TONY BENNETT. JUDY GARLAND. YOKO ONO. CINDY ADAMS. CINDY ADAMS?! AND ME
Name Dropping
Three Paesano. TID-BIT/KID HIT. Is it wrong to be young and foolish? Jim’s Tony Bennett story. When I was a newcomer, an aspiring writer to NYC, I was invited for dinner at pianist-composer Anthony “Tony” Scibetta’s Village apartment. While there at Scibetta’s–the composer was in the kitchen stirring the sauce–I took a trip to the men’s room, made a stop in the bedroom, and was caught black-handed leafing through Scibetta’s address book. I knew Tony Bennett had recorded two of his compositions –“Spring in Manhattan,” and “How Do You Say Auf Wiedersehen,” lyric by Johnny Mercer. While I was jotting down Tony Bennett’s particulars, Anthony Scibetta walked in. Scibetta took a swing at me, escorted me to, and out, the front door. Too bad. The lasagna smelled great.
YOKO ONO THEN & NOW - YOKO ONO GOT TONS OF HATE MAIL
ONE: Today, New York City and New Yorkers love Yoko Ono according to The New York Times who called it “a Romantic Connection.” Now that she’s moved to the sprawling Catskills farm, she bought in 1978, it seems all of New York City is enamored with her. It wasn’t always the case. Back in the 1970s both Yoko Ono and I took a popular Human Potential Seminar called est (Erhard Standard Training). I fondly remember Ono as down-to-earth, warm, and friendly to all.
In the sold-out seminar – the rage that year – Ono shared she got tons of hate mail. (Yoko had secretly signed up for the seminar as “Daphne,” but made no pretenses.) Without getting too specific, the hate messages included ethnic slurs and overwhelming envy that she snagged Beatle John Lennon. At day’s end, Yoko Ono invited Upper West Siders who lived near the Dakota to ride home in the limousine with her. I was one of the lucky ones. I remember passing on copies of the two Melba Moore albums I had produced to awesome Ono as she let me off at my place.
I recently received a message from Cindy Adams that she does not want to use my work anymore. After years (decades!), she no longer wants to use my items. I have a message for her, from mild mannered Jim Fragale, “If I go, you go.”
CINDY ADAMS: March 27, 2023: Here's how Cindy Adams reported in her New York Post column, the item I sent her, a far cry from my version – on March 27, 2023 – Ono and est, according to Adams, “Yoko Ono took EST, the Human Rage (sic) Course.” [Dear Reader, “rage” had little to do with subject matter/syllabus/curriculum unless one means all-the-rage]. Continuing with Cindy Adam’s version: ”…then drove co-takers home in her chauffeured limo. Now calm, she’s [Ono] age 90.”
I’m glad all of New York now loves Yoko Ono and she no longer gets hate mail. I wish that means everything across the board is better for all of us today, but I suspect not. If you read the papers, you know better.
I recently received a message from Cindy Adams that she does not want to use my work anymore. After years (decades!), she no longer wants to use my items. I have a message for her, from mild mannered Jim Fragale, “If I go, you go.”
And while we’re on the subject, Ms. Adams, how about a credit for the wonderful April 11, 2023 item I sent you about the beloved neighborhood coffee shop at 72 and West End Avenue, after the pandemic closed it for two-plus years, with huge signs in window: “Kossar’s Bagels Opening Soon!?” (Not!) Impatient Upper West Side neighbors stopped daily and shook their heads. Some even taped little signs on the door: “Like, When?” (To this day, it’s still closed.)
CONTRIBUTOR & COLLEAGUE: It’s important to note I was fond of Cindy Adams and her column since she came on the scene 41 years ago, 1982. She’s now in her 96th year. By that time, I had already worked with columnist Liz Smith (Do you know the Peter Allen song, “I’ve Been Taught By Experts” about Allen’s association with mother-in-law Judy Garland?); boasted four covers as well as a column in Gentlemen’s Quarterly magazine; produced records and wrote songs for Melba Moore.
TWO: CINDY ADAMS: JULY 6, 2016: While we’re on the subject, Cindy Adams had previously run an item I sent to her on Yoko Ono in her July 6, 2016, column. “Between B’way and West End on 72nd, in front of Ashford & Simpson’s Sugar Bar, [it’s still there, fans] Yoko Ono being helped from a black limo. Three aides aided her, dot dot dot.”
FOOTNOTES: At one time Yoko Ono and John Lennon owned several flats in the Dakota. Rumor has it she’s retained at least one. Notable residents in the building: Roberta Flack, Graydon Carter, Rosemary Clooney, Leonard Bernstein, Judy Garland. Some hopeful tenants — turned away — Billy Joel, Madonna, Cher, and Melanie Griffin. John Lennon’s tragic death occurred in December 1980. Lennon was fatally shot outside the Dakota.
When I was introduced to Ms. Garland, she said, “You’re cute. May I have your phone number?”
JUDY GARLAND. My good buddy M. W. ribs me every chance he gets. I made the mistake of sharing with him that I turned down Judy Garland. Musical actress Elaine Stritch took me to the after-closing-night party of her concert at the Palace Theatre on Broadway in a truly glamorous penthouse where, when we arrived, Broadway legend Jerry (“Hello, Dolly!”) Herman was tickling the Baby Grand ivories. When I was introduced to Ms. Garland, she said, “You’re cute. May I have your phone number?” I awkwardly patted the pockets of my new 3-piece Brooks Brothers and mumbled, “I don’t have a pencil.” Wounded, Judy said, “O.K. don’t give it to me.” In my defense, I had just gotten a new job. Word was: Judy Garland telephoned friends (and acquaintances) in the middle of the night looking for company and/or a drinking buddy. Yes, a new job and the last thing I needed were calls in the night. What’s more, I hardly had disposable income to pick up the check for dinner and drink after drink. And I didn’t need another hangover.
FOOTNOTE ONE: At the party, when I went to the restroom, there on the floor in a round heap, as she had stepped out of it – the infamous silver lame pant suit she wore during the Palace run. She had appropriated the garment from her short, unfortunate stint on the film, Valley of the Dolls. (She’d been fired mid-way.) TWO: As it turned out Judy Garland was concerned about the wrong things. As we spoke, the IRS was seizing some of her take for her work at the Palace for payment of back taxes.
RICHARD GERE GQ COVER STORY Story
I was fortunate enough to interview Richard Gere for the cover of Gentlemen’s Quarterly, then a monthly, for the March 1980 issue. At the time, Gere was on Broadway in BENT. I spoke with him during a matinee. He originally turned down the article but changed his mind when advance word that not-yet-released “American Gigolo” was not very good. It turned out the studio was wrong about “American Gigolo” and Gere was even wrong-er about the cover story. The feature film was a big hit, made him a star, and later spawned a spin-off TV show. The Richard Gere cover on GQ was considered one of the best covers—ever, though controversial because he was holding a cigarette.
Before I gush on about a terrific book, let me share something about me. My lovely, truly beautiful, impeccably turned out friend Allison, the General Manager at the health club where I work-out said something, at the time, startling to me, “Jim, you like people.” Well, of course. People is the thing the world is fullest of. Why, the New Times reported several times in the past year: Folks who say hello to other folks in line at the bank or the supermarket live 7 to 8 years longer than most. (They added, sometimes you even learn things.) Now, how do they know that? I don’t know but it sure beats just standing there. And who can afford not to like people?
SUBSTACK. Now, 16 articles on SUBSTACK, writer Jim Fragale DID go on, after being slugged by Tony Scibetta, to produce and write songs for Award Winner Melba Moore; to produce and write commercial jingles with Motown’s Valerie Simpson and Four Seasons’ hit arranger Charlie Calello, and yes, produced a CD with Joe Lutton. (Joe Lutton played singer-songwriter Buddy Holly in the London West End Production of Buddy Holly at Blackpool Opera House).
More: I wrote four cover stories for GQ; and compiled a monthly GQ column called “Pulse”… and now 16 articles on SUBSTACK, not to mention extensive “Huffington Post” work…And, oh yes 7 novels on Amazon. Ambition might be made of just the right amount of stern stuff if you’re willing to take a hit or two or three.
BOOK: YOU’VE READ THIS FAR… So, I’m sharing something worth reading–a heady book I recommend–impressed that it’s published by one of the Kennedy’s, Maria Shriver, daughter of activist Eunice Kennedy. Even more dazzling, it was written/compiled from a sought-after Yale undergraduate course given by three notable professors. The title: Life Worth Living. A Guide to What Matters Most, by Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, and Ryan McAnnally-Linz. Sometimes I stop in my tracks and reread a page or two. The 15 chapters, 300 pages are filled with quotes and concepts from philosophers/thinkers from day one. But I was most riveted by the teachers’ take on how American government, despite all, works.
Page 80. “James Madison (1751-1836) had a problem. A decade had passed since the thirteen British colonies in North America had declared their independence and four years since they had won the ensuing war. Their first attempt at a new government was failing, and an alternative was needed. So Madison joined fifty-four other delegates in Philadelphia to come up with a proposal.
The problem was this. How could you form for a good society out of not especially good people? Americans weren’t angels. Madison was under no such illusion. They were just as unreliable as other people, just as prone to lie and cheat and hurt each other. (This was plain even to a man like Madison, who was morally blind enough to hold slaves.) In fact, Americans couldn’t even agree on what it would mean to be good to their fellow human beings. (Again, see slave-holding.)
After almost four months of debate, the convention in Philadelphia had drafted a new constitution for the United States, which tried to meet this problem head-on with ‘checks and balances.’
[I loved this.] “You wouldn’t need angels to make the system work. Ordinary, selfish humans would do. Indeed, the system would rely on their selfishness. Ambition would counteract ambition. Congress would defend its privileges and keep the president from going off the rails. Each different region of the country would keep the others from hijacking the national interest. Voters would keep an eye on representatives to make sure there wasn’t too much funny business. In short, ‘opposite and rival interests’ would do the work that Madison couldn’t count on good character to do. Everyone would just play their roles and the whole thing would work itself out.
I have been wracking my mind, body, and brain to share something knock-out at the end here from Life Worth Living. On every page, the authors discuss—from Day One thinkers—Universal truths (several), world-wise wisdom (this planet and beyond); eternal philosophies…and on and on. It’s like a Yale college course. It IS a Yale college course.
I’ve lighted on one heavy concept. This best one? I don’t know. But this all must wrap somewhere. As you might know, I’ve been looking for the answers to life since I was in my teenager years back in Clarksburg, West Virginia. I even wrote a naïve novel on Amazon.com about it titled The Answer to Life. So here goes something.
INTRODUCTION: Socrates, from Wikipedia: c. 470–399 BC) was a Greek philosopher from Athens who is credited as the founder of Western philosophy and among the first moral philosophers of the ethical tradition of thought. An enigmatic figure, Socrates authored no texts and is known mainly through the posthumous accounts of classical writers, particularly his student Plato. The accounts are written as dialogues, in which Socrates and his interlocutors examine a subject in the style of question and answer; they gave rise to the Socratic dialogue literary genre. Contradictory accounts of Socrates make a reconstruction of his philosophy nearly impossible, a situation known as the Socratic problem. Socrates was a polarizing figure in Athenian society. In 399 BC, he was accused of ‘impiety’ and ‘corrupting the youth.’ After a trial that lasted one day, he was sentenced to death. He was to spend his last day in prison, refusing offers to help him escape.
Socrates, from Life Worth Living, as the authors presented a story worth noting.
“On an otherwise uneventful day in 399 BCE, an Athenian jury delivered its verdict (Guilty!) in the trial of Socrates (470 BCE). The convict was condemned to die by poisoning. When the time came, his friends wept. He did not. He calmly drank the hemlock-laced cup. (“Socrates looked forward as he drank the hemlock… cheerful…cheerfulness that Socrates [unsuccessfully] asked of his friends.”)
As his life drained away the giant of Greek philosophy, made one final request. (His most famous student Plato carried it out.) Plato turns to old friend Crito and says, “Crito, we owe a cock [read: rooster] to Asclepius; make this offering to him and do not forget.”
Hang in. I will present this as presented in Life Worth Living. I will not alter word nor folksy tone.
“To the God of medicine, Asclepius, a rooster would mean that the god had answered one’s prayers for healing. Though Socrates had a penchant for putting people on the spot with tough questions, he was easy going—he appeared to be happy most of the time; and was not a self-denying ascetic. He didn’t starve himself; he did not forgo wine, or sex, nor parties.
“His star pupil Plato presents the heart of the matter for him: it’s the soul!
“Your soul is the best part of you. When push comes to shove, it’s the real you. What matters in life is the good of your soul. That it be wise and just… Above all, that it grasps the eternal truth of things. The best life, the best life, then, is one that cares for the good of the soul.
“Socrates argued, the body doesn’t add anything to this kind of goodness. It tends to distract us from caring for our souls. Our bodies are super needy. Pretty bossy. They throw fits when they don’t get what they want, they break down inevitably as we age and unexpectedly, in the case of disease or injury. Worst of all to Socrates, the body’s notoriously unreliable sense inhibit pure reasoning. It’s hard to think straight in a world of optical illusion, phantom sounds, and all sorts of deceptive appearances.
“‘…how any of this would make death a blessing… It’s the end of life, after all, and only someone who’s alive could be wise or virtuous.’ So student Plato tells us what he thinks happens when you die.
“Plato goes through great lengths to convince his friends that the soul is immortal. At death the soul departs from your body. … Your bodiless soul stays intact. Death doesn’t harm the soul directly. Nor does it harm the soul by separating it from the body. If anything this separation is a boon. It allows the soul to ‘escape the contamination of the body’s folly.’ And we have good reason to hope that if we have lived well, we will ‘live in complete happiness, beyond the reach of evils.’” And note, ‘Socrates urged us to live so that death might be b a blessing to our souls.’
To live well…”To live well—is to invest your time and energy, as much as you can, to the soul that will last, rather than in the body that will perish. It’s to live such that death will be a blessing for you.”
Thank you Yale Professors Volf, Croasmun, and McAnnally-Linz for Life Worth Living, A Guide to What Matters Most,” Open Field Press, and Maria Shriver.
p.p.s. Reminder, from a fresh source: we’ve heard it before. It never hurts to hear it again from Life Worth Living, and Vietnamese Buddhist monk Nhat Hanh (1926-2022) “…the tendency to think of happiness as something that we’ll achieve in the future. That tendency is silly because the future never comes. There is only ever now. So now is the only time we could be happy. What’s more: there’s nothing but ourselves stopping us from being happy now. No matter what’s going on, ‘the conditions for happiness are already here.’”
Go on Amazon.com. Under BOOKS, type in “James A. Fragale” and all seven books pop up — or click the link above.
THank you for looking in. Grateful beyond words. May you be blessed ten thousand fold.
GRACIE. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMENT AND YOU READING THE NEWSLETTER. MORE HIP THAN ANYONE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.