He Ain’t Heavy…He’s Bob Russel

10-24-08    Bob Russell

 

I guess I was twenty five when I met the songwriter, Bob Russell.  He wrote many hit songs but the one that has stuck with me all my life was HE AIN’T HEAVY, HE’S MY BROTHER. 

 

Bob was tall, handsome and gracious.  His talent as a songwriter was second to none and his friendship as a man was warm, sincere and true.

 

I was a kid trying to make a name for myself in the P R business in Hollywood and Bob was a legendary song writer but for some reason, when we met, it was like we grew up together and had been friends all our lives.  I guess Bob was about thirty years older then I was at the time.

 

Bob was stricken with Cancer.  He had a beautiful family, gorgeous and comfortable home and all the money in the world but he didn’t have the one thing in the world he needed most, his health.

 

He fought Cancer like a Champion but lost the battle in a couple of tough years.

 

A few years later, I was managing Neil Diamond.  Neil was known for recording only his own songs but the thought of Neil’s voice and Bob’s song, haunted me.  I spoke to Neil about it and within a year or two he did in fact, record Bob’s classic song, HE AIN’T HEAVY, HE’S MY BROTHER. 

 

I don’t know if Neil recorded that song for me or his own brother but in my mind, he recorded it in the memory of my friend, Bob Russell.

 

I guess in a way, that gave back a little of the friendship I was so lucky to receive from Bob but in a way, I was the recipient of the song being recorded by Neil. 

 

I lost my brother Chuck around six years ago and every time I think of him, which is every day, I can hear in my mind, Neil’s rendition of that great song written by my friend Bob.  To Neil, Bob and my brother Chuck, none of you are Heavy and all are my brothers in one way or another.

 

Thank you Chuck for being the best older brother anyone in the world ever had, Bob, for your friendship and a song that warms my heart every time I hear or even think about it, and Neil, for our relationship, your talent and understanding as an artist.

 

Being Alone

7-10-09 Being alone

As a kid, I hated being alone. From my earliest memories till my teens, I craved the company of family, friends or the radio.

In my teens I began to become a little bit of a loner because I was shy. I was a very good athlete and got a lot of attention, which embarrassed me so my respite was staying alone and being within myself.

I was over 60 when I began writing and meditating, both practices bring on a desire for being alone and completely eliminate any feeling of loneliness. In fact, both practices connect me to the entire world in a manner I never knew existed before I began practicing them.

When I was a kid and alone, I felt lonely; now when I’m alone I can be connected to the world or content within myself but never lonely.

Growing up is a good thing, as long as you like yourself.

The Rest of My Life

7-06-09 The Rest Of My Life

I never thought I’d live to be 21 let alone 72 and healthy.

I’ve done a lot; a lot I’m proud of and a lot I wish I could change if I could. OK, I’ll live with the fact I can only do good, be good and create good from here on out.

I love what I do. I write, I interview people on my Heart of Hollywood radio program, I read to the children at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, I archive the residents at the Motion Picture & Television Fund Campus in Woodland Hills; I have raised two wonderful children and still work like hell to keep them as my best friends while remaining their “dad.”

I have a woman I love as dearly and as deeply as I ever thought I could love and cherish a woman. I respect the woman she is and protect the little girl within her that God has blessed me with the responsibility of honoring and protecting.

I want to stay healthy and active till I’m 120 and am not kidding with that number.

I want to contribute to society be spreading words of hope, motivation and dreams do and can come true if you work hard enough to make them so.

Life isn’t easy; never has been and never will be. As I get older it gets just a little more difficult each day to do what I used to do so easily; I just appreciate being able to make the effort and reach my goals now.

I don’t take life for granted but do know I am blessed; just ask all those that are in God’s heaven right now that got here at the same time or after I did.

God does create miracles and I’m staying here as long as I can to prove it.

Kids & The Elderly

7-06-09 Kids & The Elderly

They call it working both ends of the rainbow and there seems to be a pot of gold at each end for me.

Reading to children at Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles, and interviewing the residents at the Motion Picture & Television fund for their on Campus Channel 22 and video archives; who could ask for anything more?

I’ve documented how blessed I feel being able to read to the kids but till this moment, I didn’t realize how blessed I am to be the person interviewing the residents at the Fund.

Not only are their individual life stories captured for eternity but the feeling of fulfillment each interviewee gets as they tell their story always seems to fill me with gratification as well. I know that their family, friends and industry will always have the beauty and value of each special life documented for the ages.

I know I’m not immortal but it’s good to know that some of what I do will always be able to be found in the pages of history and it won’t be too hard to find.

Reading

7-2-09     READING

OK, I love to write and I love to read.  I usually read to myself but once in a while I have to read copy when I do my radio show commercials.  I don’t usually like to read copy as it sounds better when I just adlib what is on my mind about the product I believe in but sometimes you have to read the words the sponsor wants you to; I do my best. 

Yesterday I was privileged to be asked to read to the kids at Los Angeles’ Children’s Hospital, right in the Lobby of that magnificent edifice.

 I had never done anything like that before.  Sorry, I just remembered I read excerpts at book stores when my book was published.  I just never had the joy to read Children’s books to Children, even my own.  I told them stories but let their teachers or mom do the reading to them. 

The kids would pick the book they wanted me to read from a collection of books that were stood up behind me.  I’d read, they’d listen and then the people associated with Children’s Hospital would hand out books to the children that were there for each reading.

As I read, the kids would slide up next to me or get very close in front of me and touch the books as I read to them and would also poke my knee or grab my hand when a particular sentence or phrase tickled their imagination.  Each touch was like an Angel from Heaven blessing me.  Now I know why the Pied Piper has such a big smile on his face. 

I will never be jealous of Hans Christian Anderson again, I just understand his joy.  

Looking into those young eyes, with their nothing need to be said thanks, will be in my heart and soul forever.  

I’ll be back.

Mickey Rooney

6-16-09 Little Giants

Last week I interviewed Mickey Rooney for my Heart of Hollywood TV and radio shows.

Mickey can’t be over 5’3” but to me he is a giant. He was the first guy who made miracles come true in the movies I saw as a kid when he played Andy Hardy in all those MGM classics. He was energetic, handsome, smart, determined, respectful and wouldn’t take no for an answer on any of his dreams. He acted, sang, played music and danced his way into the heart of America. He was our biggest box-office star for years.

Mickey and I learned that we were both born in Brooklyn and attended Fairfax High School in Los Angeles; the bond was created between me and immortality. Mickey was connected to every star in Hollywood from Gable, Garland, Garbo Keaton, Gardner, Taylor, Holden, Quinn, Gleason, and more iconic names then I could ever put down here but in my interview with him, he connected me to the heart and soul of Hollywood’s legendary past in every way.

At the height of his stardom, Mickey enlisted in the Army during World War II and entertained our troops with a three man Jeep troupe that went as far as the front lines to perform and say hi to our fighting men. He was injured and honored with a Service Medal by no less than General Patton but won’t discuss the details. Mickey is not about himself, he’s about those he can and does entertain.

When his days of stardom at MGM were over, he continued and continues his career to this day in a manner and character that only Giants can do; with purpose, determination, goodness of message and nothing but the thought of entertainment in his heart. Mickey is there for the little guy and the elderly, that’s why he did the interview with me and for the benefit of the Motion Picture & Television Fund’s Channel 22.

Try and compliment him and his humbleness is apparent. Talk about the past and his eyes light up; he not only talks with respect about his history but will recite literature and sing limericks from his past as an infant performer in Vaudeville.

Mickey talked about the beauty of Hollywood and the fact that our industry takes care of its own and also the responsibility of Hollywood studios and producers to create product that will not only entertain our youth but give them examples to follow as well, as he did with his films as a youth. He’s in or close to his 90’s and he still cares about our industry’s duty to create proper product for the youth of not only America but the world. Mickey’s message: We are all children of the same God; brothers and sisters.

This little essay is about Mickey Rooney but my body tingles as I write it. I have felt much honored in my life with family, friends and people I have been blessed to work with but never greater then that two hour or so interview I had with Mickey Rooney, a Hollywood Legend. There is a Heart in Hollywood and at the moment, it is carried in the body and soul of a beautiful little of stature but Giant of a man; Mickey Rooney.

Take a bow son, you deserve it. God Bless you always,

Mickey Rooney

6-16-09    Little Giants 

Last week I interviewed Mickey Rooney for my Heart of Hollywood TV and radio shows.

Mickey can’t be over 5’3” but to me he is a giant.  He was the first guy who made miracles come true in the movies I saw as a kid when he played Andy Hardy in all those MGM classics.  He was energetic, handsome, smart, determined, respectful and wouldn’t take no for an answer on any of his dreams.  He acted, sang, played music and danced his way into the heart of America.  He was our biggest box-office star for years. 

Mickey and I learned that we were both born in Brooklyn and attended Fairfax High School in Los Angeles; the bond was created between me and immortality.  Mickey was connected to every star in Hollywood from Gable, Garland, Garbo Keaton, Gardner, Taylor, Holden, Quinn, Gleason, and more iconic names then I could ever put down here but in my interview with him, he connected me to the heart and soul of Hollywood’s legendary past in every way. 

At the height of his stardom, Mickey enlisted in the Army during World War II and entertained our troops with a three man Jeep troupe that went as far as the front lines to perform and say hi to our fighting men.  He was injured and honored with a Service Medal by no less than General Patton but won’t discuss the details.  Mickey is not about himself, he’s about those he can and does entertain. 

When his days of stardom at MGM were over, he continued and continues his career to this day in a manner and character that only Giants can do; with purpose, determination, goodness of message and nothing but the thought of entertainment in his heart.  Mickey is there for the little guy and the elderly, that’s why he did the interview with me and for the benefit of the Motion Picture & Television Fund’s Channel 22. 

Try and compliment him and his humbleness is apparent.  Talk about the past and his eyes light up; he not only talks with respect about his history but will recite literature and sing limericks from his past as an infant performer in Vaudeville. 

Mickey talked about the beauty of Hollywood and the fact that our industry takes care of its own and also the responsibility of Hollywood studios and producers to create product that will not only entertain our youth but give them examples to follow as well, as he did with his films as a youth.  He’s in or close to his 90’s and he still cares about our industry’s duty to create proper product for the youth of not only America but the world.  Mickey’s message:  We are all children of the same God; brothers and sisters. 

This little essay is about Mickey Rooney but my body tingles as I write it.  I have felt much honored in my life with family, friends and people I have been blessed to work with but never greater then that two hour or so interview I had with Mickey Rooney, a Hollywood Legend.  There is a Heart in Hollywood and at the moment, it is carried in the body and soul of a beautiful little of stature but Giant of a man; Mickey Rooney. 

Take a bow son, you deserve it.  God Bless you always,

James Caan

Today’s a typical day for my interviews at the Motion Picture & Television Fund.  We are archiving the residents of the Fund for archiving on the Fund’s Channel 22.   In going over the three interviewees for the day, I find I am to interview Ted Witzer, a talent agent in Hollywood who brought me James Caan as a client over 40 years ago when I was in the Public Relations business.   Ted has been in and out of my life for all of those 40 years, not unusual in Hollywood, but today I hope I make a nice payback to Ted during our interview by making it as pleasurable to him as it is enjoyable to me when my interviews bring out magic moments in the history of Hollywood that wouold have otherwise been forgotten.  It’s not the stars who have the great stories, it’s the poeple around the stars who know all the fun stuff.  “So Ted, tell me about Natalie Wood, whom you handled for many years.”

Lazy

5-19-09 Lazy

There are times when I feel like I have nothing to do.
I don’t feel like reading, I’ve already worked out and done my meditation and haven’t made plans to see a movie, have lunch with a friend or get guests for my radio show: I’m already booked for a month ahead.

Why is I forget that the one thing I love to do anytime, writing, never comes to mind when I feel I have time on my hands.

Ok, today I have some time on my hands; a friend threw his back out and cancelled lunch plans. I don’t like eating out alone and have some radio commercials for my radio show later this afternoon but right now, I thought I had time on my hands.

Rather then have time on my hands, I’m letting my fingers do their little dance on my computer. I have and had no idea what I would write but look at all that’s come out already.

I think lazy is a better expression for my feelings then having time on my hands. How can I have time on my hands when my fingers can dance all over my computer and do nothing else than put my brain to work for a few minutes.

I think I just discovered another way to fight Alzheimer’s, keep my mind busy at all times unless sleeping or meditating. The first way to fight that damn disease is to stand or hang upside down for a few minutes a day. How can brain cells short circuit if they’re filled with blood

A Good EMail

5-5-09 Good Email

Joe,
1100 am in Phoenix has had a host of poor shows, the latest being the
ever-hateful Laura Ingram.

This morning I was out doing my daily 4 miles when I turned the
station on and was delighted to hear your interview with David
Benioff. I have never heard of your show, but as a book author
myself, I was thrilled to hear you interview this talent. He was
great, but you were greater. You have a very nice style, you don’t
compete with your subject and they clearly like you.

I genuinely hope you are on 1100 am for a long time. Many of us have
been lamenting the quality of talk radio. But I love this show and
will tell my friends about it and encourage them to do the same.

Thanks and Best Regards,

Paul Perry

Faith

THE UNKNOWN 

 

God is the unknown but God is there.  We have faith.

Death is the unknown but death is there.

With death, like God, we’re not supposed to know but we are to have faith that what we don’t know does exist after this life is over.

We enter the unknown, where God and our spirit co-exist, and we know