Artie Kornfeld | Artie Wayne On The Web

ALLAN RINDE R.I.P. ROCK IN PERPETUITY!

December 16, 2012

Here’s the tribute to my longtime friend, Allan Rinde, who passed away on friday. He was a former publicist, the west coast editor of Cashbox magazine, head of West Coast A&R at Columbia Records, (who was behind Billy Joel’s first hit “Piano Man”), the man who helped to break “Jesus Christ Superstar”, and owner of “Genghis Cohen”, one of Hollywood’s top restaurants, which I named and hosted for many years.

(i’m still not able to use my hands or even type with one finger so i’m reposting articles from my blog and chapters from my autobiography in which allan appears. it is followed by comments, stories, and pictures from other friends of his.)

“In the fall of 1968 I wrote a special press release for my new album as “Shadow” Mann, on the label my partner Kelli Ross and I co – own with the nefarious Morris Levy! I walk up Broadway to 57^thstreet to Cashbox magazine. I give my three page release to the new guy who’s just started to work there, a former publicist, Allan Rinde. He glances at it as I hype him on all the excitement going on at my company and how Morris Levy is going to make me the new Tommy James! When he hands it back to me it has a C- at the top with a few grammatical errors circled, I realize this asshole has actually graded my paper! I hold my tongue and tell him I’ll bring it back “corrected” before his deadline.

The next morning I bring in the revised press release. Allan finds it acceptable and puts it in the magazine. Through gritted teeth I thank him for his suggestions and invite him to have dinner that night with my producer Ronnie Haffkine and me at the Roundtable, a hot night club that Morris Levy owns. On our way downstairs to be seated, a belligerent drunk sees me in my Black Suede Shadow outfit with a giant red eagle on the back, then pushes me out of the way! When he makes a nasty comment. Two tough guys suddenly appear, throw him down the stairs, and ask, “Are you all right, Mr. Shadow?” I brush myself off, pick up my black floppy Shadow hat from the floor; compose myself as the tough guys ask what should they do with him? I benevolently say, “Let ‘em go…this time,”. As soon as they eject him from the club, a somewhat impressed Allan and I join Ronnie at my usual table.”

top -L – R “Shadow” Mann, Ron Haffkine, Kelli Ross, and Morris Levy photo by Stephen Paley

middle photo of Allan Rinde by Pete Senoff

bottom L – R “Shadow” Mann in winter attire and Carol “Cookie” Tandy photo by “Popsie”

When my friend, the Father Of Woodstock, Artie Kornfeld invited me to the festival in 1969, I thought it was going to be a great picnic, I wasn’t expecting a life changing experience! Back in 1967 my wife Sheilah was working at Mercury records as a secretary to Artie Kornfield (“Pied Piper”, “Dead Man’s Curve”) We hung out a lot with Artie and his wife Linda. When we got divorced I got the dog and she got the Kornfelds!

Then one day Sheilah calls me up to tell me that she’s working with Artie again. It seems that he and his partner Michael Lang are putting on a music and art festival at the end of August in upstate NY at a place called Woodstock, and she’s his personal assistant. It sounds a bit disorganized, but I don’t say anything, if anyone can pull it together, they can. It’s 3 hours before Allan Rinde and Rick Bolsom, from Mercury Records, Lita Eliscu a freelance writer (Rolling Stone), Cookie the groupie, and I are scheduled to go up to the Woodstock Music and Art festival. Artie Kornfeld and Michael Lang, are having serious troubles getting permits and have to change locations to Max Yasgur’s farm in Bethel, NY, at the last minute.

Unfortunately, I’m having serious problems of my own, I can’t score any grass to take to the event! As a last resort I call my friend Heather MacRae, who’s currently starring in the smash hit, “Hair” On Broadway. She must know someone in the “Hippie” cast who can help us out. She leaves our names at the backstage door with a note to go upstairs to see her friends, James Rado and Gerome Ragni, who co-wrote the musical.

When we walk into Rado and Ragni’s dressing room, they look at Allan and me suspiciously, with cameras hanging around our necks, and tape recorders dangling from our shoulders. I laugh and nervously explain that we’re not cops or from the press trying to get a story, and show them our Woodstock press pass. Fortunately they believe us and when we tell them our “predicament”, they sell us a “lid” from their personal stash (at cost) and hand us a couple of capsules of mescaline for free, in the spirit of “Peace and Love”. We thank them and go to the garage to pick up Allan’s Oldsmobile Cutlass, and our friends, then we head off for our weekend adventure.”

“Let The Sun Shine…Let The Sun Shine In…The Sun Shine In!”

The festival gets off to a great start with a set by Ritchie Havens, and then it starts to rain … and rain … and rain. There’s a buzz already that this is going to be a historic event. The press tent is alive with anticipation of seeing the artists and people behind the scenes. I’m skeptical when I hear that a lawyer is taking over as head of Columbia Records, until I meet Clive Davis awash in the rain, the mud, and the good vibrations. How cool it is for the head of a record company to be out here “roughing it” like this with his artists! Although my friends and I have warm, dry accommodations, food, water, and plenty of intoxicants, a half a million other people who are also here have to rough it in the mud and the rain!

We run into a completely soaked (and delightfully stoned) Artie Kornfeld, The Father Of Woodstock, who tells us that thousands of people are crashing the gates, and Woodstock has become a free concert! Starry eyed and drooling, he turns around and melts back into the crowd. Thousands of people are still pouring in after midnight and I warn my friends that we were probably going to be in the middle of a riot between the “haves” and the “have nots!” I knew that this whole “Peace and Love” thing could blowup in a minute … but no one is listening to me as they slowly pass the bong around. I don’t know if it’s my paranoia of “Drug Crazed Hippies” rushing the motel or my fear of getting my new Fry boots dirty … I just knew I had to get the hell outa’ there! After being at Woodstock less than 24 hours, I say goodbye to my friends and decide to hitchhike back to the city.

I’m 27 yeas old but, hitchhiking is something I never tried before. At the side of an on ramp, I see Vince Aletti, writer for the Village Voice, who I know from the press parties I crash. He has his thumb out and looks pretty discouraged. This is his first time hitchhiking, too … but I act like a veteran and convince him that if we put on great big smiles, and act sincere … we’re bound to get a ride! In less than 10 minutes we’re picked up by a guy in an old Chevy wagon, who happens to be going all the way into the city! Just like the guys who rode the rails and became “Boxcar Buddies”, Vince and I had a shared experience that went “without a hitch”, so to speak, “Hitchhiking pals” for the rest of our lives! Finally, I’m back in my apartment, thankful to be away from all of those people … I don’t believe all those people … Damn! It’s still early, so I pack my duffel bag and grab a subway out to Coney Island, stopping only long enough to swallow a little capsule Rado and Ragni, had given me.

I don’t know why, but the rest of the day is magical! I feel so much love for Everyone I run into. I don’t even notice that I’m surrounded by a million people on the beach … twice as many as there was at Woodstock … but now … somehow I don’t care!”

. l to R – Allan Rinde, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Don Williams, Tim Rice, and Artie Wayne photo by Neil Preston

“Forty years ago, I was general professional manager of Warner Bros. Music, living in Hollywood, when my friend Don Williams, who held a similar position at MCA music, played me an acetate of “Jesus Christ Superstar”and I freaked out!!! My instinct told me …this was going to be a phenomenon!!! I asked Don to play it for Allan Rinde, the beloved head of Columbia records A+R dept….he was as excited as we were and proceded to hold listening parties…that included all of the underground tastemakers of the time. MCA credits us with breaking the album. I hope Tim and Andy have forgiven me for trying to talk them out of writing “Evita”…..Who would go to see a show about an ex-dictators wife anyway?”

“If it sounds like I’m dropping names…I am! Bruce Willis, Sarah Jessica Parker, Will Smith, Barbra Streisand, Johnny Depp, Rod Stewart, Luther Vandross, Sean Penn, Jodie Foster, and Forrest Whitaker were just a few of our customers. On any given night, I could walk into Genghis Cohen, the Hollywood hot spot I named and hosted, and feel like I was walking onto a movie set. While my friend Allan Rinde, who owned the restaurant, was making sure every customer was having a wonderful Chinese dining experience, I was paying a little extra attention to the stars. It was about this time that I had begun working with 3- dimensional acrylic fabric paint to create a new look for myself. I started enhancing old Hawaiian Shirts with 3-dimensional acrylic paint…which patrons bought right off my back! It wasn’t long before I had a profitable little sideline.

I remember while recording across the street at Cherokee studios, Bruce Willis and his producer, Robert Kraft would come in for egg rolls during breaks. This was during the end of the run of his hit TV show “Moonlighting” when Bruce was also performing around town with his blues band doing vocals and playing harmonica. From the conversations I had with him, I found out he liked blues and early Rock And Roll singers, so I made a special shirt for him of his favorites who passed away. It was called the “Rock and Roll Heaven” Shirt, based on the classic song my friend Alan Day wrote with the late Johnny Stevenson. It was a black T-shirt, ripped a bit here and there, with with a stenciled “Heaven” on the front, with hand painted signatures of his favorite artists. I happened to give it to him on the same night he signed a 7 million dollar endorsement for Seagrams Whiskey. To be perfectly honest, later when he thanked me and said goodnight, I don’t think that the patented smirk he was wearing on his face was for the shirt!

Another actor/ musician who would drop in from time to time, was Johnny Depp. He owned a club up on the Sunset Strip, “The Viper Room”, and whenever he had yen for Chinese food he’d come down to Genghis. The first night I met him, we talked about music. Then I asked if he would mind if I asked him a personal question? “Can I see the tattoo?” The tattoo I was talking about was a hot topic in all the tabloids. When Johnny broke up with Wynonna Ryder, he altered a tattoo he had on his arm that said “Wynonna Forever” to say “Wino Forever”. When he rolled up his sleeve and showed me, I knew he was cool!

On another night when I came into work, I saw Sarah Jessica Parker and Robert Downey, Jr. sitting at a tiny table for 2 in the middle of an empty restaurant! When they finished dinner, I sat with them and told them how much I enjoyed Sarah in “Girls Just Wanna’ Have Fun” and Robert in “Weird Science”. They told me that they appreciated how they were treated at Genghis Cohen. Other restaurants, wanted them to get in and out because they weren’t of drinking age and could only spend so much. I told them whenever you or your friends wanted to come in just call me. I assured them that “At Genghis Cohen, your wish…Is your problem!” They laughed and not only became restaurant regulars, but became enthusiastic supporters of my wearable art. One night Sarah was trying on one of my creations in the wine room at Genghis Cohen. She dresses and flicks off the light switch but it’s NOT the switch for the closet it’s the switch for the ENTIRE restaurant! Allan throws open the door, turns the darkened restaurant lights back on and GLARES at me. Sarah confesses and Allan smiles…after all who can stay mad at Sarah Jessica Parker?

To read an article on Barbra Streisand and Richard Baskin at Genghis Cohen https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2006/08/04/barbra-streisand-and-the-price-of-egg-rolls/

for more Glowing Memories Of Genghis Cohen https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2006/07/29/glowing-memories-of-genghis-cohen/

Peaking In A Chinese Restaurant https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2006/11/23/peaking-in-a-chinese-restaurant/

Mike Melvoin at the piano “When I first moved to California thirty years ago and worked for Warner Brothers Music, I wanted to give back to the music community, so I joined the National Academy of the Recording Arts and Sciences, where an enthusiastic active member, Mike Melvoin took me under his wing. I never worked with him in the studio, but as a music fan, I knew that he was considered one of the best keyboardists in Los Angeles. In addition to being one of the best Jazz players in the business, he played on such Pop classics as Frank Sinatra’s “That’s Life,” Natalie Cole’s “Unforgettable,” the Jackson 5′s “ABC,” and “Pet Sounds” and “Good Vibrations” by the Beach Boys as well as Helen Reddy’s “I Am Woman,” John Lennon’s “Stand By Me,” Barbra Streisand’s “Evergreen” and Quincy Jones’ all-star collective, “We Are the World.” Although I was a New Yorker and considered an outsider to the closely knit LA music scene, Mike helped me gain a foothold in the creative community.

At the time, NARAS, was criticized for having an aging membership, being out of touch with contemporary music and accused of giving out Grammys to the wrong people. Mike supported me in an effort to attract younger voters and helped me, producer Nik Venet (“The Beach Boys), Columbia Records A&R Man, Allan Rinde, and songwriter Van Dyke Parks (“Heroes and Villans”) form listening sessions around the country to play new recordings and artists for our members, so they could vote more knowledgably. It wasn’t long before NARAS was respected again as the premier music organization and rivaled the new kid on the block, THE AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS in the TV ratings!

Soon after Mike Melvoin and I were elected to the Board Of Governors, we traveled around the country, New York, Atlanta and Nashville on behalf of NARAS. It was right after the Civil Rights Movement and while traveling through the south there were times when Mike had to soothe my hurt feelings whenever I encountered the stinging barbs of racism…which I never forgot. Mike went on to become the first musician to become President of the Academy and through the years remained active in the organization. The LA TIMES reported. In 2011, when the Academy made changes in the Grammy awards structure. Melvoin was in the vanguard of the movement to rescind the category changes. As a pianist whose career had touched every stylistic era, he was especially bothered by the effect of the changes upon instrumentalists. “Everyone who has ever played an instrument,” he said in a public statement, “has had the possibility of receiving recognition from the Grammys gutted. That cannot and will not stand!”

THE TROUBADOUR FAMILY REUNION…EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS…AND COMMENTS!

January 23, 2011

When I sat down to write about The Troubadour Family Reunion last Monday night, I decided to let some of the people who were there tell about it in their own words.

Photographer/ artist, “Lezlie Sokol”, a former waitress at the club and one of the organizers of the event, had this to say, “The music and the love that was with us decades ago was with us again on Monday night. It wasn’t a re-creation…it was a continuation. We all came together with the spirit that was The Troubadour, those times and we people who were there were re-animated and Doug Weston’s dream came alive within all of us for one more magical night!” Photographer/ musician Henry Diltz Reminisced, “The Troubadour was my old stomping ground starting in 1962 when my folk group, The Modern Folk Quartet, played there 3 days after we arrived from Honolulu. We were signed to an agency and record company from that one performance. At the reunion the other night we were able to reconnect with many old and dear friends. We are all the same young age in our minds as we were those years ago, but now we look like our parents and grandparents. Many of us who were musicians went with the Troubadour waitresses back then, and I had a drink at the bar with my old girlfriend, Alexa, a former waitress. The live music at the reunion was epic stuff as Bob Lind, Van Dyke Parks, Jackson Browne, Rick Cuna, David Jackson, Michael McGuiness, Ruthann Friedman and others took the stage. I remember photographing Bob Lind in the room which is now the bar but was then McCabe’s guitar shop. It’s a rare thing these days to walk into a bar and find it full of people you know…just like the good old days.”

Allan Rinde, former “underground tastemaker” and Chinese Restaurateur said, “Aside from seeing a few old friends I’d lost contact with and meeting some new ones, there was just this sense of energy at Doug Weston’s Troubadour (glad they kept his name on it) that made this evening a great success. Of course it all dissipated the next day when I realized that while I was having a good time at the good old Troub, Don Kirchner lay dying in a hospital in Boca Raton. Oh, the humanity! And one more thing: thank you Jackson for the tribute to Warren Zevon and for the love you put into your set that night. Publicist Bobbi Cowan commented, “It was an amazing evening, full of surprises and warm memories and feelings. One of the best was seeing you there, along with Allan, Kimble and Patti, Billy James, Ronnie Haffkine, Ochs and Sandee, and so many of our pals from way back when.

The music was AWESOME, particularly Van Dyke Parks and Jackson, and it made me feel like those magical days and nights were not a distant dream, but TRULY real. Somebody should put a documentary together with the stories from so many of the colorful and funny people who helped to create this business we once loved (and subsequently watched dissolve in the greed of the last 20-30 years.) Former KMET DJ Richard Kimble chimed in, “It looked like a meeting of the aarp, rock division”…….”It’s the only time I’ve gone to the Troub and remembered being there”…..Hey I’m here all week, try the veal!!!!!!!” Producer Ron Haffkine (Dr.Hook, Shel Silverstein) remarked, “What a blast!!! as I posted on fb before the event, I really believe that some of the success of the reunion had to do with Artie working hard letting people know about it….I think we all know that when Artie promotes something, things happen….I couldn’t have had a better time….Ran into someone from the very first act I ever produced..Long time ago…Also one of the members of DR HOOK that I hadn’t seen in a while…I flew in from Nashville just for this reunion and to see some of my dear friends that I don’t get to see often enough….Hope there’s another one sooner rather than later…I don’t want to be on that list just inside the door….” The list that Ron is referring to is one with names of people who are no longer with us who had a link to the Troubadour (This list will be posted on the official reunion website.) The evening’s host Larry Murray said “Amazing..Grace! Heartfelt thanx to all who made it a nite to be cherished..organizers..performers..audience..lounge lizards.. and the eternal spirit of the Troubadour… for making my nite an absolute ‘Holy Hoot’ !!!” Publicist/ cyclist Billy James, seen here with singer/ songwriter Penny Nichols’ … Photographer/guitar maker Loni Specter exclaimed, “Artie it was so good to see you and Allan Rinde there! So many faces I thought I’d never see again. A truly frightening experience! It was a great night indeed!” Songwriter/former member of the Association, Terry Kirkman reflected, “I had a good time but was somewhat disappointed at the low turn out of performers. I wish there had been some forum provided for shared stories. what surprised me most, though, was that after an hour of making the round and reading the nametags I found the number of familiar old time regulars to be enough to give me a true blue de ja vu….with my feelings for those there very much the same as I remember them being all those years ago…. like thumbing through an album of pictures….. nodding acquaintances mostly…. just a couple of real honest to goodness friends…but very, very glad I went…very glad I got to share it with my wife who was not around here in those days. i wish we’d had time to talk, artie…maybe next time around. god bless.” Music publisher Don Williams exclaimed, “It was a very special evening the Troubadour Reunion this past Monday. Thank you for putting the story on your web page and giving the emphasis needed to ensure success. I had a wonderful time” Naomi Riopelle, another one of the organizers of the Reunion remarked, “I think the idea was to gather together and perhaps to relive a memory of a time and place, with the music and the people that in a very significant way helped to shape our lives and make us who we are…whether or not we realized it back then . I believe we succeeded……” Bass player Colin Cameron smiled and said, “It seems an unbroken circle finally completed its rounds at the Reunion, as my music career and post-Vietnam service civilian life really began with the people I met at the Troubadour, and the many great acts I was able to listen to there. It was a joy to see so many of them once again.” Finally here’s my pal from the past journalist/blogger Todd Everett with the wrap-up for the evening, “It was one of the most amazing nights of my life! I have heard so much love and joy expressed about the success of this event and how beautifully it brought back a time in a place that was so brilliant in it’s day. No place on earth ever rivaled what happened at Doug Weston’s Troubadour ever! How blessed we all have been to have been there then and then again last Monday night. Like most of us, I didn’t know what to expect from the Troubadour Family Reunion. But several people I knew would be coming — mostly people I saw fairly often, but an indication of quality. So at the very least it would be worthwhile on that level. As it turned out, of course, the thing had become a real event. I’ll name some of the people I knew; I’m sure others had the same experience with people they knew. Maureen Donaldson (shown with Sandee Lewis Ochs), bless her soul, had come in from England; she swears specifically for the event. Matt Kramer had no other reason I know of for having returned to West Hollywood from wherever it is he’s living these days (Texas, I think), and former hoot master Roger Perry arrived from Oregon. Artie Wayne, whom I sadly didn’t see this time, and Richard Kimball, whom I did, had come in from the desert. Michael Ochs took time from promoting the documentary about his late brother, and counting his own money. I knew it was the Troubadour bar, I told them, when the first faces I saw were Michael, and Alan Rinde. By the time I left – 11:30 or so – Alan, Artie and several others had already retreated to Genghis Cohen, the restaurant Alan had owned, and Artie named and hosted for however many years (has he ever mentioned that?). Though the layout of the main room has changed quite a bit — much larger stage; no tables; bar in the back — it was familiar enough that I might have been back in the ’70s, which was pretty much my era, though years earlier I’d driven 60 miles down the coast from Ventura to see acts including the Dillards (with Roger Miller opening), when the stage was still at what’s now the left-hand wall. I spent half an hour or so in the bar, meeting old pals and choking on a piece of cheese; when Lezlie asked for a glass of water for me, the guy behind our end of the bar said we’d have to go to the woman at the other end. If I’d died from asphyxiation, my survivors would stand to make a fortune! Oddly, when I recovered, he was able to sell me a drink without consulting the other bartender. Ah, the Troubadour! I’ll let others get into the acts – Van Dyke, Jackson, and so on; but will add that I was very impressed by two “second generation” groups, fronted by people whose parents had (in one case sort of) worked at the Troubadour. Paul Riopelle, whose mother Naomi was a long-time waitress at the club, was in a rock band called The Motion with Steven Wolfson and Dsvid Jenkins; the three members of Blackfire are all the progeny of Berta Benally, who was more of an Ash Grove person, really, but was right at home in this company. Native Americans of the Navajo nation, Blackfire is more “indian” than Redbone, and played a strong mix of contemporary, punk and traditional music. Had I a label (and everybody can be thankful I don’t), I’d sign them in a minute. As it stands, they already record; their more recent album produced by Ed Stasium, whose credits include the Ramones, Talking Heads and Smithereens. In other words, they need no help from me, even if I were in a position to give it to ‘em. One disappointment: three members of Hearts & Flowers were present: Larry Murray, Rick Cunha and David Jackson. But they didn’t see fit to reconvene, even though Jackson did back Cunha on a solo set, along with anybody else who needed a bass player. That, too, was just like the old days.” —

Todd Everett http://toddeverett.wordpress.com/

L -R…Tom Rush, Michael Ochs, Allan Rinde,and James Taylor

Bryan-Turner-Joe-Klein-Martin-Davich-Genghis-Cohen

L-R…Bryan Turner, Joe Klein, and Marty Davitch

L-R…top…Al Stahaley, Julia Orange, Cameron Crowe. bottom Artie Wayne, Allan Rinde, and David Rensin.

Finally. originally written for Jim Croce on the night of his plane crash now dedicated also to Allan Rinde.`Sending My Good Thoughts To You” performed by Patti Dahlstrom.

for the official TROUBADOUR FAMILY REUNION WEBSITE http://www.troubadourfamilyreunion.com/ Thanks to Henry Diltz for the photo of Jackson Brownewww.morrisonhotelgallery.com

to Pete Senoff for the photo of Maureen Donaldson and Sandee Lewis Ochs. Richard Kimball, Michael Ochs, Allan Rinde, Pete Senoff and Bobbi Cowan http://www.twitter.com/petesenoff

to George Steele for the photo of billy James and Penny Nichols

to Sean McKenna from X-SITE MEDIA for the photo of Me, Ron Haffkine and Van Dyke Parks http://www.xm.la to photographer/ guitar maker Loni Specter for the Photo of Blackfirewww.ampshow.com

www.lapdancerguitars.com

to Coleen M. Pumfrey for the photo of the Troubadour sign Special thanks to “Lezlie Sokol” and Sally Stevens for helping me with this article. . Copyright 2011 by Artie Wayne- https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/about-artie-wayne/ for those might not have recognized me at the reunion with my beard…I shaved

The first time I met songwriter Toni Wine (“Candida”, “Tonight You’re Gonna’ Fall In Love With Me”) she was only 14 years old and we were both staff writers for Don Kirshner at ALDON MUSIC. Over the years we remained friends and occasionally worked together.

Back in 1966, when I was writing songs and producing for Scepter Records, my friend Stanley Greenberg who was head of A+R asked me to rehearse a new act he was producing, Diane and Anita. Although we went into the studio with my song, “One By One” as the A-Side, the song that Toni Wine brought Stanley, “A Groovy Kind of Love”, which she co-wrote with Carol Bayer Sager came out of the studio clearly the winner! I’m proud to say that ours was the first recording of the classic, which was followed by two number one records, one by the Mindbenders the other by Phil Collins http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsC_SARyPzk

To reach Toni Wine http://toniwine.c om

WHY IS TONI WINE IN THIS STORY? BECAUSE I INTRODUCED HER TO ALLAN RINDE WHO SHE MARRIED! .

Jim McKeon Alan was a wonderful interesting guy on all levels. One of the first people I met in LA thanks to my man Richard Kimball. Bless you Alan. Sunday at 1:39pm · Like

Bob Levinson Allan. : ( Sad news about a terrific guy. Sunday at 7:30pm · Like · 1

Larry LeBlanc I knew Allan through CBS from working at Record World and then with Blood sweat and tears. Classy guy 18 hours ago via mobile · Like

Jack Gold Allan and I spent many an hour talking about our hobby, collecting movie posters. He was an all class guy, RIP Allen. I just learned of his passing by my friend Chris Crist who now lives in Palm Springs.

When a human passes away it takes three days for the spirit to leave the earth and make a transition to the other side. When a pet passes away the process takes the same amount of time. The pet is more confused at first, but becomes more accepting of what’s going on when they are reunited with their animal friends on the other side, who are there to help with the crossover.

The pet is happy to go back “home”, unless they’ve formed an exceptionally strong bond with their earthly caretaker, which makes them want to stay on earth a little longer to make sure their “human” is going to be all right without them.

We can be assured, that these little spirits will be watching out for us for the rest of our lives. I can attest that many long gone animal friends have come back to me in dreams, meditations, and semi-darkened rooms, during times of stress or loneliness and helped me get through the agony of it all.

As I’m sitting on the patio by the hummingbird feeder my little pal, Larry, flies by and I can almost feel his wings sympathetically touch my knee as I weep for my little pal Streaker, who had to be put down a few days ago or face a long painful illness. When my friend, Allan Rinde moved to Nashville to get married to singer/songwriter Toni Wine, he asked me to take care of his little calico cat, Streaker and her boyfriend, a 23 lb. white tom called Whoppy, because his future wife was allergic.

For the past 14 years Allan has paid for their food, toys, and thousands of dollars in medical expenses. When Whoppy passed two and a half years ago, “Streak” and I became closer sharing my pillow, as well as a place at the dinner table. About a year ago, after Allan got a divorce he offered to rent me a couple of rooms in his house in Palm Springs, where we’ve lived ever since.

Although he hadn’t spent much with her over the last decade, Streaker loved Allan and when we all lived together “Streak” would sit in front of his computer, all night long acting as his assistant. While Allan spoiled her with gourmet cat food, exotic toys, and even a recirculating water fountain, I kept her paws on the ground by yelling, “ARE YOU CRAZY?”, and sentences ending in “ucker”, whenever she got out of line.

I close my eyes, visualize her and tell her that it’s time for her to go and I’m going to be alright. Whoppy, who’s come back to escort her “home”, looks contented, but Streaker give me one last look goodbye…then sadly walks away. I want to call out, “Don’t go!”, but the three day window of transition is closing fast and if they don’t leave now they could become trapped between here and the other side for eternity!

As I sit weeping, my little friends disappear into the morning…and a few minutes later Larry the hummingbird reappears to introduce me to his new girlfriend. He senses that this isn’t a good time, and they both bolt off into a sky full of fluffy white clouds. As I watch them leave, I gaze up, and for a few minutes watch the clouds change forms, as clouds are known to do.

I smile as I see likenesses of all the animal friends I’ve had in my life, Waldo, my parakeet in grade school, my aunt Wan’s dogs Fluffy and Queenie, who protected me from bullies, Chipper, the little spitz, who turned nasty and had his name changed to Al for Al Capone, then when he became nice again, changed it back to Chipper! There was Walter, who led my grandmother to safety through a fire, Duke, Harold, Pete, Tippy, and of course, my little Cairn Terrier Nookie, my companion for 12 years.

Even though I know Streaker’s in good company…it doesn’t mean I’m going to miss her any less….but seeing Whoppy and Streaker playing together again in the clouds, and in my medical marajuana tinted memories is inspiring and proof positive that true love lives forever.

Goodbye my monkey friends…until we meet again. Love Artie

l to r Sheilah Kent, Artie Wayne, and Allan Rinde

Thank you Allan, you’ve done so much for so many…especially me…may you ROCK IN PERPETUITY!

Sadly. Artie

P.S. HERE ARE A FEW OF THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE COME IN FROM SOME OF ALLAN’S FRIENDS…

l-r -Joel Diamond, Allan Rinde, Sunny (Monday) Smith, and Ron Haffkine

Artie,

It’s so hard to believe that Alan is gone. How lucky Ronnie, Sunny, and I were to have shared a fun loving recent dinner with Allan in my home.

Joel Diamond

From comments on FACEBOOK…

Thank you Artie, this trip across Memory Lane was very enjoyable. Too bad that it had to be prompted by the passing of one of the Nicest, Finest, Gentleman who ever graced the Halls that Hunter Thomson spoke so disparagingly of. Goodbye OUR friend you were simply “THA BEST” R.I.P.

jerry heller
Ron Haffkine Very hard to get through reading this and realizing again that Allan is gone…Every time one of us passes away a piece of our history goes with him or her…Knowing the realities of life sure doesnt make it any easier to accept….

this.

Joey Carbone RIP

Saturday at 10:02pm · Like

Kerry Dame Cole I knew Allan because I work with Toni Wine. He was one of a kind, and I mean that in good way! RIP

Saturday at 10:07pm via mobile · Like

Hunter George I am sorry to hear about Allan. As you know, Allan and I had some communication in the past but I didn’t know him well. RIP Allan.

Saturday at 10:27pm · Like

Seth Greenky My sincerest condolences to you and his friends and family.

Saturday at 10:40pm · Like

Will Yaryan Good stories, Artie. I always think of you, Allan and Don together from my time in the business 1970-5.

Saturday at 11:11pm · Like

Colin Cameron Another friend and music business talent bites the dust. So sad Artie. I used to meet him a lot at the Troubadour and Hollywood parties. I didn’t know he was ill.

Saturday at 11:46pm · Like · 1

Rhonda Bedikian Oh, I am so sorry to hear of Allan’s passing. I remember how close you were and when Genghis Cohen was opened. RIP, Allan.

Saturday at 11:59pm · Like

Ken Schaffer Director of West Coast A&R for Columbia, Allan got subsumed, perhaps too deeply, into the spirit of an office Christmas party and gently – lovingly, without a bone the balance – lobbed a cream pie in his secretary’s face. Apparently, she was less in the spirit… the creampuff got Allan got fired.

I flew into LA a couple of years after Allan got the ole’ CBS boot … happy to be going the next day to a big party at Don Williams’ fabulous but forever unfurnished estate in Encino.

“And Rinde is doing the cooking!” – people said that to me with all the pride that might befit a promise of Racquel Welch giving blow jobs. “Rinde?!!!” “Rinde cooking?!” I was incredulous.

As my roommate in New York for a couple of years before the creampuff incident, Allan had, like so many of our other music business friends [no names], defected to the West Coast; I even used to describe Los Angeles as the Badlands “… where everybody who blew it in New York moved to to start over again.”

The point though: when Allan lived with me, he couldn’t boil a freaking kettle of water without somehow melting the bottom of the kettle. we went through a lot of teapots.

They say if you are dealt lemons – make lemonade. To his credit, instead of grieving over the loss of his corner office, Allan had gone on – unbelievably – to take, of all things, WTF!, Chinese cooking lessons. By the time I arrived arrived for the party, his epicurean skills had become legendary in Hollywood and West LA. He’d even gone so far as to open a restaurant… the restaurant he opened became The spot in LA.

I’m broken up about Allan’s death. But lemons into lemonade: I’ll forever crack up reliving the look on Allan’s face (exasperated) every time (this went on for years) I referred to Genghis’ as “GENGHIS COHEN’S KOSHER CHINESE” — as only best friends can.

Pow, Allan! Love ya, man!

Saturday at 11:59pm · Like
Louise Luna Hi Artie – thank you for letting us know about Allan – very sad news indeed. I can’t count the hours (or martinis) spent at Genghis Cohen and Allan always so friendly as one walked through the door and you right in view. R.I.P. Allan….R.I.P.

21 hours ago · Like
Laura Pinto So sorry to hear of Allan’s passing, Artie. May he R.I.P.

21 hours ago · Like
Charles Perry Taylor I remember Allan from Venice Beac volleyball. Hope it was swift. Sorry for your loss.

21 hours ago via mobile · Like
Rick Smith Thanks for the good read Artie. Thinking of good times spent with you and Allan now.

21 hours ago via mobile · Like
Harvey Cooper Sorry..Artie Wayne

19 hours ago · Like
Ellen Sander Another food friend gone. Oh, Allan why didn’t I call you in the last year? Or write you, or tell you what a force for light you are?

19 hours ago · Like
Paul Flattery Sad news.

17 hours ago · Like
Linda Lamon So sorry to hear that. Another good guy gone. RIP, Allan Rinde.

17 hours ago · Like
Johnny Zell sincere condolences on the loss of your dear friend..artie..

IN MEMORY OF ALLAN RINDE I’D LIKE TO GIVE A FREE COPY OF MY BOOK, “I DID IT FOR A SONG” TO ANYONE WHO KNEW HIM OR WOULD’VE LIKED TO HAVE KNOWN HIM. JUST E-MAIL ME AT artiewayne@gmail.com Above photo by Pamela Kath Soloman “i want to let you know about my friend allan rinde, who died this weekend. allan rinde was a wonderful, wonderful man who was way ahead of his time when it came to knowing his music, and knowing his food. when i first moved to los angeles for newsweek, we played volleyball together on the venice beach.but he really loved music. when i reported the cover story for newsweek on bruce springsteen, allan was a close advisor. (he also worked for columbia records) he and i both hung with billy joel before billy was on anyone’s radar. he fancied himself a chinese food expert, and then proved it by going to china, finding a chef and opening his restaurant — with a great name — ghengis cohen, on fairfax avenue in los angeles. i was one of the first ones in the door. and everyone in the music business was right there with me. artie wayne, who i knew from his days in music publishing (and volleyball) came in as the host. and every top musician and record company executive in town came there for dinner of crackerjack shrimp, mabu beef, and other specialties — and in one corner of the restaurant, if you listened closely, you were entertained. on one night you’d hear the familiar guitar riffs of taj mahal, or the distinct tone of joni mitchell. no, it wasn’t someone’s playlist. it WAS taj mahal or joni mitchell! so many solo artists and groups played there before anyone knew who they were. it was part of allan’s magic that the artists would come to the restaurant, and music executives would somehow discover them over a dinner of cold sesame noodles….last night, when i heard that allan had died, i went back to genghis cohen for dinner. many familiar faces were at the bar to toast his memory. it’s been thirty years since allan opened the restaurant, and last night, in the corner, there was another music group playing. i didn’t get their name, but if history is any indication, we’ll all know them soon. but i consider myself lucky…i knew allan rinde and he will be missed. Peter Greenberg Travel editor cbs news

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Tags: "Hair" the Musical, "JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, alan o'day, ALLAN RINDE R.I. P., ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER, Artie Kornfeld, BARBRA STREISAND, BRUCE WILLIS, CAROL "COOKIE" TANDY, Don Williams, genghis cohen, GRAMMYS, JOHNNY DEPP, kelli ross, MIKE MELVOIN, morris levy, NARAS, RADO AND RAGNI, richard baskin, robert downey jr., ROBERT KRAFT, ron haffkine, ROUNDTABLE, shadow mann, Sheilah Kent, Tim Rice, Van Dyke Parks, VIPER ROOM, whoppy and streaker

17 Comments »

AN OPEN LETTER TO ARTIE KORNFELD A/K/A “THE FATHER OF WOODSTOCK”

September 15, 2012

ARTIE…OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS YOU’VE POSTED SO MANY GOOD THOUGHTS AND IDEAS ON FACEBOOK IT’S A SHAME THAT ONCE IT SCROLLS DOWN OUR SCREEN THEY’RE GONE FOREVER AND THERE IS NO WAY TO ACCESS WHAT YOU’VE WRITTEN.

AS A BELATED BIRTHDAY PRESENT, I WANT TO GIVE YOU A COPY OF MY BOOK, “GUIDE TO ADVANCED BLOGGING” AND HOPE THAT WHAT YOU SAY DAILY IS TRANSCRIBED FOR POSTERITY!

THERE IS FAR MORE TO YOU THAN THE SONGS YOU’VE WRITTEN, THE RECORDS YOU PRODUCED, THE PEOPLE YOU DISCOVERED, AND EVEN WOODSTOCK.

MAY YOU CONTINUE TO INSPIRE THE WORLD THAT YOU’VE HELPED TO CHANGE SO MUCH ALREADY!

YOUR FRIEND, OF 45 YEARS OR SO, ARTIE WAYNE

FOR OTHER ARTICLES I’VE WRITTEN ABOUT ARTIE KORNFELD https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2009/06/14/my-return-to-woodstock-1969/

https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2009/11/14/artie-kornfeld-and-the-true-story-behind-dead-mans-curve/

https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2009/11/05/artie-kornfeld-before-and-after-woodstock/

HERE’S ARTIE KORNFELDS OFFICIAL WEBSITE http://www.artiekornfeld-woodstock.com/

WHILE FIGHTING LARGE CORPORATIONS WHO ARE TRYING TO KEEP ROYALTIES AWAY ME AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER ARTISTS, SONGWRITERS AND PUBLISHERS, MY ONLY SOURCE OF INCOME IS FROM THE SALE OF MY BOOK. ” I DID IT FOR A SONG”, WITH OVER 100 STORIES FROM THE MUSIC BUSINESS OF THE ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. I HOPE YOU’LL CONSIDER BUYING ONE DIRECTLY FROM ME THROUGH PAYPAL FOR ONLY $9.99 AT artiewayne@gmail.com OR BY CHECK TO…ARTIE WAYNE P.O. BOX 1105, DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA 92240

THANKS AND REGARDS, ARTIE WAYNEhttps://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2012/04/10/celebrating-two-million-views-today-on-artie-wayne-on-the-web/

BACK TO ARTIE WAYNE ON THE WEB http://artiewayne.wordpress.co

Posted by Artie Wayne
Filed in Uncategorized
Tags: Artie Kornfeld, WOODSTOCK

BUDDY SALTZMAN R.I.P. ROCK IN PERPETUITY!

May 3, 2012

THIS MORNING I WAS AWAKENED BY A FACEBOOK POST FROM MY FRIEND ARTIE KORNFELD, “THE FATHER OF WOODSTOCK, ” THAT OUR FRIEND BUDDY SALTZMAN HAD PASSED AWAY.

I USED BUDDY ON MY DEMOS WHEN I WAS A STAFF WRITER AT ALDON AND MASTERS WHEN I STARTED PRODUCING. (“MEET ME AT MIDNIGHT MARY”).

HE WAS ALWAYS MORE THAN HELPFUL IN FINDING THE “RIGHT THING TO PLAY” AND WAS WILLING TO SPEND WHATEVER TIME IT TOOK TO EXECUTE IT PROPERLY SOMETIMES WITHOUT CHARGING ME.

ARTIE KORNFELD WRITES…

“Buddy Saltzman was, from 1955 through 1968 the most used studio drummer in recording history.You have in your collections many hits from “The Locomotion to”, “Any One who had a heart” and on and on. Buddy must have the most #1 records he played drums on.He did about 100 sessions with me.He even played on “The Rain,ThePark, and Other Things”.

John Cowsill now drummer for a long time with Mike Love and the Beach Boys , in gratitude has kept contact with Buddy and brought much happiness.A year ago, when the Boys played in Palm Beach John invited me and surprised me by putting me next to Buddy.His walker that he needed broke my heart .

Buddy died 3 days ago and was buried today.

I was going to go until I found out that his gravesite was within 30 yards of Linda Kornfeld,The Mother of Woodstock.

Buddy Rest In Peace.

Artie Kornfeld

BUDDY…MAY YOU ROCK IN PERPETUITY!

RESPECTFULLY, ARTIE WAYNE

BUDDY SALTZMAN WEBSITE http://music.msn.com/music/artist-biography/buddy-saltzman/

ARTIE KORNFELD http://www.artiekornfeld-woodstock.com/

THE CONDOLENCES ARE STARTING TO COME IN…

Dear Artie:
Buddy did quite a few hits with me, notably TIGHTER TIGHTER by Alive
and Kicking, and the Cowsills first and iconic hit, THE RAIN – THE PARK.

The Lord got a great drummer.

Best, Jimmy Wisner

ARTIE..I WAS SAD TO HEAR OF THE PASSING OF BUDDY SALTZMAN..WHEN I WORKED FOR BOB CREWE IN THE LATE 60’S I REMEMBER HE RARELY DID A SESSION WITHOUT BUDDY, WHO ACCENTED THOSE FRANKIE VALLI/FOURSEASONS HITS IN HIS UNIQUE STYLE..HE PLAYED ON MY EARLY DEMOS AND MANY OF MY FRIENDS..I HOPE HE I NOW AT PEACE PLAYING IN THE BEST BAND IN HEAVEN..

LARRY WEISS (“RHINESTONE COWBOY”)

AND HERE’S THE ANTHEM THAT WILL WELCOME BUDDY AT THE GATE… WRITTEN BY ALAN O’DAY AND JOHNNY STEVENSON “IF YOU BELIEVE IN FOREVER LIFE IS JUST A ONE NIGHT STAND…IF THERE’S A ROCK AND ROLL HEAVEN”, YOU KNOW THEY’VE GOT A HELL OF A BAND!

IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT PLEASE SCROLL DOWN AND A BOX WILL OPEN

BACK TO ARTIE WAYNE ON THE WEB

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Tags: adam faith, ahmet ertegun, alan o'day, american idol, american pie, april young, arthur conley, Artie Kornfeld, barbara george, barry white, ben benay, bert berns, big bopper, big mama thornton, billy preston, bo diddley, bob marley, bobby fuller, bobby hatfield, bobby sheen, bon scott, brian jones, bruce gary, buddy holly, buddy knox, BUDDY SALTZMAN R.I.P., carl perkins, carl wilson, chas chandler, chris curtis, chuck willis, Clive Davis, curt cobain, curtis mayfield, danny gatton, david blue, david ruffin, dead rock stars, dead rockers, dennis wilson, Denny Martin, dick st.john, don mcclean, doris troy, dorsey burnette, duane allman, eddie cochran, Elvis Presley, ersel hickey, Eugene Record, floyd cramer, francine barker, frank zappa, frankie lyman, freddie mercury, freddy garity, gene vincent, george harrison, graham parsons, hank ballard, hank medress, howlin' wolf, ike turner, James Brown, janet vogel, janis joplin, jeff buckley, jerry garcia, jim capaldi, Jim Morrison, jimi hendrix, jimmy bailey, joe brown, joey ramone, john bonham, john fred, John Lennon, johnny bristol, johnny burnette, johnny cash, johnny cymbal, johnny johnson, johnny preston, johnny stevenson, keith moon, KELLY CLARKSON, kevein gilbert, kirsty maccoll, kurt cobain, laura nyro, lou rawls, lowell george, luthor vandross, mama cass, marc bolan, Marvin Gaye, maurice gibb, michael hutchince, mickey most, mike milward, mike smith, muddy waters, music video, nick drake, otis blackwell, otis redding, paul atkinson, peter ham, phil seymour, ray charles, ray peterson, richard tee, rick nelson, righteous brothers, ritchi, robert palmer, rock and roll heaven, rockers, ronny kimball, Roy Orbison, shel silverstein, shirley goodman, sonny bono, sterling morrison, stevie ray vaughn, stu sutcliff, syd barrett, tammi terrell, the duchess, timi yuro, tony williams, tribute, TV, Uncategorized, valens, van mccoy, warner brothers, wendy owilliams, wilson picket, zal yanovsky Tags: al gallico

41 Comments »

COMMENTS PEOPLE HAVE MADE ABOUT MY BOOK…”I DID IT FOR A SONG”

May 22, 2011

Artie Kornfeld “The Father Of Woodstock” says, “…God Bless you Artie for keeping the music alive!”

Kornfeld http://www.artiekornfeld-woodstock.com/

Author/ publicist Bob Levinson says,” Dunno if I’m repeating myself here, but want to make sure you know I classify your book as a “must read” for anybody who was in the music business or interested in the music business when it was more about the music than about the business. Gone are the days; shamefully, they ain’t coming back anytime soon.

Warmest regards, Bob www.robertslevinson.com

Joel Diamond Producer, Says, “Classic pictures Artie…how lucky we are to have had contact and know some of these people first hand who could never be “duplicated” again in our industry…”

Patti Dahlstrom Singer/songwriter, adds, “So exciting and great pictures..but not as good as the stories inside. So many will love this book!”

tommy james (“I THINK WE’RE ALONE NOW”, “CRYSTAL BLUE PERSUASION”) Says: “hey, artie, you are a million hit legend in the music business….still keeping the good times alive with all your great stories and information….keep rockin’!”

I love the songs you got to us. “HEAVY CHURCH”, “PLAY SOMETHING SWEET”, “LET ME SERENADE YOU”, FREEDOM FOR THE STALLION”, and “EASY EVIL”, The fans have put together a few videos for you!

Chuck Negron…3 DOG NIGHT http://www.threedognight.com/index.html

“I Did it for a Song” is a poignant tale told in fast-paced, first person, you-are-there style. You never want to stop reading it as you work your way through the heyday of 60s, 70s, and 80s music at its best, from the Brill Building to the bright lights of LA and all stops in between. Artie Wayne is a born storyteller, and every day of his career in the music business as a songwriter led to simply more and more exciting times. He’s met everyone, knows everyone, and has helped create more good connections for music professionals to have their music heard, recorded, and shared over the years. Outside the music world, Wayne is a just-plain-great writer and he cites Sidney Sheldon’s encouragement, “just write, Artie” as the impetus that set him off and writing. Don’t be offput that this is an e-book. It doesn’t matter if you’re reading it on your computer, your Kindle or the back of an envelope. It’s the inside skinny as he relates stories and answers with the real versions of what happened, because he was there. First-person fun, bright lights, big names, the music industry who’s who that includes those on their way up, and down, in the business. Dare you to put it down, once you pick it up. Artie Wayne: singer, songwriter, wordsmith

As ever,

Dawn Lee Wakefield – Classic rock music – The Examiner Dawn@dawnleewakefield.com.

ARTIE, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS YOU STILL KNOW HOW TO GET A HIT. MY FRIEND WHO WITHOUT QUESTION HELPED SHAPE AMERICAN MUSIC. I AM PROUD TO KNOW YOU AND CAN STILL CALL YOU MY FRIEND.

I ENJOY READING ABOUT THE JOURNEY MUSIC HAS TAKEN AND THE WONDERFUL STORIES SURROUNDING IT. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK.

STEVE CROPPER (“DOCK OF THE BAY”, IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR”) http://www.playitsteve.com/home.html

Stephen-Craig Aristei , independent film and TV music supervisor comments, “The pictures and the stories are all “greats”…When people read your book, they will realize how each and everyone of their lives was touched in some way, by what you did…We were a part of the industry when “people had fun” with what they did….Joel is right when he says “we are all so lucky to have had contact with so many of these people”…..I was blessed to work with, fight with and have success with many of the true “greats” of our industry….And Artie, you are one of them…You are truly the last of that breed of creative individual who truly make the music and the business great….you are one of the “Last of the Greats” ! ! Everyone who has ever loved music, needs to read your book….!”

Bernadette Carroll Says: As Clay Cole said it best “Weren’t We Something”….Thanks Artie!”

Barry Oslander Producer Says, “Artie like you, I have been waiting for this day since I read your book months before it came out and read it in one day…. Your a man who just wrote some more music history which in turn will bring bring back many minds to dreaming of the good old days and the way it was in the days when the music biz was great and we all were starting out and were friends joined by the music in our blood….Good luck with your book.”

Jerry Ross Producer (Bobby Hebb, Keith, Spanky and our Gang) comments, “Artie: New York Yankees 1930….
Lefty Gomez made the well known comment: “I’d rather be lucky than good”
You are blessed to be lucky; being in the right place at the right time, and so good at what you have accomplished…Congrats on your book!!!”

Mike Edwards Says, “Hi Artie. You were kind enough to send me an advance copy of your book, “I Did It For A Song”. Even though it arrived around the Christmas period, I could not put it down. The details of your career in the music business are well told and are fast moving. Anyone who knows, say, New York and Los Angeles, would feel that they were right there beside you as you covered the ground in these cities. I note that you experienced the sting of prejudice but, like our President, you just brushed it off and kept moving, demonstrating to us that, whatever barriers are put in your way, you can still succeed in this country.

It is a fun read; whether it is about you trying to get Motown Records to issue a Michael Jackson Christmas album or you trying to collect royalties from dangerous sounding characters in Germany. These are just two of the many incidents that grace the pages of this book. I wish you every success with it, Artie.”

“I DID IT FOR A SONG”, perhaps the best ever title of a music industry
book.The title reflects the the entire mentality of the business in an
era that produced more classic music and creativity then in any other
time in it’s history.The book reveals how it all went down through the
journey of one man …..

Harvey Cooper former head of 20th Century Records promotion.

“Artie, I got your book last night and read much of it through the night you have one incredible career. It’s an honor that you put me in your book literally in the same sentence with Paul Simon… How cool is that! I played a very, very, very small part, but what a part it was. You stopped by my office, at E B Marks Music and my ears heard that Joey Powers demo, Meet Me at Midnight Mary, and it was then I told you, that’s a hit, master it just the way it is. It was then that I told you to take it over to Amy Records. You did that … added a bass and the rest is history. Wow!”

Tony DiGirolamo tvlights@aol.com

Good to hear from you Artie. I love the songs you got to us. “HEAVY CHURCH”, “PLAY SOMETHING SWEET”, “LET ME SERENADE YOU”, FREEDOM FOR THE STALLION”, and “EASY EVIL”, The fans have put together a few videos for you!

Chuck Negron…3 DOG NIGHT http://www.threedognight.com/index.html

Ed Silvers former CEO WARNER BROTHERS MUSICsays, “Forever a great promoter/publisher/writer, Artie has been my artist, my friend, and co-writer through many years of music business. It has always been more than fun to work together!! I wish we lived closer to one another”

Mike Millius Says: “Dude, The best and most realistic Woodstock Experience I’ve ever read. Honest in it’s telling and observations.

HAVE KNOWN ARTIE WAYNE SINCE THE EARLY AND COLORFUL DAYS ON BROADWAY IN NYC, WHEN WE RUBBED ELBOWS..I BELIEVE HE USED TO BE AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS ‘THE SHADOW’ BECAUSE OF THE OUTRAGEOUS HAT AND CAPE-LIKE COAT HE USED TO WEAR..ARTIE HAS DEDICATED HIMSELF TO KEEPING US INFORMED MUSICALLY FROM HIS BROAD LIFE EXPERIENCE IN MUSIC AND LIFE, AND HIS COLLECTED RESPECT FROM MANY OF US WHO HE HAS WRITTEN ABOUT.

FROM ANOTHER BROADWAY SURVIVOR..LARRY, ‘RHINESTONE RABBI’ WEISS.

Your story needs to be told via a film, or even a TV mini-series. It is fascinating!

John Harrold

peggy santiglia davison (The Angels) Says: “Hey Artie, I always knew you were talented and smart and the Blog is great. It’s so interesting to me because even though many of us were in the thick of it, we didn’t always know what others were thinking or doing behind the scenes. Maybe that’s my take as a performer since I was on the “road” so much back then, but it is facinating to read the stories. Even just reading the comment list, I see the names of some very long ago business and personal friends and it brings back many memories, mostly good:-). Much success to you in all your future endeavors.
Peggy/The Angels/The Delicates

To a long lost friend. Having been part of your life in those wonderful early days and finally reconnecting after all these years I truly choke up with emotion. Oft times life is a bitch but through your incredible pain your presence, your insight, your memories have brought joy to the so many people you’ve met along the way.

I skimmed through the book the first time around but now I’ll eat up every word. Thanks for the great ride…and please don’t leave.

Ira Howard
Irah36@aol.com

“Artie,Those were the days when our business was exciting every day.. I remember so well of what you wrote in your terrific book.. I miss those days & your weekly visits to our office at 1697 Broadway. We have great memories…”

Jay Siegel-The Tokens
jaysiegelandthetokens.com

Linda Perry Says: “Been a long time. So happy to hear you don’t miss a beat. You keep us all informed. Congratulations to a great guy.
Best regards,”

Linda

ann munday Says, “It’s amazing to me that you and I have known each other over 31 years now!
We were such children when we first met!

Congratulations on your passing another milestone. I know how hard you work, and I know how hard it all is for you physically and you’re truly amazing!”

Vikki Sallee-Dillard Says: “Hello Artie, You are the wonderful to provide “THE MUSIC” and all the information that you do. It is a TREASURE to me and others. Thank you Brother Artie. Your are the Best! Rare finds and Memories that most have never seen.”

“Your articles are, without fail, always entertaining, informative, and exciting. Few people make learning fun like you do. I love reading about the people behind the scenes of the music I loved so much as a youngster and still love today, and your write-ups about Artie Kornfeld, Russ Terrana, and others like them are so very much appreciated.”

Laura Pinto http://oldiesconnection.blogspot.com/

Bobbi Cowan PUBLICIST Says: “Hey Artie…Adding my congratulations to the growing list of your fans…and the unique perspective you bring to a business that no longer exists.”

Much love,
Bobbi

Don Charles Says: “Congrats, Artie! I’m convinced your blog was instrumental in getting Ellie Greenwich (posthumously) and Jeff Barry inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Thank you.”

“Artie, I’m loving your book and literally could not put it down until Chapter 22 when nature finally came knocking after my drinking an inordinate amount of coffee. Your writing style is lively and conversational. In a previous incarnation as a journalist I learned to “Write like you talk unless you’re from the Bronx.” It appears that you have come along and totally dispelled that adage. I love the story about your standing-up and telling a roomful of people that you don’t have to accept being exploited merely because you’re black; and nobody in the room was even aware of your racial make-up. Too funny. So much for the argument, right?”

Mark L. Ostrovsky
Richard Kimball Says: “Congrats Artie..Obviously you have waaaaaay too much time on your hands!!!!!”

Ash Wells Says: “Congrats Artie!! Truly always awesome & Informative stories which I love to read. Keep Goin’ Strong.. Love Your Work!”

Roger McGuinn Says:

Congratulations Artie!!!

That’s fantastic!!!

All the best,

Roger McGuinn THE BYRDS

: “Artie, you’re a consummate story teller and because we can track your personal history in tandem with the history of rock and roll. You were there, you’re honest about both your failures and triumphs. You da man! Proud to be your friend.”

Much love
John Brahaney

WHILE FIGHTING LARGE CORPORATIONS WHO ARE TRYING TO KEEP ROYALTIES AWAY ME AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER ARTISTS, SONGWRITERS AND PUBLISHERS, MY ONLY SOURCE OF INCOME IS FROM THE SALE OF MY BOOK. ” I DID IT FOR A SONG”, WITH OVER 100 STORIES FROM THE MUSIC BUSINESS OF THE ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. I HOPE YOU’LL CONSIDER BUYING ONE DIRECTLY FROM ME THROUGH PAYPAL FOR ONLY $9.98 AT artiewayne@gmail.com OR BY CHECK TO…ARTIE WAYNE P.O. BOX 1105, DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA 92240

THANKS AND REGARDS, ARTIE WAYNE https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2012/04/10/celebrating-two-million-views-today-on-artie-wayne-on-the-web/

Posted by Artie Wayne
Filed in Uncategorized
Tags: alan freed, alan o'day, allan rinde, art munson, Artie Kornfeld, barry white, ben raleigh, bert berns, bobby darin, brian wilson, Carole King, Clive Davis, DAVID BOWIE, david geffen, Dick Clark, Don Kirshner, Eagles, ed silvers, Ellie Greenwich, herb alpert, jeff barry, Jerry Moss, JIM CROC E, jimi hendrix, LOU ADLER, Marvin Gaye, michael jackson, morris levy, Murray The K, neil bogart, olivia newton-john, patti dahlstrom, paul williams, phil spector, Quincy Jones, richard baskin, richard perry, RICHARD PODOLOR, rick james, Rolling Stones, Scott Shannon, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, THREE DOG NIGHT, tommy james and the shondells

62 Comments »

ARTIE’S PHOTOS VOL.2

October 7, 2010

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Posted by Artie Wayne
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Tags: Artie Kornfeld, Bob Dylan, brian wilson, Dick Clark, Eagles, Elvis Presley, Eugene Record, FelixThe Cat, janis joplin, jimi hendrix, JOEL DIAMOND, Lance Freed, michael jackson, neil bogart, patti dahlstrom, paul williams, rick james, Roger McGuinn, Scott Shannon, shel silverstein, Sissy Spacek, Steve Cropper, van mccoy, woodstock 1969

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SHEILAH KENT R.I.P. ROCK IN PERPETUITY!

August 17, 2010

L to R – Sheilah Kent, Artie Wayne, and Allan Rinde in 1972

It’s always hard for me to write about a friend who’s passed away, but especially hard to write about someone I have so much history with like Sheilah Kent. In 1965, that beautiful California Girl married this aspiring songwriter/artist from the Bronx during a time when inter-racial marriages were against the law in most states.

We had known each other for only two months, and spent the next three years growing up together, which inspired me to write dozens of songs…including 3000 MILES By Brian Hyland

3000 MILES

Was I wrong to think that you…could live like I’m accustomed to?

Your Daddy’s rich…you could’ve married a…millionaire or dignitary

But you chose me…Are you happy? Or sometimes is your mind

3000 MILES AWAY…3000 MILES AWAY

To a life that could’ve been…a wife you could’ve been,

I can just give you love…but is that good enough?

When there’s a tear in your eye…it makes me almost wanna’ die

I think of what you threw away to live…hand to mouth from day to day

And I wonder do…you think of it too? Sometimes is your mind

3000 MILES AWAY…3000 MILES AWAY

To a life that could’ve been…a wife you could’ve been,

I can just give you love…but is that good enough?

So I must love you a little bit more, kiss you a little bit more

And hope you’re satisfied…so you won’t wander…

3000 MILES AWAY…3000 MILES AWAY

To a life that could’ve been…a wife you could’ve been,

I can just give you love…but is that good enough?

At Mercury records, Sheilah worked as a secretary for producers, Luchi DeJesus (Miriam Makeba), Dennis Lambert (Freddie and the Dreamers), Artie Kornfeld (The Cowsills), and Jerry Ross (Bobby Hebb, Keith, Jay and the Techniques) while we socialized with them and their wives, I also wrote songs with her bosses.

When we divorced in 1968, I moved to California, while she stayed in New York and ran Jerry Ross’ office at Heritage records, and later worked with Artie Kornfeld again when he and Michael Lang put on Woodstock. When I ran A&M’s publishing in 1974, I hired Sheilah as my personal assistant. By this time, she not only had highly developed managerial and organizational skills, but also had a rapport with creative and business people that was second to none.

Sheilah, who once had been the inspiration for some of my deepest songs, had become one of my closest friends. We always had each others backs, as well as each others shoulder to cry on. In the late ‘70s, I was ecstatic when she married actor David Warner (“Time After Time”, “Titanic”). Although their marriage didn’t work out they produced a son, Luke, who I met as a small child.

It was Luke who E-mailed me of his mothers passing and although we never met I felt a connection there. My deepest sympathy goes out to all of her family and friends, who will surely miss her.

Sheilah Kent R.I.P. Rock In Perpetuity

Respectfully with much love, Artie

Here’s a song I wrote with Patti Dahlstrom, for our friend Jim Croce the night his plane crashed…I dedicated it to my mother when she passed away…and now to Sheilah who will always be in my heart.

Special thanks to Heather MacRae for helping me put this tribute together.

If you have a comment to make about Sheilah, please do so in the space provided below. I’ll make sure her family will get each and every one.

Posted by Artie Wayne
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Tags: Artie Kornfeld, Dennis Lambert, jerry ross, Luchi DeJesus, Sheilah Kent R.I.P., Sheilah Warner R.I.P.

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MY FRIEND KELLI ROSS

May 1, 2010

“In 1966, Sandy and Kelli Ross had just moved to New York from Chicago. Sandy was the in-house lawyer for Mercury/ Smash/ Phillips Records and Kelli was the daughter of Irving Green who owned those labels, .

At the time Sandy and Kelli administered the publishing companies of Quincy Jones, Lesley Gore, The Cowsills, Janis Ian, and Bobby Scott, and I was working for Scepter Records.

When the owner of Scepter, Florence Greenberg, sold her publishing company, without warning or severance pay, Ed Silvers, Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson, Joshie Armstead, and I were unceremoniously let go.

My wife Sheilah, who worked as a secretary at Mercury, and I had become good friends with Sandy and Kelli, who offered me a partnership in their company which I happily took.

Songwriter/ producer Artie Kornfeld, “The Father of Woodstock”, remembers. “My wife Linda and I were also friends with Sandy and Kelli, as well as being close to one of the groups Alouette represented, the Cowsills.”

When Artie made a deal to produce the Cowsills for M-G-M, the group asked for their publishing back, which Kelli gave them without batting an eye. I freaked out and tried to explain that you can’t just give the publishing back to someone when you’ve been working with them all these years, hoping their copyrights would become valuable…but Kelli always put friendship above business.

When Artie and the group hit #1 with their first single “The Rain, The Park, and Other Things”, they recorded one of our copyrights, “Ask The Children” (Wonderling, Budnik, Goldfluss), which helped to ease my pain…a little.

Lesley Gore (“It’s My Party”, “You Don’t Own Me”) recalls, “Mercury Records at the time seemed more like a mom and pop business than a flourishing record company. I came to know Irving Green, the president of Mercury. What a wonderful man. His daughter, Kelli, and son-in-law, Sandy, were also in the music business and ran my publishing company.

Irving and his family became part of the extended Gore family. We all celebrated the progress of a new single as well as birthdays, anniversaries and graduations.”

Everyone loved Kelli and anytime you’d walk into our offices you find Janis Ian or Michael Gore playing a new song, or Quincy Jones and Bobby Scott just hanging out.

When the urge hit me to become a recording artist again, Kelli supported me 100% and got us a label deal with the legendary Morris Levy, with Ron Haffkine (Dr. Hook, Shel Silverstein) producing me under the name
”Shadow” Mann, and my protégé Sissy Spacek, whose name I changed to Rainbo.

Producer Ron Haffkine adds, “I recall Kelli as a warm, sweet, smiling young woman who was helpful to me at the beginning of my career. Kelli’s office, at Alouette, would overflow with writers, singers, producers, and a lot of noise. I and my friend Shel Silverstein (lucky for me) would drift from time to time between the offices of my friend Joel Diamond (also lucky for me ) who ran MRC Music and Kelli. Some wonderful stories are waiting to be told about events that transpired in both the offices by the many talented and often broke hopefuls who were allowed to spend many days and often nights in those offices thanks to the indulgence of Kelli Ross and Joel Diamond which I’m sure was not always easy.”

During the next few years Alouette represented Artie Resnick and Joey Levine (“Chewy, Chewy”, “Yummy, Yummy, Yummy”), Motherlode (“When I Die”), as well as producers Ron Haffkine, and Bo Gentry.

Sunny Monday remembers when she was cutting her first single with Ron Haffkine for Decca. “I was still a teenager when I met Kelli. She made me feel comfortable, a little bit groovy, and right at home. I came from the Mid-West and all of a sudden I was a New Yorker hangin’ with the people who were “making it happen”.

Although she wasn’t a singer/ songwriter, or producer Kelli Ross had a musical sense second to none. I remember I was backstage at the bitter end one night and I heard this guy named Jerry Jeff Walker play a song he wrote, “Mr. Bojangles”. It was one of those times that I knew it was a smash halfway through and told him I’d like to publish his song. My heart sank when he told me his producer Dan Elliot made a deal for his whole songwriting catalog that afternoon…then I was elated when I found out he had made the deal with my partner Kelli!

A few months later Dan Elliot came to his friend Kelli and asked for the publishing back, so he could make a recording deal for Jerry Jeff Walker with Atlantic Records, which demanded half of the publishing. I went f#@kin’ ballistic when Kelli gave it to him…I tried to reason with her, but she always put friendship above business.

Producer/ engineer Brooks Arthur fondly remembers,“My wife Marilyn, our children, Jill and Jacqueline, were invited to Sandy and Kelli’s Amaganset summer home. We swam, BBQ’d and purchased and boiled fresh lobsters on the beach. We talked music but the emphasis was on family! Then Kelli, Marilyn and Carol Geld created a BIG & LITTLE DAY in Central Park. All our musician friends, their wives and kids … The women & the men prepared and brought food and blankets, stretched out on the sheep meadow for the time of our lives. Talked music, shared studio & songwriting stories but put the emphasis on friendships and families. Wonderful days!”

A year later I got divorced and also said goodbye to Sandy, Kelli and New York, When I moved to California to join Warner Brothers Music. Sandy made me give up my interest in Alouette productions and our co-owned company Tattersall music which published all of my songs.

The next time I saw Kelli was after she divorced Sandy and was running the international division RCA publishing. She gave me a $10,000 advance for the sub-publishing of my new catalog in Australia, where I was enjoying a top ten record, “From The Inside”, by Marcia Hines. I didn’t see Kelli again until bout seven years ago when she was selling real estate in Palm Springs California.

I figured I had nothing to lose so I asked her for my publishing back, which she gave me without blinking an eye… because Kelli always put friendship above business.

I wish everyone a friend like Kelli Ross.

picture at top of Kelli Ross and Artie Wayne by Popsie

Special thanks to Lesley Gore, Artie Kornfeld, Ron Haffkine, Sunny Monday, and Brooks Arthur for helping to put this article together.

BACK TO ARTIE WAYNE ON THE WEB https://artiewayne.wordpress.com

Posted by Artie Wayne
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Tags: Artie Kornfeld, Cowsills, Irving Green, kelli ross, Quincy Jones, Sandy Ross

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A TRIBUTE TO FLORENCE GREENBERG!

April 21, 2010

“In the ‘50s I grew up in the Bronx and worked in my aunt’s candy store after school. I was somewhat of a nerd, but I got hipper listening to what the kids were playing on the jukebox, especially “Met Him On A Sunday” and “Tonight’s The Night”. I never dreamed that one day I’d be working for the woman behind those records, Florence Greenberg, who describes herself as “a white woman in a black business who couldn’t carry a tune.”

Artie Kornfeld, “The Father Of Woodstock”, who co – wrote “Tonight You’re Gonna’ Fall In Love With Me”, for the Shirelles remembers, “Florence Greenberg was quite a gal! She was as strong as Morris Levy in business, but always kind to me. I do think that Marv Schlacter ran a lot of the company. I had no problem with Scepter Records…but I never checked my royalty statements back then either.”

Singer/Songwriter Larry Weiss (“Rhinestone Cowboy”, “Bend Me, Shape Me”) adds, “I REMEMBER FLORENCE GREENBERG WAS A DYNAMIC INDEPENDENT RECORD COMPANY OWNER, WHO PEOPLE HAD TO CHASE FOR AN HONEST ACCOUNTING..INCLUDING BACHARACH & DAVID..BUT SHE WAS A STRONG FORCE IN NYC FOR MANY YEARS WITH THE SHIRELLE’S, B.J. THOMAS, AND A NUMBER OF OTHER R&B ACTS.”

Russ Regan, former CEO of UNI Records and 20^th Century Records adds, “I loved Florence Greenberg!! I worked for her for 3 happy years. She loved the music business; she had great Instincts for hit songs!! She loved her artists!! She was passionate about her employees!! She was truly a great human being!! They don’t make them like her anymore!!”

Ed Silvers, former president of Warner Brothers Music, fondly remembers, “Florence gave me a great opportunity, when she and Marv Schlacter offered me a job to run the publishing arm of Scepter Records, and co-own all new copyrights I could bring to the company. During my time at Scepter, I signed Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson, along with their pal Joshie Armstead. Florence was a source of information on how record companies functioned in the 60’s. She had a great feel for talent–Luther Dixon, the hot producer, Hal and Burt doing Dionne, and signing The Kingsmen from a deal she had engineered with a Seattle producer.

Florencealso knew how to deal with promotion of her releases–DJ’s came to Scepter often to receive encouragement!!! I miss her to this day.”

After being unceremoniously fired from a song plugging job four days after I got married, my old friend Ed Silvers hired me to write and produce for Scepter. I got a chance to work with some of the most talented people in the world. I did demos with Nick, Valerie and Joshie, and even co-wrote a couple of songs with Nick.

Florence was very sensitive to her employees. When Ed went on a 2 week business trip to the UK, I’ll never forget that Florence gave me a chance to write and produce some sides on the Shirelles, the Kingsmen, and the Guess Who, as well as gave me unlimited time to experiment in her new 8-track state of the art studio. If only Ed had stayed away another week, I’m sure would’ve gotten Florence to let me cut Dionne Warwick and B.J.Thomas!”

(TO BE CONTINUED)

photo at top l-r Luther Dixon, Florence Greenberg, Chuck Jackson, and Marv Schlacter

photo in the middle l to r Joshie Armstead, Nick Ashford, Artie Wayne, Valerie Simpson, bottom- Ed Silvers

thanks to Brian Gari for the middle picture from his collection

Regards, Artie Wayne http://artiewayne.com

EXTRA! EXTRA! YOU CAN BUY MY BOOK ,“I DID IT FOR A SONG” AT AMAZON or Barnes & Noble or from Smashwords

BACK TO ARTIE WAYNE ON THE WEB! https://artiewayne.wordpress.com

Posted by Artie Wayne
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Tags: Artie Kornfeld, Artie Ripp, Baby it's You" the play, brooks arthur, ed silvers, florence greenberg, JOSHIE ARMSTEAD, Larry Weiss, Marv Schlacter, Nick Ashford, Russ Regan, scepter records, VALERIE SIMPSON

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ARTIE KORNFELD AND THE STORY BEHIND “THE PIED PIPER”

December 30, 2009

Although Artie Kornfeld “The Father Of Woodstock” and I have been friends since the ’60s, until recently I never asked him about the story behind some of his biggest hits as a songwriter. In 1966, he had “The Pied Piper” which made it to number four on Billboard’s Charts, which was one the most optimistic protest songs of the era…now here’s the story behind it.

“The song, “The Pied Piper” was the result of my being an avid reader since pre-natal period.”, says songwriter / producer Artie Kornfeld (“Dead Man’s Curve, “The Rain The Park, and Other Things”).

“I remember Paul Simon telling me how he wrote the “59th St. Bridge Song (“Feelin’ Groovy)” while driving into the city. I was heading into Manhattan to write with my dear friend and co-writer Steve Duboff. I was the Director of A and R at Mercury and had a 3 hour demo session booked for a young folk rocker named Jonathan. We were scheduled to cut 3 songs.

I made my way to the city in my “Dead Mans Curve” Corvette that Donny Kirshner gave me an advance to buy, when DMC went top 5. I kept a tape recorder in the car. As I drove towards the 59th Street Bridge I thought of the Fable about a mythical Pied piper who through music, rid his Nation of the Bad Rats that had the children living in fear. There were no freedoms and no expression allowed. The lyric and skeleton song came 1, 2, 3, so fast.

By the time I reached the office-studio Duboff had a dynamo melody on the way. We sat, as my production session was an hour away. I turned the lyric almost anarchistic saying follow me as I promise to rid the earth of The Rats that had us going into Viet Nam. I had the sort of vision I knew the way out.

The Pied Piper by playing his flute had the bad guys (the RATS) follow him into the Sea and freed the land. Music and the right to free expression were returned!

The only reason the song was recorded, as you Artie Wayne know, we were masters at recording. I finished the three demos for Jonathan in two and a half hours and took out chord sheet and 3 hour old lyric, handed it to Hugh McCracken. Then I had Artie Kaplan get his flute out and in 1 hour had cut the demo to complete record status.

At the time, I did not realize this was premonition of the role I would play seven years later creating Woodstock and really freeing the children.

Charles Koppelman and Don Rubin, professional managers at Screen-Gems Columbia music, had without my knowledge been approached by Phillips Records, and had put out the Pied Piper we cut, and called us The Changing Times. I knew nothing about it until it hit the charts and Steve and I were booked for the 1st Sonny and Cher Tour.

I disliked the Crispian St. Peter version since it knocked us off the charts. Recently I heard a Del Shannon version on YouTube, the song had become the motto for my political and musical agenda free the kids and bring back to this cold world the right to express yourself.

The Pipers Wail is still working it’s magic in all my projects including my book, “The Pied Piper of Woodstock”. It tells about the life of us who are chosen to bring the music to the World. The Book could have been called “THE PIED PIPER”, without Woodstock in the title since the message has always been in the song. Free the children to create music.

I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge my late Dear Friend and writing Partner, Steven Duboff. The two of us, based on a bond of love and pure fun, writing together and even touring for 20 cities doing the original version as The Changing Times. We stayed great pals until his death in the late 90s..We had an incredible over 60 songs released as a team.

I often wish my buddy Steve was here today as I miss him and the way we collaborated very much.”

Artie Kornfeld

Photo at top…L to R Steve Duboff, Artie Kornfeld, Sonny and Cher

To reach Artie Kornfeld http://www.artiekornfeld-woodstock.com/

BACK TO ARTIE WAYNE ON THE WEB! https://artiewayne.wordpress.com

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Tags: "The Pied Piper", Artie Kornfeld, Charles Koppelman, don rubin, Donny Kirshner, Father Of Woodstock, paul simon, Phillips Records, Pied Piper Of Woodstock, Steve Duboff

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“PIED PIPER OF WOODSTOCK” AND “SH-BOOM”, TWO NEW BOOKS THAT ROCK!

November 24, 2009

I’m very fortunate to have reconnected with my old friend Songwriter and producer, Artie Kornfeld (“The Pied Piper”, “The Rain, The Park And Other Things”) on FACEBOOK during the last few months. I was able to share his joy in the celebration of the 40^th anniversary of the most important cultural event of our generation, which he co – created…Woodstock 1969.

Everybody’s talking about Artie’s new book, “The Pied Piper Of Woodstock” with fascinating anecdotes about the festival. He also talks about writing songs like “Dead Man’s Curve” for Jan and Dean and “Tonight You’re Gonna” Fall In Love With Me” for the Shirrells.

“My memories of my most wonderful days were after three recording deals and managers while attending Queens College at night that, as I tell in my book “The Pied Piper of Woodstock” that I met Charles Koppelman and Don Rubin. With a 25$ demo I took the subway into Nevins Kirchner a/k/a Aldon Music and left with a 75$ a week advance against royalties and a $ 500 advance from BMI.The bread meant nothing as I was now a writer for what soon became Screen-Gems Music. I was accepted in a world of Goffin and King, Mann and Weil, Barry and Greenwich, Leiber and Stoller, Artie Kaplan, Artie Wayne, and so many others who I had only read about and got to learn with the whole Brill Building gang and was lucky enough to have hit songs with Toni Wine my first collaborator and then Steve Duboff and Jan Berry and Brian Wilson. Even my idol Steve Allan, I thought I was in heaven and I was. That is why when I got into position my door was always open. Although we all competed we all were happy at our friends successes.. It is this love of making music and affecting others through song that the seeds for Woodstock 69 were born, I used all my knowledge of music, I actually made a living out of while learning.”

EXTRA! Check out Artie’s radio show every Tuesday 10 pm EST on http://artistfirst.com

***************************************

The only time I met Disc Jockey Clay Cole face to face was in 1963 during the Kennedy Assassination, when Joey Powers, sang my first hit as a writer and producer, “(Meet Me At) Midnight Mary”, on Clay’s WPIX – TV Show.

When I reconnected with him on FACEBOOK, I wasn’t surprised that we had a lot of mutual friends. His new book is filled with Rock and Roll Memories we all wish we could’ve been part of!

“The New York television host traces the roots of rock ‘n’ roll, Top 40 radio, the Golden Age of Television, the Brill Building songwriters, doo wop, girl groups, the twist, the shag/beach music, mom and pop record labels, and Beatlemania, all set against the background of a boozy, Mafia-run Manhattan .”

Editorial Reviews
“Back in the day, everybody in New York watched Clay Cole.” — Frankie Valli

“The Clay Cole Show was on of television’s greatest rock and roll shows. Clay had the whole music industry to draw on and watch him. Clay Cole imprinted a powerful image onto the memory of a few million teenagers.” — David Hinckley, New York Daily News

“Clay Cole. Saturday Night. Rock ‘n’ Roll. New York City. Glued to the tube. I should know; I was there.” – Dion DiMucci

“Clay lit up our Saturday Nights. Clay didn’t know it, but I had a secret crush on him.” — Connie Francis

BOTH BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE AT http://Over50music.com

To reach Artie Kornfeld http://www.artiekornfeld-woodstock.com/

For Clay Cole http://www.claycoleshow.com/

EXTRA! FOR THE TOP 200 MICHAEL JACKSON AND BEATLE VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE…FREE! http://over50music.com

Posted by Artie Wayne
Filed in Uncategorized
Tags: "Sh-Boom" by Clay Cole", "The Pied Piper Of Woodstock" by Artie Kornfeld, Artie Kornfeld, Clay Colle Show

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SHEILAH KENT R.I.P. ROCK IN PERPETUITY!

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May 1, 2010

A TRIBUTE TO FLORENCE GREENBERG!

April 21, 2010

ARTIE KORNFELD AND THE STORY BEHIND “THE PIED PIPER”

December 30, 2009

“PIED PIPER OF WOODSTOCK” AND “SH-BOOM”, TWO NEW BOOKS THAT ROCK!

November 24, 2009

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