Describe a memorable Musical Moment

Describe a memorable Musical Moment
New Category – it can be something that you saw – or something that you were involved in.
I guess that I’ll start it off as it is my idea – and I have lots

Following a musical career in England, upon my arrival in Canada I am sometimes chosen to participate in local events.

About 13 years ago I was asked to organize a Buddy Knox Concert (Party Doll).
Buddy was in quite a bad way by then and needed lots of babysitting, so I arranged for 3 assistants to look after him in the VIP dressing room .
Next time I looked in he had gone – and his overpaid assistants said that he had gone to the washroom.
I ran outside and found him in a cab, about to leave. I pointed at him and said, Buddy Knox – Buddy Knox – I am your greatest fan – can I have your autograph – which he graciously gave me. I then asked if he would do me the honour of letting me buy him a drink – and he agreed. We went back into the venue and I bought us a couple of drinks – by this time his band was playing onstage – wondering where he was. So I suggested to him that we went to watch the band – he agreed and we stood on the side of the stage – behind the curtain. His guitarist saw us, and as he finished their song I gave him a thumbs up – and he said, “Ladies and Gentlemen – the one and only Buddy Knox” And I put my hand behind him and pushed him onto the stage. It was like turning on a light switch. He gave an absolutely amazing concert – the last one that he ever gave in Canada – he died the following year.

I was never a fan - but I love that guy.

Tonyrob

Wow, can't top Tonyrob's story.
Party Doll was one of the first 45's I bought as a teen.

But I remember this well.
1967, this gal from Arkansas in New York City for a student nurse convention.
Last day of the trip, three of us trying to get in as many sights as we could.
On foot, of course. We didn't have much money.
Mid afternoon found ourselves dodging a heavy rainstorm, no umbrella among us.
Running, came to an overhang to hunker under, no idea where, shivering.
An older, kindly, uniformed gentleman appeared at the door and waved us inside.
OMG, it was Carnegie Hall!
He led us into the auditorium, a full orchastra was playing.
Don't recall the exact music, but it was magnificent to our ears.
By pure accident, a free concert in Carnegie Hall for three young broke travelers!

Back in 1984, I had the opportunity to attend the Music City News Awards Show at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. I worked for a company in Illinois that represented MCN for the sale of advertising in their newspaper, so the salesperson who handled their account had a couple of press passes to the show. My boss offered me the trip as a bonus, and of course I jumped at it, as he was paying for the flight and hotel.

Anyway, we had great seats at the show, and afterwards, we attended the press party backstage. I got to meet some of the big stars of country music at the time. Most notable were the Judds, who had just started their career with the song "Mama, He's Crazy." They were VERY sweet, and I thoroughly enjoyed talking with them.

But the "moment" that has stayed with me the most from that event was a negative one. Another new artist at the time was Reba McIntyre. I introduced myself to her and tried to ask her something, and she totally snubbed me and walked away. She was very rude, and it was obvious that success had gone to her head already. I've hated her ever since. She's nothing but a phony, with her over-the-top accent and the way she phrases words in songs.

Great Stories - Thanks.
Back in the sixties in the North of England if we wanted to know what music was hot in the US we listened to Radio Caroline (a converted lighthouse ship) or Radio Luxemburg. British Radio didn't cover it - so it had to be a radio ouside the 6 mile limit (to avoid the licencing laws). Those same laws gave birth to the all night Beat Cruises on Ferry across the Mersey - but that's a different story. In 1965 Top of the Pops hit TV and then we could listed to the "selected" music of the week.
One night I heard some new guys called Simon and Garfunkel on Luxemburg.. The following week I was walking along Oxford Road outside the Free Trade Hall and saw a guy pasting up a Simon and Garfunkel poster.
I asked if tickets were on sale and he said that they were so I went in and asked what were the best seats. They told me that I was the first to buy so I could have any seats that I liked so I took 2 seats front row centre.
They didn't sell out but gave a great concert. Afterwards they hung around and chatted and signed autographs.
They didn't have tour buses in those days - they took the train, and they missed the direct train to Liverpool and had to connect through Widnes (Some reports say Farnworth of Crewe) but the train leaving Manchester after the show that night went to Widnes.
They missed the connection and Paul Simon sat in Widnes station and wrote Homeward Bound - I'm sitting in a railway station . . .
A couple of days later he wrote Kathy's song - to his British girlfriend who was waiting for him in Oxfordshire.
That was an amazing concert. The announcer said, "Ladies and Gentlemen - introducing Simon and Garfunkel.
There was a single stool on the stage - lit by a spotlight. Paul entered and sat on the stool - then Garfunkel entered and stood behind him. That was it - no band - no fanfare - just an amazing pure sound. One of my favourite concert moments

Tonyrob

I have nothing to compare to any of you but two years ago at the SEMA Show in Vegas, I got an autograph & my picture taken with Nelly. For the ones of us that are old, he is a rap singer. I knew this because I teach school and the kids keep me up on such stuff. i posted my picture with me & Nelly when I got back to school & my kids thought that was so cool. Now every time I go to Vegas, they want to know if I am going to see my good friend Nelly.

Sorry, I can't choose one. You can skip to the last one if you want.

A few years ago at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, where they have outdoor musical performances, I hear someone singing "Hey Mr. Tambourine Man." I walk around the corner, and the guy singing a sound check is Roger McGuinn of the Byrds. I sat down in the front row and waited for the show. For some reason, he was singing with "The Rock Bottom Remainders," a group of authors who put together a rock group for fun - and "rock bottom remainders" being the term for books that are dumped at the lowest price possible. Mitch Albom, who started out as a rock musician, played excellent keyboard, and Amy Tan, wearing a leather zipper up the front dress, sang "The Leader of the Pack." Also in the band there was Dave Berry, Scott Turow, Greg Iles, and Matt Groening, and one of the "girl group" singers was ex L.A. mayor Richard Riordan. And McGuinn sang a few songs. Felliniesque.

Probably my first rock 'n roll show was Jackie Wilson. Near the end of the show my sister rushed the stage and snagged one of his sweaty hankerchiefs.

I saw "Little Stevie Wonder" when he had one hit, "Fingertips," a mostly harmonica tour de force that took up both sides of the 45. What I remember most is that, without exaggeration, they dragged him on stage and afterward dragged him off.

I went to the Rolling Stones concert in 1969, not because I was a fan, but because my parents gave me the ticket. Mick came out singing "Jumping Jack Flash," and within the first few seconds, I was a fan for life.

Joe Williams was the closing act at the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl, and because of family connections I got invited to view the show in his box, right up front, just a few rows behind Hugh Hefner and a few centerfolds. Legendary jazz critic Leonard Feather was also in our box, and I was trying to read his notes but they were just too tiny to read. Afterward, Joe takes us out to a fancy Italian restaurant in Beverly Hills, and as we're walking in, says, "I'm treating tonight. I'm tired of being the white man's burden."

Frank Sinatra. 'Nuff said.

In 1970 I went to a concert at the dingy Santa Monica Civic Auditorium to see this new guy who had exactly one hit. Elton John. I don't think anyone there had ever seen anyone like him.

At another Playboy Jazz Festival, Weather Report is playing their instrumental composition "Birdland." Surprising almost everyone, out comes Janice Siegel and one of the guys from Manhattan Transfer, joined by Diane Reeves and Bobby McFerrin. Most incredible jazz vocal group ever.

At my first Hard Rock Hotel pool concert, prior to I think a Paoli Nutini concert, a very attractive bikinied girl does a pole dance with one of the umbrella poles in the middle of the pool. Then a group of girls, who are even hotter, and know it, are flouncing around the pool. I'm with my wife, so I know better than to stare too much, but then one of them comes up to me with a camera and asks me to take their picture. They posed seductively, and I reluctantly agreed to take a few shots. At least that's what I told my wife.

About ten years ago, wife and I are going to a Paul Simon concert at an outdoor venue north of Detroit. We get there about 3 hrs early to get parking quite a distance from the stage area to be able to leave the parking area easier. So there is no one parked near us for a mile,and we are sitting outside by the car when we see two bicycles slowly driving up towards us. Yep, it was PAUL SIMON and a staff member for the venue! Paul stopped and talked with us for a minute,what a thrill! My only regret was that I didn't have a camera.I guess Paul was out for some preshow relaxation. Bob

I can't remember if it was 1980 or 1981. Anyway, I was a huge Genesis fan until Steve Hackett left and started his solo career. I saw that Steve was going to play at the Roxy in L.A. and bought a ticket. I had such a thing for him and wanted to meet him so badly that I bought a huge rose arrangement and sent it to him and wore a wristlet of the same color roses so he would know it was me (I was 19 and stupid).

Anyway, there were some press people there, people that wrote for music magazines -- they noticed me and we started talking. They got me in with them and I got to sit at the table front and center that butted up against the stage. I could literally reach out and touch Steve Hackett (but didn't). When the show was over and the curtain closed I was still sitting at the table with the press people talking when the curtain parted and I was tapped on the shoulder. It was one of the roadies inviting me backstage to meet Steve. Of course, it was thrilling for me. I got to talk with him for a while between shows. And when they found out I didn't have a ticket for the next show they got me a comped one so I could stay. After the show we all went next door to the Rainbow. Driving back to Orange County that night I couldn't believe how wonderful the night had been.

The next year I got free tickets to all 4 shows (2 shows per night) and got to hang out with everyone. I took my friend with me that year and she sent roses to Steve's brother, Jon (the flute player in his band) and got to hang out with everyone, too. I don't remember why or how it happened, but I ended up chauffering Steve Hackett and his manager, John Ager, to the gig in my 1975 Toyota Celica the 2nd night. lol

I don't think he came back to town until he was in GTR and I was too busy working to go, so I never saw him again. His music went in a direction that lost me anyway.

I don't have a scanner to upload any of my own pics from that time, but here's one from 1976. He was so gorgeous! (But married)

Some great stories here - yours was amazing Rachel.

Tonyrob

I should precede this by saying that I have been a Paul Simon fan for 45 years - I mention that because this post discusses a less than fan-friendly side of him - which I personally have never seen.
A female friend - who is quite large - over 300 lbs heard that he would be playing Seattle for 2 nights.
She doesn't have much money, but she bought best seats for both nights, plus hotel - plus she had to get there - about 6 hours each way. She took her oringinal 33 rpm albums and before the first concert waited a few hours outside the stage door. He arrived, chatted with several fans and then she asked him to sign an album - he said that he didn;t feel like it and entered the venue.
After the show she was waiting outside - he chatted with several fans - she asked for an autograph and he told her that he didn't feel like it. Next night she is waiting outside before the show - he arrives and signs some autographs - told her he didn't feel like it. She told him that she had been out all last night waiting, as well as tonight and he said, "Yeah I know".
During the show a guy kept shouting "Paul I love ya man - I love ya" and running at the stage - and security removed him from the venue - I'm told he was very disruptive nd trying to get on stage. After the show my friend is outside the stage door and Paul came out and chatted with some fans. My friend approached and said, "It's me again - I have always been a fan - would you please, please do me the favor of signing my LP. He said, "No - I don,t feel like it"
Then she heard this guy who had been thrown out shouting "Paul, Paul, I love ya man" and he approached Paul and said, "can I have your autograph" and he said "Yeah, sure". Then the guy said, "Paul, can I kiss you man" and Paul said, "Yeah sure".
And that night - Paul Simon lost a fan.
I wasn't there - but I know my friend to be an honest person, and a believe her account.
She spent about 2 months wages in total - and was snubbed all the way.
Very sad - I should say that I have met Paul 6 or 7 times and he has always been an absolute gent.
A strange story indeed.

Tonyrob