DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Everything Else... Famous Folks You Have Met

Tonight, after the Browns' loss, I went elsewhere. I needed to get as far away from pro football as I could.

I followed a train of thought that took me to the intersection of keyboard musicians such as Jimmy Smith, George Duke, Chester Thompson (of Tower of Power), and progrock legend Keith Emerson (of 70's power trio phenomenon Emmerson, Lake & Palmer). The nexus: The iconic Hammond B3 organ. I then did a deep dive into the Hammond... and so doing, remembered a moment from my teen years that had been buried for decades.

That's the setup.
Here's the 'pitch.'

It's 1972-, maybe '73. As I have told the board, one of My Pops' side-hustles was hauling pianos and organs with me and my Great Uncle Babe for a local music store. We were called "3Aces Moving." Uncle Babe was Ace #1, Pops was Ace#2, and I was "Little Ace." By now, I was a strappin' teenager, and my role had swapped with Uncle Babe's. He was doing the chores that I had on Day One, and Pops & Me were doing the heavy lifting. We got a job order from Porter's Music Store to deliver/set up a Hammond B3 to some High School gym in Defiance, OH. It was maybe 9-10:00 AM.

We moved the organ into place on the stage. Pops plugged it in, and made sure it was in working order. We were contracted to stay until the sound check began, to make certain that Porter was covered against any liability.

The guest artist: Denny McLain, former pitcher for the Detroit Tigers.

Dude blew in, bigger than life... and much bigger than his rookie baseball card. Louder than s#, commanding all the attention. Big energy. He shook our hands, and went directly up to the bandstand. The Hammond was waiting for him. He played for about a minute, then gave a "thumbs up" to 3 Aces. We stuck around for one or two tunes in his sound check, then schlepped back to Lima for an afternoon load to homes that had added to Dave & Mary Porters' W2's.

__________________


My Best Bro Mark's wife loves to tell the story of when she shared an elevator ride in a Chicago hotel with Maurice White, Verdeen White, and Philip Baily of Earth, Wind & Fire.



What stories have you to share?

This is the place to share your "Brush With Greatness" story.


3...2...1... GO!

I was about 7 years old and on vacation with my grandparents and cousins in NYC

We were eating dinner at the Waldorf Hotel and my grandpa recognized a few people eating dinner at a table nearby

They sent me over to ask for autographs and a photo (even though I didn't really know who they were)

They were extremely nice and I remember them being super loud and making jokes with me

The three individuals: Johnny Carson, Frank Sinatra, and Don Rickles

I worked for a band in the late 90’s. We opened for a few acts in the time I was with them. Hot Tuna being one. I got to hang with Jorma Kaukonen (founding member/guitarist of Jefferson Airplane) in the green room. Same with a famous Bay Area keyboardist named Merle Saunders. A good friend and collaborator of Jerry Garcia. I actually got to hang with Merle a couple times during those years. Very cool dude. RIP.

I can’t go into detail because of HIPPA but I spent a few weeks getting to know Richard Lynch. Some of my coworkers asked for autographs and such. I just treated him like anyone else. At one point he asked me if I knew who he was. I said, “yes, you got your arse kicked by Chuck Norris at the end of Invasion USA.” He laughed a little. We kept talking like none of that mattered. Which in the situation he was facing, it didn’t matter. I shared a lot of great conversation, and more than a few smoke breaks, with him over the few weeks we spent together. I think my lack of reverence for who he was was refreshing for him. He’d come looking for me when he needed an ear to bend, or wanted someone to smoke with. (I use to smoke back then as it was an acceptable way to get a break without being harassed.) Years later when I heard he’d passed I felt a little sadness. As though I had lost a friend.

Jim Leland came to my school in seventh or eighth grade. Old MLB player and coach.

When I lived north of Dayton, which was most of my life, I used to go and visit this little, what I call hippie town named Yellow Springs. It's a cute little town with shops and a jersey dairy/ restaurant named Young's Jersey Dairy where I love to eat when I'm there.

It also happens to be the town where Dave Chappelle lives. As we were walking down the sidewalk here he came with his family towards us in the opposite direction. I saw an article about his move to Yellow Springs and he said he loved the town because he fit in and wasn't always bothered by fans over his celebrity. That he felt at peace there.

So as he and his family passed my wife and I simply smiled at them, nodded and said nothing. They returned the smile as we all moved on. I just didn't want to interrupt a peaceful, normal day for him and his family.

It's pretty much the way I am about it. I've seen other celebrities up close but never wished to bother them. I know fans pestering you for autographs and the like are part of the territory with becoming a celebrity but I've always chosen not to bother them.

I met Michael Landon and Lorne Greene at a charity, tennis event in the early 80s. Both were extremely nice, and I got their autographs. I also met Linda Lavin (Alice) at the same event. However, she wasn't particularly nice.

Can't say that I've ever met anyone famous per se but Ex-NFL player Jim Lachey and Ex-Boy Banders Nick Lachey and brother Drew Lachey are cousins of mine.

I played beer league hockey briefly with Kiefer Sutherland when I lived in LA.

People I've met:

Patrick Ewing
Bobby Labonte (nascar)
Jimmie Johnson (nascar) shook his hand at Bristol. He was in his golf cart, right beside me.


People I have had conversation with:
Helio Castronueves - at a wedding.
Roger Penske - same wedding. In fact, leaving Indy the next day, he was in his car beside us, and actually waved at me.
Jim Leyland. At a Mud Hens game. Daughter got a mud hens ball. I saw him behind us. We went and I asked if he would sign it. He said "sure". Asked if I had a pen. I didn't. So I went back to our seats and asked people if they had a pen. Got one. The whole time he was chatting with my daughter.

Shawn Kemp. He went to h.s. close to where I went to college. Played pick up games several times in the summer and he was there. Actually played against him.

Sam Hornish Jr. IRL/ Nascar. His wife and my wife are first cousins. He's been to our house, see him at Christmas, and he used to stop by our campground when we went to races in Bristol and MIS, and Chicagoland.

GNT - Girl Named Tom. 2nd cousins. have seen them so many times, and not just in concert. Even on the street in town. Caleb, Josh, Bekah. We've had many conversations. In fact, before they got "big", they dedicated a song to me at a smaller concert.

John Crist. Another 2nd cousin. Comedian. In fact, going to see him, again, this Friday.

Joe Thomas: He was speaking at a gathering not far from here a few years ago. I sat in the front row, thanks to a good friend and fellow Browns fan. Before the meal even, I went up on the stage with a few things for him to sign. Asked if he would, and he said "of course, come up here" He signed 2 things, and we chatted for a few minutes. And then he posed for pictures with me. Now, when he spoke that evening, he started with "I don't like to give speeches, so let's make this a question and answer session." If he was asked 60 questions, 20 of them came from me. He even laughed at some of them (like "Did you have anything to do with that meme about the airline 're accommodating' some passenger? The one with you, your hand inside a steelers players facemask, and his feet off the ground with the caption "Dear United, I once had to re accommodate someone also."

I met ...... GM.

John Entwistle - BS'd with him after his solo band show at Harpo's in Detroit.
Igor Larionov (one of the Russian 5 Red Wings)
Mike Eruzione (Miracle on ice team USA)
Mickey Redmond
Darren McCarty
The Hanson brothers from Slapshot
Brian Sipe and Sam Rutigliano at Browns training camp in 1981.
A Penthouse Pet of the Year. I forgot her name, lol. Around 1990.

There are a lot, Many I became friends with.

Fighting memory

Musicians, I was a sound tech back in the day. 70's to 90's. Not a full time job

Ted Nugent, sat with him at a concert at Blossom

Heart, Rush, Journey original members did a couple shows helping out with monitors.

Joe Walsh, Helped him out on stage, and became friends.

Kool and the Gang, Michael Stanley, Alex Bevan. There's more, just don't remember.


Athlete's,

Bernie, Don Cockroft, Joe Hayden, Dan Dierdorf, Dan is good friends with my brother-in-law, Alan Page, friend of my sister back in the day, was at my house.

Todd Blackledge Lives close by and did work at his house. LeBron also did lots of work at his house, he took me through and showed me the house.

Peyton Manning, Andrew luck, TY Hilton. Met and talked with them at a Colts game in Indy.


Professional wrestlers, My friend was a cop back in the 80's 90's and had a bar downtown.

After the matches the wrestlers would show up there and party.

Dick Murdock, the Shiek, Rock and Roll Express, SGT Slaughter, Rowdy Roddy Piper, again so many more. We would all drink and get crazy.


Movie Stars,Had a good friend who lived in Malibu for years. As I visited I met people through him as he was a local Celeb musician.

Cheech Marin, was invited to his house where we hung out and he jams very well on guitar. Jan Michael Vincent, Emilio Estevez, Charlie Sheen. Went to Charlie's house, Emilio and him played some serious ping pong ! Martin Sheen.

Katey Sagal, at the time her bf played Sax at gigs with my friend. Christina Applegate, Nick Nolte we had many drinks together.

Two of my favorites were Peter Fonda and David Mann from Easy rider magazine. I would go up to Oxnard and hang out with both of them. We had a blast, cool fun people.

David, Peter and I would call each other and talk. After David passed in 2004 Peter and I talked for a bit but eventually stopped talking. I miss them both.

I was never really big on autographs. I still have a Harley Davidson shirt that David ,Peter and some of the other members of Easy Rider magazine signed for me for a special occasion.

It still hangs in my closet, like new.


John glenn, he was a really amazing man.

You did.
Your sense of loss was/is real.

"Brush With Greatness" award nomination!

You should do the necessary research to recover that name.
"Enquiring minds want to know."

Bro- your list might be as long as mine.
Stage crews always drop the longest lists of big names/best stories.

I love you guys.
I hang with you guys as often as I can (...it was a lot easier when I was a reg cig smoker... out at the docks-)

Helluva list, to be sure.

To a person, they really are just regular folk like You & I, aren't they?

and thats where your troubles began lol

Living in NYC I have a bunch of hanging out in the same room with type of things but often no interaction.

Interaction wise, mostly musicians ( I am not in the music business, I just hang out )

All the Ramones, I use to watch Monday night football at the same bar as Johnny ( we lived near each other )

I was on stage with little Richard dancing in front of his piano with some hot blonde during good golly miss molly at his 60th Birthday party.

Joan rivers was in line getting coffee we chatted.

Rob Stoner he was Dylans stage manager / guitar player during the rolling thunder tour. He also was on many many records. We hung out most of the night at a small music venue.

Hank 3 he sat next to me after sitting in with a local band we chatted briefly.

Charlie Gracie old school rocker he knocked Elvis out of #1 spot once.

Billy Joels band just hanging between sets with their own band.

Jim lauderdale ( famous singer song writer) hung out several times,

Two of Joan jets guitar players the main one owned a bar talked with him a lot.

Dick Manatoba ( the Dictators ) also owned a bar talked to him a lot. I saw his jacket in the rock n roll hall of fame

Blondeis bass player he gigged around town hung out a lot.

Lenny Kaye , Patti Smiths guitar player hung out many times

The Beasty Boys before they were famous. Got high in a club at a table before their set. I didnt know they were a band until they went on stage.

Run DMC a friend interviewed them back in the day. We got high in my apartment.

Dave Davies we talked for about 20 minutes outside a music venue in the middle of the day. I was waiting for the box office to open to buy tickets to his show. He was doing a sound check. I didnt know it was him until I saw him on stage that night.

Funiest one was seeing Dustin Hoffman at a bank of pay phones ( before cell phone) screaming "I dont give a F about my fans!!" I assume he was talking to and agent or something. He was pissed

Al Unser JR sat next to him on a plane going to Cleveland many years ago nice guy.

Just recently Scarlett Johansson twin brother. Hanging at a bar.

Im sure there were others I dont rember right now.

Several musicians and jocks.

Probably the most famous was President Jimmy Carter. My wife and I went to Plains, Ga maybe 15 years ago. Mr. Carter taught Sunday school before the service. It was wonderful. After service everybody got a photo op with Mr. Carter and his wife Roselynn. I have a nice photo standing shoulder to shoulder with the President. We ended up in a much longer conversation that the Secret Service probably wanted, but it was brought on by Mrs. Carter and the President. The President waved them off to keep the conversation going.

Some years earlier my wife and I through a friend had lunch at Dale Chihuly's NYC apartment/studio. My wife mentioned him to Mrs. Carter. The Carters loved Chiluly and off the conversation went.

For those who may not know, Chihuly is a very famous glass maker....so there is another.

I've been blessed meeting several "famous" people-

I caddied for Charles Duke- astronaut who left picture on the moon- he played golf with my Dad at Ramstein AFB West Germany in early 60s.

Kenny Rogers- when he was with "First Edition"- as student at Kent State University- he signed my left hand while I was running to meet my girl in the auditorium- yes I washed it off later- smile.

At Kent State- I made the baseball team, threw in the gym with Thurman Munson- Yankee captain and baseball All Star catcher.

Met Grant Hill, basketball star, shook hands in a mall in Orlando Florida- he and his wife were shopping. I was a pain.

Been blessed- seen and done lots of fun things.

Famous? I don't recall anyone famous.

I have known, and still know, some people who were well known in their circles.

I saw Woody Allen on my street I think it was during the shooting of a Kate Hudson movie. Not sure why he was there. And...the ground floor of my old apartment building was in a scene of the Annie Hall movie. Surprised me when I saw it. I had lived there for many years and had no idea.

Pretty much, just with more money. And here's the thing about that: We have some very good friends that, on the money scale, put probably most everyone I listed below them. You would never, EVER know it by hanging out with them. And that's what my wife and I appreciate about them most, next to just being good friends. You know, go out to eat, then sit around and watch a game, or play cards. And laugh. And laugh. They are just people that want true friends. Friends they don't need to worry about being envious/jealous.

Took the husband, whom I've known since 6th grade, a bit to be comfortable with us. Our wives hit it off right away. Today? No problem. No issue. Heck, they have property, ( a lot) farm ground, race horses, a million plus dollar lake house. A home that most would drool over. Travel far and wide. And? They don't show it one bit when out and about.

We have fun together. And he and his wife have taken to using one of my phrases.

Let's see...

Athletes:
Bernie Kosar, Bob Golic, few others from that team
Lindsey Vonn, Ted Ligety, Julia Mancuso, Chloe Kim(before she won a gold medal, technically she wasn't famous yet)

Actors:
Richard Karn, 3 of the actors from Cobra Kai(Kyler, Demetri and Moon)

I was possibly going to make an animal conservation game with Moby up until he changed his mind. I guess he figured out that I'm not vegan. lol

The three most famous people (and I was about 9 or 10):

Paul Newman
David Letterman
Tom Cruise

My grandpa was the head of F1 racing for Goodyear back in the 70s, 80s and early ,90s so growing up he provided all access passes to many of the IndyCar racing that took place in the U.S. ad he knew a lot of the celebrity names and bigwigs in the IndyCar and F1 industry. My grandma (whose company was also in the racing industry) has quite a few photos with Niki Lauda and James Hunt. As a kid, I always thought those Marlboro race suits were awesome.

Yeah, I wouldn’t even know where to start. Presidents, dignitaries, musicians, actors, etc. Fun fact, I’ve been background checked so many times that when I applied for Global Entry this year, I was literally approved within hours. My wife’s took much longer and we applied at the same time.

That said, my favorite musical act was James Taylor. Never was a big fan of his music but he won my over big time. Hung out with everyone at the load in and out. Also he discovered that the catering messed up and didn’t order anything for the local crew. Immediately he asked what the best place in town was and told his Touring Production Manager to order that on his card. He is a great human.

I'm probably biased but my favorite actor is JK Simmons. Another great down to earth human. We have a lot of overlap in where we came from. He's bought me gear at a theatre I used to work at (where he first got his first professional acting job), I've played softball with him, and just hung out at the bar getting drinks. I've even had him record voice overs for shows just for fun. It's fun when suddenly somebody hears his voice and instantly recognizes it and wonders how I got that recording.

Clem, I saw Emerson, Lake and Powell many years ago. Cozy Powell played so freakin' well, he put a few double-bass parts in with their songs that were never there before. It was great. He really rocked 'em out.

I lived in Hollywood, CA for 11 years, so there were obviously a lot of musicians out there. We got Slash from Guns N' Roses to wear our band shirt, which was pretty cool. (We never got signed. Big sigh.) P.S. I don't know who the girl is or where that dog came from.

Pauly Shore.

.....best day of my life.