When I was in Hollywood, I definitely lived the life of the starving artist.
I had moved to L.A in 1984 to pursue a career in film and television. After several months of apartment-sitting for a former girlfriend who was off in New York directing an opera, I found my own place. It was the lower third of a triplex on Gramercy Place, just off Hollywood Boulevard and one block west of Western Avenue (the longest dead-straight street in Los Angeles).
The problem was that my rent was $400 and my only source of income was $75 a week I was earning as a janitor for the Skylight Theater, where I was performing in Romeo & Juliet. That left me $100 short every month, which was rapidly eating into my savings. Ramen noodles and spaghetti made regular appearances on my dinner table. I filled up at every cast party and I knew where the best Happy Hours were to be found in the neighborhood. In a spirit of wry self-mocking, I also posted a "Silly List" above my desk, which highlighted the things I was going to buy someday, after I hit the Big Time. It included new tennis shoes and a pair of scissors.
Fortunately, I had quite a few friends in the L.A. area and chief among them was College of Marin drama alum Steve Barker. My occasional splurge was to go with him to the Palomino Club, up on Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood, which was known for being country music's most important West Coast club. It featured such performers as The Flying Burrito Brothers, Dwight Yoakam, Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello, George Thorogood and Neil Young. One legendary night, George Harrison, John Fogerty and Bob Dylan joined Jesse Ed Davis and Taj Mahal onstage. But once a month, they also held a Saturday night amateur talent contest and that's when I got to hear Steve sing.
Now, Steve is, and was, a serious singer. He used to do a really good Elvis impersonation in high school and played leads in musicals such as Oklahoma! and Once Upon a Mattress. So he went to the Palomino to earn some hard cash and maybe a chance at bigger fame. He knew who the competition was and planned out his selections carefully. I went along for the music, the conversation, to drink a beer or two, and maybe catch regular Jose Jimenez sing "Feliz Navidad" (the only song he seemed to know) in his unique voice.
One month, Steve got the idea that I should enter the contest. Not being a Real Singer, the idea terrified me, but with his help I worked up a fair rendition of "Jambalaya," by Hank Williams. Steve coached me on how to work with the band, use the microphone and what to expect up on stage.
When the chosen night came, we arrived early for sign-ups, and waited. After what seemed like hours, the grey-haired emcee, Cliffie Stone, called me up. I gave my music to the house band, the Palomino Riders, and breathed deeply. Cliffie took the mike and announced, "Listen up, everyone! Next, we have here a young man who is going to sing an actual country and western song!" The only reason that was a notable was that most of the entertainers on talent night sang rock and roll or blues.
I walked up to the mike and the Riders began to play my intro - that I had never heard before! My first thought was: Damn it sure sounds a lot different when they play it. I'm screwed! I felt the blood rush from my face and settle in the region of my feet. Then I heard laughter and finally caught on: they were playing the intro to Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues" in response to Cliffie's tongue-in-cheek intro. Apparently, everyone else in the room caught the joke faster than I did. Then the band began to play my intro and I was off and running.
What can I say? Steve had prepared me well. The lyrics were there, I gave good twang, and I could see some couples get up to dance in the darkened bar beyond the stage lights. I got to watch the band play during the song's bridge, which was so cool from my new vantage point. Hell, I was on stage at the Palomino! I even yelled "One more time!" to the steel guitar player as I reached the final chorus, just the way Steve had taught me. I made my way back through the applause to our table and a hero's welcome. Then we grabbed the tape recording of my act and went outside to Steve's Eddie Bauer Ford Bronco and listened to my song on his tape deck. I was surprised to discover that I didn't totally suck!
We went back in, had a couple of more beers and lined up on stage for the crowd judging. I recall that Steve won second place, which was awesome. Of course, I didn't expect to end up in the money, but that didn't matter one bit. I had gone so far out of my comfort zone that I was on Cloud Nine. And I had my good friend's prodding and encouragement to thank for it.
Today is Steve's 50th birthday. It's been 25 years since I sang at the Palomino, which closed down in 1995 after both owners died. But I can truthfully say that I once sang on the very same stage as most of the biggest stars of country and rock music - including Steve Barker. Yahoo! Thanks, Buddy!
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