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August 28 2005 - Westhampton Beach, NY Hello good people, In my last entry, the sun was up and my assessment of our hotel had changed. In the dead of night it appeared to all of us that the hotel was in the middle of nowhere. Well, we were wrong. We were in the middle of urban America! There’s nothing wrong with urban America. In fact, I grew up in urban America. But the hotel that we stayed in was another story. On show days, the schedule goes sort of like this. The crew leaves for the venue between 12 noon and 1 o’clock. Followed by two or three guys at 2:00 PM and B. Sonny and myself between 4 and 4:30 PM. This hotel was so bad that everyone went to the venue early except B. and yours truly. For me it was a simple matter of not wanting to hang our at the venue for seven hours before the gig. My room like everyone else’s was jacked up. It truly smelled like a crime scene. What the heck is going on at that hotel? :-) Well, tonight was a special night for a couple of reasons. The driver drops us off for sound-check and on the bus waiting for me are four pieces of sushi. I love sushi; I would eat it everyday if possible. My good friend Elyce brought the band pies and because she knew that I don’t eat sweets, she brought me sushi. (I love you man!) That was really a nice thing to do. It was great, yummy! Another thing that made this night special - it was my turn to make good on a deal that I made with Bruce. Yes, ladies and gentlemen. Your boy had to sing Michael Row Your Boat Ashore. What the hell? In case some of you don’t know, over the years Bruce has talked me into doing some pretty silly things, and to be honest, it does not take a lot of talking. Things like the pink wig. The first thing I ever did was wearing Bruce’s golf pants (they made me look like a movie pimp), a cowboy hat, that made my already large noggin appear even bigger (my head is huge ). These are just a few. But nothing like singing. I really did not think that he would call me out :-( but in the middle of the show I heard these words. “JV Collier has a little something for the people of Westhampton Beach”. I am scared s***less. I now have to walk to the front microphone and sing this stupid song, Yikes! All eyes are on me, and I wonder how to handle this moment. I could just go up and rush thru the song, but that wouldn’t be much fun. I could try to really sing, but that would be even worse, because I cannot sing :-( Okay! I’ve got it. I will include the crowd. This way, we will all sound like clowns :-) I take the microphone, clear my throat and ask for audience participation. To my surprise, they start singing with me :-) Holy Cow!!!!! What the hell were they thinking? Here I am, just sucking and the audience is with me. Thank you Westhampton Beach, for helping a brother out. The song was probably two minutes, but felt like two hours. I am finally finished. I take a bow. What?! Another surprise - there is applause. I take another bow. Now, I know what Sinatra, Elvis, even Whitney (wait a second) felt. The love, the admiration, the groupies (did I say that? Just kidding :-) ). I’ve got one last bow; I’ll stand on the piano. Yes, I’ve always wanted to take a bow on top of a piano :-) Tonight confirms it. I am way too far gone for my own good, but it was fun. Oh yes! The rest of the show sounded great also, if anyone really cares, after my soulful and heart melting rendition of MRTBAS. I can only imagine the reviews tomorrow. "A Star is Born", says the New York Times, "Another Pavaraotti", from the Sporting News :-) Goodnight all, I must rest this delicate instrument from the heavens :-) Peace, JV;-)
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