Beverly Sills
Opera Singer
Being a drummer, pianist and having had my own band, music has always been a big part of my life. In October of 1989 I read that the legendary opera star, Beverly Sills, would be appearing in St. Louis for two lectures. Due to past commitments I'd missed getting her autograph on my Tablecloth twice already. I'd be darn if I'd miss getting it a third time.
Immediately problems began.
With no way to contact Ms. Sills, I could only leave a brochure of my TABLECLOTH, along with a note, at the front desk of her hotel the night before she arrived. The brochure showed what the CLOTH was about; the note invited her to add her name to my Gathering of Legends.
Then I discovered that Ms. Sills' first engagement that evening was going to be at 6:30. I had a playing job starting at 7:00. Though it was near, time was going to be tight. Rarely do these TABLECLOTH signings go smoothly.
At three on the day of her arrival I called this famous diva at her hotel. "Hello," I said, "this is Walter Light and I'm trying to reach Ms. Beverly Sills."
A pleasant voice replied, "This is she. Oh, Mr. Light! I got your note and read your brochure. I'd be honored to sign your Tablecloth. Could you leave it at the front desk around 6:00? I'll sign it on my way to my first lecture."
Could anything be simpler? I pushed through the revolving doors of her hotel at 6:00 PM, TABLECLOTH in hand. The desk clerk took it and assured me he would see that Ms. Sills signs it. Then he put it in an adjoining room for safe keeping. When he returned I gave him a camera and asked him if he would be kind enough to snap a couple of pictures of Ms. Sills signing the CLOTH.
"Gladly, Mr. Light."
Hallelujah! I was set. Now, if only no unforeseen incidents crop up. With time on my hands, and a pounding in my heart, I wandered into a lounge off the lobby to take in a jazz trio. This was going too smoothly. My own gig was only two blocks away at seven o'clock. I'd make it with time to spare. At 6:10 I strolled back into the lobby hoping to catch a glimpse of Ms. Sills.
At 6:20 an attractive lady in a green dress walked up to the front desk. She said something to the clerk who pointed to a woman behind him talking on a phone. The lady then retreated to a comfy chair. No Tablecloth appeared, and yet the lady looked like... I strode up to her and cleared my throat, "Ma'am, would you be Ms Sills?"
She looked up at me with the most engaging smile and nodded yes. Then she said, "The man at the desk told me the woman behind him would get your Tablecloth as soon as she got off the phone." We made small talk for a while but the woman never stopped talking on that phone. Time 6:22, Ms Sills now repeatedly glancing at her watch. Her schedule was even tighter than mine. Panicsville.
I strode up to the desk, Ms Sills in green right behind me, and interrupted the clerk's registering of a family. "Would you please bring out the TABLECLOTH," I begged.
No response.
It was now 6:23 and counting. If I didn't get Ms. Sills autograph this time I might never get it. And the lady on the phone kept talking. That was when a soprano voice behind me demanded--as only a diva could--"Would you please get that Tablecloth now," one delicate hand pounding the marble countertop for emphasis.
Just then her manager came striding toward us, his hand raised for attention. "Beverly," he called, "everyone's waiting."
"I'm here to sign a Tablecloth, " Beverly answered, her operatic voice ringing throughout the lobby.
The clerk jumped, dropped his pen and excused himself from the family he'd been registering. Out came my TABLECLOTH and camera. I took them from him, handed the camera to a man standing near by, and asked him to snap a couple of pictures of us. We moved down the desk a bit. I handed Ms. Sills a special pen and she signed the CLOTH and card then handed the pen back to me, accompanied by a broad smile and conspiratorial wink for the success we'd finally achieved.
We hugged then headed for the escalator together. At the top, Bubbles, as her friends called her, went her way and I scurried out the front door, the Tablecloth tucked under my arm like a football. I ran all the way to my engagement, arriving just in time for my gig.
Ms. Sills signature was one of my most memorable. I will never forget this determined, persistent lady. Beverly was a down to earth Brooklyn-ite, known to many as 'the diva next door.' Though she said she was honored to sign my TABLECLOTH, it was I who felt honored. I will be forever grateful to this famous Icon for not giving up until she'd added her signature to my Gathering of Legends.