These people influenced me or my music style and knowledge:
Charlie Chaplain: My mother played a lot of his music, and I have listened to his recordings with awe.
Judy Garland: Especially Live at Carnegie Hall, the best selling album that year (released July 10th, 1961). I have listened to this album hundreds of times. Absolute perfection.
I have been Influenced by many many hours of listening to Billie Holiday as well as Diana Ross portraying her on the “Lady Sings the Blues” Soundtrack)
I saw these artists live or saw them in person somewhere:
Live: Elvis Presley (MGM, Las Vegas NV)
Live: Liberace (MGM Grand, Las Vegas NV)
Live: Psychedelic Furs at the Paramount Theater in Seattle, Washington (circa 1985)
Live: Thompson Twins at the Paramount Theater in Seattle, Washington (circa 1986)
Live: Bette Midler in Seattle (circa 1975)
Live: Liza Minelli at the Pier in Seattle, Washington (circa 2011)
Live: Loggins and Messina in San Bernardino, California (circa 1972
Live: Loggins and Messina in Seattle, Washington (circa 1977)
Live: Glen Campbell at a casino in Fife, Washington (circa 2010)
Johnny Cash: He had dinner at the Smugglers Inn when he play at the Orange Show in San Bernardino (circa 1972)
Barbra Streisand: Saw her at a furniture store (circa 1979)
Iggy Pop: Jammed at my nightclub at 3:00 am in the morning after a nearby concert (circa 1981)
Grace Jones: Played at my nightclub to a packed house (circa 1981)
Romeovoid: Played at my nightclub to a packed house (twice, circa 1981)
Siouxie from Siouxie and the Banshees: Visited the nightclub I was DJing at after a nearbly concert in Seattle, WA (circa 1984)
People that I know, knew, or wish I knew:
Dan Ireland: Dan was not only my friend since he started the film festival near my nightclub in the 70’s, He went on to direct quite a few movies. He was one of the hardest workers I have ever met. Here is his imdb link and here is another link with some video of him on the website called Trailers from Hell. He casted Rene Zellweger and Jessica Chastain early in their careers, and new so many people in film around the world, many through the Seattle International Film Festival, and many that he got to know in Hollywood or other places. I miss him alot, he left us much too soon. I have some old pics that I will post here soon. There is quite a bit of information online about him, as well as his business partner Darryl MacDonald, who started SIFF with Dan, and went on to lead the Palm Springs Film Festival. They were both incredibly knowledgeable about film, and were both highly respected.
Rami Malek: This guy is fun to watch no matter what he does. And he seems like a nice guy in general, not to mention he is a fantastic actor. He picks great parts, or gets picked for them. I remember hearing that before he was well-known, that he used to put fliers or business contact info in the pizza boxes he was delivering. Not sure if this is actually true, but it’s funny and shows how determined he was if it is true. Nonetheless, I will see any movie he makes.