I just returned from two marvelous weeks in Palm Springs where the temperatures were in the high 90s. Carole and I were visited by good friends from California — Darwin Lamm and his lovely wife Mimi. We all took to the hot springs downtown, which are the original springs discovered by the Native Americans centuries ago. Actor Ralph Bellamy encouraged many of Hollywood’s greatest to visit the town and it soon mushroomed into one of the world’s great desert resorts. Darwin is president of Elvis International magazine and at one time he was a pop singer with a group called Darwin and the Cupids. He originally lived in Vancouver, WA where he recorded for a Washington label. I met him back in 1959 while working at KGW in Portland… The following weekend Wink Martindale and his charming wife Sandi joined us for two days. We dined at the magnificent Bing Crosby’s Restaurant. The memorabilia from Bing’s private collection is something to behold. The food and the service are top drawer and I recommend it if you plan on visiting Palm Springs. We spent two days in the sun with the Martindales and Wink is busy with many new projects which I will tell you about in the coming weeks.
Then it was back to reality. We came home to rain. But all was not dreary we were blown away with two shows at the Red Robinson Show Theatre.
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Friday night saw the incredibly talented Neil Sedaka take to the stage for a fantastic program that brought forth many standing ovations. Neil not only had his own hits (Calendar Girl, Happy Birthday Sweet 16, Breaking up Is Hard to Do ) but he wrote for others. One of the biggest hits he wrote won an Emmy: the classic Love Will Keep Us Together for The Captain and Tennille. Daryl Dragon and Toni Tennile had a successful television series and this became their theme song. Neil also wrote Stupid Cupid and Where the Boys Are for Connie Francis. He was a child prodigy and at the age of 13 attended Julliard School of Music in New York. Neil was a classically trained musician and competed and won in many classical piano concerts over the years. The reaction from the crowd was overwhelming.
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It was to be repeated the next night when one of the true icons of popular music and one of the last of his kind came to town to sing. Tony Bennett was in fine form with his band the following night at the Red Robinson Show Theatre. I was surprised, while waiting offstage, to have him bring me out on stage with him for an acknowledgement. It was truly one of the highlights of my life. He is such a professional. He is truly a class act. Tony is 82 years young and I do hope he returns soon.
Cam McCubbin, one of the best news readers in anyone’s city has been let go from 600AM and 93.7 JRfm. He is the latest casualty of the switch from AM to FM for these Pattison owned companies. This talented man still wants to continue working in radio and I just feel that someone with intelligence beyond room temperature will want to have this man in their stable… Sad to hear of the passing of Dionne Warwick’s younger sister and Whitney Houston’s cousin Dee Dee Warwick. She had a major hit with I Want To Be With You in 1966 and a great version of Suspicious Minds in 1971. She was 63.. The Vancouver Sun has informed all their writers for the former West Coast section of the paper that their services are no longer required. Both Chuck Davis with his This Day In History In Vancouver column and my B.C. Entertainment Hall of Fame piece is no longer. I guess the “Seriously West Coast” banner is gone also. My guess is orders came from headquarters to cut back…
Russ Hamilton, who was a Liverpool star long before the Beatles, has died. He made the U.S. and Canadian charts with Rainbow in 1957, a song which has been covered by at least 100 other singers. Despite having a giant hit with Rainbow he made very little money. His real name was Ronald Hulme. He was 76… Congratulations to the B.C. Country Music Association on the success of their annual awards show held this year at the Red Robinson Show Theatre. Great to see my friend and former CISL morning show producer Curtis Pope from Abbotsford’s Country 107.1 win the On-Air Personality of the Year award… my most recent interview with Suzie McNeil will be shown on my weekly appearance on Global TV in the coming weeks. Susie was one of the stars on Rockstar: INXS and will sing at half time during this year’s Grey Cup football extravaganza. Look for her new hit Let’s Go. It’s a winner…
On a personal note, my daughter Kellie came to Vancouver to launch her children’s storybook and colouring book titled Jeff Talks about Crohn’s Disease. This is a book designed for parents of children and the children who are diagnosed with this dastardly disease. Her inspiration for this book was the love of her late brother and our son Jeffrey who passed away at 33 from complications of surgery. Kellie took five years to make this book happen. It is the first time I have ever seen such a concept.
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The launch took place at the Chan Health Centre at Children’s Hospital on Oak Street in Vancouver. Many specialists in this field were on hand plus some of the research scientists from the centre set up to search for a cure.
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C.H.I.L.D. Foundation CEO Grace McCarthy introduced Kellie in the lobby of the facility. Kellie thanked publisher Kirk Integrated Marketing for donating their talents in producing the book and she also thanked the incredibly talented Graham Harrop, editorial cartoonist with the Vancouver Sun for his fabulous illustrations which make the book so extraordinary. Graham also donated his talents to the project.
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After the formal introductions a group of children aged 5 to 8 sat down at some tables and began colouring their books. This was the litmus test that the books are going to be useful for youngsters afflicted with the disease. All of the children on hand are courageously fighting the disease. If you or someone you know has a child with Crohn’s and would like a free book just contact me here.