The "In our hands" fund.

(Painting by my friends, "The Twins"--Marcello & Alessio Bugagier--using my Venetian masks)

As this traditional season of giving approached, I sat down to give some very serious thought to just that--giving of oneself. Time, energy, money---we all seem to be willing to help others in some way or another by donating what we can to help. Whether it is in response to some natural disaster or a continued effort to cure a disease or even simply a local food drive, we all seem to have that desire to share in order to help others. When the call comes, we're there.

I personally, over the past 3-4 years, have donated, through charity events, private jewelry sales parties, and auctions, (without going into an exact figure) a substantial amount in the name of my Mother (who died of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma) and numerous friends Autistic children. Again, without going into TOO much detail, I had it explained to me that I really did not make enough money on a yearly basis to allow these donations to be "tax deductible." Though that sounds good in theory, you actually have to show that you MAKE enough money to be able to deduct what you have given away. That's OK with me. It was not my intent in the first place. I genuinely wanted the funds donated to help in some way. When all is said and done, though, I have no idea where those funds went or how they were spent. The most direct result of my donations was seen when I was shown the art work created by one centers autistic children. I was honestly astonished by some of the amazing art that these children were creating. Unlocking the hidden talents of these otherwise severely handicapped children was an equally awakening experience for me. And got me thinking----what else is out there? What amazing talent simply awaits the chance to have that door opened to their artistic ability?

To help explain a bit further WHERE I started to go with this idea, allow me to tell a bit of my own personal history. I grew up in Dearborn, Michigan---around the corner from Henry Ford's birthplace. Dearborn---originally called Greenfield (which shows the simple power someone of Henry Ford's stature had-----"I want to change the name of my birthplace" , I can imagine him saying. OK, Henry. Done!) I did not really figure it all out until much later , but growing up in Mr. Ford's "town" meant that just about everything was named after him and/or his family members. My first school was "Henry Ford Elementary" school. Which was actually within walking distance (a long walk but really just across a couple of fields) to his home "Fairlane". Sometime in 2nd grade, I was lined up in the hallway with all of the other children and walked down the hall to a big, dark room. The lights were turned on, revealing a room lined with musical instruments of all types. In groups of 4 or 5, we were led in and allowed to choose whatever instrument struck our interest. Now----I don't recall if we were "prompted"----or even if ALL children were required to chose an instrument. Maybe my parents had suggested that I should be allowed to try, I don't know. For whatever reason, little Tommy was shown that room and I selected the violin. I remember that it was a 3/4 size and came with a bow and case. I cannot honestly say WHY I chose the violin or, again, whether I was "advised" or possibly gave some kind of indication to the teacher there with us. But there I was----a musician! My first true memory of music---a complete "song" other than bits of radio---- is "Claire de Lune" by De Bussey. Though I am sure my brothers and sisters would state otherwise after being tortured by my endless practicing, I excelled at this new talent. I soon found myself playing in youth symphonies and a children's string quartet. My Mother reminded me of just how I had taken to playing, when, just before she died, she handed over to me the clippings and programs from assorted different performances she had saved---one even at Christmas time at Fairlane Estate for assorted local luminaries and Mr. Henry Ford II himself!! I had forgotten about all of this as I had decided to change to trumpet when I was in middle school and then picked up the guitar somewhere in my teens. Again----from the screechings of my violin, to the marching music of the trumpet to endless repetitions of "Walk don't run" on the guitar, I am sure my family may see it differently but the ability to play music-----classical, marching "band", or rock & roll---was then, and still is, a major joy in my life. The ability to create---with your own hands--allows a world of magic to happen that has formed and changed my life. I've spoken with many musician friends about that moment of having your first instrument. Even if, as in my case, it changed from one type to another, the chance to create music out of this simple instrument can have a profound effect. The person that can SEE the possibility in a child---and therefore help out with that next giant step of offering an instrument to play---can have profound results. Whether it is seeing a child's fascination with a toy ukulele---and realizing that even a $5 pawnshop guitar would be the next step to??? Or even simply advancing an interest in music to the next level is something that cannot be ignored. Unfortunately, public schools these days do not have the funding for music programs, or for that matter even ART programs. Sad but true.
This all got me thinking of the simple idea of providing instruments for children that show an interest in PLAYING one. Again, that simple "magic" that happens when a child realizes that they can create music with their hands from whatever instrument it may be, is profound---and can have a lasting, and as mentioned above, profound effect. AND----what happened to all of those instruments that the public schools no longer use? I spoke to a friend that owns a pawn shop about whether they get overloaded with instruments (such as during bad economic times like these) and what they do with them. He stated that they rarely accept anything of low value. The instrument has got to be "pawnable"---meaning something they can purchase at a low price knowing they can resell it. I asked and he confirmed that YES---at times they end up with too many of a certain instrument that they know they cannot sell----for example, too many trumpets---and they then sell them off in bulk to other dealers who need those items.
So the idea began of using funds from special charity events or sales of my jewelry to purchase instruments for children that have a need for them. My nephew, Jon Sharpy, is the General Manager of the Portland School of Rock. I asked him about this idea and he confirmed that though many of their enrollees have their own instruments--in whatever condition---there are others that wish to enroll that do not have their own instruments AND/OR do not even know which instrument they wish to play.
I see young kids walking around playing electronic games on WHATEVER electronic device happens to be the newest hot toy, but we cannot put an instrument into the hands of kids that want to learn to play but can't afford it.......
Just giving a child that chance.....who knows what will become of it? I showed a certain amount of talent at playing a variety of instruments and that carried over into helping me make a living from my creativity. No world changing talent but certainly "worthy" of my time and efforts. And you just never know where it will go---and certainly can't without the opportunity in the first place. And....what if?
What if an amazing, unknown talent is discovered? Let's find a "new" Miles Davis. Or another Stevie Wonder. How about a Pat Metheny? Not into jazz guitar? OK, how about an Eddie Van Halen or a Jeff Beck? A Yo-yo Ma or a violin virtuoso like Joshua Bell? I could go on and on. The simple fact is that if there are no instruments available for these children to pick up there is no chance to find out what they can do.
SO! I don't know anything about creating a charity organiztion but the School of Rock is one and the first "fund" I am putting together will be a simple bank account---governed by the Portland School of Rock. Funds from assorted events that I am involved with or contribute to will donate funds directly into this account. Money will only be withdrawn to purchase instruments when needed. That way, receipts will be attached to each withdrawal. Money donated for the purchase of needed instruments.....period. I am sure that some investigating into possible donations from pawn shops or discounts from music stores will help with the whole idea but for now I just wanted to get the word out there---in my own small way---and hope that through this "social network" we are all connected to, this fund can grow and help.
And, it's not just about money. For whatever insane reason, I have 3 guitars. Do I play them? mmmmm----rarely. Are they some kind of desperate connection to my youth or ...........don't know/not gonna go there. Can I tear ONE of them away from my life to help some other talent flourish? Yes.
The idea that you just never know what talent will develop can be seen, for example, in the amazing talents of the young female bassist Tal Wilkenfeld. My buddy Leigh Stephens, an amazing talent in his own right, turned me on to a Youtube video of this tiny little girl playing bass with guitar wizard Jeff Beck. It was as if I was watching (the deceased) jazz bass guitar phenom Jaco Pastorius for the first time. This little girl was getting the most unique tones and notes out of her instrument with a fluidity that belied her age! And her story was that she started playing the guitar and just decided that she could play the bass better. Good move!

Simply look her up on youtube. She will amaze you!

This is just the start of this idea. I have learned that there are other similar funds and foundations. It saddens me to think that our country can pour endless funds into unwanted and unneeded wars and cannot find the funding for arts and music in our schools. Whether it is was the Dearborn Public School system or Henry Ford himself that provided the musical instruments that filled that room of my school so many years ago, it changed my life forever and I am eternally greatful for the chance to "shine". I just want to provide that chance to someone else.

And as I said before----you just never know. That kid I mentioned earlier who played away on his ukulele and had someone finally give him a $5 guitar? That would be THIS guy....

We all know where HE went with his talent.........................

I will keep you all informed...

Lost along the way......

30 years ago.......that can't be.....

I remember getting a phone call on the evening of December 8, 1980 from a lady friend who had some-----how shall I put this?---understanding----of me. "Somebody shot John Lennon," she said. "No," I said. "No".............and hung up the phone.

I had departed Hollywood and all of it's toxic noise some time before and was now living in my brother's cabin in Fawnskin, California----up in the San Gabriel Mountains. Dis-engaged and clean----or, at least, "cleaner". A lot of tales to tell about that time in L.A. A lot of tales. Better left untold. I will say that there were many a conversation with folks that were of that unique "celebrity" status. "Real" stars or wanna be. Living in Hollywood and being vaguely connected to the movie or music business, you ended up rubbing shoulders, at some point, with that wide spectrum of true stars and kinda/maybe/once I .....folks. I was never aware of any hesitation of connecting with other people. Those WERE different times, but there seemed to be a general feeling of "if you accept me, I'll accept you." There certainly never seemed to be any type of fear. More a "I'm really tired of this" kinda energy. Or maybe even a "leave me alone" but not fear.

After taking a job, at one point, with a company down the street from Greenblatts Deli (on Sunset by Laurel Canyon), I got in the habit of having breakfast across the street at Schwab's Drug Store. Famous for where "Lana Turner" was supposedly discovered, it was simply a good place to sit at the counter and get a good, solid breakfast. (and, sadly---no longer there.)

After a few mornings of hash browns and eggs over easy, I was a "regular" and directed to a "good" seat and left alone.

One morning, the guy on my right gets up and leaves and someone else says---"Is this taken?"---and to my "no" headshake, sits down. Orders his breakfast, opens his paper, and says, "How you doin'?" "Fine, thanks" I said, and looked over at David Crosby of, at that time, the band "Crosby, Stills and Nash." OK. In Hollywood, at that time, it happened. Not a big deal and, in fact, it ended up being a relatively sane and everyday "blahblah" conversation. He said he was there because of the recording going on up in Laurel Canyon of their next album. I stated that I had seen them "live" in Detroit a few years back with Neil Young and Joni Mitchell and it had been an epic concert. Great venue with amazing talent and awesome (I'm not sure I used the word) energy. I liked his song about changing times---and per his story that night, about Bobby Kennedy-- "Almost cut my hair." He revealed, "That was a bit of a reach" and mentioned "but seeings how Steven (Stills) got away with 'social commentary' with his Buffalo Springfield hit "For what it's worth" then I felt it was OK to do MY statement of pure facts." He said, "The middle line about 'looking in my rearview mirror and seeing a police car lit up' still bothers me." He then looked at me directly and said "With the way everything's going, even 'one of us' is gonna do something stupid and take it all away."
(ironic commentary from a man who later on slipped into his own little paranoid nightmare.....)



so yeah. Back to that phone call. I just hung up, sat down and thought--- John Lennon dead. Shot by "one of us." Somebody of an age that should have "gotten" what Lennon was all about. John Lennon's birthday was 4 days different from mine. When the Beatles came out and everyone was choosing which one was their best match or favorite, I did not choose John. Libra birthday connection or not, he was a bit too much of the "wiseass" and seemed to think he was superior to us all.

And maybe he was. Or had a broader vision. Or. Anyone "given" that much and allowed that "green light" to expand and create as much as he was would certainly have a different view of the world and it's workings. All that he created cannot be summed up in one little writing-----nor is that what this is all about.............but something needs to be said.



Here we are. 30 years later. I'm not sure if I "got" what he was up to with Yoko and the "sleep in for peace" or her "bag."

But. Losing that mind. And that voice. Really?



This guy BELIEVED "Love is all you need"! Believed it like a fever that takes you over.



"NO" is what I said. and hung up the phone..............



(I just saw on Youtube, for the first time,----- remember---I WAS up in my brother's cabin with no TV at the time--, Howard Cosell's announcement during the ABC TV football game performance broadcast, of the shooting of John Lennon outside of his apartment building in NYC. yeah....... that one left a scar...........................)