Mr. Wah Wah, the prized work of Bubbles the artist, has become the symbol of the Sound Of Soul fundraiser I throw every year in conjunction with Pacifica Radio Archives. This year it’s tomorrow and I’m going nuts trying to get ready for 300 people storming my house to eat outrageous soul food from Mom’s Barbecue House, peruse my collection of Pop Soul artifacts that the Godfather himself, James Brown, encouraged me to turn into a museum when he first saw it in the 1980s, and to celebrate the end of the first national tour of The Color Purple. (Second national tour begins in two weeks with a brand-new production and cast.)
As anyone knows who’s ever been to a party over here, I treat the whole place like it’s a big set and hand make signs, displays, games, prizes, the works. As if that’s not enough work, with all the rain that’s been dousing LA I need a Plan A party, the real deal, and a Plan B party, the striped down version that happens if it rains and I’m forced to squeeze everyone inside, a physical impossibility that demands extraordinary hive-inducing, Valium-popping-if-I-were-the-type measures. So I’m a paint covered, music making busy little beaver today, half in a good mood and half having spilkes because I know powers greater than I are at work to collaborate on the evening. But with all the hostess concerns that I have Mr. Wah Wah is still looking good and ready to party!
Fantasia as Celie. Fantastic cast, many from the original Broadway production. Five years of my life into the making of this baby. I’m very proud of it. If you’re in LA come to the Pantages.
These three beauties are the real deal, the kind that used to bake in the sun in Florida in the 1950’s glory days of pink flamingos, not the hideous shocking pink plastic repros that proliferate in catalogs today. These gals are made of solid concrete and weigh a ton; even the baby is a 10 pounder.
Nothing more elegant than an astroturf encrusted dolly hauling a rickety paper flower doused cart with a box of flyers tacked on like a realtor would nail on a for sale sign. Not to mention it’s parked in an industrial section deep in the San Fernando Valley of LA. With this said, it seems like a perfect place to check out for a Kitsch lovers’ Cotillion. I can only hope the catering services within carry items like grilled Velveeta sandwiches, PB & Js and desserts made with Twinkies. That actually is my kinda place.
Today’s KOTD was supposed to be the launch of “Pigmy Will”, my new animated series on YouTube, but Facebook seems to be having stomach problems and I don’t want to risk a malfunction on the Pigmy’s big day. So instead, here’s a car I’ve always wanted to buy. Two front ends so you’re moving forward whichever way you go.
Nothing better on a Sunday than to lay back sucking on Mai Tais, Fog Cutters, Shirley Temples or whatever else you want to fill this vintage Mr. Bali Hai Tiki mug with. Custom made for the Bali-Hi Restaurant in San Diego, CA. and patterned after the 6′ tall Mr. Bali Hai sculpture that greeted diners at the front door, these 6.5″ x 4.25″ mugs are the Big Kahuna of Tiki mugs, larger than most with a top of the head lid and holes for two straws for maximum Romantic imbibing.
I only met Michael Jackson once. It was 1980 and I was at Hollywood Sound recording with Earth Wind & Fire and he was working in the room next door. This was before Billy Jean shot him into the stratosphere but Michael Jackson was still a music God. He walked over to me but as he gave me a big grin and very gentle almost-handshake someone burst into the studio and said Richard Pryor had set himself on fire. Everyone just froze and I quietly slipped out of the room. Those old school recording studios are as soundproof as tombs but I could hear all the commotion in the lobby as he ran out.
With my favorite monument in LA, Angelyne, billboard goddess/ Corvette collector. Yes, I really know her. Yes, she ran for Governor. Yes, she bakes a mean brownie. Yes she’s for real.
Had a totally triumphant party last night at ghettogloss, to launch “Hey Jerrie”, my latest music video with me and Jerrie Thill, my favorite 91 year old female drummer/singer on an oxygen tank. I would have woken up and started to get photos up here but I looked at YouTube and the video has EXPLODED. Close to 25,000 views in the first 24 hours and it’s on 37 charts around the world. So I’m fielding a gaggle of emails, Facebook messages and the like so reporting on the frivolity of the launch party will probably not happen til sometime this weekend. So for now, please enjoy the video (hit the ‘Watch in HD link’ or it will look like crap) and send http://www.jer91.com to everyone you know.
