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

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…

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“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

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BUDDY…MAY YOU ROCK IN PERPETUITY!

RESPECTFULLY, ARTIE WAYNE 

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Copyright 2012 by Artie Wayne https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2012/04/10/celebrating-two-million-views-today-on-artie-wayne-on-the-web/

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

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

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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

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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  

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JIM MORRISON IN 2011

When the subject of Jim Morrison came up, I spoke about my first trip to Paris in 1974 and the Alcazar night club. I was told by the manager that this is where Jim really died of a drug overdose and was carried out of the club over the heads of some dancers, as if he was part of the act!

My friend Photographer/blogger Sally Stevens said that was nonsense and directed me to my pal from the past, Doors drummer John Densmore’s message board where a long discussion takes place. http://forum.johndensmore.com/index.php?showtopic=1778

Out of curiosity. I started asking friends from that era if they had any other stories, then my friend publicist Bobbi Cowan told me one about Jim after he passed away.

Bobbi remembers, The book “No One Here Gets Out Alive,” was published in 1981, with two authors listed, Jerry Hopkins and Danny Sugerman. The truth is that  journalist Jerry Hopkins, the first Los Angeles editor of Rolling Stone, author of the first book on Elvis,  had interviewed the Doors on several occasions during Morrison’s lifetime and the extraordinary, life of the Doors. When Jim was found dead at 27 in his Parks bathtub, Jerry began working on the book that would be called “No One Here Gets Out Alive.”

When the Doors first surfaced, had recently opened a PR office on Sunset Blvd, and as a new THE BAND THAT REFUSED TO DIE

I was the new publicist in town in the mid-1960s, and my partner Beverly Noga and I were regulars at the newly –opened Whisky A-Go-Go. The Doors had become the house band there, but they didn’t stay “underground” for long, as word of this charismatic young poet/lizard king and his band circulated throughout the city.

Whisky Owners Elmer Valentine and his partner Mario Maglieri quickly knew that The Doors had a fascinating, mysterious sound; their lead singer had Charisma to burn. Nevertheless, they did fantastic business, and the Doors were soon signed to Elektra Records..

In 1971,  I’m working at Uber- Rock n’ Roll PR firm Gibson & Stromberg, where the Doors were clients, and Danny Sugerman, the Doors’ Gopher, was in and out of our office daily, when he wasn’t on an errand for the Doors. A few days after I started working at Gibson, Morrison was dead, according to the main story, found by his wife Pamela, in their bathtub in Paris. There are other stories floating around about how and where he died, but, there are many who believe that death never occurred. Nevertheless, Morrison’s grave in Paris has been desecrated, decorated, and visited by millions of fans.

Danny got the word out that he had written a book but…the word was that the book was a mess, and I believed that to be true, as I had heard Danny and his life were a mess…He was a frequent Genghis Cohen customer, so Artie can probably back me up here.

Hopkins saw Danny’s book, which was a mess, but eventually “No One Here Gets Out Alive” was mostly the product of Jerry’s vast archive of interviews and his journalists’ perspective about Morrison  and the Doors, interspersed with anecdotes and stories from Sugerman’s effort. Years later, Danny’s own book was published, which included much of his material on the Doors.

Jerry flew me to Honolulu, where I had a room in a Waikiki high rise, and he brought me the manuscript of the completed version. I couldn’t put it down, read it straight through, and called him telling him that I felt this  book could be gigantic. Finally, here was a fascinating, exciting, well written account of Morrison and the Doors.  I was hired for the PR and we commenced planning a launch party at the Whisky, where the Doors’ LA odyssey had begun.  We made every effort to locate as many of the people from Elektra and who had been involved with the Doors in the early days..  Many of the principals showed up, including Elektra founder Jac Holzman, who had signed the Doors to his extraordinary label. It was an Electric night at the Whisky; the three remaining Doors agreed to perform, along with many local musicians, among them one of LA’s best underground band, Top Jimmy & the Rhythm Pigs.

In the middle of the evening, a telegram was read from the Whisky stage—I think Manzarek read it—the book’s Publisher Warner Books announced  that “No One Here Gets Out Alive” was the first – ever Rock’& Roll book to hit #1 on the New York Times best seller list”

According to at least 10 people who were in the room that night, Jim was at the Whisky ghost in the Whisky watching the proceedings….I believe he was there… probably didn’t want to miss the party!”

(TO BE CONTINUED)

Copyright 2011 by Artie Wayne https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/about-artie-wayne/

Special thanks to Bobbi Cowan, Jerry Hopkins, and Sally Stevens for their help with this article.

To reach Bobbi Cowan http://bobbicowan.com/

For Jerry Hopkins  http://jerryhopkins.com

To read Sally Stevens’ blog “A LIFE IN THE DAY” and the shocking six part series on JIM MORRISON,  “Pardon Me, Mr. Morrison” http://rockphiles.typepad.com/a_life_in_the_day/2011/01/pardon-me-mr-morrison-.html

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THE TROUBADOUR FAMILY REUNION!

When I moved to Hollywood in the early ‘70’s the Whiskey Au-go-go and the Troubadour were the sun and the moon in the Rock and Roll universe. If you were in the music business you went to the Whiskey to dance and you went to the Troubadour to hustle, hype, and hang out!

Before I started plugging songs at Warner Brothers Music, my friend Allan Rinde, who was the west coast editor of Cashbox Magazine, hired me occasionally to write live music critiques (including Don McLean and “American Pie” at the Troubadour, which was considered his first major review)

Monday night was “Hoot Night” at the legendary hot spot, it was not only a place to hear new singer/ songwriters, but also a place to “Schmooze” with all of the top music reviewers, promoters, publishers, and producers. I was the new kid in town, and to gain tenure at the bar where all the “heavies” hung out, I had to make an impression fast. One night after I took my friend Olivia Newton-John dancing at the Whiskey, I asked her to stop by the Troubadour so I could make my friends at the bar “jealous”.

Suddenly, dozens of people gathered around us, including all the hot shots acting like my long lost friends, wanting to be introduced…from then on I never had to buy my own drinks at the Troubadour ever again!

When my friend, artist/ photographer, “Lezlie Sokol”, who once was a waitress at the club told me that she is one of the organizers of the Troubadour Family Reunion, that I’d been hearing so much about, I got excited! She told me, “On Monday night, January 17, 2011, the club will celebrate the days of the Troubadour Family (1964 to 1974) and the club itself for those of us who were there when it all was going down. “The Hoot Night” and front bar regulars, the performers, former employees, and the “Underground Tastemakers” of the time are all expected to be here on this unforgettable night!”

Don’t be left out in the cold on Santa Monica Boulevard, This is a closed event and you have to make a reservation to attend. To find out more click on to www.troubadourfamilyreunion.com/

EXTRA! EXTRA! “EVERYTHING OLD IS NEWS AGAIN” When my friend Photographer Sally Stevens and I reconnected through “Lezlie Sokol” and the Troubadour Family Reunion, the name Jim Morrison and his recent pardon came up. Then Sally told me a riveting story about how her confrontation with Jim Morrison got her fired, and how it turned into a lifetime friendship with the Lizard King. I asked her if she was writing a book about this and her other amazing stories…she said she didn’t have the time. Then I told her about the joys of blogging.

In less than 24 hours, the enterprising Ms.Stevens had her blog up called “A LIFE IN THE DAY” , and she just posted part one of her shocking Jim Morrison Story; I hope you all will enjoy it as much as I did. http://rockphiles.typepad.com/a_life_in_the_day/2011/01/pardon-me-mr-morrison-.html

Regards, Artie Wayne https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/about-artie-wayne/

Copyright 2011 by Artie Wayne http://artiewayne.com

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