A Day in My Life
It was Feb. 9, 1964, a month before my 6th birthday. There was a new band from England about to appear on the Ed Sullivan Show. My sisters, both older than me, 13 & 16, and my 13 year old sister’s boyfriend, 15, now my Brother-in-law, were very interested in seeing the show. I can’t remember which sister it was that asked my father if we could watch the Ed Sullivan show on the TV in the living room because it had a big TV screen. It was 19”. My father, a WWII War Hero and an NYPD Homicide Detective said, very affectionately, go down stairs and watch the show on that TV. I can’t believe I was allowed to stay up and see the show at that hour. I’m was 5. The TV downstairs was a Black & White Magnavox with a 12” screen. The 4 of us sat around the TV waiting for the show to begin. Then the announcement. Everyone was excited to see these 4 guys from Liverpool. The song began and, WOW! Screaming, yelling, girls in the studio audience were fainting. Everyone was going nuts. Everyone, except me. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and hearing. I sat mesmerized focusing on one of the members of the band. The song ended and we waiting until the next number. When it was over I ran upstairs and said “Daddy, I want to play guitar like John Lemon from the Beagles”. He said, oh yeah, okay. A few days later my Father came home from work with a cardboard guitar case, a red Kent Acoustic guitar with a white pick guard, a bunch of picks and a pictured lesson book by Hal Leonard. He said, here you go son, learn how to play by looking at the pictures in the book. I was so excited that, in a week, I learned all the chords and all the songs in the book; Skip to my Lou, On Top of Old Smoky and Oh Susannah. After a week the guitar didn’t sound too good. I didn’t know why. My Mother, a singer, entertainer and piano player showed me how to tune the guitar to the piano we had in the living room. Now it started to sound a lot better.
Fast forward to 1977. I’m 19. I was working as a Truck Driver for an electronics company called Crazy Eddie. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention I’m from Brooklyn. I used to get the Manhattan run twice a week with a double sometimes for the Bronx or Long Island. Anyway, twice a week, after unloading the truck, usually around 8AM, I’d drive all the way to West 72nd Street just to, hopefully, get a glimpse of my Musical Idol, John Lennon. No luck. Until, one day after unloading the truck, I drove my usual route to West 72nd Street and again, no luck. So, I made a right on Columbus, which I’ve never done before. I was dragging so I thought I’d grab a cup coffee. Now, this is Manhattan (NYC) at around 8:30AM. Stop and go Traffic everywhere. I saw a spot to park my 28’ truck right in front of a coffee shop. Not only was there a parking spot but a large enough one to fit my truck. So, I get out of the truck, walk into the shop and get a cup of coffee and a bagel with cream cheese, place them on a try and look for a place to sit. It wasn’t busy at all. This was very unusual for a NYC coffee shop at that time of the morning to be almost empty. Plenty of places to sit and relax. I was about to sit down when I saw him sitting alone at a table in the corner reading the paper and drinking coffee. I couldn’t believe my eyes. My Musical Idol sitting right there. The man I was trying to catch a glimpse of for a long time. Now, he’s right there big as life. Okay, I said “Fred don’t make an ass of yourself. Just say hello and leave him alone. He probably gets bothered all day long and now he’s just trying to read the paper and relax without being annoyed”.
I approached, slowly, shaking, nervous, in awe of this man. I stood in front of his table and said, “Mister Lennon”. He looked up and said yes. I said I’m a huge fan of the Beatles and your Solo Career and I just wanted to say hello and let you know you made a big difference on my life. He looked at me, and with his right foot, kicked out the chair across from him for me to sit. I almost passed out. So, I sat down with my Musical Idol. I told him about the Ed Sullivan Show and how we watch in amazement. He smiled. I told him because of the Beatles and of course him, I learned how to write songs, play guitar and sing. I reached for cigarette. Yes, I smoked at that time. I can’t believe I left them in the truck. So, he push over a pack of Gitanes cigarettes. I took one out of the pack, lit it, took a drag and choked my brains out. He got a good laugh out of that. You would think I’d put it out but, since it was John Lennon’s cigarette, I smoked it until it was gone. It was the worst cigarette I’ve ever smoked. I asked him if it would be okay for me to send him a few of my, very Beatles influenced, songs and if he wouldn’t mind letting me know if I’m on the right track. I realized up until now, he hadn’t spoken a word. I was doing all the talking. Then, he spoke; send them to me at “Dakota”. It was nice meeting you. Then I knew it was time to go and let this amazing man get back to relaxing. I thanked him for allowing me to sit with him and have a very enjoyable conversation. I drove away and I was on a Natural-High for the rest of the day.
So, I got home and told my Mother what happened. I told her that John Lennon said it was okay to send him a few of my songs. She said, “Frederick, do you really think he’ll listen to them or get back to you”. I said yes Mom, he’s a real nice guy. She said, “Don’t get your hopes up”.
Okay, I recorded two songs on a cassette and made sure my name, address and telephone number was on the tape and the case.
I went to Capital discount store on Nostrand Avenue and purchased a padded envelope. I went next door to Collegiate Pool Room (I was an avid Pocket Pool and Billiards player in my day) Asked Herbie, the owner of the establishment if I may borrow a magic marker and some scotch tape. I addressed the envelope; John Lennon, 1 West 72nd Street, New York, NY 10023. I placed the cassette in the envelope with a handwritten letter. I walked across the street to the Post Office and got on line. When the clerk notified me, I stepped up to his window and handed him the envelope. He looked at it and said, in a very arrogant way, John Lennon. I said yes. He said, John Lennon the Beatle. I said yes. He said, you know John Lennon. I said, with a grin from ear-to-ear, YES!! He said, 73 cents and threw it into a big canvas bin with a bunch of other letters and packages. Days and months passed. No reply from John Lennon. My Mother said, “Frederick, did you really think you’d hear from him”. I didn’t say anything. I kept hoping that one day he’d respond. It never happened.
I would like to think that he received the envelope, listened to my songs and was so busy that he forgot to answer me.
It was Dec. 8, 1980 and I was driving home from my girlfriend’s house. My car didn’t have a radio that worked. As I pulled up to my house I noticed that the lights were off and only the dim light of the TV was noticeable. Usually, my mother would have a light on. I walked in and saw my mother sitting on the couch, tears in her eyes, smoking a cigarette. I said, Mom, what’s wrong? Why are you are crying? She said, didn’t you hear. I said no. She said, you friend, John Lennon was murdered. I said, are you sure? Then, I saw it on the TV. John Lennon Shot Dead. I just broke down in tears. I couldn’t understand why anyone would want to kill this man. A man who stood for Peace his whole life.
Years later, 1983 I believe, my friend Vinny and I went to the Dakota one night. We stood in the driveway. A man came out and asked if we needed something. His name was Angel. He was Head-of-Security for the Dakota. We said no, we’re just big fans of John Lennon. We were about leave and go get a cup coffee when I said to Angel; we’re going to get some coffee. Would you like a cup? He said yes. We came back and drank coffee outside. By that time it was about 2AM. He offered to give us a tour of the Dakota in authorized areas of course. When the tour was completed he said, follow me. We walked up a few stairs, into a very dim lit corridor. We came to a door. In small letters it read “Studio One”. It was John Lennon’s studio. Angel opened the door, I walked in and I could swear I felt John’s presence. I guess because I was so in awe of this man, being in his studio over whelmed me. Vinny just looked in. He couldn’t bring himself to go inside. I never asked him why. Angel said we better leave because you never know who may come down. He gave us some souvenirs of the Dakota and we thanked him for a wonderful experience. We left and on the way home I don’t remember us talking for a while. It was very emotional.
If it wasn’t for my friend Vinny I would have given up on music and songwriting. I’m glad for his continued friendship. Now my songs are played in the USA and overseas in many countries.
I have John Lennon and the Beatles to thank for inspiring and influencing my songs.
Peace & Love to all.