so,,ive been considering my death as i have been at deaths doora few
times since 2012
what was this life about?? what would ilike people to rember about
meandwillanyone weven givea damn...
so...I had my last rites read in 2012..a week before i went tosee martin
donnelly a catholic priest iam not even catholic but episcopalian-church
of England Mom was from Bermuda a uk Island
a nurse at St annes hospital after pullingthe tube out my throat said
well he musthave something else for you to do meaning Jesus it was a
catholic hospital... OK??
at the time i was curious what lent was and i said to father Donnelly i
getit its that suffering teaches us to understand thesuffering!!
he saiud yes you get it
he was the one 2 weeks later reading my last rites.....oddd eh??
I am nota college or book educated man i was expelled from High schoolat
age 15 as i drew a picture of Led zepplin in art class...the principla
saidi was the 2nd he expelled inhis carreer
the other was Mark Farner fromtheband Grand funk Railroad from Flint
Michigan...
I thanked him shook his hand and started toplay night clubs witha
johnny cash imitator -Hank Bayou inlike 1972
then by 73-74 I gota call from Johnny Paris of Johnnyand the hurricanes
who said hey kid i heard youare pretty good come overtand audition,,i
was 17 wheni got the gig..
Johnnywas old school Rock 50s and hewas verysmart butthe industry turned
on himas they did instrumentals..the beatles opend for themin Hamburg
Germany inlike 1960///he had many hits but back then residuals were not
plenty.
I just learned that Del shannon was managed by thesame Detroit label
well NYC Bigtop records and warwick...
So it was a great educationunpop culture,,theyused red rive rock in
planes trains and automobiles...
John taught me numerous rules of show biz..he said nevertake your
preoblems to thestage...I didand suffered,,my guitar was stolen beforei
het thge stagea brand new les paul i borrowed for thegig,,i wnt
ballistic on the audience
I could not play a coveroflet it be as my hands were shaking so
bad,,,andi had a huge band of 4 VBiolins 5 horns,drums ,bass Guita and
me on Guitar and lousy piano...
that was 1976
then i met Mel Blanc -Johnny cougar was also inconcrt after
myshow...John Mellencamp
Mel Knew rejectionand struggle well
so he said whenyou get to la illtake you to Lunch and see ifi canhelp
you meet some record guys as he knew everyone
I was 20
then he said you may not get a record deal but may find another niche so
just keep trying
that was November 19 1976 at beverly hills hamburger hamlet
a label shelter records showed interest and said they liked my material
i found out Leon Russel was part owner and they signed Tom Petty and the
heartbreakers while i was there,,,
I stayed at thetropican hotel motel on Melrose??
it was 79.00a week... Dukes breakfast was there..3,99
I met Bo donalson and the heywoods whowere from OHIO as theywere with
Capitaol..theyliked mystuffand said tostayand geta job bagging grocerys
at Rakophs..buti was Brokeand needd to come back to Toledoand get
organized
once home i started abooking agency to do voice over takllen , Bands ,
models and help promote local artist,,in 1978 i helped promotea concert
of Journey,pablo cruise and robert Palmer over 20 K attended a outdoor
venue
i gotsidtracked withtryingtosave buildings andother projects i di for
free..somy desire to help other artist was because i knew how it
felt,.,,so i would booka folk singer for 75.00and get 10% or 7.50
so i was nota good business man as far as profits.,,,butmade lotsof
contacts
I started the Hollywood dream factory® out of my office selling
memorabilia like movie magazine fromthe 20s..
I fell inlove with theindustry inallaspects the agents,talent craftsman
,, cinema projectionist..promotion peopel directors,make up.
sound.lights...the entire industry
and so book authors like james Parrish called me for research material
herb Bridges was a regularand then book shop dealers of posters world
over called me
and finally i told my ex wife lets wholsale to other shopsandthenstarted
tomake memorabilia like my Movie reel clock. megaphones. and
clapboards..
soonwe sold to allthe studiosand chains like suncoastand thenallthe
video companys.....we made money but alsobought carsand stuff so
ilearned how fastit can disappear plus i had a lawsuit witha
infringerandeventhoughi had a canadia paten the famous playerts
bootlegged my clock overa 1.00 import fee...
Lots of lessons and im stilllearningas alsois the rest oftheworld
the biggest one ive learned is to forgive everyone..pray forall people
andtry not tojudge others or be vengeful as everyone makes mistakes even
the best..
so thats why i decied tolet Godthru Jesus guide meas he can do awesome
things imho..
peaceandlove is my goal\
after 2 friends died in 2021 moths apart i saw they were both
cremated..me being frugaland notwantingto burden my son i thought ok
that sounds like a plan its 850.00 and i hope to prepay so he will geta
box of ashes..an d get sprinkle in a park to feed the plants.....
If i last awhile i would like to help others one idea is forlow cost
computers for tehdisabled and blind as i lost mine on halloweenand this
one is a 2006..I just ordered a 2015 Imac so should help me getup to
speed
plus the internet saddens me with allthe hacks and negative words
I am too old for that stuff...
my wish when i croak is that my music buddies and friend celebrtae with
Laughs andjoy of each otherand have a big picnic..and share
unconditional love..
and my wish is ther will be world peace ofall races.gendersand ethnic
groups..justas MLK drteamed of John Lennon and what jesus promised us
would eventually be..
I believe it will happen but not sure if in my life time
meanwhile God bless you all and hope you lives are ful of Good blessings
ive found everyone has the potential to do beautiful kind stuff.we just
need to look for thepositive in others not just the mistakes or faults
alone//
but sure its hard as i failed many times and did many things i am
ashamed of...
Tom
Hollywood dream factory®
since 1977
everyone has a part in Gods cosmic puzzle !!!
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