A Thanksgiving Story

Everybody loves a parade and I am no exception to that proverbial rule. Since childhood, the pageantry of the passing floats, marching bands and the whole extravaganza captured my imagination. And there was no greater parade than the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. As a child, I always made sure to wake up very early so I didn't miss one minute of grandest parade of them all. Even on TV, those giant balloons were breathtaking. It's always been a tradition for me even after all these years!
Last year. I decided to finally take the trip into New York City and see the legendary parade in person. My son Mikey, who was 20 at the time, was anxious to go with me. So on Thanksgiving morning, around 4:30am, we made our way to the railroad station and caught a packed train to the Big Apple. Once we arrived, the sun had just risen and there was magic in the air. The temperature was a balmy 55 degrees. Everybody hustling and bustling towards the parade route. We walked a few blocks up Sixth Avenue until we found a less crowded corner. That would be an ideal place to see the parade!
Soon, the sidewalks began to fill with a multitude of anticipating parade watchers of all ages. Old and young, families and couples from all over. The excitement was beginning to build. Happy people and smiles were all around!
We had our space right in front of the crowd and anxiously awaited big event. Next to us was a young couple. He was from Bellmore, Long Island and she was visiting from Texas. Really nice people. They said they were waiting for the friend to join them shortly. As they scanned the crowd, they saw their friend across the avenue. Crossing the street, the friend arrived with her young son. She was a pretty blond woman and her son appeared to be around 4 years old and looked exactly like Ralphie from the classic Christmas movie "A Christmas Story". Blond haired also with big black glasses. We soon found out that this little boy's name was Tommy.
The parade began and it was indeed fabulous! Clowns and marching bands went past us just a few feet away! Tommy was awe struck as gigantic balloons passed by and towered over him. A contingent of police officers were in the street watching the crowd and making sure everything went well. The main police officer was a middle aged, burly Irishman, Officer Kelly, who noticed little Tommy watching the parade. "What is your name little boy?" asked the jolly policeman. "Tommy" replied the young mom "and today is his birthday too!" The policeman thought that was just great and loudly announced to the crowd "Listen everybody! Today is Tommy's birthday! Everybody sing happy birthday to Tommy!". With that, the people in that whole section of the crowd began to sing! They yelled and cheered for Tommy as the parade passed by. He was obviously embarrassed but definitely happy. Then Officer Kelly took Tommy by the hand and brought him several feet into the street to stand next to him. Now he was practically part of the parade! As the bands and the various clowns went by, they would come close to Tommy to slap him five or sprinkle him with confetti. Tommy was elated. You could tell he was having the time of his life. When the huge balloons of Sponge Bob and Shrek passed by, Tommy just looked straight up and couldn't believe he was this close to his cartoon friends. I'm sure he thought this must be a dream!
As the parade was nearing to an end, we said goodbye to our new friends and wished them a Happy Thanksgiving. Tommy and his mom soon disappeared into the crowd as we walked back to the train station. It was truly a great day so far for me and my son and turkey dinner was only a few hours away. I'm sure little Tommy told everybody at home about his amazing day. He probably still had some confetti in his blond hair. It just may have been the best time in his brief life so far! But Tommy may only find out how special his day really was is when he goes to his next parade. Happy Thanksgiving Tommy wherever you are.

A Chat with Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson

For decades, he has been the minstrel of rock and roll while leading his band Jethro Tull with his masterful flute playing, articulate song writing and powerful vocals. Ian Anderson is still going strong after 4o years with Jethro Tull, still touring and thrilling audiences of all ages. Today, Ian is in the midst of a solo tour that comes to Westbury on Wednesday, November 24th. Recently, I had a nice conversation with Ian while on a break between gigs...

MICK: How is the tour going?
IAN: We are more than half through a year's worth of touring at the moment having just started the second leg. Playing some nice little theaters including some places we haven't played before. A mixture of some familiar sights and few new experiences.

MICK: I've heard that you wrote some new songs for this tour. Is this something you normally do when you go on tour?
IAN: I think it's pretty common going back to the very beginning of Jethro Tull to do some new material on stage. Of course not every concert and every tour. Quite frequently we try out some new material on stage live before we record it in the studio which is a useful and challenging experience, certainly for the musicians. Particularly at a Jethro Tull show there are expectations of a certain kind of music. It's always risky for the artist but to me it's important as it takes me back to the beginnings of performing live in front of an audience. Think about it in the context of when we first time we came to play in America and pretty much everything we played was unfamiliar to the audience. It puts us back in that less comfortable zone where we actually have to win people over.

MICK: How is this solo tour different from a Jethro Tull tour?
IAN: All of my solo tours, whether it be acoustic shows, orchestral shows, string quartet shows, Christmas shows, are different in one crucial way which is they give me the opportunity to go a little deeper into the Jethro Tull catalog to explore some less known pieces of music. I also do some of the better known pieces of music with perhaps different arrangements and a different slant on the music. Seventy percent of it is Jethro Tull repertoire and the balance is made up of some solo album tracks, three or four new songs, a couple of classic pieces of music. A mixture with most of the emphasis on the Jethro Tull catalog. Some of it more obscure, songs you wouldn't hear on classic rock radio every day.

MICK: You still enjoy touring?
IAN: It's what I set out to do when I left school. It's my job and my passion so I do enjoy it.

MICK: Is Westbury the last stop on this tour?
IAN: Yes it is

MICK: Will there be any new Jethro Tull albums in the near future?
IAN: Nothing has been scheduled, no.

MICK: How many flutes do you own?
IAN: I guess around ten. There's probably four or five flutes I won that I wouldn't take out of the house being that they are more valuable and hand made. I would not risk taking them on tour because of the great likelihood of damage, theft, loss and there's a certain degree of stress from temperature. The ones I take on tour are essentially ones that I can probably replace in any major city. I'm not going to take a hand made, gold flute on tour! Nor would i send one into space! I have a flute currently waiting on the international space station for a flute player astronaut to play when she gets there next month. That is not an expensive flute because I might not see it again. I'm told it will come back to me! NASA doesn't like to lose astronauts and flutes!

MICK: You have a very unique style of playing the flute while standing on one leg. When did you start playing that way?
IAN: In late February, 1968. I used to play harmonica while standing on one leg so when I began playing the flute in the early months of 1968, I played it standing on one leg also. It was something that media noticed about Jethro Tull in the early days. It got talked up a bit more than perhaps it deserves. It's sort of a trademark that stuck from the early days.

MICK: In 1989, Jethro Tull won the Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance. What are your thoughts on that? They say it was one of the biggest upsets in Grammy history.
IAN: It was a peer group award from 6000 voting members of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. They have different categories and that particular year, there was a new category for Best Hard Rock/ Metal Act. For some reason, our record company put us in. We were nominated among other bands in that category and that in itself was strange and unlikely. When it came to people casting their votes, the 6000 voting members probably thought Jethro Tull has been around a long time and they haven't won a Grammy so lets give them a pat on the head! Metallica was the favorite to win and when we won, it created a little fiery amongst the audience and the pundits at the time. It wasn't something to get carried away about. Nice to have but it doesn't impact upon me hugely the fact that I have a Grammy or don't have a Grammy. Or even if Jethro Tull is or isn't in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or any of things kind of measuring sticks of palpable success. It's nice to have that kind of symbol of success but it's doesn't rate anywhere remotely rewarding as standing in front of an audience and feeling their pleasurable response. That's the thing that most musicians would put at the top of their list of accolades.

MICK: What are some of your favorite venues?
IAN: A number of them that are particularly ancient places that I've played. Amphitheaters around the world that are maybe a few thousand years old. Those are quite memorable places. Of course, when you're outdoors in these amphitheaters, they tend to have easy acoustics to work with. They are ancient and relevant of history and culture, an easier thing to get excited about than playing in some concrete sports hall. That's my least favorite..playing in some multi purpose concrete buildings not designed for music.

MICK: Who do you enjoy listening to?
IAN: Mainly folk music from different parts of the world. I've always been an acoustic musician and listened to acoustic music. It's always been my main interest whether it was jazz or blues, western folk music or classical music. I've always found acoustic music rewarding and exciting to play as a musician. Having long been associated with a band that's considered at least on the periphery of rock music with electric instruments, it's not my natural preference. On this tour, it's half and half between electric music and acoustic music.

MICK: What do you enjoy doing in your spare time other than music?
IAN: I don't have a lot of spare time but when I do, it's just very simple domestic pleasures. I like to take my cats for a walk.

MICK: Do you have a favorite Jethro Tull song?
IAN: It tends to vary from time to time. Perhaps the songs "Budapest", "Songs From the Wood", "Aqualung", "Locomotive Breath" are four that generally sit on top of my list.

MICK: Which of today's artists do you like?
IAN: Anyone whose name I can remember which reduces it to approximately zero. I've never been a listener of contemporary pop and rock music. It's not something I've ever done much of. You could probably play me something and I wouldn't know if it was from yesterday or five years ago. I can only comment on things that are more folk oriented. Among today's relatively new folk artists I like Seth Lakeman, the English guitar player/ violinist /singer/ song writer. I've played with him a couple of times.

MICK: Do you have any fond memories of performing here on Long Island?
IAN: I have lots of memories. I wouldn't say they were all particularly fond because many of them did have to do with playing in arenas or places not so conducive to easy music. We've also played in a few theaters like Westbury from time to time. Those are the more memorable and enjoyable ones. I'm a theater guy and I like something that has a theatrical feel with dressing rooms backstage. It has the conventional layout of the concert hall or the theater. It's always been my preference. When I first started playing in theaters in 1969, I finally felt that I had arrived in a place that felt like home. I didn't like playing in clubs with the noise, the smell of beer, sweat, not something that i enjoy at all.

MICK: You are a survivor of Deep Vein Thrombosis. What exactly is that?
IAN: It's a blood clot usually caused by inactivity following physical accidents. It's something that can strike people like athletes, skiers, football players, folks that have lower limb injuries. Especially for those who travel for a period of time because a blood clot can form in a vein in the leg and build up to a dangerous level. It can break loose and travel to the heart or brain and it can kill you. I tore my ACL anterior cruciate ligament in 1996 in South America when I was on tour. I was flying every day following that physical injury and somewhere along the line I got the blood clot. It wasn't diagnosed until I got to Australia some weeks later. It got a little tense for a week or two.

MICK: Do you still own salmon farms?
IAN: No I don't. That was about ten years ago I gradually got out of the farming and processing business at a time when it reached a level, to me personally, rather beyond the cottage industry that it began as. I felt that I had to make a decision between staying with a major commitment in time, energy and finances to something that would reduce my stoke to play music when I get older. So i made a decision to sell, lease, merge my companies with some regret but it was actually a lucky break. In the last three years, the economy has suffered greatly and one of the major companies that I sold to actually closed it's doors last summer. I was very sad to see it fold. I was very lucky to get out of it when I did.

MICK: What are your long range plans?

IAN: Well they're not fishing or golf! I'm probably the "die with my boots on" kind of guy. I'd like to continue to be a formidable musician but not at the scale or intensity that I do at the moment. I think it would be nice to carry on doing stuff as long as possible two or three days a week rather than six.

MICK: Will there be a Jethro Tull tour anytime soon?

IAN: Not this year because we finished doing Jethro Tull in September. We were on the road from end of February until September and now I'm doing solo tours the rest of the year. Next year, Jethro Tull will be touring Russia, Australia and the USA in June on the West Coast and through Canada since we were on the East Coast in June of this year.

Ian Anderson will be performing at the Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Road, in Westbury, on November 24, at 8 PM. Tickets are $62.45. Call TicketMaster for more info and visit http://www.livenation.com.

Introducing JANN KLOSE!

Jann Klose is a world class musician that you will be hearing a lot about in the very near future. An accomplished singer/songwriter, his latest release "Reverie" is gaining lots of attention worldwide and it is critically acclaimed. The German born troubadour now makes his home here in New York and that is where I spoke to the up and coming star...

MICK: On your new CD, how did you come up with the album title "Reverie"?
JANN: While thinking about titles, the thoughts of a beautiful dream and how that kind of sums things up. I didn't like the idea of having a song title being the album title so I was looking for something that would loop it together better. So the idea of dreaming is something I had thought about a lot. That state of being in between sleep and being awake. That's how the record felt to me.

MICK: How long did it take you to record the album?
JANN: Overall, it took around 3 months. It was 8 or 9 studio sessions.

MICK: Your songs are very full with horns and strings among other instruments. Did you do all of the arranging?
JANN: I did most of the arranging. On the string section in "Beautiful Dream" I did together with my violinist Leah Potteiger. The cello part in "Question of the Heart" was arranged by Chris Marolf. Those are the two that the band members worked on directly. Everything else I arranged.

MICK: You've worked with some amazing people including Roger McGuinn, Roseann Cash and Les Paul among others. How did you meet the great Les Paul?
JANN: I met Les through radio host Joey Reynolds. I met Joey when I did his show and we became friends. One Monday evening, he said "Let's go down to the Iridium", where Les Paul played every Monday evening, "and I'll introduce you to him". So Joey goes up on stage and does some comedy and said he brought a friend from Germany with him, then called me up on stage! I joined Les and we played "Summertime" and it was extraordinary! He has an amazing band, probably one of the best I've heard. They still do that gig on Monday nights at he Iridium with a guest star each week.

MICK: Tell me about the "People's Record Project". How is the funding for the new record going?
JANN: It actually just started. We have the website up, we've got the domain name and will be sending out letters within the next few weeks. We first did this with my current CD "Reverie". I was able to partially fund it and I sent out letters to a few people and mentioned it in emails. This time, we wanted to expand it to our entire fan base and on Facebook.

MICK: You make your home here in New York now. How long have you been here?
JANN: Almost ten years!

MICK: I've also read that you've lived on three different continents. Where is your favorite place to live?
JANN: I love New York City. New York is the best! I love having a home here. There's great things about all three including Europe and Africa. I still have to go back to Africa where I spent my childhood. Ironically, my little sister is in Capetown right now in South Africa. My father is in Kenya. They don't live there but they go there. My half sister lives and works in Capetown.
My other sister is visiting her. My dad goes there to just hang out as he is retired. I'm kind of jealous!! But one day I will go back to Africa when the possibility arises.

MICK: On Saturday, December 4th, you will be appearing at KJ Farrrell's in Bellmore, Long Ilsand. Have you appeared on Long Island before?
JANN: I've played Stephen's Talkhouse a few times in Amagansett. I've also played KJ Farrell's a couple of times. It wasn't a full blown gig like this one when I'm playing with some friends of mine. There's a group out there called "Wonderous Stories" and they are good friends of mine. They heard me open for "Renaissance" a year ago on their 40th anniversary tour. Kenny Forgione, who is the leader of Wonderous Stories, invited me to sing with them and a bunch of their friends at BB King's in NYC for a Bangladesh tribute show that they've done for three years in a row now. We've stayed in touch and I often sit in with them. Great guys and I love what they play, classic rock albums that I'm in love with.

MICK: Who were your influences when you were growing up?
JANN: It started with African music, In Southern Africa, my parents were really into safaris, traveling and African culture. They took all of us kids with them everywhere so we saw a lot of African performances, dancing, singing including the musical "Corporate Warrior" which I fell in love with as a kid. I also listened to a lot of American music because American music was very popular in South Africa though we were a little bit behind there. We would still get some of the syndicated programs like American top 40 shows. I would basically listen to the radio too and start taping any songs that I liked. Everything from Iggy Pop to the Beatles, Abba to Crosby Stills and Nash. It was mainly melodies that I would go for.

MICK: Who do you enjoy listening to now?
JANN: I've been listening to Pete Seeger lately. I interviewed him in January for a documentary I'm working on. I've been listening to the Shins a lot, the new Robert Plant and the new Tom Jones records. Those are really good. There are some Arabic singers I'm into now. There's a new compilation CD put out on Peter Gabriel's label "Real World" that has some real cool stuff on it.

MICK: Is there anybody you would like to collaborate with?
JANN: It would be great to do a song with David Crosby. I've already met his former colleague Roger McGuinn. Paul McCartney would another great talent to do something with.

MICK: What do you do in your spare time?

JANN: There's no a whole lot of spare time right now being out on the road again. Honestly, I really enjoy not doing anything. The last few years were so crazy. We did around 100 shows each year. I was carrying on a long distance relationship and I was traveling four hours to that. I was practically living in my car. This year, I did a music video and I moved and bought a co-op. So all of that took up a lot of time and when I didn't have to do anything, I enjoyed not doing anything!

MICK: What are your plans for 2011?

JANN: A new record, a single and a video. Then I want to do another album which I'm excited about. We haven't recorded anything for it yet but the songs are pretty much done. With "Reverie", the pickup has been gradual. The music business functions very differently now from how it used to. You can get a lot more life out of a record and you have to work it a lot harder. It's hard to put a record out every year if you have a small team of people like myself. We just found out that I have a song playing on MTV's "Cribs" show. I never found out until I got my royalty statement! It was a lovely surprise!

Jann will be appearing this coming Saturday, Dec. 4th here on Long Ilsand

ROCKCANROLL, THE NON-PROFIT HUNGER AND RELIEF ORGANIZATION, ON HAND FOR DEBUT OF K.J. FARRELLS' SINGER SONGWRITER NIGHT, DECEMBER 4 (Singer-songwriters Danny Langdon, Gretchen Witt, Jann Klose, and Kristin Diable will sing for your neighbor's supper)

(Bellmore, NY) RockCANroll will be listening to some thoughtful music, and collecting healthy and nutritious non-perishable food items at K.J. FARRELLS' first singer-songwriter night on Saturday, December 4, starting at 7 PM. K.J. FARRELLS is located at 242 Pettit Ave., in Bellmore, NY. The phone number is 516-804-9925 and the venue's web site ishttp://www.kjfarrells.com. Some of the best singer-songwriters around will be performing: Danny Langdon, Gretchen Witt, Jann Klose, and Kristin Diable. Tickets are $10. Tickets can be bought online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/136841 or at the door.

http://jannklose.com/

WHATEVER BECAME OF...RICHARD LAMPARSKI?

Many years ago, when I was a kid, I had a keen interest in old movies and the classic actors and actresses from the bygone era. When I came across this fascinating book 'Whatever Became Of...", I was thrilled to see many of the old time greats that were still living profiled in the book. The author, Richard Lamparski, tracked down these lost celebrities and told us what happened to them. His autographed photos in the book got me writing to the stars and building my own collection that I still have to this day. My first autograph, thanks to Richard's book, was actor Buster Crabbe, Flash Gordon in the movies!

Well, I tracked down Richard Lamparski and we had a really nice chat recently...

MICK: When and where were you born?
RICHARD: I was born in Detroit 78 years ago last month. I was there until I was 19. When I got out of school, I worked for a year and a half at Saks Fifth Avenue in the men's department. I saved my money, quit my job and took a night flight (for $99) to Hollywood. I never went back! I got a job delivering teletypes at CBS Columbia Square. That's not Television City, it was the radio network at Tower and Sunset Blvd. From there, I became a press agent for The Ice Capades. After that, I went to channel 5 television in Los Angeles which was owned by Paramount Pictures. I was there for 2-3 years. Then briefly I was an associate producer for NBC working on a series of pilots. That lasted for about six months. I moved to New York on my birthday in 1960 and attempted to get "Whatever Became Of.." together as a project. I had a terrible time with that. Eventually I got an agreement with radio station WBAI to broadcast the show and from that I got a book contract.

MICK: What year did the radio show go on?
RICHARD: March of 1965. It lasted for over 8 years.

MICK: How did you choose the celebrities that you profiled?
RICHARD: In the beginning, it was anybody I could think of that was available in New York. I had no budget for traveling. Over the years, I had made a list of people I wanted to contact. I had the idea from back in the 1950's. In those days, there was no interest in old movies. In the 1960's, kids started having festivals of black and white films, films from the 30's and 40's. If I saw a celebrity on the street, I'd write down there name and see if they were in the telephone directory. Often, people who knew me also knew I was interested in this. They would say "I saw this person at the A&P or I met this person at the library. Do you know what they are doing now?" I made notes of this. So when I went to the program director at the radio station, they wanted to know who I would have on. I gave him a list of about 20 people. 'These people have agreed to see you?" "Yes" I replied because they tentatively had. So I was told to proceed. The publicity director took my list and sent out a press release. The only call they got was from The New York Times and wanted to know if this was a joke. After hearing that I'd been in touch with Jack Pearl, Dagmar Godowsky, Larry "Buster" Crabbe and so forth, they asked me to do a feature about what I'm doing. I did and it ran in the Sunday New York Times. Several publishers contacted me and eventually got one to take it as a book. It wasn't easy. Many of the publishers wanted to know what kind of idea was this! They didn't get it but I thought it was a very simple idea. One publisher said if we forgot about these people, why do we care about what happened to them! I laughed. I eventually signed a contract that was nothing big. The was no enthusiasm from the publisher or the editor in chief.
When it came out, book stores started ordering it much to my editor's surprise. Radio shows and TV shows were slightly interested. Then the Today Show called. From that moment on, I had a very different reception from my publisher. My first interview was with Barbara Walters and Hugh Downs. It just took off from there.

MICK: Who was the first celebrity you profiled?
RICHARD: I started before I had the program and these interviews were never aired to begin with. Upton Sinclair was one of my first. Vicki Baum who wrote 'Grand Hotel" and Gale Sondergaard were others.

MICK: You wrote 11 "whatever Became Of..." books, each profiling 100 celebrities from the past. Did you have any favorites out of the 1100 you interviewed?
RICHARD: That's kind of impossible to say because some were my favorites because they gave me sensational interviews. For some of them, as soon as they opened their door, we clicked! We became friends! Buckwheat's (from the Little Rascals) son just called me because I knew his dad. He wanted to write a book about growing up as the son of Buckwheat! I put him in touch with my publisher. For others, we just had a chemistry between us. There were very few that i ever had a problem with and usually the problem was that they were drunk. Then I'd have to go back for the interview. It usually worked out well. The only time I really had a problem, though it didn't come over in the interview, was Buffalo Bob Smith. I went to his house in New Rochelle, New York for the interview. He had a liquor store but was retired at that time. Everything went fine but right in the middle of it, his son came into the room to get a book or something, and he just chewed his son out something fierce! 'What's the matter with you!! There's an interview going on in here!!" It was totally uncalled for. For a child entertainer to abuse his son that way was terrible. There was another one. Silent movie star cowboy Ken Maynard. I went to his residence with my assistant who was black. He always took the pictures for me. Maynard lived in a trailer in a trailer park. When he opened the door, he said "he can't come in here" meaning my assistant. He was very abusive. A terrible pathetic old man. He was totally drunk and couldn't get anything out of him.

MICK: Do you plan on writing any more 'Whatever Became Of..." books?
RICHARD: No I don't think there's any market for it. Interest evaporated over night. When the last one came out, I did my usual round of publicity and no one said 'when is the next one coming?". I had no intention of writing another anyway. No shows were asking to see me. Programs that I did 3-4 times a year for many years had no interest. I really didn't mind it at all.
I'd done it all by then There were very few people I didn't get to. I had no regrets at all

MICK: Do you think the internet has anything to do with that?
RICHARD: No, twenty one years ago the internet was not that prominent. It would not have affected my book buyers.

MICK: Are you working on any other books?
RICHARD: Yes it's called "Hanging Out In Hollywood" that will probably be out late next year. It's a collection of 12 stories about people I've encountered.

MICK: I've read that in 1986, Crown Publishers arranged a party for every personality profiled in your "Whatever Became Of..." books. Had did that go?
RICHARD: There's a lengthy story on the party with lots of pictures in my next book. Some really nice photographs of the stars as they arrived. I was astonished that Lila Leeds came. No one had seen her since she was arrested but she came! It was a wonderful party. Lots of fun. It was at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

MICK: Is there anyone that you wanted to interview and you couldn't?
RICHARD: Alger Hiss. He considered to have dinner with me but he didn't want to be recorded or interviewed. He was a very charming dinner companion. I wanted to interview Greta Nissen. When Howard Hughes shot "Hell's Angels", the original blond bombshell was Greta Nissen, a Norwegian actress. But when he decided to re-shoot it as a talkie, he dropped her because of her heavy accent and choose Jean Harlow instead. Ben Lyon told me the real reason was that Harlow had bigger breasts.
But Greta was married to a very rich man who was envious of her career and wouldn't let me get to her. The were some others but most turned me down because of poor health.

MICK: It sounds like, overall, you had a great time finding these celebrities!
RICHARD: I had a very untroubled career thoroughly. I got to meet people I would not have dreamed I could ever meet. I met Ish Kabibble! I met Tokyo Rose! Brenda Frazier! Walter Cronkite never met Brenda Frazier or Tokyo Rose. The nicest thing about that was I met these people in their homes. I never knew what to expect. Several people had terrible fights with their spouses when I was there. I thought that was funny.

MICK: Did you go to the homes of all the stars you profiled?
RICHARD: In most cases yes. Even when I did radio, I tried to do the interview in their homes. Nobody was doing that. I think it added a lot to the program. I would tell them "Pretend this is television and take us through your house and tell us what it looks like". When I was on a radio station in Detroit, I got the nicest compliment ever. There was a man waiting to go on the air after me. He was the food and wine critic for Esquire Magazine. On a commercial break, he told me he lived in New York and he heard me there. He said 'When you take us for a tour of the homes, it's very vivid for me". As I was leaving, the radio host called me to the side and said "Do you realize what that man just said to you?" "Yes, it was a very nice compliment" I replied. "He is blind Richard!" said the host. I didn't see it because he was seated and I didn't see his white cane. I was very struck by that. And he choose the word "vivid" !

MICK: How long did it take you to complete one volume of "Whatever Became Of..?
RICHARD: Usually about one year. It was hard to judge the time because by the time I finished and turned the book in, i was well into the next book already. To me, the books all run together. I could tell the interest was waning because every year I went to Europe and did people for England and the continent. I could tell my readers weren't really interested in those people. These were people who had gone to movies and the matinee when they were kids. That's what they were reliving. That's not what is was for me. To me, it was meeting celebrities that very few people ever got to meet. Like Baby Sandy! The only interview she ever gave was to me. She had no recollection of her career because she was so young. So she never granted another interview. I thought I would do one or two books and have a nice career in radio, never dreaming it would be eleven books!

MICK: How long have you lived in California?
RICHARD: I lived here in the 1950's. I moved back here in 1972 because I bought a St. Bernard dog and the St. Bernard and Manhattan wasn't very convenient. I bought a house and she eventually died. I decided I didn't want to continue with the series so I moved to Santa Barbara. You could say I'm semi retired. I've only written a few books since I've been here.

"Whatever Became Of..." books can be found on Amazon.com

Richard's latest books "Manhattan Diary" and "Hollywood Diary" can be ordered at

BearManor Media

P O Box 1129

Duncan, OK 73534-1129

Phone: 580-252-3547 (Sandy Grabman)

Author/Photographer Victoria Jennings Mitchell

It's been said that dreams are the seedlings to reality. Victoria Jennings Mitchell has followed her dreams and they are as real as the sky is blue. She is a mother, photographer, writer, musical agent, spiritual healer and all around great person!
Her first book "Rock Stars of the 80's and 90's" has just been published and it is getting rave reviews from all over the world. Her brilliant photographs capture the essence of the great rock stars whom she has crossed paths with. I had the great pleasure to speak with Victoria late one evening as her day was finally winding down...


MICK: Your new book is fantastic. When did you decide to write this book? It's your first book too, right?
VICTORIA: Yes, it's my first book. I decided to do this book about 20 years ago when I took all of those photographs. I knew someday I would write this book.

MICK: I saw in your book that it all began for you when you photographed rock star Jon Butcher.
VICTORIA: I had seen Jon play many times. When I started photography school, the first thing I wanted to do was take his pictures. I contacted him and he readily agreed to let me pictures. I took photos of him several times when he did shows up in Providence, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. After that, I photographed Stevie Ray Vaughn.

MICK: That's what I wanted to ask you about next. You got some great shots with him. What was he like?
VICTORIA: Stevie was awesome. I miss him. I cried for a week when he died. I had talked to his publicist, Charles Comer, many times and he was such a nice man. He arranger for me to shoot Stevie in Gardner, Massachusetts at an outdoor venue there. I was able to spend about an hour with Stevie. He told everything that was going on. I really commend him. He was truly on a good road and he was so talented, a really nice guy. Right before he died, I was suppose to photograph him the following week. Also, something very strange happened at the show where I photographed him. It was an outdoor venue and backstage, one of the supporting metal beams crashed down and snapped the neck right off of his guitar. It was the famous guitar that he used all the time. I was back there taking pictures and I saw this happen. I wondered if this was some type of weird omen or something. He got it fixed before the following show. But that was really strange. A year later, he died.

MICK: In your book, there's also a picture of you with Merv Griffin.
VICTORIA: Yes, he owned the radio station that I worked at in Providence. He was cool. A very smart man for sure. He had just bought the radio station and I approached him with my portfolio and told him I'd love to be the station's photographer. He was so impressed that they hired me right on the spot. I stayed with them for almost four years. Had a lot of fun and worked very hard too!

MICK: One thing that stands out in front of your book, in the dedication, you state that a portion of the proceeds was going to go to the victims and the families of the tragic fire that killed 100 people at The Station Night Club, in Providence. Did you know people who were there that night?
VICTORIA: Yes, one of my friends from the radio station, Dr. Metal, died in the fire. It was terrible. I found, within the last year, that the victims and their families ended up getting millions of dollars. They filed a law suit and they won. There was also a lot of benefits. I was unable to come up to help out because of family obligations down here.

MICK: I know you are also writing a children's book.
VICTORIA: That's right. It's being published right now. The publisher brought it to the Beijing Book Expo and it was purchased, along with other children's books from Eloquent Books in NY, to sell the books in Chinese. I still retain the rights to my book here but that's just for the rights in China. I heard that it sold and they are making us wait so I'm very excited. We should know very soon!

MICK: For the children's book, are you using photographs or illustrations?
VICTORIA: I'm using illustrations. I have several illustrators. I used my daughter Ariel as the model for my old friends book when she was 5 years old. I'm having another illustrator do my next book and my mom, who is also an artist, will do my third book.

MICK: I've read that you home school your children?
VICTORIA: Yes I do! Actually, we are unschoolers. Home schooling is when you sit down and do school at home. We don't do that. We don't use a set curriculum, we use everything for their learning...classes, CD Roms, computers, life in general. It's geared towards what they want to learn and are interested in. It's continuing learning; learning from the inside out, not the outside in.

MICK: So that is recognized by the state?
VICTORIA: It sure is. There are unschoolers all over the world. I wanted to do this even before I had children. It is basically non-forced learning.

MICK: Do you still photograph rock stars?
VICTORIA: Not at the moment. I've done some local band photos. My next book, that I'm halfway done with, is spiritual book with uplifting poems and photos. It's going to be called "Divinity On Earth". I have most of the photos for it already and I've written some poems and will also include some scripture.

MICK: Who is on your wish list to be photographed?
VICTORIA: I'd love to photograph Sting! I'd also love to photograph royalty. I've always admired royalty and their way of life. These people are not stressed about money. They used to be like tyrants for centuries but now I can see that they are more spiritual. I have several friends who have royal blood and I can see first hand how they live and what they feel. I am also descended from royalty! My great grand mother was Polish royalty. We are actually trying to find the rest of the family. She came here during their revolution by herself to Ellis Island and met my great grandfather. Shortly after, that got married! She was the matriarch of our family and died when I was very young. Her name was Anna Olactz.

MICK: What else inspires you?
VICTORIA: Talented people. People who have gone through a lot in their life and overcome it. People who use whatever talent they have and make the most out of it. People who help other people. I love Mother Theresa and I actually have rosary beads that were blessed by her. She inspires me with my healing work. I want to open a spiritual center here.

MICK: What's involved with the spiritual healing?
VICTORIA: It's spiritual energy healing. Energy travels through me. I've known since I was young that I was suppose to do this. About ten years ago it hit me and I began to start healing people. All types of healing, physical and spiritual. I take the negative energy out and replace it with healing energy and then let the body do the rest. I love helping people.

MICK: You've photographed hundreds of rock stars. Have any of them ever given you a hard time?
VICTORIA: No, they were basically all nice. I've had trouble with audience members but never the bands or entertainers. Once at a Black Crows concert, I was actually hit in the face by this drunk guy. The place was packed and I was taking some shots. I wasn't there long at all and this guy kept pushing me and then hit me. That's the only trouble I ever had.

MICK: You moved from Rhode Island to Florida. Why did you move?
VICTORIA: I was sick of the cold. I always knew that at some point in my life I would end up in Florida. I love it here and I loved it in Providence too. If I could transplant Providence down here, it would be ideal! Providence is a very artistic, cultural city.

MICK: I know you work with a great new musician named Pete Munroe and he has a new CD out. How are things going with that?
VICTORIA: Yes, the CD is out but we are going to add to it. I put it up on a place called RadioReddit.com. It's a radio station online and they also have a record company. I'm actually thinking about having a radio show on there. I would interview local musicians and bands and that would help them get recognition. I'd also take photographs of them too.

MICK: Do you have anything you would like to tell your fans and your future fans?
VICTORIA: I'd like everybody to buy my book! That's how I support my family and how the spiritual center will come to be. If anyone would like to be involved with that, I would definitely love that. I have my hand in a lot of things because we are only here for a short time. I want to have fun and help people. I can see that spiritual center in my head every day. My uncle, who is actually a well known architect, is going to help me with the blue prints. It is really going to happen. I thank God every day, even when things don't always go as planned. I'm very thankful for all that has happened and will be happening!

Victoria can be reached at:
http://www.myspace.com/rockstarsofthe80s...
http://www.myspace.com/healermom1

Her book "Rock Stars of the 80's and 90's" can be bought on Amazon.com
Autographed copies are also available upon request
It's been said that dreams are the seedlings to reality. Victoria Jennings Mitchell has followed her dreams and they are as real as the sky is blue. She is a mother, photographer, writer, musical agent, spiritual healer and all around great person!
Her first book "Rock Stars of the 80's and 90's" has just been published and it is getting rave reviews from all over the world. Her brilliant photographs capture the essence of the great rock stars whom she has crossed paths with. I had the great pleasure to speak with Victoria late one evening as her day was finally winding down...


MICK: Your new book is fantastic. When did you decide to write this book? It's your first book too, right?
VICTORIA: Yes, it's my first book. I decided to do this book about 20 years ago when I took all of those photographs. I knew someday I would write this book.

MICK: I saw in your book that it all began for you when you photographed rock star Jon Butcher.
VICTORIA: I had seen Jon play many times. When I started photography school, the first thing I wanted to do was take his pictures. I contacted him and he readily agreed to let me pictures. I took photos of him several times when he did shows up in Providence, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. After that, I photographed Stevie Ray Vaughn.

MICK: That's what I wanted to ask you about next. You got some great shots with him. What was he like?
VICTORIA: Stevie was awesome. I miss him. I cried for a week when he died. I had talked to his publicist, Charles Comer, many times and he was such a nice man. He arranger for me to shoot Stevie in Gardner, Massachusetts at an outdoor venue there. I was able to spend about an hour with Stevie. He told everything that was going on. I really commend him. He was truly on a good road and he was so talented, a really nice guy. Right before he died, I was suppose to photograph him the following week. Also, something very strange happened at the show where I photographed him. It was an outdoor venue and backstage, one of the supporting metal beams crashed down and snapped the neck right off of his guitar. It was the famous guitar that he used all the time. I was back there taking pictures and I saw this happen. I wondered if this was some type of weird omen or something. He got it fixed before the following show. But that was really strange. A year later, he died.

MICK: In your book, there's also a picture of you with Merv Griffin.
VICTORIA: Yes, he owned the radio station that I worked at in Providence. He was cool. A very smart man for sure. He had just bought the radio station and I approached him with my portfolio and told him I'd love to be the station's photographer. He was so impressed that the program director hired me right on the spot. I stayed with them for almost four years. Had a lot of fun and worked very hard too!

MICK: One thing that stands out in front of your book, in the dedication, you state that a portion of the proceeds was going to go to the victims and the families of the tragic fire that killed 100 people at The Station Night Club, in Providence. Did you know people who were there that night?
VICTORIA: Yes, one of my friends from the radio station, Dr. Metal, died in the fire. It was terrible. I found, within the last year, that the victims and their families ended up getting millions of dollars. They filed a law suit and they won. There was also a lot of benefits. I was unable to come up to help out because of family obligations down here.

MICK: I know you are also writing a children's book.
VICTORIA: That's right. It's being published right now. The publisher brought it to the Beijing Book Expo and it was purchased, along with other children's books from Eloquent Books in NY, to sell the books in Chinese. I still retain the rights to my book here but that's just for the rights in China. I heard that it sold and they are making us wait so I'm very excited. We should know very soon!

MICK: For the children's book, are you using photographs or illustrations?
VICTORIA: I'm using illustrations. I have several illustrators. I used my daughter Ariel as the model for my old friends book when she was 5 years old. I'm having another illustrator do my next book and my mom, who is also an artist, will do my third book.

MICK: I've read that you home school your children?
VICTORIA: Yes I do! Actually, we are unschoolers. Home schooling is when you sit down and do school at home. We don't do that. We don't use a set curriculum, we use everything for their learning...classes, CD Roms, computers, life in general. It's geared towards what they want to learn and are interested in. It's continuing learning; learning from the inside out, not the outside in.

MICK: So that is recognized by the state?
VICTORIA: It sure is. There are unschoolers all over the world. I wanted to do this even before I had children. It is basically non-forced learning.

MICK: Do you still photograph rock stars?
VICTORIA: Not at the moment. I've done some local band photos. My next book, that I'm halfway done with, is spiritual book with uplifting poems and photos. It's going to be called "Divinity On Earth". I have most of the photos for it already and I've written some poems and will also include some scripture.

MICK: Who is on your wish list to be photographed?
VICTORIA: I'd love to photograph Sting! I'd also love to photograph royalty. I've always admired royalty and their way of life. These people are not stressed about money. They used to be like tyrants for centuries but now I can see that they are more spiritual. I have several friends who have royal blood and I can see first hand how they live and what they feel. I am also descended from royalty! My great grand mother was Polish royalty. We are actually trying to find the rest of the family. She came here during their revolution by herself to Ellis Island and met my great grandfather. Shortly after, that got married! She was the matriarch of our family and died when I was very young. Her name was Anna Olactz.

MICK: What else inspires you?
VICTORIA: Talented people. People who have gone through a lot in their life and overcome it. People who use whatever talent they have and make the most out of it. People who help other people. I love Mother Theresa and I actually have rosary beads that were blessed by her. She inspires me with my healing work. I want to open a spiritual center here.

MICK: What's involved with the spiritual healing?
VICTORIA: It's spiritual energy healing. Healing energy travels through me. I've known since I was young that I was suppose to do this. About ten years ago it hit me and I began to start healing people. All types of healing, physical and spiritual. I take the negative energy out and replace it with healing energy and then let the body do the rest. I love helping people.

MICK: You've photographed hundreds of rock stars. Have any of them ever given you a hard time?
VICTORIA: No, they were basically all nice. I've had trouble with audience members but never the bands or entertainers. Once at a Black Crows concert, I was actually hit in the face by this drunk guy. The place was packed and I was taking some shots. I wasn't there long at all and this guy kept pushing me and then hit me. That's the only trouble I ever had.

MICK: You moved from Rhode Island to Florida. Why did you move?
VICTORIA: I was sick of the cold. I always knew that at some point in my life I would end up in Florida. I love it here and I loved it in Providence too. If I could transplant Providence down here, it would be ideal! Providence is a very artistic, cultural city.

MICK: I know you work with a great new musician named Pete Munroe and he has a new CD out. How are things going with that?
VICTORIA: Yes, the CD is out but we are going to add to it. I put it up on a place called RadioReddit.com. It's a radio station online and they also have a record company. I'm actually thinking about having a radio show on there. I would interview local musicians and bands and that would help them get recognition. I'd also take photographs of them too.

MICK: Do you have anything you would like to tell your fans and your future fans?
VICTORIA: I'd like everybody to buy my book! That's how I support my family and how the spiritual center will come to be. If anyone would like to be involved with that, I would definitely love that. I have my hand in a lot of things because we are only here for a short time. I want to have fun and help people. I can see that spiritual center in my head every day. My uncle, who is actually a well known architect, is going to help me with the blue prints. It is really going to happen. I thank God every day, even when things don't always go as planned. I'm very thankful for all that has happened and will be happening!

Victoria can be reached at:
http://www.myspace.com/rockstarsofthe80s...
www.facebook.com/victoriajenningsmitchell

Her book "Rock Stars of the 80's and 90's" can be bought on Amazon.com
Autographed copies are also available upon request

LOUIS PRIMA JR. keeps Dad's music alive!

His father was known as 'The King Of Swing" and his exuberant personality and musicianship captivated audiences around the world for over 50 years. Louis Prima was truly unique. Though he passed away over 30 years ago, his legend continues to grow. Today, his son Louis Prima Jr. carries on the torch, keeping his fathers music alive and gaining new fans worldwide. A talented performer in his own right, Louis Jr has his own band, the Witnesses, and Dad would sure be proud! Prior to his upcoming East Coast gigs, I spoke with Louis Jr about his dad's music and his own music too....

MICK: You started out as a rock singer with moderate success. What made you want to go back and do your father's music?

LOUIS: When grunge hit rock and roll, I kind of gave up on the music business. I didn't like the depression trend or whatever was happening to it so I gave up on the music for quite a few years. Like any good stage person, I really loved being on stage. The only other music I could think to do that made me happy is my father's music, which was the obvious choice I suppose.

MICK: What was your dad like as a father?

LOUIS: He was exactly the way he was on stage in real life. He was a lot of fun, liked to laugh, liked to have a good time. He was kind to people, gentle to people. We had a good time together. I spent a lot of time with him. He taught me how to play golf, took me to rehearsals, recording studios and out on the town. He was a real fun guy!

MICK: Do you keep in touch with Keely Smith?

LOUIS: Unfortunately no. There's a little bit of bad blood between her and my mom [ Gia Maione; Smith was Prima 's 4th wife]. We actually don't talk at all. I saw her at jazz fest in New Orleans, the first time I was ever in the same room as her.

MICK: Does your sister Lena still perform?

LOUIS: Yes she does. She's actually performing in the area now.

MICK: Tell me about your band The Witnesses.

LOUIS: When I put this together, I didn't want to be hiring musicians out of town. I wanted to have a band like my father had. Guys that are dedicated to the music and enjoy what they are doing. It's been a process to find the right bunch of guys. I've got them now. They're fantastic !

I've got a girl singer with me now , Sarah Spiegel. We are putting on a really good show. It's one thing to just do the music but I want people to remember what it was like live, the energy, the fun. What they produced in their live show, we are trying to put that in ours. I'm very fortunate to have the guys I have now. We're really having a great time!

MICK: Is there anybody in your band from your dad's old band?

LOUIS: No, unfortunately there's not to many of them left.

MICK: Do you play the East coast often?
LOUIS: We haven't been back east in about two years. We always get a great reception, especially with the well to do Italian community out there. They come out in droves! Aside from playing in my home town of Las Vegas, New York and New Orleans are my favorite places to go.

MICK: It must have been a great thrill for you to see your dad get a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.

LOUIS: My management team and myself had an accidental meeting with somebody who really pushed this thing forward. Doing my father's music is to maintain and protect his legacy and get him some of the respect that he deserves, not just as an entertainer but as a musician and what he gave to the world for 50 years. This was a major step for sure. It was a grueling process but the team worked very hard and we were fortunate to have the help of Ricardo Montalban's son-in-law, Gil Smith ( he operates the Montalban Theater in Hollywood), kind of helped us along. Another cat by the name of Brian Sayre out in Hollywood helps us out also. We got it done! It was a fantastic day, fantastic reception and turnout. It's times like that you get to appreciate exactly how they loved him and his music.

MICK: Do you have a favorite song of your dad's?

LOUIS: Yes I do! Now that I have a dedicated band, we are going through the catalog and running new songs. My favorite arrangement's of his was "Them Their Eye/ Old Man River" a medley from the "King Of Clubs" album. that's probably my all time favorite. We just added " Five Months, Two Weeks and Two Days" to our repertoire. That is my favorite song right now. It's fun to perform and it truly demonstrates the power of the band that I have, showmanship wise.

MICK: Do you throw in new songs every now and then?

LOUIS: Yes, there's a wealth of material. My father always played what was popular. He took other people's songs that were popular and twisted them his own way. We eventually want to do that too and of course some original material. We are constantly adding things. when we come to New York, it's not the same show you saw last time. I'd love to play every single song every night but we mix it up good and play things different every show.

MICK: There's another singer who does your father's music by the name of Ron Gelato. Are you familiar with him?

LOUIS: I've heard the name but I've never been fortunate to hear him or see him.

MICK: There's been word that a motion picture about your dad's life is being made. What's happening with that?

LOUIS: My mother Gia Maione is the executor of the Louis Prima estate. She has passionately protected it and made it grow. We are constantly in talks with several different movie studios as well as Broadway shows. It's a matter of finding the right mix and people who are willing to tell the correct story. Whether good or bad, we want to make sure that this isn't one person's version of what happened. Richie Valens had a pretty good career but Louis Prima was around for 50 years, there's a lot to touch on. We'll eventually get it done, hopefully sooner than later.

We need the right team and the right script. The politics of Hollywood play into it but it's something I want to see done and it will get done!

MICK: Don't you have a new recording coming out?

LOUIS: We are, hopefully, going to be in the studio in November and December. We have Ron Dante, who was the Archies and produced many of Barry Manilow's hits and some of Cher's hits, on board. We are currently in talks with Capital Records to be in the same studio that my father recorded in. If that happens to fall through, we have couple of other people on board because I'm anxious to get recorded and getting something out there as well.

MICK: When you perform at the Queensborough Performing Arts Center on October 24th, you are sharing the bill with Dean Martin's youngest song Ricci Martin. Have you worked with him before?

LOUIS: I've never worked with him before and I'm very excited to do this. We talked quite a few times leading up to this. It's a very interesting pairing because my father was on stage with Dean Martin many times. We may actually share video footage of him and Dean Martin on stage. To close the show, Ricci and I will be doing a number together.

MICK: What are your future plans?

LOUIS: Besides the recording, they are finally going to put a statue up of my father on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. I believe that's happening on December 4th. Also, in cooperation with Binion's Hotel here in Las Vegas, David Berman and Big Daddy Carlos, we are putting on a birthday party for my father December 7th. He would have turned 100 years old. We putting on a show, also in cooperation with the Veterans of Pearl Harbor. We'll be back east again in January at Feinstein's at the Hotel Regency in New York. We will be in New Orleans at the end of the month. We are also shopping for a home base here in Las Vegas so we can have a place we can call home. As long as I'm working, I'm happy!

Louis Prima Jr. brings his famous father's music to life this weekend, Oct 24th at the Queensborough Performing Arts Center, 222-05 56th Avenue Bayside, NY. at 5pm. 718-631-6311

-0http://louisprimajr.com/5

Actor BURT YOUNG the Artist!

Burt Young is truly a man for all seasons. Academy Award nominated Actor, artist, writer, playwright, he does it all with style and dignity. Best known for his role as Sylvester Stallone's brother-in-law Paulie in all of the "Rocky" films, Burt has appeared in over 70 films and show no signs of slowing down. His artwork is in collections all over the world and enjoys painting practically everyday. I spoke with Burt recently just after his art show at the Nassau County Museum of Fine Art opened on Oct. 1st...

MICK: How long have you been painting?

BURT: Forever! When I was 12, I won a New York City art department contest. I did a painting about playgrounds or bicycle safety. I've painted my whole life.

MICK: Does it take you long to complete a painting?

BURT: Usually not. I'm usually pretty crazed and I'm painting all night long.

MICK: I know you use acrylic paints. Do you use any other mediums?

BURT: Yes i do! I use oils and ink. Sometimes I combine acrylic and oil.

MICK: How long have you had your art studio in Port Washington?

BURT: I've been here about 3 years now.

MICK: Do you paint when you're working on a film?

BURT: Yes, sometimes right in the hotel room. I was staying in the Four Seasons Hotel in Philadelphia and I did a couple of splendid paintings in the bath tub!

MICK: You are an accomplished painter, actor and author. What do you like doing the best..acting, painting or writing?

BURT: It's all communication whether you're a musician or a poet, there's thread through it all. Writing makes me feel bright sometimes when I make something that makes a little sense. Acting satisfies me sensually. I get lost. When I get used to doing the work, I'm riding high day and night. Painting does the same thing. I have more control over my own elements. I'm not worried about editors or directors, it's just all of me.

MICK: Do you have more shows coming up in the near future?

BURT: I have two coming up at a galleries in Manhattan. I keep a lot of my work here in Port Washington.

MICK: I was really impressed with your paintings at your art show in the Nassau County Museum of Art. It's the first time I've seen your work in person!

BURT: Thank you Mick. Sometimes I even impress myself!

MICK: As an artist, which artists do you admire?

BURT: I like the impressionists, the fellows who invented from inside out! When you go back, you can't help but admire Michelangelo, Rembrandt. People like Renoir and Monet saw with their eyes but they told you what their stomach was feeling. I sort of get that feeling very well.

MICK: Do you have any new films lined up?

BURT: Yes, I'm just finishing a movie called "The Win Win". It's a good movie with Paul Giamatti, a wonderful guy and a wonderful actor. A top group of actors. It's for Fox.

MICK: Any more plans to work again with Sylvester Stallone?

BURT: I would love to! I was so pleased to hang out with him on "Rocky Balboa". The guy is just a force! He carries everything from producing, directing, starring. He was just unstoppable. That was 17 years after the last Rocky movie! To me, in my opinion, "Rocky Balboa" was a flop. But 17 years to come back, that was so exciting! He wrote clear and clean and he performed that way too. It was a pleasure hanging out with him on the last one.

MICK: Do you keep in contact with him?
BURT: Oh yea. Actors are funny people. We either see each other by accident or when we have an assignment. I'm not really a Hollywood guy. I hang out in the old neighborhood and with my girlfriend. I'm not too "actorish". I've never been that way.

MICK: You've worked with many directors. Do you have a favorite?
BURT: Yes, I have favorites for different reasons. Sam Peckinpah was a crazy friend of mine. I think I did four or five movies with him. Close to being a genius. Robert Aldrich is another stand up guy that carried a team with him for 20 years or so. Same editor, same cinematographer. Many many directors I appreciated. I never really had a problem. I usually just do it my way though I'm not like a bully, usually with thought and knowing. I always feel that an actor, if he does the right homework, should know more about that character than the author. I think that's my responsibility to get the premise of what the author is feeling. Hopefully, my own research will take me deeper than where the writer was going. I have to make that person honest or even dishonest.

MICK: Do you still have your restaurant in the Bronx?
BURT: We closed three years ago. Not out of necessity, the two old guys that were really the heart of it were in the 70's and they just had enough. They wanted to get out of the kitchen and years there. It was a good place and good friends there.

MICK: Are you a sports fan?
BURT: Yes! I like the Yankees. What a team! A great bunch of players from top to bottom. And you can see they're having fun too. I love boxing too.

MICK: Do you have a favorite boxer?
BURT: I've got many! My good friend is Muhammad Ali. Once, I did an exhibition and did three rounds with him. I used to move around pretty good. That's how we became friends! Mike Tyson is a friend. I feel that he just might have been the best fighter ever. He was something else. I think he was a stronger version of Jack Dempsey.

MICK: Are you a religious man?
BURT: I believe that something made us. I don't know if I listen to man's religion to much. It's like politics, Republicans or Democrats, everybody that stands on a pedestal usually has self indulgence in mind. I do believe in an overall supreme being. Look, we all have pieces of Mussolini, pieces of everybody because nothing ever leaves the atmosphere. So it may be just a touch of one atom that's in us,. We are all regurgitated and recycled. I don't think I have any memory of that,, it would be nice if I did! When I get old I will start getting more religious.

MICK: What is your favorite time of the year?
BURT: I like Christmas! I like winter. I like the elements, I like rain. I like something that gives me a challenge to get out of the house. California was pretty tepid to me. I raised my kid there but I'd rather be in New York City .

MICK: How long have you lived on Long Island?

BURT: I've lived here about three and a half years. I chased my girlfriend out here!

MICK: What are your future plans?

BURT: I have a one character play that I wrote. It's called "Artist Found In Port Washington Flats". It's a one man show and I'm trying to see if I'm full of baloney or if it has some merit for an audience. I'm just testing it's wings now!

MICK: Is this something you will be doing locally?

BURT: I will do it all over the world if it works. It's 90 minutes uninterrupted. I will keep me sharp, that's for sure!

You can see Burt Young's fantastic paintings: Friday October 1, 2010 - Saturday January 15, 2011 from 11:00am - 4:45pm

Nassau County Museum of Fine Art

One Museum Drive
Roslyn Harbor, New York 11576

516.484.9338

www.burtyoungartandfilm.com