This is the Preface to a series of stories I plan on writing in the weeks and months ahead. I want to write my recollections of as many of the folks I have worked with over the years as I can remember. Beginning with Frankie Laine and finishing with Liza Minnelli. There's a lot of names in between those two and it will be a kick to part the curtains of my memory and revisit people and places. I will be telling the truth as I saw it, no punches will be pulled. (Sorry Liza). I will only write about things I actually witnessed or was a part of...no third or fourth party gossip.
So...
I play drums. I've never liked it when people say they play THE drums. I play DRUMS. I started banging on things as a baby and in Kindergarten I played in the Rhythm Band (maracas-I have a picture) and the teacher told my Mother she had never had a student with so much rhythm.
My parents brought back a small Ludwig set from Lyon and Healy in Chicago when I was in the third grade. Small Bass drum, 3 x 13 snare, (which I wish I still had today) small spun brass cymbal and Bass drum pedal. No Hi Hat, no toms, no seat. Also no instructions and for weeks I tried to figure out how to set these things up correctly. Somehow, I had managed to attach the Bass Drum pedal in such a way that I had to take my foot OFF the pedal in order for it to strike the drum. I can't imagine how I managed that trick but after a while I was able to get the pedal on correctly and the drums tuned up so they sounded nice to my ear.
Our record collection was entirely made up of Broadway Show Cast albums, Big Band records, Symphonic and Opera recordings, and possibly every record ever made by Al Jolson.
Back in the Dark Ages of the late 50's, there was Music on Television. One could actually see musicians, even Jazz musicians quite frequently on TV. Ed Sullivan, Steve Allen, Jack Paar, Jackie Gleason and others all featured real players. The Dorsey Brothers even had a Summer replacement Show with Their band, singers and guests like Elvis Presley.
I learned how to play drums by watching those musicians on TV and also by playing along with the records in our house. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Thursday, February 4, 2021
ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST...
Reflections on Marvin Hamlisch's passing and other things to ponder...
Woke up yesterday morning (Tuesday) and had the uneasy feeling that someone I knew had died. It wasn't Marvin Hamlisch I was thinking about but another Show Biz personality. So, when the phone began to ring around 8 AM, I picked it up with not a little apprehension. (My extrasensory powers are well known among my friends and family. I won't go into specifics at this time but I'm One With The Force on matters ranging from who's about to call on the phone to whether Lavoris is on sale at the local Walgreens.)
Hearing the news that Marvin had died was like a swift punch to the solar plexus. I've endured many losses in the past few years (haven't we all) and with the exception of Gary LaBriola, I was pretty much "Stiff Upper Lip, Old Man" and gotten on with it. I knew that Marvin had canceled some concerts of late and that he looked extremely fragile at a Pasadena Pops concert just a few weeks back. Marvin himself had called me prior to going into the Hospital a number of months ago and while he didn't say what he was having done, he was his usual, "Hi Babe, It's Marvin" when I picked up the phone.
So, it was really a shock to me that I was so shaken by the news. Marvin and I had met in Los Angeles in 1979 when I was doing Evita at the Shubert Theater. Introduced by Larry Blank, conductor for both Marvin and Evita, it seemed that Marvin liked what I was doing in the pit on the drums and was favorably impressed. Moving to New York in 1980, I followed Larry to Broadway, where we both served in the galleys of the Good Ship "Onward Victoria" a Broadway flop that previewed for 4 weeks and closed on Opening night in December of 1980.
Somewhat adrift until my next Broadway show was about to begin rehearsals, I received a call from Mr. Blank asking if I wanted to play drums for Marvin Hamlisch on the road. Of course I said yes and thus began the saga of Berkowitz and Hamlisch, Attorneys at Law, an on again, off again relationship that lasted 33 years.
It was Marvin who made me a Conductor, first with the 28 piece Orchestra we used on smaller concerts and then, when he thought it was time, I became the Symphony show Conductor. We played all over the World. I conducted the London Symphony twice
Woke up yesterday morning (Tuesday) and had the uneasy feeling that someone I knew had died. It wasn't Marvin Hamlisch I was thinking about but another Show Biz personality. So, when the phone began to ring around 8 AM, I picked it up with not a little apprehension. (My extrasensory powers are well known among my friends and family. I won't go into specifics at this time but I'm One With The Force on matters ranging from who's about to call on the phone to whether Lavoris is on sale at the local Walgreens.)
Hearing the news that Marvin had died was like a swift punch to the solar plexus. I've endured many losses in the past few years (haven't we all) and with the exception of Gary LaBriola, I was pretty much "Stiff Upper Lip, Old Man" and gotten on with it. I knew that Marvin had canceled some concerts of late and that he looked extremely fragile at a Pasadena Pops concert just a few weeks back. Marvin himself had called me prior to going into the Hospital a number of months ago and while he didn't say what he was having done, he was his usual, "Hi Babe, It's Marvin" when I picked up the phone.
So, it was really a shock to me that I was so shaken by the news. Marvin and I had met in Los Angeles in 1979 when I was doing Evita at the Shubert Theater. Introduced by Larry Blank, conductor for both Marvin and Evita, it seemed that Marvin liked what I was doing in the pit on the drums and was favorably impressed. Moving to New York in 1980, I followed Larry to Broadway, where we both served in the galleys of the Good Ship "Onward Victoria" a Broadway flop that previewed for 4 weeks and closed on Opening night in December of 1980.
Somewhat adrift until my next Broadway show was about to begin rehearsals, I received a call from Mr. Blank asking if I wanted to play drums for Marvin Hamlisch on the road. Of course I said yes and thus began the saga of Berkowitz and Hamlisch, Attorneys at Law, an on again, off again relationship that lasted 33 years.
It was Marvin who made me a Conductor, first with the 28 piece Orchestra we used on smaller concerts and then, when he thought it was time, I became the Symphony show Conductor. We played all over the World. I conducted the London Symphony twice
From the Pandemic...
After realizing that this Blog still existed, I invite you to read of an incident with Helen Reddy in 1973.
I was asked recently about the private plane that Helen Reddy and her band and husband Jeff were on from Philadelphia, on its way to Los Angeles, that almost didn't make it. Here's the story as I can recall it after all these years.
I was introduced to Helen the first night I moved to Los Angeles by my friend and her pianist, Tom Hensley. A few months after that introduction I became Helen's drummer, following Larry Brown, who was and still is a wonderful drummer/engineer/Producer.
At the beginning of those touring days, Helen had a hit with "I Don't Know How To Love Him" and we were booked in Utah for many college dates. The bookers thought that Helen was a quasi religious singer and perfect for their squeaky clean audiences in the many Mormon based colleges that required three airplanes to reach from LA. When we arrived on site for these gigs, the college promoters were met with a rag tag group of hippy musicians and a lead singer who didn't shave her underarms. Needless to say, hilarity ensued. The months went on, the gigs got better. Helen shaved. We flew to Europe for the Midem Festival and a small date at Ronnie Scott's in London. I left to join the Association for a while and then returned to The Helen Reddy Summer Show on NBC with Nelson Riddle, Carnegie Hall and a long list of live concerts.
Jeff knew George Carlin well, and as a result, we traveled a bit in George's private plane, a Jet Commander with call letters WW0069 or Whiskey Whiskey 69 on the radio. Following a gig in Phiadelphia, the band of myself, Dick Horn, Dave Parlato, Mike Warren, Paul Cowsill and Helen and Jeff boarded the plane for Los Angeles. We always wanted to get home as soon as possible. Occasionally Jeff and or Helen would get the opening act on a concert to let us open for them, so we could leave earlier. Anyway, we take off from Philly and settle in for the flight home. We knew there would be a fuel stop between along the way. Dave Parlato, Helen and myself began a game of Scrabble on the small table. Helen and Jeff were facing us, their backs to the front of the plane. Dave Parlato, myself and Mike Warren were in the rear row bench seats Dick Horn was on the the window and in from of him was Paul Cowsill. An ice chest of soft drinks was in front of Mr. Cowsill, on the floor. We were told there was a line of thunderstorms over the Midwest and that we were diverting to another airport for our refueling stop.
Our Scrabble game was fast and furious and Dave Parlato was winning, for the first time ever in all our matches. Suddenly over Illinois a hard bump shook the plane. We looked at each other and timidly continued our game. Jim Croce had died in a plane accident a few weeks earlier and was on our minds. Seconds later, the plane began to descend...very fast and at a very steep angle. Mike Warren, who hated to fly, was in a fetal position in his seat. The plane's descent was so rapid that we were actually weightless. I had neglected to put on my seat belt and was now on the ceiling, which was quickly coming apart, losing tiles as we descended. The ice chest began to float in the cabin. Jeff was moaning and Helen was saying it would be all right as she knew it was not her destiny to die in an airplane. 14, 000 feet straight down and the veteran pilots somehow found some clear air and got us level, and not a moment too soon. We landed at Moline Illinois' Quad City Airport. We came to a stop on the tarmac. Quickly exiting the plane, we took our belongings and thanked any and all deities that we had been spared. The inside of the plane was a wreck. There would be no flight the rest of the way that night in the Jet Commander.
We checked into the local Holiday Inn at the Airport and Jeff arranged flights home the next day on a commercial airliner. Preparing for bed, I took off my trousers and two Scrabble tiles fell to the floor. They spelled HA.
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
God's Frozen People
Good Evening from cold Balmville, NY. While not unseasonably cold, my ancestors were a tribe of desert nomads and I think the gene for cool temperatures is missing in my DNA.
No matter. The heat is on and I'm wrapped in some nice warm clothes from the local Marshalls.
I love Marshalls. They have a line of products from THE PALM restaurant, cookware, glassware, dishes, etc. that the lovely Deirdre and I are addicted to. The square dinner plates are to die for.
My new drum set from Gretsch is the best I've ever played. My opinion, your mileage may vary.
Shell layups and hardware like the old Gretsch round badge sets from the 50's and 60's, they sound very Tony Williams, which I love. Not to denigrate any of the other drum manufacturers that are making drums in the style of Gretsch, but, if you want Gretsch sound, you must buy Gretsch drums.
Most people think I'm a long time Buddy Rich acolyte but my love of Mr. Rich came rather late in life. Prior to that my faves were Tony Williams, Pete La Roca, Billy Higgins, Joe Chambers, Joe Morello, Sol Gubin and Alvin Stoller. An eclectic bunch to say the least. Krupa is in there some where too.
I always find that a different set up or changing the tuning makes me think differently about what I'm doing and how I'm approaching the music. Great fun to change things up.
Clark Terry always talks about IMITATE, ASSIMILATE, INNOVATE as the path to one's Jazz identity and I couldn't agree more. I'd be happy if the last one was just CREATE. When you get a chance to play, go for it. COMMUNICATE...(maybe CT would like to add communicate).
Always thrilled whenever I'm somewhere on the road and some player in the local band plays in the style that we're playing and communicates to the audience. It's lovely when that happens.
Have changed agents again for my Symphony dates. Back to my tried and true team of pros. Sometimes you try something and it doesn't work out. Of course, an elegant leave taking is much preferred to a vitriolic email but what can you do? Moving forward.
Our new puppy, Maisie, is now 5 months old. A Havanese, she has changed our lives and our routine.
She's just the greatest addition to our home and Deirdre and I are glad we finally joined the World of Dog Owners.
Acquired a snow rake for this year's snow storms. Put it to good use on Thanksgiving Day when we received about 8 inches of heavy wet snow. Clearing the roof prevents ice dams and giant icicles, which I detest.
TV...we still love Person Of Interest, NCIS, Alpha House, Elementary, some BBC three parter with Bill Nighy, Forever and we're on the fence about the new show State of Affairs. Funny how the other NCIS' don't do it for us... Modern Family is a late discovery...yes, I know. Not sure about the Claire character. Might be a deal breaker in the long run. And last but not least, SHARK TANK. We love this show...not crazy about all the Sharks but really enjoy watching this...even the reruns. Why does Barbara Corcoran always looks like she's smelling something really bad?
Much new music finding it's way to my Library. Great arrangements for Pops concerts of all types. Can't wait to hear them played.
Just finished Frank Foster's autobiography. Reading the new Bob Hope book now. Also read the Peggy Lee bio. She might have been among the most eccentric of all great stars. Nice to see Mike Renzi's name mentioned so frequently in the book.
OK, time for dinner.
Back soon, y'all.
In the meantime, sleep warm.
Mike Berkowitz
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Note from the Road, 2014 Edition.
Summer 2014
Direct from Capstone Production's HQ's in beautiful downtown Balmville, NY, we bring you the long awaited first post of 2014.
Thankfully, Summer has arrived and we are enjoying all the pleasures of the Hudson Valley, which seems impossibly green this year, owing I assume, to all the moisture from the snowy Winter and the wet and cool Spring we had in these parts.
Part of the enjoyment has been in attending concerts by John Pizzarelli, Eddie Izzard, Adam Nussbaum and assorted other events here in our area. John P and his Quartet were magnificent at the Town Crier in Beacon. If you've never seen John live and in person, go! In addition to his amazing musical talent, his patter and affable demeanor are as good as it gets...funny and never corny.
I'll be conducting the Rochester Philharmonic July 3/4. I'm very pleased to have been asked and the program includes a lot of fun music...1812 Overture, of course and a pice by my old friend Jim Beckel, "Liberty For All"...in addition to works by Mancini, Hamlisch, John Williams, Alan Silvestri,
Sousa, Percy Faith and to top it off...Tommy Newsom's arrangement of "Strike Up The Band", written for Buddy Rich. (On that one, I'll be playing drums.)
Concert in Hackettstown, NJ on July 12th at Centenary College...Tribute to Gene Krupa. Great band and featuring vocalist Amy London. We'll be doing some Krupa tunes that we haven't performed before, such as "Melody in F" as well as music from the movie "The Gene Krupa Story" and Quincy Jone's charts from the classic album GK did in 1956, "Drummer Man". Cincy native Amy London will be singing some Anita O'Day tunes as well as some Nelson Riddle/Rosemary Clooney charts, in honor of her hometown favorite.
End of July finds me at the Green Music Center with the Santa Rosa Pops, performing a concert with Mariachi Sol de Mexico. Should be an exciting evening of the best in Mariachi Music and some Orchestral faves like "Andalusia" and Overture from "Man of La Mancha".
Looking forward to upcoming concerts with Byron Stripling, Haven Burton, Cady Huffman, Karen Mason, Carmen Bradford, Lisanne Lyons, Tony Babino, Five By Design, The Music of John Williams as well as Holiday concerts and ABBA Tribute.
Krupa date in Seattle area in October...booking more gigs around that one so I'll have that info next time for all. Looking forward to working with my good friends from the Seattle music scene. They're great and they know how to swing and have a good time.
OK, that's it for now. Enjoy all the Summer has to offer and keep in touch.
Best,
Mike B
Direct from Capstone Production's HQ's in beautiful downtown Balmville, NY, we bring you the long awaited first post of 2014.
Thankfully, Summer has arrived and we are enjoying all the pleasures of the Hudson Valley, which seems impossibly green this year, owing I assume, to all the moisture from the snowy Winter and the wet and cool Spring we had in these parts.
Part of the enjoyment has been in attending concerts by John Pizzarelli, Eddie Izzard, Adam Nussbaum and assorted other events here in our area. John P and his Quartet were magnificent at the Town Crier in Beacon. If you've never seen John live and in person, go! In addition to his amazing musical talent, his patter and affable demeanor are as good as it gets...funny and never corny.
I'll be conducting the Rochester Philharmonic July 3/4. I'm very pleased to have been asked and the program includes a lot of fun music...1812 Overture, of course and a pice by my old friend Jim Beckel, "Liberty For All"...in addition to works by Mancini, Hamlisch, John Williams, Alan Silvestri,
Sousa, Percy Faith and to top it off...Tommy Newsom's arrangement of "Strike Up The Band", written for Buddy Rich. (On that one, I'll be playing drums.)
Concert in Hackettstown, NJ on July 12th at Centenary College...Tribute to Gene Krupa. Great band and featuring vocalist Amy London. We'll be doing some Krupa tunes that we haven't performed before, such as "Melody in F" as well as music from the movie "The Gene Krupa Story" and Quincy Jone's charts from the classic album GK did in 1956, "Drummer Man". Cincy native Amy London will be singing some Anita O'Day tunes as well as some Nelson Riddle/Rosemary Clooney charts, in honor of her hometown favorite.
End of July finds me at the Green Music Center with the Santa Rosa Pops, performing a concert with Mariachi Sol de Mexico. Should be an exciting evening of the best in Mariachi Music and some Orchestral faves like "Andalusia" and Overture from "Man of La Mancha".
Looking forward to upcoming concerts with Byron Stripling, Haven Burton, Cady Huffman, Karen Mason, Carmen Bradford, Lisanne Lyons, Tony Babino, Five By Design, The Music of John Williams as well as Holiday concerts and ABBA Tribute.
Krupa date in Seattle area in October...booking more gigs around that one so I'll have that info next time for all. Looking forward to working with my good friends from the Seattle music scene. They're great and they know how to swing and have a good time.
OK, that's it for now. Enjoy all the Summer has to offer and keep in touch.
Best,
Mike B
Sunday, September 8, 2013
The Way They Were, A Tribute to Marvin Hamlisch and Barbra Streisand. Conceived and conducted by Michael Berkowitz, Marvin's friend of 33 years and his Music Director/Conductor from 1980 until 1990 and featuring Broadway's Haven Burton, star of Shrek, Legally Blonde and Rent.
Marvin was the rehearsal pianist for FUNNY GIRL, Barbra's great Broadway triumph. From The Way We Were to conducting Barbra's 1994 legendary comeback tour, right up until Marvin's untimely passing in 2012, these two legends created some of the World's most memorable musical moments.
Michael Berkowitz has brought the music of these two legends together for a program unlike any other. Among the selections are:
Overture to Barbra's 1994 Tour
The Way We Were
People
Don't Rain On My Parade
Send In the Clowns
Putting It Together
Memory
With One Look
Evergreen
Music That Makes Me Dance
Windmills of Your Mind
What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life
Ordinary Miracles
Plus Marvin's Instrumentals
A Chorus Line Overture
Movie Medley
Nobody Does It Better
They're Playing My Song
The Entertainer
Sophie's Choice
One
Smile
There will never be another Marvin Hamlisch. This show is a true celebration of the joy and laughter and the music that made him a Legend, plus the music of Barbra Streisand, sung by the amazing Haven Burton.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Where did I go?
Sorry to both of my readers about the long break between blogs. I hope you've been keeping yourselves occupied while I have been otherwise engaged.
So, NYC this Summer is about as weird as I can remember. An abundance of folks having conversations with themselves in diners and on the streets. Regular (?) folks, talking to themselves, laughing, yelling, pleading, exhorting...another odd phenomenon.
Also, tourists in NYC. It is now impossible to walk at intersections in midtown NYC as tourists stand on the corners, looking around for a cab or a hotel or are texting and standing in the middle of the sidewalk or just generally moving at the snail's pace that is normal in Normal, Illinois but not New Yawk City. And I've become that guy who tells these people to get out the way! I am now that Geezer who would be in a Martin Scorsese film, if Martin Scorsese still made those kinds of New Yawk centric movies.
One last thing...tattoos...WTF? We are now living in a world that is driven by Honey Boo Boo TV.
In the words of the late, great Fred Ebb..."Whatever Happened To Class?" I'm glad I'm not young anymore.
Have been traveling to Seattle lately for work a bit. Lovely place. Someone said that Seattle is the new NY and that NY is the new Des Moines. Might be the case. Lot's to do there, a vibrant downtown, a large concentration of good musos, restaurants all over the place and nice folks. One of the few places that is in consideration for a move from the Hudson Valley.
Lot's of great concerts coming up...new programs, new music. Doing a Benny Goodman Tribute with the GREAT Ken Peplowski in Santa Rosa. Conducting from the drums on this one. Can't wait.
New Year's Eve with the Grand Rapids Symphony, a couple of concerts in Long Beach and Ft. Myers with the Copa Boys Tribute to the Rat Pack and then concerts with the Three Phantoms, Classical Mystery Tour and our annual Christmas Extravaganza in Santa Rosa as well. Plus Big Band concerts at Hofstra University, The Neel Center in Florida, a Sinatra & Basie at the Sands concert in Illinois and a Riddle Tribute with the Fabulous Naples Jazz Orchestra.
So, taking life as it comes. We welcomed our new Grandson, Hudson Berkowitz into the World two weeks ago. Nine pounds, one ounces of wonderfulness. He's a cutie but I might be prejudiced. Nah, he's a cutie.
OK, promise to write more frequently but don't forget to call nonetheless. I'm always available!
Happy end of Summer.
Mike B
So, NYC this Summer is about as weird as I can remember. An abundance of folks having conversations with themselves in diners and on the streets. Regular (?) folks, talking to themselves, laughing, yelling, pleading, exhorting...another odd phenomenon.
Also, tourists in NYC. It is now impossible to walk at intersections in midtown NYC as tourists stand on the corners, looking around for a cab or a hotel or are texting and standing in the middle of the sidewalk or just generally moving at the snail's pace that is normal in Normal, Illinois but not New Yawk City. And I've become that guy who tells these people to get out the way! I am now that Geezer who would be in a Martin Scorsese film, if Martin Scorsese still made those kinds of New Yawk centric movies.
One last thing...tattoos...WTF? We are now living in a world that is driven by Honey Boo Boo TV.
In the words of the late, great Fred Ebb..."Whatever Happened To Class?" I'm glad I'm not young anymore.
Have been traveling to Seattle lately for work a bit. Lovely place. Someone said that Seattle is the new NY and that NY is the new Des Moines. Might be the case. Lot's to do there, a vibrant downtown, a large concentration of good musos, restaurants all over the place and nice folks. One of the few places that is in consideration for a move from the Hudson Valley.
Lot's of great concerts coming up...new programs, new music. Doing a Benny Goodman Tribute with the GREAT Ken Peplowski in Santa Rosa. Conducting from the drums on this one. Can't wait.
New Year's Eve with the Grand Rapids Symphony, a couple of concerts in Long Beach and Ft. Myers with the Copa Boys Tribute to the Rat Pack and then concerts with the Three Phantoms, Classical Mystery Tour and our annual Christmas Extravaganza in Santa Rosa as well. Plus Big Band concerts at Hofstra University, The Neel Center in Florida, a Sinatra & Basie at the Sands concert in Illinois and a Riddle Tribute with the Fabulous Naples Jazz Orchestra.
So, taking life as it comes. We welcomed our new Grandson, Hudson Berkowitz into the World two weeks ago. Nine pounds, one ounces of wonderfulness. He's a cutie but I might be prejudiced. Nah, he's a cutie.
OK, promise to write more frequently but don't forget to call nonetheless. I'm always available!
Happy end of Summer.
Mike B
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