Some Special Words of
Thanks,
others from the heart, and some pictures...
Sometimes certain events occur in life that make you sit back and wonder.
Many have happened to me when I least expected them to. Such incidents have
usually been related to meeting famous people.
I have been
fortunate to have met and spent time with such people as singer and musician
Ringo Starr - (yes one of the Beatles), songwriter/musician John Tesh, musician
Charlie Biscahrat who accompanies John Tesh and who also played lead violin for
Yanni, one of my heroes - singer Perry Como, singer Don Ho, singer/songwriter
Neil Diamond, singer and dancer Sammy Davis, Jr., Three Time World Heavyweight
Champion Boxer Muhammed Ali, Angelo Dundee (Ali's trainer/manager), World
Heavyweight Champion Boxer Larry Holmes, Head Football Coach of Pennsylvania
State University Joe Paterno who I wrote a song about, met four times, and
appeared on television with because of the song titled Nittany Joe, actor
Vincent Price, actress and super model Sybil Shepard, actor James MacArthur from
the TV show Hawaii Five-O, actor/singer Al Harrington from Hawaii Five-O,
Academy Award winning actor Red Buttons, Academy Award Nominee for the Young
Priest's Role in The Exorcist and Pulitzer Prize winner for writing the Broadway
hit play That Championship Season Jason Miller who became my friend and who I
planned to complete a working project with but unfortunately he died suddenly
two weeks after our initial meeting to launch creating the enterprise, actress
Merideth Baxter-Birney, actor David Birney, actor Cyril Ritchard (Original
Captain Hook in the 1950's black and white TV play version of Peter Pan with
Mary Martin), actress Maureen O'Sullivan (Original Jane in 1931 Tarzan The Ape
Man Movie and sequels), actor Mason Adams (The Mary Tyler Moore Show), actor
Tony Roberts, actor Ricardo Montalban from the TV Series Fantasy Island, actor
James Rebhorn who has become a friend, singer/songwriter Eddie Rabbitt,
actor-comedian Bill Cosby, actor-comedian Jim Stafford, actor-comedian Don
Adams from
the TV Show - Get Smart, Trumpet player Al Hirt, Clarinet player Pete Fountain,
Big Band Director Frank Sinatra, Jr., (Twice) Big Band Director Bob Crosby (Bing's
Brother), Bass Player John Entwistle of the Who, Mark Farner of Grand Funk
Railroad, Randy Backman of Backman-Turner Overdrive, Felix Cavaliere of the
(Little) Rascals, singer/songwriter/musician Billy Preston, drummer Zack Starr (Ringo's
son), the Oakridge Boys, the Hughes Brothers, Chubby Checker, Jimmy Osmond,
Violinist Shoji Tabuchi, Rick Sheppard and the Drifters (3 times), Shirley
Alston Reeves and the Shirelles (twice), country singer Larry Lee, singer Gary
Puckett of the Union Gap, singer B.J. Thomas, Tommy James and the Shondells, The
O'Jays, The Rooney Brothers (Mickey Rooney's two sons), singer Dick Jenson,
Olympic Gold Medal winning figure skater Dorothy Hammil, Dean Paul Martin (Dean
Martin's son and Dorothy Hammil's ex-husband now deceased) and Desi Arnez, Jr.,
of the band Dino, Desi, and Billy, Dennis Yost of the Classics Four, Mark
Lindsay of Paul Revere and the Raiders, Former Surgeon General C. Everitt Coop,
Former First Lady Mrs. Barbara Bush, yes President George W. Bush's mother and
wife of President George Bush, Sr., Clete Boyer (Third baseman and Roger Maris's
roommate - 1962 World Champion Yankees), Garo Yepremian (Place kicker for the
Miami Dolphins and Super Bowl Champion), Jimmy Cefalo (Split End for the Miami
Dolphins Super Bowl Runners up twice), and more who I cannot think of at this
moment.
These people and others have inspired me in many ways but three of them I owe
much thanks to for the individual encouragement and guidance they gave me to
record, produce, and publish my own song lyrics and music. I had the very good
fortune of spending twenty minutes alone with Ringo Starr due to a fluke
occurrence. I was randomly selected to carry a tray of food to a specified tent
not knowing that his body guards would redirect me to take it to him personally
by walking under a series of canopies leading to his trailer. Half way through
the maze of canvas overhangs, I noticed a small framed silhouetted figure
standing in the nearly complete darkness who met me at that point. He then
directed me to follow him to a lighted trailer approximately fifty feet away.
While walking next to him and bumping our arms together in the shallow lighted
area, I asked, "Ringo, is that you?" He responded "yes" and asked what my name
was. I answered and we soon arrived at his trailer. Upon our arrival, Ringo
requested I enter, sit down, and have dinner with him before his concert at the
Harvey's Lake Resort Area Band Shelter in Pennsylvania during the Summer of
1995. I declined the dinner offer but I did sit in one of the two red velvet
king chairs placed across from each other near a small round oak table and we
had a very interesting conversation while he ate his food. His dinner consisted
of one twelve inch square tray of steamed carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower. At
the time, Ringo maintained a strict vegetarian diet and I also believe his
daughter was battling cancer.
It
was shortly after I had my first two songs published when Ringo and I conversed
and I was wearing a hat with the letters signifying The Association of
Songwriters, Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) printed across the
front. I forgot I had it on my head but Ringo noticed and recognized it. He said
to me, "You're in Music." My return comment was, "How did you know that?" He
then pointed to my hat and I felt like an idiot. Ringo asked me how many songs I
had written. When I answered " about 300," he initially leaned back in his chair
and then stood up before me. At that point in time, seeming somewhat annoyed, he
looked downward at me and directly into my eyes. He pointed his index finger at
my nose and instructed me to make sure I publish my songs first by myself and to
not submit them to any record companies before I did so. We discussed some
personal reasons why he made such a recommendation that I cannot reveal but in
1994, with my first two songs published, I had already begun my own publishing
company and called it MORNING LACE MUSIC (ASCAP). Since then and based on his
sincere speech, I expanded the company. Ringo further suggested that if I
produced and recorded my own albums to also start my own independent record
company. I took his additional advice and WINDMASTER ONE RECORDS, my independent
record label, was created in 1998.
A similar situation or meeting occurred with John Tesh and Charlie Bischrat
where my girlfriend and I spent ninety minutes behind stage with both of them
before their concert in Washington DC. During that meeting, a conversation much
like the one I previously had with Ringo Starr took place. I told them what
Ringo recommended and John and Charlie supported his suggestions. John informed
me he owned his own music publishing company and record label. He then made some
suggestions on how I could begin creating such similar businesses for myself.
So to
these three gentlemen, I owe many thanks. I have been in the music business with
my two companies since 1994 and 1998 and hope to continue writing, recording,
producing, publishing, and marketing my CDs and Cassettes across the USA and
elsewhere due to their words of encouragement and guidance. Very few people who
have been successful in life give such knowledge away so freely and I was
honored to have been in their company and to have received such words of wisdom.
I thank them dearly, will never forget them, and in some way, shape, or form,
hope our paths cross again before our souls leave this earth. I guess I would
like to thank them personally for the constructive advice they bestowed upon me
when such information today is rarely given by anyone.
Each time I see them on television or hear their music on a radio broadcast,
I think back to our meetings and feel hopeful that someday before I pass away,
someone of importance or influence in the music or film industries will listen
verses hear some of my music and say, I like that and contact me. I am a firm
believer in miracles and how life can spin on a dime so to speak. I walk with my
head up and if I should ever see that light, I will dash towards it with
happiness in my heart.
I
will say what I truly believe. MUSIC IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FORM OF INFINITY
MANKIND CAN COMPREHEND. I love music and nothing in my life has ever taken me to
a higher plane. I pray someday, in some way, my music will make a positive
difference in this world and I can live long enough to see it happen.
I have had a recurring dream for many years. It refers to me stepping into an
elevator car and suddenly hearing one of the songs I wrote arranged
instrumentally by someone of the caliber of Percy Faith and being played over
the sound system. While in the car, someone else is humming to the melody of the
song because they recognize it but that person does not associate me who is
standing nearby as being the one who wrote the song. It has been a dream that I
hope comes true someday because if I am ever present in such an environment and
hear one of my songs performed instrumentally, I will know I had some kind of
success in this life as a music maker. Then I will be able to pass away
remembering the wonderful gifts God bestowed upon me to be able to hear those
higher creations and his power working through my hand when I penned the songs
on paper. That will be the greatest success in my life as I personally see it
even if others have seen something different.
Many
people have paid me compliments as being a successful counselor and educator and
I have received many awards to accompany those words but in reality, the realms
of music and film have been where I desired to be since I was approximately four
years of age. My father, a dear man with an eighth grade education and coal
mining work history, stressed to acquire a college education before I pursued my
interests in music and film. To appease him, I did go to college for four years
and then twelve more. I was forty-three years old when I first stepped into a
recording studio and age forty-six when I first began recording. I believe it
was probably a few years too late but I am and will be forever grateful for the
two wonderful and loving parents I have been blessed with. I will love them
forever with all of my heart even though I had a late start pursuing my dreams.
I am aware I may never achieve all of them but I will pass from this life
trying. At least I hope to leave some creative legacy behind based on my God
given talents.
Creating and putting an idea to work is a time consuming and difficult
process but when it has been initiated, completed, and the results witnessed,
you know in your heart something much bigger than mankind has worked through you
and it is a humbling experience. You further become more aware that the other
side is not very far away and those who have crossed over do care about us who
are still on this side.
The last thing I do want to think about when the end of my life comes near is
that I put forth my greatest effort to do the best with the gifts and burdens
God has granted to me. I do not wish to think about regrets relative to not
trying. I ask everyone to examine their own hearts as to who they are and more
importantly, who or what they can be. I believe if they do so, each person may
begin to see themselves quite differently and feel more confident knowing life
may have more meaning than they originally thought was possible. The Greek
philosopher Socrates once said, " Know thyself." I recommend if it is your
desire to do something good in this life, then begin to make it part of your
life and start creating something good by examining your heart and utilizing
those hidden talents. I believe by doing so, you will reach the true beginning
point of positive change.
At this
point, I will randomly throw out some suggestions off the top of my head as
examples of what I am writing about. Can you cook? Then write a cook book. Can
you paint? Then paint a rainbow. Can you fix a car? Then possibly build one. Can
you plant a tree? Then open a nursery. Do you love children? Then manage a
daycare center. Are you a strong person? Then build houses and skyscrapers. Do
you care about people? Then find a job in social services to assist them. Are
you confined to a wheelchair? Then write the story of your life and tell us what
it is like to be physically disabled and educate us because in reality, we do
not know. Etc.! Etc.! Etc.! We can all affect people in this world in a more
positive way if we only try a little or a lot harder. I am not saying it will be
easy but one thing I have learned is, you value things earned much differently
that those given to you for free. The important message I am trying to
communicate is, if a dream is in your heart, then pursue it in some way, shape,
or form even at great sacrifice because many times dreams do come true. I am not
saying give up your steady job and income to pursue something almost impossible
to achieve. I am saying, make it part of your life in some form and it will add
more meaning to your existence. The possibility of it exploding into something
grand will always be present once you have utilized your creativity and created
the option.
Since I am in some type of lecturing mode, I will throw this belief out also
based on my experience. Once you have realized a true desire and begin to act,
somehow the wonderful force from the other side will know and guide you. Within
a short period of time, you will become some type of expert and people will
usually begin to ask you for advice. I recommend you give it freely because I
believe the two greatest gifts mankind can give to each other are love and
knowledge. Surprisingly, many give love more freely than knowledge but when you
find that rare and unique person who gives both unconditionally, in my opinion,
you have truly come upon an angel from Heaven who has perched himself or herself
on to this earth to assist you.
Good luck, God Bless, and thank you Ringo, John, and Charlie wherever you
are. I hope we meet again someday soon.
Your friend,
Dr. B.
