Musicians Hall of Fame Memories

If someone told me what happened to me tonight was going to happen, I wouldn’t have believed them. I started out thinking it was going to be an exceptional night- The Musicians Hall of Fame induction a ceremony featuring some of the finest musicians music has ever seen. From the inductees featuring six groups of outstanding performers, to the artists who felt it important enough to be on hand to honor these individuals and to showcase their work, I knew we were in for a big treat. It is amazing to me how the music these players made, is that music that actually defined periods in history. From the Mamas and The Papas, to Simon and Garfunkel, to The Beach Boys, to all the Motown greats Diana Ross and the Supremes, and Marvin Gaye, to Elvis, Johnny Cash, and so many others it would be impossible to list them all.

So, my expectations for a great show, were well founded. What I didn’t expect was the very real way in which all of these artists and performers not only received the acknowledgment that was so long in coming, but also the way in which they greeted and treated their fans. I had no way of knowing what to expect in these circumstances, and boy was I surprised and delighted. All were extremely personable and approachable.

When I looked at the list of performers, all are great but as usual several stood out in my mind. I was always more of a rock and roller, but having spent so much time in the south have come to love and appreciate all that is country.

For me Peter Frampton takes me the farthest back in my recollection of these individuals. When I was 12, I met Peter Frampton in a tiny little sandwich shop in Mt. Kisco, NY called the Goody Shop. My parents used to go there and told me one day upon returning that they had seen him there. Now, without giving away my age, I can say, at this time, it was not too long after Frampton Comes Alive had come out, and he was the biggest star around in rock and roll. As a 12 year old I can tell you I had his pictures on my walls, and that album, I had already played it out. I declared to my parents that they were not to go there without me again! So… I went, and one lucky day, there he was with his girlfriend Penny.

I couldn’t believe it, was it real?

Well, it was and he was, the problem was that I froze-yup-froze. I was so star struck that I was too afraid to approach him. My dad doing as great dads do took it upon himself to walk up to Mr. Frampton, and ask for his autograph for me, all the time I’m following my dad, and standing there with him as he asked for me. I’m not sure I could even muster a thank you. Well, I got my autograph and we left, I felt like an idiot. How could I take this once in a lifetime opportunity to meet Peter Frampton, and then blow it like that? I was so disappointed in myself. Well, come to find out it wasn’t a once in a lifetime opportunity, because I had the chance to meet Mr. Frampton backstage at this event. As he was getting ready to walk past me, I declared to my friend, I’m not going to let this happen again (and really I’m not that shy anymore!) and I approached him. I recounted the story to him, and he laughed and declared “Lord, I remember that place, if I was there I was probably recovering from a hangover!” Of course he didn’t remember me, how could he I hadn’t even said a word. I asked him if I could get a picture so I could prove to my dad that I wasn’t still that shy little girl I was then. Peter graciously laughed and allowed my friend to take some pictures. Finally, redemption!

Next we come to the country. Just in the past several years I have really come to appreciate country music. I always loved the southern rock, but not so much the country. Having spent quite a bit of time in Nashville lately, I couldn’t help but to begin to appreciate country music, not to mention that country music itself is exploding on the music scene. So as I listened I learned, trying to pick out song titles, guess the artists and now a few years later, people ask me these questions. There are so many unbelievable artists in this genre of music, but the following three I will speak about are all exceptional in their own way.

First up is Amy Grant. Forget the fact that she is an outstanding performer, I think that the most rewarding aspect of her career is her spiritual and charitable work. She has done so much with faith based organizations and for so many less fortunate than herself, that she should be commended. I met Amy at the pre party where the awards were actually given out. She was there with her husband Vince Gill to be there to support all of these wonderful artists. My friend said do you want a picture with her and I said yes, of course the nervousness crept in. I really don’t like to bother people, I figure at some point they must get sick of it, and of course I was thinking about the first Frampton episode! But, I followed him over and he asked Ms. Grant if he could get a picture of me with her. She was more than obliging. Now, she could have just posed for the picture and been on her way, but instead she engaged me and my friend in conversation. How special. We chatted a bit and then she turned to me and asked “What do you do?” and I told her I was a chef. She asked where, and I told her for a prominent local family. She looked at me, paused, and then asked “Do you work for O.?” Well, I was quite taken aback because O. is the brother of J. who I had worked for, for a Polo season in Florida, and currently I work for J’s in-laws . I took a step back and wondered how did she pull that name out of the hat. What a small world! We continued to talk about a variety of things including her new book called Mosaic, her upcoming appearance with Vince on the Oprah show, and she spoke of her farm called River Stone Farm which is literally right beyond the my bosses farm. All in all we spoke for a total of 10-15 minutes, and quite honestly I walked away feeling like I had known her forever. The conversation flowed that easily. I was pleasantly surprised.

With my defenses down my friend asked if I wanted a picture with Vince Gill. Well, after the last experience with Ms. Grant, I declared “YES!” and off we went to meet Mr. Gill. I didn’t have much conversation with Vince, unfortunately, as he was fairly surrounded by others that also wanted his attention. My friend asked him for a picture, of course he graciously said yes. As I approached I went to one side and he the other. I looked at him and asked “I’m sorry, do you have a better side” and his response was “No, I have two bad ones!” We laughed, snapped the picture, and went on our way. Now, my friend Bill is writing a book about the Music Industry, which is the reason we are at this event to begin with. He had spent all his time and attention to get me my pictures, that he had forgotten to ask them for some time on another day to talk and be interviewed for his book. He wandered off to mingle, and came back 10 minutes later saying that he had spoken to Amy and Vince again and asked them if perhaps they could spare some time to talk to him. They said yes, and Vince even gave Bill his personal cell phone number!

Outstanding!

On we went into the concert hall, took our seats, and enjoyed one of the best shows I’ve seen. Periodically, Bill went backstage to try and get with some of these performers and talk to them for his book. There he spoke with Peter Frampton, and admired his Black Beauty guitar which is on the cover of Frampton Comes Alive, spoke with Mandy Barnett who sang some beautiful renditions of some Patsy Cline tunes, Keith Anderson who opened the show with one of my dad’s favorite songs King of the Road, Mary Wilson from the Supremes was there as was Roger McGuinn from the Byrds. But for both of us the most impressive personality there was Garth Brooks. Bill met him before me backstage and was very impressed by the attention he gave to anyone who approached him. He was also so humble saying that he was so nervous to be singing Elvis’ Suspicious Minds with Elvis’ actual band!

How real can you get?

Bill came back and recounted all these encounters, and I have to tell you I was jealous. I couldn’t believe all the things he was telling me. When the show was over Bill showed me through the backstage doors, and shortly thereafter is where the Peter Frampton encounter happened

Of course, still high on that he said “Let’s go meet Garth.” Now, Garth was still out on the stage, even though the show had already ended. Bill led me out on stage. I stood a few feet from him, however he was surrounded by people- go figure the artist who has sold more units than anyone second only to the Beatles, and has already surpassed Elvis’ sales!

All of a sudden, someone came by and started trying to shoo everyone off the stage, and and all of a sudden there was an opening to Garth, I approached him and got his attention. I told him that his song If Tomorrow Never Comes not only inspired me but helped me get through the most difficult time of my life- the death of my husband, Lucky, earlier this year. What happened next is something that I will never forget. This VERY busy man took my hand, began to walk, and genuinely asked me about my husband, what was his name?, how did he pass?, how old was he?, and then he asked me how I was dealing with it? He told me that he himself was 45 (My husband was 46 at the time of his passing.) He was TRULY and GENUINELY interested in what I had to say. Oh my God, is all I could think. At this time someone came by and Mr. Brooks said to me “please wait for me” so I stepped to the side, thinking to myself that this guy is too busy to come back to me, but wait I did for several minutes. Sure enough, to my astonishment, he came back to me took my hand and led me down the hallway all the time talking to me sincerely, again. I asked him if he wrote that song and he told me that he co-wrote it. Once again he was bombarded by adoring fans, and being just as gracious to them as he was to me, he signed their autographs, and posed for pictures, if a lady approached him he took off his hat, looked them in the eye and said it was very nice to meet them, and meant it. Just as I was going to leave, because I figured he was busy, he came back up to me again- I told him that I didn’t want to take up anymore of his time, he leaned in, gave me a big hug, and said in my ear, “I can’t imagine what you are going through, I don’t know what I would do without her.” He was obviously referring to his wife Trisha Yearwood . I know and love her music, too, and couldn’t help but think what a lucky woman she is. I said good-bye to him, he asked Bill “are you with her?” Bill responded “yes, this is my lady.” We left. I don’t think my feet were touching the ground as I walked out of the Schemerhorn Symphony Hall that night.

I think I am still numb, and beyond that so impressed with the generosity and true love for their fans that these individuals showed, not only with me but literally hundreds of adoring fans. That rock and roller girl that I spoke of at the beginning of this piece, is truly becoming a fan of country music, although will never leave her rock roots behind. I have developed a whole new appreciation for these country music artists that seem so wrapped up in the simple things…family, community, and giving back. They don’t take their fans for granted, and truly do recognize that without the fans they would have nothing.

As I sit here and think back on the night, as I said in the beginning I never would have believed what happened, happened, and honestly I still don’t!