Richard will make rare L.A. appearance at Spike Jones salute

Richard will make a rare apperance on Tuesday, February 21st at the Paley Center in Los Angeles. He will be at a 100th birthday salute to Spike Jones. As many of you know, Richard was a big fan of Spikes. In fact, the Carpenter's Christmas Portrait album uses a lot of Spike's material from his own holiday album.

Here is the information:
http://www.paleycenter.org/2012-spring-thank-you-music-lovers-a-centennial-salute-to-spike-jones

Richard made an appearance at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills on Tuesday, February 21st. The event was a celebration of the 100th birthday of Spike Jones. As most of you know, Richard & Karen were big fans of Spike & his music.

Richard was part of a panel of Spike’s co-workers & admirers. The event began with a 30 minute salute to Spike on television. It showed just how many crazy antics went on with a live Spike Jones concert. Following the film, the panelists took seats on stage to talk about Spike. Richard was first. He showed the clip from their 1st ABC special that featured a Spike Jones version of “Close to you”. Richard spoke about how his father used to have 78 versions of Spike Jones records in their home. But, 78’s being as fragile as they were, Richard accidently broke them. He wanted to hear Spike, but always had disastrous results. His father soon taped over the photograph to eliminate Richard breaking any more 78’s. Soon, Harold bought Richard a vinyl set of Spike Jones called “Spike Jones plays for children. Richard said he still has that set today.

After each member of the panel spoke about Spike, they opened the floor to questions. While I had a dozen Carpenters questions for Richard, I had to think of a question that tied K&R to Spike Jones. I asked him about their Christmas Portrait album. I mentioned how surprised I was several years after the release of Christmas Portrait. The first time I heard Spike’s Christmas record, I was amazed how much Richard was inspired by the Spike Jones Christmas album. If you listen to it, Richard used several unique songs from Spike’s holiday recording and used similar arrangements for Christmas Portrait. Unlike most Spike Jones records, his Christmas album was pretty straight forward. In fact, the comedy number “Angel in the Christmas play” that K&R used on their ABC Christmas special came from Spike.

Richard told the story of going to a record store in New Haven with his Dad. Richard wanted the Percy Faith Christmas album. He said he was surprised to see the Spike Jones Christmas album in the record store as well. He said he thought about getting Spike’s record, but he still wanted Percy Faith. Harold bought him the album and they went home. A few days later, Harold shows up with the Spike Jones Christmas album. He said his Dad had put swings in the basement of their house, and Karen & Richard would swing back & forth as they listened to Spike Jones. Once he heard it, Richard admitted that he did not like it. It was not traditional Spike Jones. But over the years, he learned to love it. He said he now has a copy in the jukebox at this home, and his wife Mary keeps a copy in their car. He spoke in detail about what he loved about Spike’s Christmas album, and how Spike influenced the Carpenters holiday collection as well.

The evening was a great acknowledgment for Spike Jones. It’s also great to see Richard out on the town. Here is a link with a picture from the event:
http://www.wireimage.com/celebrity-...-Joe-Siracusa/139475813?r=139475813&st=Search

Here we have yet another event that Karen should have attended, the loss continues....

Thanks Jeff for the update, it's always great to see Richard still active out there, how exciting that you got to talk to him in a Q/A session. How far away were you from him? Did he offer any time for autographs from the fans?

Yes, he was very accessable. He signed a photo for me. It was taken with both of us in the lobby of A&M records in the 90's. I did not feel right pumping him for questions, but there was a lot of I wanted to ask. He was with Mary.

Wow. Dr. Demento and Richard Carpenter together. I wonder what a conversation between those two sounds like.