One night singing at Encore-The Tremont Hotel's hot Piano Bar (1) in downtown Boston a man requested I do "Million Dollar Baby".
It's not a song that is often requested
so I was happy to get the opportunity to sing it.
It was a slow night. I talked to him at the bar to see if he would mind if I "used" him. He said it was fine with him so I took full advantage and played off him from the mic on stage telling the audience:
Ah, yes. Million Dollar Baby! Thank you sweet man for asking me to do this wonderful song....Once upon a time an ancestor of mine "Marjory" (2) told me how this song was instrumental in a great romance with a certain Mr. Hamson.
Back in Marjory's day, rather than shopping for CD's or on-line music, people shopped for sheet music by going to a places like a Woolworth's Five and Ten Cent Stores or as some called them, "Dime Stores" .
Nowadays they have pretty much been replaced by "Dollar Stores" which are devoid the charm of the old fashioned soda fountains where you could purchase a Coca-Cola to go with a hot dog, grilled cheese sandwich or french fries (and maybe even a Hot Fudge Sunday for dessert.)
Close to the soda fountain sheet music was lined up like magazines in a city newsstand. An upright piano stood nearby so you could sit down and try out each new piece to see if it was worth buying - to see if it was good for playing after dinner - for family and friends on the parlor's piano (rather than turning on the TV as so many are inclined to do in this century).
One day while Marjory was behind the cosmetic department selling a vile of "Blue Waltz" perfume, she
spotted a favorite customer who often came in
the store to buy this and that. Last time she saw him
was in the dish and glass department where he ended
up purchasing an entire set of everyday china for his
big cottage on the lake. Making arrangements for delivery, she learned his name was Mr. McLellan Hamson and that he owned a small variety store in New Hampshire.
On this particular spring day McLellan looked especially attractive in his camel haired coat, dark brown fedora, tannish houndstooth suit, ivory silk dress shirt, diamond cufflinks, and snappy dark green bow tie. She even noticed his oxblood wing-tip five
eyelet oxfords shoes. 'Well heeled' she thought. Marjory was good at noticing things like this and her heart skipped a beat as she saw him gazing at her and flashing his wining smile - just as if he knew she was sizing him up as a good prospect to further explore.
Waving at her across departments, he smiled for a second time. Then picking up one of the new pieces of sheet music, he sat down and gave it a try.
Not only did he play the song but he sang it, and DIRECTLY to Marjory who had by now left the counter and walked closer so she could be part of the audience along with several other bystanders and her female co-workers.
Mr. Hamson's voice was perfect for the song to which he lent his vocal richness to the simple genius of its instrumental melody.
He played that old upright piano like he knew what
he was doing and sang out "I FOUND A MILLION
DOLLAR BABY IN A FIVE AND TEN CENT STORE" (3)
loud and clear pointing towards Marjory:
****************************
"It was a lucky April Shower,
It was a most convenient day,
I saw a million dollar baby,
In a five and ten cent store.
She was selling china ,
And when she made those eyes,
I kept buying china,
Until the crowd got wise ___
Incidentally___
If you should
Run into a shower,
Just step inside
My cottage door,
And meet the
Million Dollar Baby,
From a Five and Ten Cent Store!
She was selling China,
And when she made
Those eyes,
I kept buying China,
Until the crowd
Got wise_____
Incidentally___
If you should
Run into a shower,
Just step inside my
Cottage door,
And meet the
Million Dollar Baby,
From a
Five and Ten Cent Store!
*************
Marjory and her girl friends enthusiastically
applauded Mr. Hansom as he finished.
He stood up and and touching the
brim of his hat, bowed and said:
"Thank you. Thank you ladies. I dedicate that
to all of you but particularly to YOU - lovely
Miss Marjory - on the anniversary of your birth
- your birthday."
Blushing Miss Marjory stammered, smiled and
profusely told him:
"Thank you, Mr. Hansom. You were wonderful!"
Then Mr. Hansom began playing "Happy Birthday"
and all of Marjory's co-workers sang along with
Mr. Hansom to honor Marjory on her big day.
With that he winked and spoke directly to
Marjory:
"I want to purchase 2 copies of "Million Dollar Baby" one as a gift for you and one for me. That is if you will join me for dinner at the Parker House." (3)
Marjory laughed and agreed to meet Hamson out front after work so they could take the trolley to downtown
Boston.
To make a long story short Mr. Hansom
won the heart of his "Million Dollar Baby". They both worked very hard and eventually owned a chain of "five and ten cent stores" becoming very rich and living happily ever after_______If not, ladies and gentleman,
I would not be here telling you my story tonight_____for Marjory and Mr. Hamson are my great-grandparents! So dear hearts, this is a true "faction" story of how long ago the song "Million Dollar Baby" became instrumental in uniting a charming young man and a beautiful young lady on one fair summer day."
The patient piano player then began to play, "I Found
A Million Dollar Baby" and I sang it.
When I finished there was a splattering
of applause.
Most folks had already left for the
night but at the bar sat the guy who had requested
the song. He clapped loudly and motioned for
me to join him.
I did. We hit it off immediately. It was of course a big
help that he praised my telling of the story and then my singing it so well. Even though such praise always humbled me, I had to tell him that it was an EASY number for me because of the story behind it and because I simply loved the sing - its upbeat tempo.
Finally he told me his name was "Hoagy".
It must of lit me up like a Christmas Tree.
Trying to recover, I said to him:
"Hoagy? Wow, one of my favorite composers is
named Hoagy Carmichael. You know.... "Stardust,
Georgia On My Mind, I Get Along With Out You
Very Well...."
"Yes Babe. I know. You forgot "The Nearness of You".
Do you know that one?"
I couldn't conceal my surprise over this young hunks
musical knowledge and obvious sophistication:
"Oh of course, it is one of my favorites!"
He smiled at me and penetrating me with the warmth of his eyes he asks me:
"Would you do it for me ? Next song up that is ...."
The Nearness of You" ?"
Looking him up and down sitting on that bar
stool I was taken by him and thought to myself: this song's gonna be real easy for me to do.....
Instead I said:
"Sure, be happy to. Btw, how does a young good
looking guy like you know all these songs. Are you
like me, a student of Jazz History? "
He smiles and looks like he wants to ravish me:
"Well yes, in fact I am - a jazz musician too. Also Hoagy Carmichael is a fourth cousin of my mother's.
She named me after him..."
"I see! Impressive. Believe it or not - I have sang
once with one of your relatives, Hoagy's son Randy,
even rang his door bell at "The New Yorker " his Lake Michigan summer cottage. (I was doing a friend a favor and delivering something to him). LOL. She was an
old friend of his - relax - I WASN'T hitting on him!"
We chatted up each other so quickly I thought we were going to have to start raising our hands to have the
floor. I really liked this kid. I was excited by him and he too was excited about everything on and in me down to my tippy toes sticking out of my black silk high heeled strapless bare heeled shoes and up to
tripple pierced ears.
Yeah, I wanted to be near him all right. I moved closer
to him to breathe him in while continuing to talk about music. I then tried unsuccessfully to lock into his eyes noticing they were concentrating heavily on my cleavage. I wondered if he could tell my heart was
beating fast.
He winks and asks me:
"Do you accept tips?" Tucking a hundred dollar bill
into my plunging v-line neckline I didn't know whether
to punch him or plunge him.
I took it back out and tucked it slowly into his trouser pocket pausing long enough to cop a feel off the hardness that lay beneath the lining of his pocket.
I let him know:
"I don't take tips. But I appreciate your generous
spirit anyway. After I sing it, if you think I did a
good job - hey - buy me a drink and tip the piano player - he's got a brandy snifter up there just for that
very purpose,"
Smiling he answered:
"It will be my pleasure pretty lady..."
Oh good he thinks I'm pretty. Maybe he desires me.
OMG how can someone so young act so old!
My body now feels invigorated. As I walk to the stage. I tell Bill I want to use the wireless mic for this one:
"You know the one Bill, "The Nearness of You."
I love to love on an audience member by singing
directly into their eyes but I don't do it often
for a number of reason - most of all I don't
want others in the audience to feel left out.
Tonight the bar was practically empty and I didn't
have to worry about anyone getting hurt or jealous or being worried I was trying to steal anyone away
from someone. I only felt I had to please one.
I walk over to Hoagy and half sing and half talk through the introduction:
The driven steady piano notes take me to another
place and I am in another world. I open my mouth
and confess:
"Why do I wither and forget all resistance,
When you and your magic pass by?
My heart's in a dither dear when you're
At a distance, but when you are near,
Oh my _______"
"It's not the pale moon that excites me,
That thrills and delights me,
Oh no,
It's just the nearness of you_______
It isn't your sweet conversation that
Brings this sensation,
Oh no__________
It's just the nearness of you.
When you are in my arms,
And I feel you so close to me,
All my wildest dreams
Come true________
I need no soft lights to enchant me,
If you'll only grant me the right,
To hold you ever so tight,
And to feel in the night,
The Nearness of You ______
The Nearness of You_________
Don't recall much after that except
Him loudly applauding, the piano player
giving me a kiss when I returned his mic
and me saying I gotta catch the subway,
its the last one tonight. Don't want to take
a taxi this time of night, my favorite gal is off.
I walk back to the bar to tell Hoagy goodnight
and that it had been fun. He grabs my hand and
says:
"Babe you are not going to get away from me THAT
fast!"
Finally he let's me go with a promise to call him in
the morning. I rush out on the street and over to the
nearby sub-way tunnel entrance. I hate this. Spooky
as hell! The things I don't do for my "musical thrills"
It's hard to believe in a city this size that I am the only one out and about. It's times like this you really know
what loneliness is all about. Rushing down the steps
I twist my ankle. Limping to a bench in pain I wait in solitude next to side tracks and early 1800s trolley car. Scared standing there by myself on the platform I am even more frightened as I hear footsteps coming down the steps toward me.
Soon I hear my name being called:
"Babe. Babe. It is me Hoagy. Sub-ways closed down
early tonight. No cars until morning! Saw it on the
news right after you left."
Relieved to hear a familiar voice I yell out:
" I am here Hoagy. Please help me. I think I twisted
my ankle!'
He is soon at my side taking a small tin of aspirin
out of his pocket and carefully touching my fast
swelling ankle saying:
"Don't be scarred Babe. I'll get you out of here and
back to your dorm. You are safe with me."
With that he takes a cell phone from his pocket
and I hear him say:
"Hey Fred, I need a favor. I am at the Tremont Hotel
Subway entrance with a friend who just sprained her
ankle. I need to get her back on campus. Can you
pick us up in a few minutes?"
With that Hoagy helps me up the long stairway to
street level where we wait on a park bench. His
musician friend who part-times as a cab driver
is waiting for us.
"Take us to Harvard Square near The Charles and then
I'll let Babe tell you the rest of the way."
Once we get to The Charles I tell Hoagy that I would
just as soon wait here for a ride home with friends.
***********************************************
(Part 2 ) To Be Continued June 28, 2009
***********************************************
Footnotes:
(1)Encore Lounge
Tremont Hotel
275 Tremont St
Boston, MA 02216
It's a piano bar. The people WATCHING are amazing and part of the entertainment. The Roxy is right next door. Such a sexy swinging place! While sitting in Encores you can enjoy the colorful line of people (through a window) waiting to gain entrance to "The Roxy".
(2) The real "Marjory" died at nearly 100 years
of age one year ago. I will always treasure this
true story she told me about meeting her husband.
(3) The Parker House, estb. 1855 is the oldest surviving Hotel in Boston. It is in the Theater District close to the Tremont Hotel on the corner of Tremont and School streets.
The first time I went to Boston I told the taxi
cab driver I wanted to go to the
Parker House Hotel.
He said, "O.K. Miss - The Pa-ka- House it is!"
Alarmed he was going to take me to the wrong place and run up the meter, I said, "Oh no! The Parker House. "
He replied. "Got it, the PA-KA House!
"Oh no!" I replied,
"The Parker House!"
After repeat plays of this we both figured out that we were dealing with dramatically different regional accents.
Btw I loved staying at the Parker House. When I recall the name "Parker House," a century and a half of rich and varied history comes to mind. Founded by Harvey D. Parker in 1855, the Parker House located at the junction of Tremont and School streets is the oldest of elegant Boston's Hotels - the longest continuously operating hotel in the United States.
It was here where the brightest lights of America's Golden Age of Literature writers like Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, and Longfellow regularly met for conversation and conviviality in the legendary nineteenth century Saturday Club.
It's here where baseball greats like Babe Ruth and
Ted Williams wined, dined, and unwound. And it's here, too, where generations of local and national politicians including Ulysses S. Grant, James Michael Curley, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and William Jefferson Clinton assembled for private meetings, press conferences, and power breakfasts.
The Parker House lies in close proximity to Boston's Theater District. It has played an important role for thespians. Many of the nineteenth century's finest actors made the Parker House a home away from home, including Charlotte Cushman, Sarah Bernhardt, Edwin Booth, and the latter's handsome, matinee-idol brother, John Wilkes. During the twentieth century, that list expanded to include stars of stage, screen, and television including Joan Crawford, Judy Garland, Ann Margaret.
(4) "I Found a Million Dollar Baby (in a Five and Ten Cent Store)" is a popular song. The music was written by Harry Warren, the lyrics by Mort Dixon and Billy Rose. The song was published in 1931, though the same lyric with different music had been published five years earlier. It was introduced in the Broadway musical Billy Rose's Crazy Quilt, which opened in May, 1931, where it was sung by Fanny Brice.
Many versions of the song were recorded in 1931. Later, Barbra Strisand's portrayal of Fannie Brice singing this in the movie "Funny Lady" may yet be the most beloved version of this song by today's generation.
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