10-19Indirizzo
pagina originale: http://www.corriere.com/viewstory.php?storyid=44709 |
 Montreal Abraham's Children. Groupe
pop formé à Toronto à la fin des années
1960 avec Jimi Bertucci (basse), Ron Bartley (guitare), Bob McPherson
(claviers) et Brian Cotterill (batterie) et, à partir
de 1973, Shawn O'Shea (guitare). D'abord connu sous le nom de
Captain Midnight's Dirty Feet et, ensuite, d'Abraham's Children
ou tout simplement de The Children, le groupe joue dans les clubs
de Toronto avant de signer avec Gas Records en 1972 et ensuite
avec Buddha Records aux États-Unis. Le groupe devient
rapidement populaire, en grande partie grâce à son
style énergique, et joue pour des grandes foules - par
exemple à la Centre Island de Toronto et au Nathan Phillips
Square - ainsi qu'à des émissions télévisées
telles que Musical Friends et Canadian Bandstand. Ils font des
tournées importantes au Canada et aux États-Unis.
Leur son, tendant à l'origine vers le " bubble-gum
" commercial, évolue vers le rock classique. En 1968,
ils produisent leur premier 45 tours " Hot Love ",
suivi en 1972 de " Goodbye Farewell " (no10 au Canada
d'après le palmarès du RPM) et sa version italienne
" Bye Bye Bambino Occhi Blue ". En 1973, le groupe
sort son unique 33 tours, TIME (GLP 2001 Gas Records), et le
45 tours additionnel " Gypsy " (no 5 au Canada et succès
international) et, en 1974, le 45 tour " Goddess of Nature
". Bertucci (né Vincenzo Donato Bertucci à
Calabre, en Italie) et Bartley (né à Verdun, au
Manitoba) écrivent la plupart des chansons du groupe.
Bertucci commence sa carrière solo en 1975 et s'installe
en Californie et, même s'il enregistre toujours des 45
tours et se produit encore en tournée, le groupe se sépare
en 1976. Presque 30 ans plus tard, les membres d'origine de Abraham's
Children enregistrent un album de retrouvailles (intitulé
30) à Toronto. En 2004, Bertucci et les membres remplaçants
jouant sous le nom des Abraham's Children entreprennent des tournées
en Californie et au Canada. |
 Juno
nominated singer Cathy Young gives Jimi and Abraham's Children
a little "Gypsy" performance at the first annual Italian
Walk Of Fame awards gala. |
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 Quando
uno se quarda a lu specchio
Vida la vita pasata, pasata
Canta na canzuni ca lu tempo a balla, si shala
Ma no si po fermari
COMING SOON PE DAVERU |
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 LOS ANGELES CA JIMI BERTUCCI is best known as the founding member and principal
singer-songwriter for the ‘70s hit-making band ABRAHAM'S
CHILDREN. Born Vincenzo Donato Bertucci in Serra San Bruno, Calabria Italy, he
immigrated to Toronto, Canada at the young age of six. Jimi lived
in a large household of relatives in Toronto's "little Italy”,
including his Uncle Sam who could play a variety of instruments
including the accordion and mandolin. Over time, Uncle Sam's
musical influence over the young Vincenzo would become profound.
After being the lucky winner of tickets from "Sam the Record
Man", Jimi went to see the Beatles perform Live at Maple
Leaf Gardens in Toronto at the impressionable age of 13. It was
following that monumental experience that he became inspired
to envision his life as a musician. The surprise gift of a Hofner
Beatle bass by his parents sealed his fate. He soon met another
local musician Ron Bartley and together they would form their
first group called "Just Us." They later added Bob
McPherson and Brian Cotterill to the group and, following a number
of name changes, the hit-making band "Abraham's Children"
was born. As the band’s principal songwriter, Jimi penned
their first national hit song called "Goodbye Farewell"
while signed to Gas Records. Other hits followed including Gypsy,
Thank You and Goddess Of Nature. The band toured heavily and
extensively to large enthusiastic crowds. Wanting to explore
other avenues with his music Jimi embarked in a different direction
in 1976 leaving The Children behind. Quick to recognize his talent,
United Artists Records wasted no time in signing Jimi. Finally,
having the creative freedom he had craved, he produced a pop-influenced
band called "Space Patrol" and later "Angel",
a band more on the R&B side. While on the A&M label in the 80’s, Jimi
formed the band "The Police" which gained an enthusiastic
following but who, due to disputes with the label, soon split.
With his newly formed band  Jimi B, Robert Hoelting, Mike Cherney, Kelvin Womack
and Bongo Fury , he decided it was time to get back on the road
and did just that, appearing at some of the more popular places
in Hollywood such as The Roxy, The Whisky A Go Go, Club 369,
The Vipor Room, Rumps and others. He continued to record and
tour all over the USA. As a prolific songwriter and solo artist
he released Through
The Eyes of Vincenzo. along with numerous other singles. Most recently,
he has released some of his poetry writings which are being critically
well-received. In 2004, after many requests from fans who wanted
to see him in Canada, Jimi reformed "Abraham's Children"
and toured the great white north. Although he was the only original
member of the band they played all the hits and satisfied a crowd
that for so long were anxious to see Jimi and The Children perform.
In 2005 the band was back on the road again promoting Jimi's
most recent project, a new double cd set titled "Abraham's
Children 30", that captures the last thirty years of pop music
with his band.This year Jimi released a collection of poetry
that has been well received in the literary world. Also in the
works is his involvement as writer and producer with his daughter
Juli. His plans remain to be committed to his art, including
touring and recording, and doing what he does best, exploring
music to its fullest, writing poetry, cooking, surfing and snowboarding.
( many more pages to read about Jimi enjoy ) Marisa Lang Management
-- Upper photo by Deborah
Samuel |
 The
Killing Road
- WE had a philosophy on the road: You can spend
the night, but don't use my toothbrush in the morning. How preposterously
arrogant. But as much as some don't like to admit, rock n roll
is a cavalier art. From the first day I picked up a guitar, I
felt my confidence was enhanced drastically, and in the process
the recognition of my talents exuded. I remember the first gig
I performed at was a dance at a boys and girls club. After we
finished our set, I was swarmed by pretty girls wanting my sole
attention.
That was the beginning. My instrument became my addiction. Endless
hours were spent honing my craft, in the basement of my parents'
home. I would sometimes feign illness so that I could stay home
from school to play my guitar. My feelings of proliferation were
a constant battle, I needed to exercise my brain, now more than
ever, and it was this piece of wood and plastic that propelled
the movement. It being the sixties didn't help either. The musical
revolution had begun and I wasn't accustomed to the rapid changes
and digression from previous norms. Then again, why should I
have been? I was only twelve. I could feel the growth the more
I bonded with my tool and my direction was leading me to more
progressive paths of music. One of my early, negative encounters
occurred while I was watching this band rehearse. The bass player
had this awesome Fender Jazz Bass that he made rock hard. The
leader of the band (let's say his name was DCT) noticed me at
the top of the stairs. He picked me up by my jacket and proceeded
to throw me down the stairs screaming "I don't want you
f***in' hanging around here"... to think this guy would
eventually be a big recording artist. Go figure. This definitely
gave me a different outlook, one that I would not inherit.
I soon landed a gig a with three brothers that had heard of me
from another musician. We practiced intensely for an upcoming
show, this would be my first professional performance. Everyone
in the neighborhood was looking forward to it, because we were
opening for James Brown and The Famous Flames. Despite the clashing
genres and extreme differences between the styles of our music,
the local promoter who booked the gig was a friend of ours and
showcased our heavy talent on the same bill as the Godfather
of Soul. The audience was relatively receptive, after all, we
were ahead of our time, although further from what they expected
than was comprehensible.
We ate up the attention as if we were already famous, loving
the fact that someone asked us to autograph their ticket stub.
To think I could be possessed by such a musical carousel, the
surreal spin was frightening. Life as it was, was no longer.
I know this has touches of poetic streams, but the fact remains
that I could think about nothing else, aside from music. High
School was put on the back burner and my struggles to convince
my parents to rescue me from the institutional demands for my
time were finally realized when they signed me out of the ninth
grade.
I would soon be in a band that played totally original music,
and gained exposure as the house band at the El Patio, an underground
club that attracted an eccentric crowd. Our popularity was on
the rise and our live appearances were becoming more frequent
and further away from home. We were often booked in smokey, beer-drinking
rooms and no one stopped to ask how old I was, they just knew
I was in the band. One of these dark, musty, imitation-leather
filled spaces would be my nucleus de la vita.
 Club 813 was a predominantly Jamaican
hangout, and the smell of curried lamb filled the air as much
as the ganja and the tunes that four white boys were jamming
on stage. During one of our rock-steady nights, this elderly
man with a voluptuous woman wearing an extravagantly large, maroon,
velvet hat was silently watching us play. He approached us after
our first set and proceeded to hand me a business card. "Call
me tomorrow, I've got big plans for you guys," he said nonchalantly,
before leaving the club.
He was right, he did have big plans for us...As our marketing
team was busy designing and distributing memorabilia to the masses,
the band was racking up sky miles and every other day we would
arrive in a different destination. The fan base was getting bigger
and demand for the band was beginning to take its toll. We would
sometimes do as many as 55 cities in 60 days; this would include
meet-and-greet sessions, radio interviews, in-store appearances
and how can we forget those special gatherings that promoters
put together for after the shows. These theatrical events would
consist of that old cliché, S, D & RnR, and if you've
heard anything about this traveling carnal zoo, 99% of the dirt
is probably true.
For many years I lived the life of a rock star, within my own
outrageous bounds. My sweet clairvoyant Mama would save every
postcard I sent and review or newspaper clipping about the band,
as she mailed off our popular 45-records to her relatives in
Southern Italy.
By this point I was in need of a passport, more countries, more
concerts, more everything. The overindulgence became monotonous
and practically routine. I was a sequined soldier, defending
my public persona by means of gratifying my supporters. At times
it seemed that even the simplest form of stability was a luxury.
The revenue I was collecting afforded me the ability to drive
a great car, to have a recording studio built into the mansion
on the hill, and all the material goods one could drink, but
no sooner than I would sit down to enjoy a quiet brunch on my
patio overlooking the shore, I would receive a phone call notifying
me of the next scheduled tour. No time to soak up the sunlight
or read a good book, I had to hit the road again.
It felt good knowing that our faithful followers found some satisfaction
in our egocentric endeavors. Everything imaginable was available
to us, meaning the abundance of candy and promiscuity was part
of our daily menu. Our intrigue was not limited only to musical
fans. Our collective group of admirers ranged from gay politicians
to bored rich brats looking for kicks with rock bands. The subtle,
unrecognizable torment we sometimes faced was stored deep underneath
the layers of laughter and eye-piercing facades. We wanted the
fame, we demanded the attention, only to find ourselves weighed
down by a burden of responsibility. Luckily, time has a way of
slowing down the fast-paced highway of popularity; a good thing
if you're caught up in the redundant ruckus. In the end, we can
reflect as mature connoisseurs of our self-appointed space and
smile, knowing we slayed many dragons along the killing road.
(Courtesy Ciao Magazine) |
 HAMILTON, ONT.
This question
always comes up in interviews so, as a dedicated journalist,
I wanted to get the scoop for our records. My question to Canada's
Fab 4, as they were sometimes labeled, was this. "What was
the largest venue in which you ever performed and why was it
so special?" It didn't take much thought for the Canuck
rocker, Jimi Bertucci, to dive in and paint a very visual picture
for my anticipated pen and paper. "I would have to say,
Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton, Canada. It was an unforgettable
night of events that stayed with us throughout the years. "My
ears perked up as Jimi explained that, prior to that historic
concert, they had performed at Center Island in Toronto to a
crowd of about 30-thousand hungry pop fans who proudly displayed
many of the t-shirts and posters that were available for them
at the show. "The Ivor show was a trip, I recall. The dj
from the local radio station, I believe it was CKOC, came on
stage and started doing his thing, reminding the crowd to stay
back from the stage for safety reasons. Well, that was a lost
cause. After about 5 minutes of ranting about community efforts
and other related things, the show began. We were in our rented
trailer, parked at the side of the 40-foot stage. The lights
were flashing like a storm of colors from the dark skies...our
cue to get ready. I was sitting back, sipping on my Canada Dry
ginger ale, when the dj made his annoucement." "Ladies
and gentlemen, please give a welcoming round of applause to one
of the greatest bands to come out of Canada....Abraham's Children."
"The roar of the crowd was like a constant sound of white
noise hissing in the air. We were escorted on stage by three
security guards. The stage was flooded by a million watts of
lights that blinded our vision of the crowd. I plugged in and
approached my microphone. Good evening Hamilton, are you ready
to rock? The screams got louder. We opened with one of our hits,
Goodbye Farewell. As soon as the crowd heard that trademark intro
with the bass, they began rushing the stage in herds. Still blinded
by the overwhelming lights, we could see the playing field of
the stadium begin to fill up with young fans rushing towards
the stage. There must have been thousands. The security guards
jumped on stage and asked us to stop, unplug and move to the
side of stage left near our trailer. The crowd was frantic. The
dj came back on stage and announced that, if the crowd did not
move back, the concert would not continue. After about 10 minutes
of reorganizing the excited stampede of fans, the dj announced
once again, "Ok, let's try this again...Abraham's Children."
Ok, here we are again. Are you having a good time, I asked. The
crowd yelled out a big YES of approval. We began with another
one of our hit records, Gypsy. Once again, the over-enthused
fans began approaching the stage. This time, it seemed the numbers
had doubled. They pushed and shoved their way closer and closer,
crossing the fence that separated the stage and the field. Hundreds
managed to knock down the barricade and climb onto the stage.
We jumped off the stage with our instruments into the long stretch
limo waiting for us. We began driving away on the field, being
chased by teens. It was a weird experience, almost frightening.
As I looked back through the limo window, I could see people
on stage trying to take cymbals, microphones and whatever else
they could get before the guards got to them. We drove back to
the hotel where we were staying and were greeted by fans in the
lobby. After signing a bunch of autographs, we headed to our
rooms where we remained until the next day." Reporter Kant
Gettalon for iUpdate. |
 TORONTO
1981 The Police performed at The Piccadilly Tube in Toronto,
Canada. A short distance down the road at another popular club,
The Horseshoe, another band performed with the same name, only
they were from England. While The Tube was filled to capacity,
The Horseshoe appeared to have a coffee house atmosphere which
was odd because the club was more of an alternative club that
attracted up and coming bands with an edge. In August of 2000
during Stings tour, Jimi B had a chance encounter with Sting
. They reflected back upon their early days when they were both
performing in Toronto, within blocks of each other, headlining
with the same name...Police. They laughed about it all and reminisced
about those wondrous days of yore. Quoting Sting..."Hey,
it could have gone either way!"...Pictured on the left are
Ron Bartley (guitars & vocals) Danny Smith (drums) Laurie
Del Grande (guitar and keyboards) Jimi B (bass & Vocals).
Recently some tapes of The Police recorded live somewhere in
Canada surfaced. Depending on the quality, look for a release
on BNOrecordingUSA in the near future. THE POLICE was Danny Smith
drums, Laurie Del Grand keys & guitar, Ron Bartley guitars
, vocals and Jimi B bass, vocals During this performance the
band was visited by four police officers. Two in uniform and
two in plain clothes. They approached the stage a flashed their
badges. The crowd reacted wildly thinking this was part of the
show. Their manager quickly came over and asked what was happening.
The one detective said they had a bench warrant for Jimi Bertucci
and Laurie Del Grande for not appearing in court on a certain
date. The two officers agreed that they could finish the set.
They posted the uniformed police on each end of the stage. When
the set was over Jimi and Laurie were cuffed and escorted towards
the exit. The crowd cheered and yelled for an encore and still
thinking this was all part of the show. They were put in the
back of a squad car and taken away. Read about THE
POLICE BUST |
 AJAX , CANADA - SPACE PATROL from left Jimi B, Peter
Verity , Glen Wilson and Rudy Heirck". As Jimi continued
his relationship with United Artists Records he began to grow
immensely. His writing could be tailored to the needs of the
project he was developing or producing. One of these projects
was Space Patrol. A group of musicians from the Ajax area just
east of Toronto. Although the members had very little recording
experience Jimi would do his best to make all involved to feel
comfortable and at ease. The band recorded 4 songs at Eastern
Sound, Toronto......but only Burning Love would be released on
the United Artists label.The band would go on the road and do
some scattered dates in the Ontario, and Eastern Canada. Jimi
did not want to tour or travel. He recommended the group seek
another singer bass player to replace him....he had other projects
to produce and wanted to spend more time closer to home and in
the studio. The band would eventually find a replacement and
would continue to tour across Canada. Peter Verity continues
to write and perform . He recently returned from Nashville where
he played to full houses. Space Patrol released only one song
and the rest are in some vault at EMI...to bad. |
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 pHoTos by John, Jimi, Mary Deborah,
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My
Dinner With Liberace |
Sitting on the edge of the bed in
my Toronto apartment, I pulled on my black jeans and Beatle boots.
Looking in the mirror, I combed my long hair and straightened
the collar of my black leather jacket. It had to have been during
the 70's. I was preparing myself for going out to a musical function
of some sort when the phone rang. I answered, only to hear a
very distinctive, yet familiar, voice. It was Liberace, announcing
that he was in town for a week of performances at the O'Keefe
Center. He said, "I  thought we could maybe get together and have dinner
and, since you're the famous one in this town, I'll trust you
to make the arrangements." We gabbed for about ten minutes
before I decided on a place called Gatsby's in the downtown district.I
couldn't remember if I had eaten there or not, but I'd heard
good things about it. I made reservations for eleven people.
Finally, the time had come. I pulled up around the corner and
let the valet park my 1949 Thames, decked out with interior purple
and green lights, bean-bag chairs, paisley carpet on the walls
and bamboo delineating the front and back seats. I arrived at
the restaurant about ten minutes early to make sure everything
was kosher. I approached the somewhat feminine maitre'd explaining
I had a table reserved for eleven. He took one look at my tight
Harley t-shirt and unshaven face and nearly laughed. It looked
like this guy thought I was joking or something, that is, until
Liberace and his posse emerged from a stretch limo, at which
point I announced, "These are my...(read
more) |
 The
90's in LOS ANGELES
- were a new adventure
for Jimi. After almost ten years of living in California and
not performing, his decision to play live was a revelation as
he puts it. Although he helped music companion Robert Slap on
a collection of new age cds for the VOTS record label, his hunger
to get active in rock was beginning to erupt. In 1993 he would
put together once again a line-up of well seasoned musicians
that would simply be know as JIMI B. Rehearsing in a 13,000 square
foot mansion high up on a hill in Orange County, Jimi and his
band would spend hours preparing to rock the clubs and concert
halls.The first gig would be at the famous Galaxy Theatre with
no other than The Rankin Family, a Celtic band from Canada that
was well known internationally. While backstage, John Rankin
approached Jimi and told him that one of the very first concerts
he attended, was with his band Abraham's Children in Nova Scotia
Canada. The reception was incredible as they hit the stage. Jimi
would ask "do we have any Canadians here, EH" the crowd
roared with enthusiasm. The next few years would see JIMI B playing
some of the hottest venues in Los Angeles and Hollywood. His
name was beginning to cause attention and interest by some of
the bigger promoters and record labels. When his friend Kelvin
passed away he would once again take a break In 2001 he reunited
with his old AC bandmates Ronnie, Brian and Bob in Toronto, Canada
at George Semkiw's Amber Studios to record some new tracks that
would eventually end up on the 30 CD. (read
about Jimi and the 80's) |
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Elton
John Saves The Day |
It was a cold day. I really don't
remember what day it was, only that the night before was filled
with all the things that make up rock n' roll and my head was
confirming that. The taxi dropped me off at "Eastern Sound"
an upper crust studio located in the heart of downtown Toronto,
Canada. It was the Rodeo district of TO as they called it. Expensive
cars, clothes and women that just walked out of a Cosmopolitan
ad. I tipped the cab driver well, only because I didn't have
a smaller bill and besides the driver thought I was some important
rock star. As I approached the gate of the recording studio,
I noticed this huge mountain of a man standing tall and protective...
or so he appeared. I walked towards him and attempted to go around
him; he quickly pushed me away and said, "No one is to enter
the building".1 tried to explain to him that I was 2 hours
late for my session, and that the record company United Artists
was not happy with me. He told me to get lost. We started arguing
and at one point I made another attempt to go around him; once
again he pushed me, except this time I pushed him back. This
annoyed the giant and he began to get very physical with me.
Web exchanged a few punches, which I can attest he got the best
of me. I was probably half his size.
A crowd was starting to gather and as I looked up I could see
my band members standing over me. They were stunned, this man
was attempting to hassle all of us. All of a sudden the door
swings open and there he was standing yelling and cursing at
the "mountain man". He came over to me and helped me
up, asking if] was hurt. I responded, explaining I was fine,
but that my butt was sore from landing on a piece of ice. We
walked into the studio, he sat down and repeatedly kept apologizing
for this man at the door, which I discovered was a security guard
hired by MCARecords. He kept asking if I was alright. Saline,
the studio manager came in the room with concern and asked if
I needed anything. I explained I was ok and that should get in
my room and start the session. As I entered the recording room
"A", the President of United Artists Records, his A&R
staff, and some other important looking characters were waiting
anxiously. They were all shocked to see who was standing next
to me. With some humor, the President asked if we could get started.
"At $250.00 an hour, we'll have to sell a lot of records,"
he said. I thanked Elton John for caring enough to come outside
and rescue me.... He asked if here was anything he could do.
1 assured him that I would live and that if I needed anything
I would be more than glad to ask him. Later that evening he introduced
me to his band members. Kenny Passerelli had this incredible
new bass that he insisted I use on my session. It was an Alembic,
the heaviest bass I had ever held, but the sound was like velvet
and rock. We met later at the posh, Yorkville Four Seasons Hotel
where Elton was still apologizing for this rude brute of a man.
The next day I sat in the studio with Elton and some of his band
members and listened' to some great tracks that would later become
"Blue Moves ". Courtesy of Ciao Magazine USA. |
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