Just when you thought it couldn't get any better..............
For the past six months I've been working on a four-part series for BBC Radio 2, titled THE HERB ALPERT STORY. Until now I couldn't tell you all about it (although one or two of you were 'in the know') but now I can.
First of all the important bits. The series will air on BBC Radio 2 on WEDNESDAYS 21 June to 12 July from 22:03 to 22:30 British Summer Time. That will be 11 - 11.30pm across Continental Europe; 5 - 5.30pm in New York, 2 - 2.30pm Los Angeles.
The narrator will be Richard Carpenter, and the series is being made by the independent Scottish production company Demus.
At the beginning of March, I spent a week in Los Angeles recording interview material for the series. I spent an afternoon in Herb's recording studio at the Foundation with Herb and Jerry, and recorded a great deal of Herb talking about his musical life.
The following day, I visited John and Jean Pisano, and John had gathered together Pat Senatore and Bob Edmonson. We all enjoyed lunch (John's a great cook!) and a happy afternoon made even more so by the fact that we celebrated Bob's birthday, albeit a couple of days early.
I also spent an afternoon with Richard Carpenter, who has kindly agreed to narrate the series; I also spent time with Burt Bacharach who tells some stories about his long association with Herb; with Bob Findlay who is such wonderful company; and with Chris Montez who is a joy to spend time with.
I took Cissy Wechter and her sons to dinner, and we spent a very happy evening talking about Julius, the Baja Marimba Band, and how the TJB were more than just a musical act - they were, quite simply, a family.
I shan't spoil the fun of the series by telling you any of the many stories in advance, although in the end I recorded more speech material than we could possibly use in the series, and of course there will be plenty of music as well!
But I can tell you a couple of things, straight from the boss's mouth.
There are more "Lost Treaures" for sure, although probably not an album's worth.
Mexican Shuffle is in mono on the album and CD because although there was a stereo master, it got lost or destroyed.
And neither Herb nor Jerry knew about the two versions of "What Now my Love". In fact Herb asked me to send him a copy of the version that ended up in Europe (the non-bump'n'grind 'Plucky) which I have done.
The week ended on the highest note possible on Oscar night, when I fled downtown LA and spent my last night at the Vibrato Jazz Grill enjoying a fabulous dinner with John and Jean and listening to Pat and and Alan Broadbent playing, and although I had intended that to be my treat, I was pre-empted by Herb and Pat who, as a surprise, very kindly and graciously insisted that we were guests for the night. And Jean was persuaded to get up and sing, which was the icing on the cake!
More tales to come later, but I wanted you all to be the first to know about the series. There was much setting-up behind the scenes and I would like to publicly thank Steve Sidoruk, Leslie Mulligan and Ian Findlay for their help in making it happen.
I hope you will enjoy the fruits of our labours.
TONY
[Edited by Moderator to make it a sticky topic]
[Edited again to put in the correct dates and add starting date to the headline.]
Edited again to remove the play dates since the show has now completed airing.
For the past six months I've been working on a four-part series for BBC Radio 2, titled THE HERB ALPERT STORY. Until now I couldn't tell you all about it (although one or two of you were 'in the know') but now I can.
First of all the important bits. The series will air on BBC Radio 2 on WEDNESDAYS 21 June to 12 July from 22:03 to 22:30 British Summer Time. That will be 11 - 11.30pm across Continental Europe; 5 - 5.30pm in New York, 2 - 2.30pm Los Angeles.
The narrator will be Richard Carpenter, and the series is being made by the independent Scottish production company Demus.
At the beginning of March, I spent a week in Los Angeles recording interview material for the series. I spent an afternoon in Herb's recording studio at the Foundation with Herb and Jerry, and recorded a great deal of Herb talking about his musical life.
The following day, I visited John and Jean Pisano, and John had gathered together Pat Senatore and Bob Edmonson. We all enjoyed lunch (John's a great cook!) and a happy afternoon made even more so by the fact that we celebrated Bob's birthday, albeit a couple of days early.
I also spent an afternoon with Richard Carpenter, who has kindly agreed to narrate the series; I also spent time with Burt Bacharach who tells some stories about his long association with Herb; with Bob Findlay who is such wonderful company; and with Chris Montez who is a joy to spend time with.
I took Cissy Wechter and her sons to dinner, and we spent a very happy evening talking about Julius, the Baja Marimba Band, and how the TJB were more than just a musical act - they were, quite simply, a family.
I shan't spoil the fun of the series by telling you any of the many stories in advance, although in the end I recorded more speech material than we could possibly use in the series, and of course there will be plenty of music as well!
But I can tell you a couple of things, straight from the boss's mouth.
There are more "Lost Treaures" for sure, although probably not an album's worth.
Mexican Shuffle is in mono on the album and CD because although there was a stereo master, it got lost or destroyed.
And neither Herb nor Jerry knew about the two versions of "What Now my Love". In fact Herb asked me to send him a copy of the version that ended up in Europe (the non-bump'n'grind 'Plucky) which I have done.
The week ended on the highest note possible on Oscar night, when I fled downtown LA and spent my last night at the Vibrato Jazz Grill enjoying a fabulous dinner with John and Jean and listening to Pat and and Alan Broadbent playing, and although I had intended that to be my treat, I was pre-empted by Herb and Pat who, as a surprise, very kindly and graciously insisted that we were guests for the night. And Jean was persuaded to get up and sing, which was the icing on the cake!
More tales to come later, but I wanted you all to be the first to know about the series. There was much setting-up behind the scenes and I would like to publicly thank Steve Sidoruk, Leslie Mulligan and Ian Findlay for their help in making it happen.
I hope you will enjoy the fruits of our labours.
TONY
[Edited by Moderator to make it a sticky topic]
[Edited again to put in the correct dates and add starting date to the headline.]
Edited again to remove the play dates since the show has now completed airing.