You Gots To Like These 3 Films If You Wanna Hang With Me

WARREN BEATTY IS GREAT IN HEAVEN CAN WAIT (1978). I was a teenager when I first saw it, and still laugh every time I watch.

VAL KILMER SHOWS HE'S THE BEST ACTOR OF HIS GENERATION IN THUNDERHEART (1992). I was with him a year or two later on TOMBSTONE, so I saw it coming.

COLIN FARREL ( & in act 3,RALPH FIENNES) IN THE FUNNIEST MOVIE I EVER SAW- IN BRUGES(2008)

BLEND APPAREL LOVES US

www.blendapparel.com (or simply click on their 'I Believe In Music' HARMONY logo down to the left)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

I'M SITTING HERE, GETTING MY SYYPE ON, REACHING OUT TO SOME FRIENDS WHO HAVE PROVIDED ME THEIR SKYPE INFO.

MINE IS: laswilliam


Happy Holy Days

JAMIE CULLUM 'GRAN TORINO'

IF YOU GO TO JAMIE CULLUM'S MYSPACE PAGE YOU CAN LISTEN-FREE- TO THE TITLE TRACK, 'GRAN TORINO,' A SENSATIONAL SONG FOR CLINT'S NEW FILM.
THE NOMINATED SONG IS HEAVY, LIKE A CROSS BETWEEN 'ANGEL EYES' AND 'STARDUST.'

PLAY MISTY FOR ME? UM, NO THANKS, I'D RATHER HEAR 'GRAN TORINO,'

JAMIE CULLUM/ CLINT EASTWOOD GOLDEN GLOBE (AGAIN!)

IF YOU LOVE THE JAZZ OF JAMIE CULLUM (and if you don't, well, then bugger off...) YOU'LL JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING THE GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINATION FOR BEST SONG, WRITTEN FOR CLINT EASTWOOD'S NEW FILM 'GRAN TORINO.'

THE KING OF DIAMONDS BOOK COVER:

Forbidden

Here's a really cool act!

This Hungarian's name is BALAZS FOLDVARY and he's in a hot show, 'Forbidden.' I think the way he brought Di Vinci's artwork to life is about the most creative promo I've ever seen.

If you want to see Balazs perform the cyr wheel, click on his photo to the left.

emile hirsch

In the novel "THE KING OF DIAMONDS: The Magical Life of Darin Diamond," the main character, who becomes the biggest name in show business, is a pop singer/ magician, People Magazine's Sexiest, an "impossibly good looking" guy who "makes magic cool again."

So now there's a screenplay making the rounds. My novel will be available soon but IF a film is made, who in the hell are they gonna get to play Darin?

The only hint I can offer is that, when creating the character, I had EMILE HIRSCH in mind.

SONDRE LERCHE 'NIGHT & DAY'

In the novel "The King of Diamonds," magician/pop singer Darin Diamond uses "NIGHT & DAY" as the basis of his world magic tour, with a huge set piece of the moon that burns into the sun.

Cole Porter's best song, ever. Little wonder Frank Sinatra recorded it throughout his career. My personal favorite is when the Old Man would do it with just the small group, letting Vinnie Falcone, and others, really shine.

If you click the photo of SONDRE LERCHE to the left, there's a beautiful little 'Night & Day' video clip, a reminder of why I love this guy so much.

HELP ME REACH OUT AND TOUCH A MAGICIAN OR TWO

As we begin to market "THE KING OF DIAMONDS: THE MAGICAL LIFE OF DARIN DIAMOND," I hope to send out copies to some magician friends and other performers I've "known" over the years.

H-E-L-P

If you can think of any groups, associations or other links, will you please let me know?

williamwatters1@mac.com

THE KING OF DIAMONDS: THE MAGICAL LIFE OF DARIN DIAMOND

My novel, upon which a scrrenplay is being written, will be available online in early 2009.

I wrote this baby a while back and it's time it got a birthday.

While I have little to do with it from here on out (I'm hard at work, banging-out a new novel), I will have a promotional website:

www.thekingofdiamonds.me (I haven't gotten it up yet, but don't worry, it will be...)

The site will promote the novel, be home to other writing projects, and for you CHEAP BASTARDS who want to read my 'King Of Diamonds' for free, well, you'll be able to do that, there.

SONS OF ANARCHY

CHARLIE HUNNAM


If you wanna see a COOL website, check-out the Sons of Anarchy on FX Network: www.fxnetworks.com (simply click-on Charlie's photo to the left)

The motorcycle odometer that flashes into a flaming skull was designed by a fine artist. And the show it promotes is every bit as good as anything on TV today. The writing is sensational.

The show stars CHARLIE HUNNAM, a mesmorizing young actor who has played so many diverse roles and who now plays a tough guy biker so well, that you never catch him acting.

Speaking of websites... we are fiddling-around with a promotional site for the book 'The King of Diamonds.'


www.thekingofdiamonds.me

(Coming soon to a computer screen near you)

HIP HOP

My little brother, BELA, is raising and training a kangaroo for an upcoming show. Yesterday I hopped over to bottle feed the little guy. His name is BOUNCER and he's pretty cool. He's into Hip Hop, very laid-back, and, judging by his foot size, when he grows up, he's gonna be very popular with the other Roos.

APOLLO the dog used to get a little jelous around the baby kangaroo, until I explained to the Great Pyrenesse that he is my all-time favorite guy, that I love him more than words can say. Besides, after spending nearly $50 on a chewy thing made of dried bull dick, I think I've proved my love, no?

I LOVE DEANA MARTIN

"She's got a size 1 dress and a voice that's a perfect 10!"

A friend of mine recently sent me a link to a pretty lame blog, written by a guy who claims to love Dean Martin. Now, it's certainly cool to love Dean. I mean, I sure do. I moved to Las Vegas about 20 years ago, and during the next dozen years spent many nights backstage at Bally's. Dean's longtime manager, Mort Viner once pointed out how nice it was that I'd stop-by AFTER opening night. You see, every one of Dean Martin's openings was attended by every one in his family. I mean, the second floor dressing room was crawling with family, but, the next night? Just Dean and Ken or Mort. Well, I mention my credentials as a way of justifying my crticism of the "I love Dean" blog. In a recent post, Dean's most beautiful and talented daughter- DEANA MARTIN- was criticized by the guy (and both of his readers). [Note: My blog has been up 9 months and already has 100-times the readers than Ilovedean, and he's been online for years!] So while the cheap shots at Deana were just that: cheap, it did get me thinking about the sensational DEANA MARTIN .

Deana has written a wonderful biography, has produced a terrific CD, hosts highly successful radio shows and specials and continues to perform 'live' throughout the world. I was one of the first to review her record, "Memories Are Made Of This," have seen her perform a time or two, and, have even been a guest in her home. [Note to Deana's husband, producer John Griffeth: I love your wife!]

Deana is nominated for radio personality of the year by KING-TV (www.bestking5.com/contests/best-of-western-washington/2336/people/local-radio-personality?page=2).

If you will, consider going to the KING-TV link.

Let's vote for Deana.

After writing about Heath Ledger (July 20, 2008), my brief essay was picked-up as a microblog or tumbleblog and reached the Ledger family who replied that they, too, loved DEAN MARTIN in Rio Bravo. It is amazing to me how loving Dean allows us to continue to make new friends. The same is true for Deana. She was so charming on the debut of The Bonnie Hunt Show and just one look at Bonnie's set makes clear that she too loves Dean!

OK, friend, everybody loves somebody sometime, so why not go to KING-TV and show Deana your love.

TED V. MIKELS

I haven't thought about my old friend TED V. MIKELES for a while, until, this morning, I caught a story by a great writer, BRENDAN BUHLER, who did a feature on the filmmaker in today's Las Vegas Sun.

The last time I was in Ted's office was several years ago. I brought in an investor who "just had to meet" Ted.

And who could blame the guy, after all, ALL OF MR. MIKELS MOVIES MAKE MONEY.

Take THAT, Ishtar, Howard The Duck and Gigli!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(http://m.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/oct/09/its-gory-its-scary-its-camp-just-dont-call-it-tras/)

AND...
www.tedvmikels.com

JON MARRO-----BLEND APPAREL LOVES ME? WELL, SINCE YOU SAID IT FIRST...

JON MARRO

House of H2o loves Blend Apparel. Seriously. And funnily, too. Their shrits are the nuts.

My friend ordered us several T-Shirts from Jon Marro's new venture, BLEND APPAREL and, when we receive any notice from the company, the tagline reads: "Blend Apparel Loves You," which is cool because I love them, him.

Jon is refered to as a 'graphic designer' but that's a bit too grapic, no? How about just 'artist?'

Better yet: THE artist of our generation.

JON MARRO caught my eye a few years back. His 'Ants Marching' (and so many others) for Dave Matthews Band as well as his work with the best lyricist working today, Jason Mraz just kept getting to me, and I, like millions of others, just get him.

In the film and music business, I was raised to appreciate the writer first, for the writer is the artist who discovers the art first. Then, actors and directors, singers and producers, join in on the fun.

I always appreciated FRANK SINATRA, who made a point to credit the composers and arrangers whenever performing. That's why I always took the opportunity to meet and talk with great writers, especially pop songwriters.

But if you want to honor a real artist, look at the work of JON MARRO! He's found a way to capture the meanings of the lyrics, the ideas behind the songs, and now, with his new line at BLEND APPAREL, he's been able to represent serious issues in humorous ways, using shapes and colors to enter our consciousness in ways I can only try to understand. Now THAT'S art, man.

In his book, "This Is Your Brain On Music," author Daniel Levitian attempts to understand the impact music has on our minds. I would like someone to try to explain to me how JON MARRO has been able to tap-into the thing behind the music, the culture behind the pop. I know from where it comes: it comes from his genius.

We here at House of H2o would like to suggest you go to www.blendapparel.com and open your mind, and your heart. The shirts are made from bamboo, the site, solor powered.

I heart Blend Apparel.

BIG FISH

I was checking-out Facebook profile of the very cool guy and was pleased to see that, in his list of favorite films, he placed Tim Burton's BIG FISH first. It is a really charming movie and the role of the son, William, is played by one of my favorite actors, BILLY CRUDUP. I don't know Billy but, in addition to being sensational in SLEEPERS, I did catch him on Broadway.

The book, BIG FISH, while weighing in at less than 200 pages, reads like an epic. As a fan of Greek mythology, I was crazy about all of the references to Ulysses that author DANIEL WALLACE placed softly throughout the bigger-than -life story about the life of a man. As a son named William who also had but a brief chance to try to learn all I could about my dying father, I cannot read BIG FISH without crying. As for the film? It is almost as good as the novel.

A few days ago, I wrote about another "W" writer, DAVID FOSTER WALLACE who recently passed away. I'm big on "W' writers and I list Daniel Wallace right up there with DFW.

The kind of writing I aspire to is done so well in BIG FISH. The story has other layers, waiting underneith, for those who wish to look. For others, the surface story is just fine, too.

Some rainy night, consider renting the film BIG FISH. Or, better yet, some rainy day, read the DANIEL WALLACE novel.

-WW

DAVID FOSTER WALLACE

MY favorite author OF ALL TIME, David Foster Wallace, died on September 12th.

If you ever want to know what original writing feels like, read anything by him... an article, an essay or a novel.

Consider The Lobster, for example.


RIP DFW

www.davidfosterwallace.com

OL' BLUE EYES BLUE PERIOD

This painting, done by FRANK SINATRA, was owned by his pal (and my friend) JILLY RIZZO.

A mutual friend asked me to share Mr. Sinatra's art with you, so here it is.


Blue-ish, schmoo-ish! To me, it is water-ish.

JASON MRAZ

WE SING WE DANCE WE STEAL THINGS.
So I'm taking a little break from writing and decided to play some music. I'm listening to Jason Mraz "Live High'' and his music allows me to do just that!

(Note: Someone asked me why I don't write about John Mayer and I told them that he does enough of that himself.)

Jason Mraz is without a single doubt the best lyricist writing today. I don't know if it's his background in musical theater, his respect for pop, hip hop, jazz, rock, Kenny Rankin and all things that rhyme and chime in the night, but whatever unique combination makes up the music that is Mraz, count me as a loyal listener, as a guy changed for the better. Oh, and if they ever want to make a GREAT remake of The Wizard of Oz, commission Jason Mraz to do the score. If ever a musical wiz there was, it's him... Mraz is every bit as good as Yip Harburg, Johnny Mercer and Larry Hart put together.

I can't wait to hear what's next!

No, this isn't my deadshot

No, I'm NOT dead! Just dead tired.

It's weird seeing a picture of yourself sleeping. In college, a girlfriend told me that my eyes didn't quite close all the way when I slept, saying that it kinda freaked her out.
I remember being glad that she didn't have any other complaints.
A few years ago, while being fitted for a contact lens, the doc told me the same thing, saying that my lids don't shut all the way. I told him he was lucky that he didn't have to sleep with me to notice. He didn't get it and I don't see him anymore.

So anyway, for some weird reason, late last night, a sleep-over-type friend snapped this of me while I was unconscious.I was up late editing my new novel and then just crashed.
I just hope I look better when I'm dead.

JASON HEWLETT- The World's best all-around entertainer you've probably never heard of...yet

JASON HEWLETT

Now here's a guy who is without a doubt the "NEXT BEST THING."

Living righteously and raising a beautiful family in Utah, JASON HEWLETT primarily does corporate gigs, 'one-nighters' and other private performances, knocking 'em dead, show after standing ovation-filled show. Fueling his high-energy act is the fire of ambition that burns brightly in all real stars- and stars to be.

I heart Jason Hewlett and, after you've caught his act, you will too. May I suggest that you take a moment and look at his website... www.jasonhewlett.com

MICHAEL JACKSON RUNS OVER WILLIE WATTERS (SERIOUSLY)

Where in the world is Michael Jackson? Well, here's right here in Las Vegas.

I know because I ran into him over the weekend. (Actually? he ran into ME.) No big deal- he was in a wheelchair and bumped-into me at a local bookstore. My foot is fine, thanks.

Which store? Well, my SECOND favorite bookstore chain... the one that has a strict policy of NOT TELLING when celebrities come in.

Recent gossip magazines are running photos of MJ taken at the West Charleston Barnes & Noble, a store that employes really cool people (especially in their cafe) but Mike ran into me across town, at a store where I am proud to say, I'm kinda well known.

"Um... sorry," the high-pitched voice said, softly.

"No, no, my fault,' I replied.

Now I'm no Michael Jackson expert, but I can say with confidence that the pop star is a gentleman. Smooth on his feet, sloppy in his wheelchair, Michael Jackson is a gentle man.

HEATH LEDGER

I wasn't crazy about Brokeback Mountain, and maybe not for the reasons you may think. I happen to like cowboy movies (enough to say that many of John Wayne films sucked, with the exception of 'Rio Bravo' with a smokin' hot Angie Dickenson, a sensational performance by one of America's greatest under-appreciated actors: DEAN MARTIN, and, of course, Ricky Nelson, who was, back in 1959, like a big-time teen idol. "My Rifle, My Pony and Me," for me best sums up the myth of the American West. It is a good song in a great Western.

But I digress, the topic is HEATH LEDGER and the film where he plays a conflicted Catholic priest, 'The Order' is a very good movie. The special effects are underwhelming but the story is really great. If you kinda got freaked-out by 'The Exorcist,' you'll dig this one. And the bad guys are in The Church and the really bad guy isn't bad at all. In fact, BENNO FURMANN plays the title role (the film was released as 'The Order' but is commonly known by its original title: The Sin Eater). Furmann's character flies around on the coolist private jet, has wealth beyond calculation but is weighed down by the sins he's accepted. This guy is cool as hell- sexy and scary.

Shannyn Sossamon plays the beautiful, troubled love interest and she's sensational.

Now movie snobs all like get on board and knock a film. That's what snobs do-they find that fun; I find it ugly. Nobody sets out to make a poor film and this one, especially now that Heath Ledger is no longer with us, deserves another look.

Sure, go see "The Dark Knight" but if you are interested in 'the dark night of the soul,' rent "The Order."

SINATRA-JOBIM

You wanna know THE BEST Sinatra album to buy right now? One that holds up so well? A great set of songs that sounds so fresh? Perfect music for these HOT summer nights that roll into steamy mornings? Are you growing weary of the questions? Don't you think I am too?

SINATRA-JOBIM

You know, Frank Sinatra never sounded more laid-back, soft and straight-up smooth. This is Bossa Nova at its best.

What is Bossa Nova? (WTF? Now you're asking questions???)

I am told that the term means 'new trend,' and that when a musician plays or sings 'bossa' they do it with style.

Bossa Nova is of course built upon a Samba rhythm (which comes from Africa) so Bossa Nova IS Jazz, and in the hands of
Antonio Carlos Jobim (one of the inventors of this sound) Jazz never felt so good.

I heard 'Ol Blue Eyes sing songs from this album live on dozens of occasions here in Las Vegas and in other venues during the 80's and always noticed how he concentrated on the lyrics, singing softly, with eyes closed.

This summer- why not download some bossa music, man.

EMILE HIRSCH IS "THE KING OF DIAMONDS" IN MY BOOK

So often, when you write an original character, you have real people in mind. When I created Darin Diamond, a singer/illusionist with a mom who was "the prettiest showgirl in Las Vegas," a talented young guy who is referred to as "impossibly good looking," I think of EMILE HIRSCH.

Young Darin Diamond is simple, but, if you read closely, he's actually pretty complex.

If magical dreams come true. a film will be made of my "The King Of Diamonds' and Emile Hirsch will star.

And The Rockets Red Glare

I just returned from a quick trip over the mountains. I spent the morning in Pahrump, Nevada, where EVERYTHING is legal.

Driving back, I couldn't help but think about what a really great country this is.

Seriously.

It is now early evening. The neon is just now starting to flicker on. The gang is around the pool. I just finished my laps and came in to check House of H2o Gmails. And? I was BLOWN AWAY!

It seems that my little blog has become popular with a bunch of our guys serving in Iraq. Wow. I am honored.

A few weeks back, I wrote a piece about my longtime buddy, jazz saxophonist MATT WALLACE (see: Matt Wallace, June 20th). Another Matt Wallace, a 22 year old Army Corporal, was killed in an explosion in Baghdad on July 22, 2006. Young Matt gave his life for his country, for OUR country. And many of his friends and family, while searching the web, came upon my blog and as of this morning, houseofh2o@gmail.com received 44 emails, many from troops serving in Iraq who expressed an interest in pop culture.

I have a new novel, ''The King Of Diamonds: The Magical Life of Darin Diamond" coming out later this month and so I am making it available FREE to anyone serving or who has served. Think of it as the very least a guy like me could do.

Shoot me an email and I will see to it you get a book. And if you don't mind, I'd be happy to sign it.

On behalf of a grateful Sin City, I thank you.

Happy Birthday, America

INTERSTATE 60- Go rent it NOW!

James Marsden


THE BEST MOVIE YOU PROLLY NEVER HEARD OF
Hey? You wanna rent a GOOD movie? Go grab INTERSTATE 60. JAMES MARSDEN of X-Men fame is just so... likable in the starring role of Neal, the young artist on a journey seeking an answer while looking for the girl of his dreams.

The cameos, including Kurt Russell, Michael J. Fox and (my friend) Ann- Margret, are great, adding to the wonders around every curve feel of this fantasy. INTERSTATE 60, not unlike Bob Dylan's highway, strikes a note deep inside you. I really love this film.
It is Wizard of Oz meets Twilight Zone.

P@TD...Pretty. Odd.

MATT WALLACE

So I spent an hour this afternoon teaching a class ("Guest Lecturer, '' actually) and I had a great time, passing off my opinions as facts.

I'm trying my best not to listen while I'm being introduced. The students are staring at me as the instructor reads a way over-the-top and way, way too long intro about how I was:

"The youngest contestant on NBC-TV's NAME THAT TUNE, an author, attorney, pop culture expert..." (it went on-and-on and always grosses me out that they read the hype that was obviously written or approved by me). So I start to hum to drown out the flattery, and my mind goes back to the first time I ever spoke to a class.

It was a political lecture and one of the few listening was a seventeen-year-old MATT WALLACE. I later learned that he wasn't that into my speech at all, but was buddies with the candidate's children (I think he dated the daughter...Matt was always dating somebody's daughter).

So he comes up after and tells me about this 18-piece Big Band he's playing sax in and I end up checking them out. It turns out that the producer of my SUNDAY WITH SINATRA radio show, Tony Anzaldo, knew Matt (who was prolly dating Tony's sister) and so, to make a long story longer, Matt and I became fast friends. A 17 year old handsome, pretty good and soon-to-be great saxophone player!

It wasn't too many years later that Matt went on the road with the great Maynard Ferguson band, stealing shows all over the world with his big and powerful solos. After becoming Musical Director and a few years before Maynard died, the talented Mr. Wallace came to Las Vegas, doing shows at the Riviera, on the dark night of a show I was representing, An Evening at La Cage.

We hung out. Turned out he had become friends with the son of my close friend Vinnie Falcone. (Note: Vinnie has two talented sons, Jeff and Danny, the latter who now is blowing up a storm, backing Bette Midler here at Caesars.)

Anyway, back to school, where the teacher is STILL reading my intro. Man! It seems like she's doing an opening act. So I loosen my tie and interrupt her (students like that) and go into my guest lecture. Since the topic is Pop Culture, and I almost always let the students decide where we take it, I start out talking about "Jazz," a real American treasure, and, if you agree with my definition, a topic I know a bit about. So... do I lead-off with Sinatra, Basie, Harry Connick, Jr, Jamie Cullum or maybe Lionel Hampton? Nope. Met em all, and there's a great new book celebrating the career of Hamp, but me? I start with MATT WALLACE, and aside from my taking credit for discovering him, it was straight-forward well -deserved praise of a now 40-something jazzman, a sensational player who is helping keep Jazz alive and very well. Using Matt as an example, my opinion was accepted by the freshmen class at UNLV.

I was a hit. (It was easy- there was no cover charge, they weren't forced to buy my book, and let's face it: anybody is better than Mrs. What's Her Name and her boring ass introductions.

I hope to work with Matt on an upcoming project but until I do, I just wanted to thank my old friend for helping me through another speech.

HOUSE OF H2O---SATURATE BEFORE USING

I just returned from a fantastic visit to a great record store. Um, yup, that's right... RECORD STORE!
Amoeba Records (amoebarecords.com for those of you not near Hollywood, Berkeley or San Francisco) is a place to discover music- all kinds of music!

So I pick up JACKSON BROWN'S first album, released in 1971. The cover art with the instruction to 'saturate before using' was designed to make the record look like a water bag. Most assumed that the title was: 'Saturate Before Using' but nope, that's wrong and I'm told that the art director's decision drove Asylum Records executives CRAZY. I love that! So much so, that I am officially adding SATURATE BEFORE USING as directions to how best consume HOUSE OF H2O-get it good & wet. (The album's actual title is... "Los Angeles, California." Check it out for yourself above).

Can you imagine that a young Jackson Browne wrote and performed 'Doctor My Eyes' on his very first album? He said that he wrote it as a kid on a broken piano, and I always listen and smile during the first few repetitive notes on that one.

To write such meaningful lyrics so early in his career? Just think about it--
Over the next couple of years, he'd release the albums "For Everyman" and "Late for The Sky,'' containing such all-time great Pop songs as "Take it Easy," "These Days,'' "Fountain Of Sorrow," and "For A Dancer."

Wow.

"Take It Easy,'' has that great advice about not letting the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy. And me? I'm still lookin' for a lover who won't blow my cover, but she's just a little hard to find, ya know?

I grew up in Southern California, the youngest brother in a house full of music and musicians. Bluegrass and banjos from my oldest brother's room, Country from another, Joe Cocker and Dylan from two more corners. ( I think I was heavy into the Soundtrack from Mary Poppins at the time. I was pretty hip for a 5 year-old). To combine all of the sounds of music in my house, Pop, Rock, Folk and Country, you'd end up with: JACKSON BROWNE

Tonight I'm thinking about those sensitive and introspective (so-called 'confessional') Southern California songs that were composed and performed by a twenty-something Jackson Browne; they came before-and not after- Bob Dylan's "Blood on the Tracks." I think maybe young Jackson influenced (and was not merely influenced by) Dylan.

Little wonder that when my pal Cody texted me some lyric lines from Jason Mraz's "Love For A Child" I immediately got-and got into-what MR A-Z was doing and making me feel. Cody usually makes me pay my respect to his favorite, Brandon Boyd. (And I usually do. I'm kinda into Incubus. After all, BB & the boys grew up close to WW-them in nearby Van Nuys, me in Glendale).

Being surrounded today by all of these great records (and CD's, too) at Amoeba in Hollywood made me think back to when record stores were cool, and cool people recommended records. Tonight I'm driving back, playing Jackson Browne Solo Acoustic (Vol. 1) and hearing him introduce "These Days" as a song he wrote when he was 15. Man, I SO love Jackson Browne!

He wrote what I felt before I felt it. He makes me confront my failures, reminding us that he hasn't forgotten his.

If you want to visit a great record store, give a click on their logo to the left of my blog. And if you ever wanna just rap about music, gimme a shout.

NIGHT AND DAY

SONDRE LERCHE

Sondre Lerche is great. And I mean GREAT!


Jamie Cullum bangs out a sensational rendition of Cole Porter's "I Get A Kick Out of You" and Robbie Williams did a pretty damn good job on Porter's "Well, Did Ya Evah?" (oh, and I did a pretty ok new lyric to that Cole Porter song as a Las Vegas promotion a few years back) but...

the ALL TIME Cole Porter classic is "Night and Day." Sinatra so loved ''Night And Day" that he did more versions of that song than any other (a 40's ballad, a 50's Nelson Riddle swinger, a 60's Don Costa string thing, a 70's disco Joe Beck thumper and an 80's Vinnie Falcone small group show stopper). Young Blue Eyes was so nervous when he heard Cole Porter was in the audience at an early gig that the singer forgot the words-- boom- went right up on the lyrics!

"Night And Day" is so special that when I first heard SONDRE LERCHE do it, on just guitar, I fell in love all over again. He changes tempo, accents interesting phrases and makes the song sound brand new. THAT'S what real artists do! When you listen to Sondre sing ''Night And Day," you'll have absolutely NO QUESTION that he loves the song. "In the roaring traffic's boom, in the silence of MY LONELY ROOM..." he's so feeling it, making you feel it, him. HE IS THE ONE!

Sondre's got the super duper hot model wife, thousands of screaming fans, but, when he leans into his guitar and brings forth this Cole Porter classic, you'll swear he's singing to and for only you. THAT'S what great performers do.

Sondre slides from his beautiful deep and rich notes up into his falsetto in flawless fashion. Hearing him sing his own compositions or covers, is to hear the joy of life sound. He "conqures and captures" every song.
If you are interested in hearing some really great Pop/Jazz, give a listen to The Duper Sessions. How good is Sondre Lerche? Great. He's great.

I hear that the cool-looking Norwegian grew up listening to all kinds of music, taught himself English, took guitar from a Brazilian teacher, and the result is a Jobim-ish, laid-back pop jazz groove that is sensational. I mean, his favorite singer is PEGGY LEE... I'm just sayin: how cool is that?

Now if you wanna flat-out rock out, Sondre's 'Phantom Punch' will get you there, man. We danced our socks off!

LOOK- A KANGAROO!

I like animals. My best friend is a dog, Apollo, named after the Greek god. I've had lions, tigers, and other Big Cats as friends, too. My newest pal is a kangaroo (they call them "roos.", I call him "Hop Sing")

ALIZMA

Leave it to BLAIR FARRINGTON to find the HOTTEST ACT EVER!

Do you like girls? How about three multi-talented beautiful young women? The savvy Mr. Farrington has ALIZMA headlining in China (again) and throughout Europe as well as doing sensational special events here in Las Vegas.

Meet them at: www.alizma.com

JAMIE CULLUM

Isn't JAMIE CULLUM cool as shit? If you ever get the chance to see him 'live,' then just do it. He's funky, punky, hip-hoppy, sloppy, but above all, a sensational jazz artist. Cool as shit and hot as hell. He's the nuts!

If you want to download some good Jamie songs, consider "21st Century Kid," "These Are The Days,' and, of course, "I Get a Kick Out Of You."

HOUSE OF H2o 2.0

This is titled "HOUSE OF H2o," just like my blog and another web/ pod project we are doing. This great photo, done by the talented LORRIE McCLANAHAN, makes me feel like I'm living inside a snow globe, looking out on Christmas Eve.

If you are interested in blur photography, as i am, please check out the artwork of Lorrie, and others, at:

www.blurfection.blogspot.com


It is Friday afternoon. "Magic Time' for me here in Las Vegas. The sun will soon set somewhere behind Red Rocks, and the neon will glow again. Remember: there is no time like the present. In fact... there is no time, period, just the present. That's all we have. I'm working on a novel, "Condo: The Kinda True Story of how Las Vegas Got High" and the main character teaches us that... he lives in the here and now.

I invite you to join me in making the now happen. Make this weekend yours.

If you want to see some cool stuff, meet me at JON MARRO'S blendapparel.com... he's a genius.

LOVE FOR A CHILD

I am a contributing writer to a pop music website and so won't take up too much webspace reviewing any CD's here, but, I just have to encourage you to give a listen to "Love For A Child," a sensational song on Jason Mraz's 'We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things.'

I caught Mraz & Co. on Leno last week, doing a kind-of dragging "I'm Yours," the happy single from the new CD. It was fine and WSWDWST has some pretty good songs to underscore your summer but, when I got to the ballad "Love For A Child," I had to pull the car over to the side of the road, as it's pretty hard to drive well with tears in your eyes. I replayed track 6, and then, there came those tears again!

Wow. Jason Mraz was always so clever with the rhymes, and the words that don't quite rhyme as well. He's the emo dude who steals away from the party and you catch him upstairs with your girlfriend, humming & strumming away.

He has written some fine songs along the way. "Bella Luna" and especially "Life is Wonderful" are great but now? This very personal, moving song is way more than anything I ever saw coming. Like maybe Lennon had a daughter who married McCartney's son and they had a kid who inherited John's sharp edge and Paul's soft side and had the balls to tell the truth. Life may well be wonderful, but it isn't without pain. This song never complains, it explains and I love it, him for that!

LOVE FOR A CHILD is a very brave move, a beautiful, meaningful song for the ages. Real men cry and really talented real men are honest enough to open up the family photo album, bravely pointing out the rough stuff.

I always knew Jason Mraz was cute and astute; rhyming and timing like nobody ever. But hey- I never saw this coming.

A guy who'll play it by turning -up his cards prior to the flop is a guy brave enough to bet on.

Me? I'm in... I'm all in.

*****Note the above artwork- it is simply genius*****

I GET A LICK OUT OF YOU

It has been ten years since FRANK SINATRA left us. Some longtime friends refuse to believe it, preferring to think of him as just being on the road. I like that.

I was proud to be a small part of the postage stamp thing yesterday here in Las Vegas. (You'll note that the stamp I've featured on my websites and blogs is a 41 cent one, but by the time they released it, prices went up a penny).

He once asked me- from the stage- who wrote the song he was about to sing. I called out the composer's name from the audience and he took my word for it, repeating it to the Las Vegas audience. Going backstage after that 11PM show, the old man walked by me on his way out. Never making eye contact (he was actually looking at my date) he took the silk pocket square from his tux and stuffed it into my blazer in one smooth move. To me, that meant 'thank you.'

When I was twenty something, I said something to him that broke him up between shows. I had run it by Jilly who insisted I tell the boss. We entered the star's dressing room and it was filled with big shots. Jilly hit me in the arm. "Tell him.''

I did. It was a line about Jane Pauly and her husband, Garry Trudeau, who was really hammering Sinatra in his comic strip, Doonsbury. My joke was off-color, mean- spirited and pretty funny.

"Write that down," Sinatra asked/told me. I faxed the material the next day and the superstar used it on stage off and on for the next week or so.

The best book on Sinatra the singer is WILL FRIEDWALD'S 'The Song Is You.' I recently re-read it as Will was nice enough to sign a copy for me. And now, a decade after Sinatra's passing, the book more than ever is better than ever. Who cares, really, about the gossip? What remains is the music and Will got that and got it right. Will and producer JACK LEWIN put together "Our Sinatra" and if you're interested in hearing the music Sinatra made famous, make a point of catching that show.

REY DE DIAMANTES

Well, it did make me feel weird, but I got through it.

I quoted Harold Bloom, William Shakespeare, some Latin maxims, referenced some of my current favorite websites like ---www.blendapparel.com (a VERY COOL SITE, so you'll know) and my own stupid blogs and by the end of the interview about my novel "Rey De Diamantes," (The King of Diamonds), I was kinda feeling it.

Well, sort of.


So here's the thing. I don't speak Spanish. I am able to pick- up a little, but only when it is spoken really really slowly, which it never never is. I totally understand the weather girl on the Univision. I mean, who doesn't? She's got the map, the rack, the pa-dunk-a-dunk. Oh, I get it.

And, those sexy telenovelas? I can last the required 3-5 minutes, ya know? Oh, snap!

But when it comes to being interviewed by a Spanish-speaking entertainment reporter, it got pretty weird.

I think I may have either offended everyone south of the border, down Mexico way, or perhaps ordered a butt load of taco salad. I'm am still not sure.

I mean, I studied Latin for a total of six years. And I speak an Italian dialect picked-up from the relatives on my mom's side and from a few gangsters I've met along the way.

Bottom line? I have a dinner date next week in LA with a very pretty columnist... or maybe I'm getting with her brother, the one who likes magic. Not sure.

As for the discussion of my novel, The King of Diamonds (Rey De Diamantes) I think it went well. I answered all of the questions the best I could-

YES, I DID complete the novel in less than 100 days.

NO, I DIDN'T base my characters on real people.

YES, I AM 600 pages into my new novel.

NO, I DON'T read any fiction while I'm writing.

YES, I AM flattered to be compared to Bret Easton Ellis.

What am I reading now? 'The Great Derangement.' MATT TAIBBI is one of the very very few writers who can make me laugh out loud.

Other than that, it was pretty cool. Somebody said something about my hair (I think that they may have liked it, especially after I confirmed that it was, in fact, real). Several commented on the black sweat/sweater with gold & silver design (a Brad Butter-ish gift from my bro Bela).

The final call came from some twenty-something who may be sending me his headshot as he claims that he is perfect for the role of handsome young Darin Diamond. At least that's what I think he said. It could well have involved a head of lettuce, and a diamond ring. Who knows these things?


I have decided to learn Spanish. Seriously. What a punk I am for not just doing it.

I wish you a great week. Plan out your dream and then follow it through.

And if you want to have some fun, late at night, tune into a Mexican soap opera and make up your own story line. Late late last night, my latest plot line involved a bag of weed, a thermometer, Gloria Estefan, a waterbed, some members of Menudo, and a mouthful of Fizzies. Weird, huh?

THIS IS HEAVY- HE'S MY BROTHER

So I wander down to the Fremont Street Experience last night to check-out my little brother's show, called 'WOW."

"Wow, am I glad to see you," Bela shouted out across the back of the Las Vegas Club. "I need you to do lights!"

The cast and crew turn to see who he is yelling at.

Me.

I'm looking OK. Freshly fluffed hair, lightly starched cotton shirt I later hear a young dancer describe as 'retro,' thin new jeans and my Rocketdogs ( really comfy shoes some random girl complimented a year or so ago).

"Who is that?" the emcee of Bela's circus-stunt show asks.

"That's his... they are brothers," a handsome Russian acrobat answers as my bro and I hug.

Apollo the dog literally flies out from backstage, as if on cue, just as I ask Bela and Tammy where their kid is.

OK, so much for the nice-looking black jeans. They are immediately smeared with white fur. And oddly, I like my nephew's hairy addition to my outfit.

Even though I hadn't seen Bela's new show, I have recently attended forty Las Vegas productions and written full-length reviews of each. (Last fall I became the only person to ever see and then post critical reviews of EVERY show in Branson, Missouri, a resort destination where I have business interests as well. We're talking about 100 -plus shows down in the Ozarks). And after 20 years of writing and producing live shows and events, the thought of doing lights, while unexpected, strikes me as underwhelming.

"When is the show?"

"Now!" Bela kinda yells.

"Wow," I reply.

Wow indeed.



BROTHERS


Take you back to the early 90's. Bela's family has "The Globe of Death" motorcycle stunt act in "Splash" at the Riviera. His step-dad is leaving town, his mom is returning to Hungary, and Bela, all of 17, pretty much takes over the act but "just can't live in the dressing room," according to The Vice President of Entertainment, Sam Distefano.

"Willie, I'd like to ask you a favor. Can you let Bela move into your house. Keep an eye on him?"

Anything for Sam. I had recently purchased my first home. Four bedrooms more than I actually needed. Nice pool. Pool table just arrived. So why not? I like Bela.

He moved from the Riv to my place in an hour.

To make a long story longer, he ended up keeping an eye on me, too. Papers were signed and where it asked for "Relation" Bela suggested I put 'BROTHER.'

We are standing in my office, located at the front of the house. A place I practiced law part time. A creative place where many shows were put together and specialty acts booked. Now, the Notary is waiting.


"William, you're only a few years older than me. What are you gonna put? Grandfather?"


Fade- Out.

Fade-In. A dozen years later, I'm pretty sick and I walk away from everything. The G friend. The pool table. Everything. I just... split. Took the dog and hung out in LA helping an actor friend learn (and then re-write) his lines. Started on a never-to-be television show. I left Bela to do whatever. After looking after him, it was now his turn, only I maybe deprived him of some of the fun by disappearing. But I do that. I disappear.

In a montage, there are seizures, hospital stays, drugs, late nights and then, as the music fades, I'm feeling well (some say looking 'better than ever ') and back in Las Vegas. Those who joined Bela's circus in the past year or two hadn't met me. But I am told,(at least once a week) that I sound exactly like him, that I use the exact same funny expressions as he. And even though he and I know that they got that back-to-front, we both like it. And now, more and more, I AM becoming like him. Sure, he took his cues from me, back in the day, but last night I literally had to take cues from him. Light cues.

The shows went well, in spite of the dumb ass doing lights. "Stevie Wonder could have done better" either Bela or I said. (Second show way better than the first, so you'll know.)



It has been said that we can pick our noses and our friends but we can't pick our family's friend's noses. Or something like that. I think it was Lincoln, but don't quote me.


The fact is--- and this is pretty heavy--- we CAN pick our family. We have a choice every minute of every day whom to put into our production. Looking for more drama? Comic relief? Sexual tension? Random whatever?

Me? I'm always searching for the perfect music to provide the soundtrack to my dream of life. I have consistently received compliments on the music from those sharing the ride.

Last night got pretty late.( Pretty. Odd.) So now, today, I've gotta ask myself: Who picked whom? Did I choose Bela or he me? I became his big brother because he asked me to. He became my little brother because I needed him to.


Our relationship informs the great friendship I'm writing about in my new novel, "Condo: The Kinda True Story Of How Las Vegas Got High."

In the book, the term "Bro" is only used with sincerity and great affection. I don't take that word lightly.

Some of the newer cast and crew members of Bela's show don't quite get it, us. The girlfriends don't try.

Apollo-the Great Pyrenees-he totally understands.

WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR

-SONGS I WISH I'D WRITTEN:


"Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?"

"Fields of Gold"

"Life Is Wonderful"


-SONGS I'D KINDA LIKE TO HEAR SUNG BY OTHERS:


"Bein' Green," "The Merry Old Land Of Oz" .................................JASON MRAZ

"House of the Rising Sun," "The Shadow Of Your Smile"..................JAMIE CULLUM



-SINGERS I'M GLAD I'M TALLER THAN:

Andy Williams

Paul Williams

Paul Anka



-SINGERS WITH WHOM I'VE HAD LONG CONVERSATIONS ABOUT POP MUSIC:


Frank Sinatra

John Denver

Neil Diamond

Sylvia Syms



-SINGER/SONGWRITERS I'D REALLY LIKE TO TALK WITH ABOUT MUSIC BUT WOULDN'T KNOW WHERE TO START:


... Jackson Browne




-FAMOUS MAGICIANS I KNOW:


Most of them


-FAMOUS MAGICIANS I DON'T REALLY CARE FOR:


(See above)



-PEOPLE I SOMETIMES WISH I WERE:


Burt Bacharach

John Barrowman

Tony Bennett

Jackson Browne

(And that's just the "B's")




-PEOPLE I'D REALLY LIKE TO HANG-OUT WITH:

Beautiful and gifted people such as designer Jon Marro.

Funny and nice people like Louie Anderson.

Cute & current people(e.g. Nora O'Donnell, NBC News) and, especially---

Smart and well-read people like Christine Kenneally*

*Author of "The First Word- The Search For the Origins of Language." She's Australian, took her PHD in Linguistics at Cambridge, and, judging by the photo on the back cover of her book, she's pretty pretty. Add-in the tongue studies thing, those 60K words swirling above my head and man, I'd kinda like to hang with her at some point in my lifetime if at all possible. I mean, 'Did you say I've got a lot to learn?'

FEEL FREE MY FRIEND

The words "FEEL" and "FRIEND" are related, etymologically speaking, according to the book: "The Wisdom of Words."

I like that -that both words come from the same root, that means 'beloved.'

THE COOLIST SHI(r)T EVER

OK-there were all those peeps pushing hemp, saying how our Founding Fathers grew it and whatnot.

Well wait, this is WAY BETTER... these cool shirts are made from 100% bamboo! The company, started in Jason Mraz's house by designer JON MARRO and man- I'm just sayin'... Mraz walks the walk (and wears the clothes!)

Jon designed my fav "ANTS MARCHING" for Dave Matthews.

Side bar: Hey? You ever hear Matthews sing ''In My Life?" on the Tribute to John Lennon? It is the best.

As for Mr. Marro. "I know I'll never loose affection..." for his talent, like the ants. And now, I'm gonna bug him to let me help get the word out on his company. This guy could well be THE artist of our time. Pleeeeeese go to the site:

www.blendapparel.com

Please look into this cool company.

Vinnie Falcone and Frank Sinatra: DISCOVER IT FOR YOURSELF

SO I AM WATCHING TONY BENNETT PLAY TENNIS YESTERDAY AND A GUY COMES UP AFTER THE MATCH, SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT HOW TONY ''JUST HAD TO HEAR'' SOME SONG.

AND TONY WAS SO POLITE.

YOU KNOW, TONY DOESN'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO ANYTHING OR TO ANYONE, BUT HE DOES CHOOSE TO STAY UP ON WHAT'S WHAT IN POP MUSIC.

I COULD TOTALLY KICK TONY BENNETT'S BUTT ON THOSE CLAY COURTS, BY THE WAY.
HA (THAT WAS A CHRIS MATTHEWS/WILLIE WATTERS LAUGH... LOUD).

TONY BENNETT IS TWICE MY AGE AND EATS YOUNGER PLAYERS FOR BREAKFAST.

BUT LET'S GET SERIOUS AND TALK ABOUT POP MUSIC,SHALL WE?

GREAT.

TONY BENNETT WAS JUST SO... GRACIOUS. THE GRACE THAT COMES FROM SUCH A WARM AND WONDERFUL PLACE. HE NODDED AND THANKED THE GUY. ME? I REALLY CAN'T HIDE MY EMOTIONS AND JUST DON'T LIKE IT WHEN MUSIC IS 'PUSHED' ON ME.

(NOTE; I ACTUALLY DELIVERED A SONG FOR TONY TO CONSIDER RECORDING SEVERAL YEARS AGO. HE GAVE IT TO RALPH WHO GAVE IT A LOOK AND LISTEN AND KINDLY GAVE IT BACK TO ME. I FORGET WHO HAD WRITTEN IT, BUT IT WASN'T BAD, IT JUST WASN'T...).

MUSIC... ESPECIALLY POPULAR MUSIC, SHOULD BE DISCOVERED. SO WHEN I RECEIVE ALL OF THESE EMAILS TELLING ME THAT I HAVE TO HEAR THIS OR THAT BAND, I KINDA LET THAT TONE GET TO ME.

I DON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE FROM BUSHWALLA AND DISHWALLA. (OK, ACTUALLY? I DO. BILLY WRITES WITH MRAZ AND THE OTHER IS A BAND WHOSE NAME COMES FROM AN ANCIENT NATIVE AMERICAN TERM THAT MEANS 'TO STEAL CABLE TV,' I THINK ... CURBSIDE PROPHET VS. ROOFTOP PROFIT?)

PEOPLE WHO ARE MY AGE (BUT FOR SOME STRANGE REASON ACT ALL OLD OR WHATEVER) LIKE TO MOURN THE DEATH OF THE RECORD STORE. SUFFER YOUR CD'S UNTO ME.

THAT'S A BUNCH OF BULLSHIT. SURE, I USED TO LOVE RECORD STORES, FLIPPING- THROUGH THE BINS. I USED TO HANG-OUT AT THE TOWER RECORDS ON SUNSET. I EVEN WAS THERE ONE NGHT WHEN BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN CAME IN AND SHOPPED. IT WAS LIKE MIDNIGHT ON A SUNDAY, AND IT WAS COOL. HE ASKED SEVERAL PEOPLE- ME INCLUDED, ABOUT THE KIND OF MUSIC WE LIKED. HE TOLD ME HE WAS HALF-ITALIAN (ME TOO) AND AGREED THAT IT WAS COOL WHEN REPRISE INCLUDED A POSTER IN THE FOLD-OUT ALBUM VERSION OF FRANK SINATRA'S 'WATERTOWN,' A PROJECT PUT TOGETHER BY THE JERSEY BOYS THEMSELVES, BOB GAUDIO AND JAKE HOLMES.

(NOTE ABOUT WATERTOWN)- I LISTED IT IN THE TOP 20 BEST SINATRA ALBUMS IN AN ARTICLE I WROTE SEVERAL YEARS AGO, CAUSING VINNIE FALCONE, WHO IN ADDITION TO BEING MY BEST FRIEND IN SHOW BUSINESS, WAS SINATRA'S MUSICAL DIRECTOR FOR THE MOST CREATIVE DECADE IN THE OLD MAN'S LIVE PERFORMING LIFE. VINNIE SO DISAGREED WITH ME, AND I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER HIM ASKING ME WHY I CHOSE TO PUT THAT ALBUM UP THERE ALONGSIDE TRILOGY, SHE SHOT ME DOWN, COME FLY WITH ME, ONLY THE LONELY, ETC. YOU SEE, VINNIE COULD HAVE JUST TOLD ME THAT I WAS WRONG, BUT HE DIDN'T. I WAS MAYBE 20 AND HE COULD HAVE SIMPLY SET ME STRAIGHT. BUT INSTEAD, HE MADE ME QUESTION MY OPINIONS AND IN THE PROCESS, ENCOURAGED ME TO TAKE POP MUSIC OPINIONS SERIOUSLY. VINNIE NEVER SPOKE DOWN TO ME-

NOT EVER.

OH, AND A FURTHER NOTE- SINATRA SO RESPECTED HIS PIANIST/CONDUCTOR/ DIRECTOR/CONTRACTOR THAT HE ACTUALLY USED TO 'SNEEK-OUT' TO HANG OUT WITH VINNIE. YUP. JILLY TOLD ME ALL KINDA STORIES HOW THE OLD MAN RESPECTED VINNIE'S OPINION SO MUCH, BUT DIDN'T REALLY WANT THE OTHER MUSICIANS AROUND SO, ON THE ROAD, JILLY WOULD MAKE SURE VINNIE-AND ONLY VINNIE- KNEW WHERE SINATRA WOULD BE HAVING DINNER AFTER THE CONCERT SO THAT THEY COULD TALK MUSIC. WOW...I'M JUST SAYING. AND YOU CAN READ MR. FALCONE'S FINE BOOK, WHICH IS REALLY AIMED AT STUDENTS OF MUSIC, BUT YOU'LL NEVER FIND A HINT OF WHAT I'VE JUST SAID. NOR DOES VINNIE TAKE ANY KIND OF CREDIT FOR CONDUCTING SO MANY TRACKS ON WHICH OTHERS ARE CREDITED.

MUSIC SHOULD BE DISCOVERED. MUSIC SHOULD BE RECOMMENDED. OPINIONS OF POP MUSIC SHOULD NEVER BE PUSHED ONTO OTHERS.

NOT EVER.

AND WHILE TOWER IS NO MORE, I'VE BEEN TURNED-ONTO MORE GREAT STUFF INSIDE BORDERS AND BARNES & NOBLE THAN ANY OLD HIPPIE EVER STUMBLED ONTO IN THEIR LIVES. A SUPER-COOL GUY WHO IS THE MUSIC BUYER AT BORDERS MADE SURE THAT I WAS HIP TO GUSTER AND ACTUALLY GAVE ME MY FIRST SONDRE LERCHE DISC. HE AND I HAD MORE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW MIND-BLOWINGLY COOL JAMIE CULLUM IS AND HOW PERFECTLY THOUGHT-OUT JASON MRAZ'S LYRICS ARE.

I KNOW THAT THE FUTURE OF MUSIC WILL HAVE TO INVOLVE MORE...STUFF. LIKE IN THE OLD DAYS, YOU MAYBE GOT A POSTER, PHOTOS TAKEN IN THE STUDIO AND ALWAYS GREAT LINER NOTES, WELL, NOW, THE RECORD COMPANIES SHOULD OFFER VIDEOS, INTERVIEWS, SPECIAL STUFF CAPTURED IN THE STUDIO, AND MORE. IF THEY DO, THEY WILL RE-INVENT WHAT IT MEANS TO DISCOVER MUSIC.

BACK TO TONY BENNETT, OK?

I WAS WITH HIM, AND, VINNIE FALCONE WHO WAS CONDUCTING FOR HIM AT THE TIME, THE DAY AFTER FRANK SINATRA PASSED AWAY. WE WERE BACKSTAGE AT CAESARS PALACE- A PLACE SINATRA HAD PERFORMED IN FOR A DECADE, A PLACE WHERE VINNIE STARTED AS HOUSE PIANIST AND A PLACE WHERE TONY BENNETT WAS ONE OF THE REMAINING FEW STARS WHO COULD BE COUNTED ON TO PACK THEM IN, SHOW AFTER SHOW.

JUST PUT UP ON THE MARQUE-"TONY BENNETT," AND THE PLACE IS SOLD-OUT. HE MAY SHOW UP WITH JUST A PIANIST. ADD IN A TRIO. OR LATER IN THE SHOW, A BACK CURTAIN MAY RISE TO PRESENT AN ENTIRE ORCHESTRA. DOESN'T MATTER. THE CROWD IS THERE TO SEE TONY BENNETT. HE OFTEN SINGS A SONG AFTER SETTING DOWN HIS MICROPHONE. HE'LL COMPLIMENT THE ACOUSTICS, OR MAKE A MTV REFERENCE TO BEING 'UNPLUGGED,' BUT WHAT'S MAGICAL IS THE POWER AND CONTROL HE HAS... THE SPELL HE CASTS... THE RESPECT HE DEMANDS AND RECEIVES, NIGHT AFTER NIGHT.

SO I LOOK FROM THE DRESSING ROOM TV, WHICH HAD BACK-TO-BACK COVERAGE OF THE LIFE AND CAREER OF FRANK SINATRA. I'M STANDING WITH VINNIE FALCONE, WHO WAS CONCERNED HOW SO WRONG SO MANY OF THE COMMENTATORS WERE GETTING THINGS, AND TONY BENNETT. TONY HAD CANCELLED THE OPENING NIGHT PERFORMANCE AS SOON AS HE HAD GOTTEN THE NEWS OF MR. SINATRA'S PASSING BUT THEN, THE NEXT NIGHT, WENT OUT AND PUT ON AN EXTRA SPECIAL PERFORMANCE, GOING OUT OF HIS WAY TO STATE HIS OPINIONS ON STAGE AS TO WHY THIS SONG WAS SPECIAL OR WHAT HE LIKED SO MUCH ABOUT THAT LYRIC.

I HEART TONY BENNETT SO MUCH.

HERE'S SOME MUSIC YOU MIGHT WANT TO CHECK OUT-

*TONY BENNETT AND BILL EVANS TRIO (I MEAN, EVERYBODY DIGS BILL EVANS, RIGHT?)

*TONY'S ALBUMS IN THE MID- 70'S THAT HE PRODUCED FOR HIS OWN RECORD LABEL, IMPROV.

***SOME GREAT SONGS, LIKE THE MOURNFUL: 'SOME OTHER TIME,' THE DYSPHORIC 'WHEN DO THE BELLS RING FOR ME?' AND THE SHINING,STUNNING 'OVER THE RAINBOW' OH-ALSO, CHECK-OUT THE DUET WITH PAUL MCCARTNEY, 'THE VERY THOUGHT OF YOU,' WHICH IS A GREAT SONG FROM THE GREAT BRITISH BANDLEADER RAY NOBLE. THE DUET IS SO... RESPECTFUL.

WHEN IT COMES TO MUSIC, BE RESPECTFUL.

LISTEN TO WHAT THE MAN SAID. LIKE THE LYRIC GOES, "TO ME, THAT'S EVERYTHING.''

JAMES FRANCO LIGHTS-UP "PINEAPPLE EXPRESS"

If yur gonna hang with a guy who smokes tree,
JAMES FRANCO is the dude, dude

Oh, so dig this- in his new movie, Pineapple Express, he plays the funniest stoner ever. I went to a screening and he's sensational.

But where every other handsome Hollywood type "really wants to direct," Mr. Franco wishes to write.

Right on!

James is back in school, studying English lit and has retired as an actor.
So how great is it for a successful actor to choose to write? THE BEST!
You see, the writer is the first artist to 'discover' the art. In my book, what JAMES FRANCO is doing is the greatest.
My money is on you, man.

YOU CAN'T HIDE YOUR LION EYES

Here's something you may not know about me---


I tame lions. For fun. I have for years now.

Setting aside my very real love of dogs, it seems kinda weird that, back in the day, we didn't domesticate lions and not just wolves.

Think about it-lions that had been domesticated (meaning bred to be smaller and 'tame' around populations of humans) make a ton of sense. Loyal, loving, and... lions!

Ask me about my lion sometime, and about the lions I've known over the years.

THE KING OF DIAMONDS. THAT'S CAESAR, RIGHT?

So there is a little inside joke in my novel THE KING OF DIAMONDS regarding Caesars Palace.

Danny Diamond, who is known as 'The King of Diamonds,' was a regular headliner in Las Vegas at, where else: CAESARS PALACE.  As cool card characters know, the four Kings in a deck of 52  represent real royalty, with Diamonds being Caesar. So Caesar is the King of Diamonds.

 

Darin Diamond, the handsome young pop singer/magician ends up with his own 4000-seat showroom room,  named 'Diamond Palace,' built adjacent to The Palace of the Caesars. 

 

As for Darin's best friend, Patrick? Well, his role model models his relationship with Darin after Alexander the Great, and even refers to his close friend as the "King of Clubs," the Court Card representing the young Macedonian who ended up King of the Persians.

Now if all that shuffling wasn't enough to bore the shit out of you, please know that all of these lame little trifles, like the supposed meanings behind the changing colors F. Scott used in his Great Gatsby, are just that- trifling. But just in case I croak and my books are discussed in some English class, I wanted to just put it out there that-YES- I DID put these things in on purpose. My novel, like Alexander and his 'ol man Phil, is about fathers and sons. And the relationship between the young star and his best friend? Well, like Alexander and  Hephaestion  based theirs on the one between Achilles and Patroclus, so too did Darin and Patrick.     

And...for those of you curious about the sexuality of real men (like Alexander the Great and me, for example) Jeanne Reames-Zimmerman has a great take on Greek sex at  www.pothos.org

DON'T YOU MIGUEL ANGEL RUIZ ME, MAN

So I received an email from a web buddy (a real friend- a guy who asked that I don't use his real name in my books and articles) telling me that after reading singer/songwriter/blogger JASON MRAZ's  www.freshnessfactorfivethousand.blogspot.com yesterday, he got all turned-on to "The Four Agreements, asking if I was I familiar with the book.

What The Hell---

I don't re-write this blog, it comes, as the song goes, 'Straight From the Heart.' My novels take me forever, but I just bang-out this blog. That's the point: to provide a peek inside my head. Some cats wanna do the couch and a buck fifty an hour Doctor-Patient thing. Me? I'm not that patient. 

I wrote, FROM MEMORY, the FOUR AGREEMENTS in my March 1 blog, "An Axe for the Frozen Sea Within Us (another quote from memory). You see, I am kinda proud of www.houseofh2o.blogspot.com, that is, of my respect for free association (and not like the "And Along Comes Mary" Association, either, although I did grow up near Glendale's Ice House, was the youngest contestant on 'Name That Tune,' and so, that reference-off the top of my head (AS ARE ALL THINGS HERE AT WATER HOUSE) was an easy one. 

***Shit...I can't even think of another song by The Association... so, let's get back to Miguel Ruiz's book, 'The Four Agreements.

The book The Four Agreements CHANGED MY LIFE (well, actually? Reading it changed my life) and I have referenced it so many times to so very many of my peeps these past few years and, six weeks before MR A-Z mentioned it on his blog, I wrote about it-about The Agreements-on MY blog.s 

One of the women working on getting my novel "The King of Diamonds" up and online this summer prior to my Hollywood friends hustling the screenplay based on my little book, well, she tells me that I've had thousands of "hits' checking out my profile, which, she says means many times that number reading the blog. We re-started the counter in February on all three sites and are getting hundreds of hits per week here at BLOGSPOT (partly, I'm told, because I

reference www.houseofh2o.blogspot.com on my other sites and in radio and pod interviews).

So why am I sweating getting 'The King of Diamonds' out there? Well, mostly it is because I know the way Hollywood works. Or I thinks I do. My story-about an "impossibly handsome" pop singer who incorporates original illusions in his show- has already been messed with. In fact, the "Draft Screenplay" I started to read made me wanna vomit. These geniuses took a 22-year old singer, who grew up in LA with a superstar father (Danny Diamond starred in the hit sitcom 'The King of Diamonds,' playing the kinda-dumb husband to the first female Governor of the State of California), a kid who gets his great looks from his savvy  mother who was known as "the prettiest showgirl in Vegas" back in the day. Young Darin writes his own songs, idolizes performers like Jackson Browne, and finally finds a partner-Matt White- with whom he can share his career.

And his onstage female assistant- Mystina- is his off stage girlfriend, Tina.

So the weirdo who wrote this first script said he wanted to make it more "Gay friendly." What a dumbass. The book, while pure fiction, is based on my very real experiences in show business. My book, like my life, (if one needs a definition) is 'Hetro friendly.'

Back to the battle of the blogs-

As for Jason Mraz and his freshness factor? Let's see? What can I say?

Nothing. 

Zippy.

Bubkis.

You see, Mraz is such a talent, such an incredible musician, such a fine artist that I really have nothing critical to say.  How dare I? He's a guy who makes me weep (Bela Luna) makes me smile (Curbside Prophet) and makes me proud to be a friend (You and I Both) He's that good...I hate him that much! Or probably the opposite. Those emotions are two sides of the same coin, no?

In the studio? After a great take? The producer turns to the artist ( be it Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Kenny Rankin, Kenny Loggins, whomever) and says "Good," or "That's a take." They don't go on and on and on and on- (Down in Jamaica, they got, lots a pretty women. Steal your money then they break your heart) So I won't, either.

So after I cooled-down, I assured my famous phone friend that I completely understood his wanting to check out the Four Agreements because of Mraz and not me. And, I told him that all was forgiven, that I was pulling into the bookstore and had to go. But then (and by 'then' I mean like 20 minutes ago, as I entered my favorite Barnes and Noble in Las Vegas) I freaked-out. On display was Dan Millman's 'The Way of the Peaceful Warrior,' a book I gave AS A GIFT to my celebrity cel phone web buddy last year, a book I just now remembered that he, after seeing it listed in MRAZOPRAH's reading list, asked if I had read it. 

I stepped over to the Starbucks section, drank-down a latte and thumbed my ChuckBerry's green 'call back' button.

He answered after one ring. "What?"

"I'm at Barnes & Noble. You know that Barnes is cool..."

"Right, but word on the street is Noble is a real prick." He remembered the line.

"So, why is it that if I blog about books..., even when I BUYS you books, Jason Mraz gets the credit." I must have been kinda pissed. The pretty-much deaf guy had looked-up from his morning paper, squinted in my direction and shook his head.

"Will--- the only reason I even know about Mraz is because of you. Well, that's not true, but you always have him blaring in the car whenever we go anywhere. YOU are the one who loves the guy. I just like the song where he tells his chick to: Take off her makeup.  Or shoes. or corkscrew..."

I cooled-down right away. So what if a 'two-pump chump' can't last?  

"So you DO remember the Nick Nolte story I told you? How he went to Westside High School with my friend's older brother, and how I always saw Nolte in the role of Soc as I was reading "Peaceful Warrior?"

No answer.

"You do remember that my character, Darin Diamond, in my novel, sings along to Mraz in the shower, right? I had you read that part, remember? "I Melt With You," remember?

Silence. Then breathing, nose exhaling. I hate that. Sounds like a Shuttle launch.

"In the book I'm writing now, the character Roy Richards, is super-tuned into what everyone else is thinking. He's able to get laid all of the time, ever since he was a kid, is totally focused on the present, and actually hears the voice of Lady Luck when he's inside casinos, making him THE MOST 'in the moment' character ever. Do you recall us talking about that?"

"Is that the guy who gets 86'ed from Caesars because they think he's cheating?" Oh, snap!

"That's the one." I was starting to feel better about my famous phone friend, about our friendship.

"Hey, Will? You know I love you, right? And not in a gay way. Well, maybe a little gay, like when you do your hair and wear that pink-ish shirt...''

"OK, OK. Yes. What?"

"It's just... you are so easy to piss off, man. You are just too easy."

"Ish." I'd like to think that I pushed the little red, receiver- shaped "hang-up" button before he hung up on me. 

I promised him years ago that I'd never use his name in anything that I wrote. The guy is pretty famous, and it's cool that he speaks freely with me. Besides, if I did use his name, it could change the way people might read what I've written. 

OK, now it's weird... like you are trying to guess who it is. He is a very famous guy. But fame? It exists in YOUR head... and rarely in the head of the one you think of as famous. 

OK, OK. He's a really great actor. And yeah, he probably IS a little gay for me, which is a little weird as he is surrounded by beautiful peeps all of the time. 100% straight but gay in a "I love ya, bro" kinda way. I wrote the 'Bromance' King of Diamonds based on our strong feelings.   

Oh, man... I just thought of some more 'Association'  music! 

"Who's looking out the streets of the city? Armpits stink in the burnin' sun? Everyone knows it's Windy!" (OK, I may have re-written part of that lyric). 

As for my friend who is the only one I allow to see my novels as I'm working on them? The guy who quotes Jason Mraz and not me? The one who doesn't want me to

 use his name (but loves it when I use our real situations in my novels)? Will I ever write his name? 

"Never My Love." 

(Now that's a song, no?)

Note: If you have not gotten it yet, please understand that this blog- houseofh20- it is a FIRST DRAFT, just-off -the- top -of -my- head -type-thing, (and I mean that not in the way you do when you say that phrase to a hooker or your barber), and I am actually thrilled when people take the time to check-in to see if I am out of my mind.

I CAN write... and some think I'm getting pretty good at it. The King of Diamonds, while completed in just 90 days, turned out to be a nice young novel about an interesting young performer. I SO hope that you will read it, even if you just do so online. If a film is made, I'll bet they totally mess it up, making everyone older and stupid (In my mind, Darin Diamond is played by Speed Racer himself, EMILE HIRSCH, or even the real magician, DARREN ROMEO. His dad, Danny Diamond is Joe Montegna and singer/dancer Matt White is Dancing With the Stars' DEREK HOUGH.  

The truth is that I would be thrilled if a film is made, no matter how much they change things round.