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 ARIZONA Music and photography came together on
September 26th 1960 in Ottawa Canada when 50s international rock
and roll star Brenda Lee came to sing for her fans. John Rowlands,
a 13 year old teenager who lived in a part of Ottawa called 'Manor
Park' was a big fan of the popular recording artist. With an
advance on his 10 cents a week allowance, money made from his
77 drop morning paper route, and cash made from helping the local
milkman he bought a ticket to the Brenda Lee Show. Sensing that
it was a long shot that she might ever be his girlfriend he took
along his father's camera, a single roll of film and 12 very
large flash bulbs. It was likely the only way he would ever take
her home. Brenda's guest appearance on the Perry Como show a
week earlier and the anticipation of seeing her in person made
it easier to force his way through the packed crowd to the lip
of the stage.He was not disappointed as he watched and listened,
loaded the bulbs one at a time and flashed his way through her
show and the only 12-exposure Kodak 127 film he had. In those
days the family camera might take a year to fill a single roll
with images but this night was more than special.When Brenda
left the stage and the house lights rose the crowd headed towards
the exits. No security team, no small police force to speed you
towards the door as soon as physically possible. When the show
was over everyone left. Rowlands followed his peers as they headed
through the seating towards the exits until he saw a sign in
a hallway that would change his life. It read "Brenda Lee
and the Casuals" and it was their dressing room. Without
a moments thought he walked down the hall and knocked on the
door not knowing what to expect or say if and when it opened.
Perhaps Brenda had already left the building.Brenda's Mother
opened the door and after hearing that he wanted to tell her
he had enjoyed the show and ask for her autograph she allowed
him in and introduced her daughter. The band was busy packing
and loading. The recording star and the fan sat beside each other
on a dressing room bench and talked for almost a half an hour,
he got her autograph, her address and even copied down the Tennessee
license plate number from her station wagon and for carrying
one of her suitcases to the car he got a kiss goodnight.When
Rowlands finally walked out of the Metcalfe St. Auditorium he
was easily 6 inches off the floor. He had just lived a dream
for 2 1/2 hours that now felt like it had rocketed by in about
30 seconds. Taking the bus home he got off two stops early so
he could walk in the clear night air and relive his memories
before having to act calm and unaffected in telling the tale
to his parents. Rock and roll was still very undefined by the
parents of teenagers in 1960 and most thought it would amount
to no good. Rowlands had a bit of an edge though, his father
Ross was a former radio morning man now high ranked in the military
and it was his Dad who enjoyed The Steve Allen Show and let his
two oldest sons watch Elvis on the Ed Sullivan Show. His Dad
bought him a stereo record player and his first long playing
album, Chet Atkins Teensville, for his 13th. birthday. ( read more about John
) From Spotlight Heroes (next to
Deborah Samuel) |
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Jimi Hendrix |
Jimi
Bertucci |
Brian
Jones |
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Bee
Gees |
Elvis |
Keith & Brian |
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David |
Bowie |
Model Juli Bertucci |
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Model Liz Romo |
The
Beatles |
Mick |
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