By Ray Shasho
-Interviewed November
14th 2014
Trini
Lopez is
an international music legend best known for recording classic covers and
converting them into danceable songs by adding his own special spin and flavor.
Lopez not only makes those notable tunes danceable, but he usually outsells all
other artists who have also covered those songs including the recordings by the
original songwriters.
Born in Dallas, Texas,
his Father Trinidad Lopez II was a singer, dancer, actor, and musician in Mexico.
Trini’s parents moved to Dallas when his dad was eighteen seeking a better
life. Trini learned to play guitar from his father and played for money on
street corners. He eventually began performing in clubs around the affluent
parts of Dallas. Lopez even performed at a club owned by the notorious Jack
Ruby.
A true rock and roll
visionary … Lopez uncannily wrote and recorded a song called “The Right to Rock” released
on a small label called Volk Records in 1958. After hearing the single, King
Records offered Trini a three year contract. The only chart hit for Lopez on
the King Records label was a Skyliners cover called “Since I Don’t Have You,”
Trini’s rendition reached #10 on the Cashbox and Billboard charts.
After one of Trini’s
performances Lopez met with another Texan, rock and roll pioneer Buddy Holly. Holly tried
to help Trini by inviting him to meet with his record producer in Clovis, New
Mexico. Lopez became great friends with Buddy Holly and The Crickets. Holly was
killed in a plane crash along with Richie Valens and The Big Bopper on February
3rd 1959. Several months after the crash, Lopez received a phone call to come
out to Hollywood, California to become the new lead singer of The Crickets.
The Crickets plans
never materialized and Lopez took a job at the Ye Little Club in Beverly Hills.
The one year run led to a historic engagement at the famous PJ’S nightclub. It
was at PJ’S where Lopez landed his big break. Frank Sinatra took
notice of Trini’s one-man act and had Don Costaoffer him an
eight year recording contract on Sinatra’s label Reprise Records. Trini’s
first two albums were recorded live at PJ’S and successfully launched an
incredible music and acting career for the impending international superstar.
Trini’s
most recognizable Hit Singles … “If I Had a Hammer” (#3
Billboard U.S. Hit-1963 -Reached #1 in 36 countries), “I'm Coming Home Cindy” (#39
Billboard Hit-1966), “Michael, (#42 Billboard Hit-1964), “Lemon
Tree” (#20 Billboard Hit-1965) “Kansas City” (#23
Billboard Hit-1963), “America,” “La
Bamba”(1966) “Gonna Get Along With Out Ya’
Now” (1967), and The Bramble Bush (1967) to name just a few.
(Trini’s music was
also spotlighted on various soundtracks including... Apollo 13, Born on the Fourth of July and
numerous others).
Trini
Lopez acting career …
Marriage on the Rocks
(1965), The Dirty Dozen (1967),
The Phynx (1970), The Reluctant Heroes (TV Movie -1971),
Adam-12 (TV Series 1971-1972), Antonio (1973), The Mystery of
the Silent Scream (1977), The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew
Mysteries (TV Series 1977).
Trini
Lopez incredible string of TV appearances …
The Greatest Ever War
Films (TV Movie documentary) 2014, Trini Lopez Presents Latin
Music Legends (TV Movie) 2009, American High School (Video) 2009,
Armed and Deadly: The Making of 'The Dirty Dozen' (Video
documentary short) 2006, The Best of Music Flashback Television Shows:
Featuring Music Scene and Hullabaloo (Video documentary short) 2001,
Refrescante 95 (TV Series) 1995, Prima Donnas
1995, Querida Concha (TV Series) 1993, ,Musikladen (TV
Series) 1981, A Gift of Music (TV Movie) 1981, Sha Na
Na (TV Series) 1978, 1971-1976 The Mike Douglas Show (TV
Series), 1976 Celebration: The American Spirit (TV
Movie), 1975 Rock on with 45 (TV Series), 1970-1974 The Merv Griffin Show (TV Series), Caesar's
Palace Week from Las Vegas (1974), 1972-1974 Stand Up and
Cheer (TV Series)
1965-1973 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (TV
Series), 1971-1972 The David Frost Show (TV
Series),1970 The Dick Cavett Show (TV
Series), 1970 Playboy After Dark (TV Series), 1968-1970 The Carol Burnett Show (TV Series),1967-1969 The Joey Bishop Show (TV Series),1968 The Song Is
You (TV Movie), 1967 Operation Dirty Dozen (Short
documentary),1967 Spotlight (TV Series),1967 The London Palladium Show (TV Series),1967 The Dean Martin Show (TV Series),1966-1967 The Andy Williams Show (TV Series),1967 Gypsy (TV Series),1966The Jack Benny Hour (TV Movie),1966
Hippodrome (TV Series) Host
1966 Danger Grows
Wild, 1966 The Sammy Davis, Jr. Show (TV
Series),1965-1966 Hullabaloo (TV Series)(Host), 1965 Marriage on the
Rocks, 1965 What's My Line? (TV Series) - Mystery
Guest, 1964-1965 The Ed Sullivan Show (TV
Series), 1964-1965 The Hollywood Palace (TV
Series), 1964 The Bob Hope Show (TV
Series),1964 The Bob Hope Thanksgiving Special (TV Special), 1963
Celebrity Party (TV Movie)
The Gibson guitar
company asked Trini Lopez to design a guitar for them in 1964. The Trini Lopez
Standard, a rock and roll model based on the Gibson
ES-335 semi-hollow body, and the Lopez Deluxe, a variation of a
Gibson jazz guitar designed by Barney Kessel. Both were in production from
1964 until 1971 and are highly sought out collector items. Some owners of
the guitar include Dave Grohl of Foo
Fighters and Noel Gallagher of Oasis.
Trini’s
last few albums … (2008) ‘Ramblin' Man’ and
(2011) ‘Into the Future’ have been
critically-acclaimed. ‘Into the Future’ was Trini’s 65th celebrated album of his illustrious musical
career.
TODAY … Trini Lopez and Exhibit
Records announced
the release of a Special 50th Anniversary Numbered Limited Edition of ‘TRINI LOPEZ AT PJ’S The
200 gram vinyl record is beautifully presented in a sturdy old style gatefold
jacket featuring the original album art work and for the first time includes
the lyrics to all the tunes. The back of each album is foil-stamped with its
unique number, and available to purchase
.jpg)
Track
listing: Side One:
A-me-ri-ca, If I Had a Hammer, Bye Bye Blackbird, Cielito Lindo, This Land Is
Your Land, What'd I Say Side Two: La Bamba, Granada, MEDLEY: Gotta Travel
On, Down by the Riverside, Marianne, When the Saints Go Marching In,
Volare, Unchain My Heart.
Trini
Lopez - guitar, vocals
Mickey Jones - drums
Dick Brant - bass guitar
Mickey Jones - drums
Dick Brant - bass guitar
Producer:
Don Costa
Recorded at PJ'S nightclub, West Hollywood, California
Recorded at PJ'S nightclub, West Hollywood, California
‘TRINI LOPEZ AT PJ’S reached #2 on the Billboard charts and
remained on the Top 40 for over a year.
Also watch for a NEW RELEASE entitled ‘TRIPLE PLAY’ featuring
the legendary Trini Lopez,David Somerville from ‘The Diamonds’ and Maurice Williams of ‘The Zodiacs.’ Available very
soon! Watch for the release on Trini’s official website www.trinilopez.com
Trini Lopez is also
planning to release a CD featuring all original compositions.
I had the rare and
very pleasant opportunity to chat with Trini Lopez recently
about … The 50th Anniversary of ‘Trini Lopez at PJ’S’ …Buddy Holly … King
Records … The Crickets …Don Costa … Signing with Sinatra …The Dirty Dozen … And
much-much more!
Here’s my latest
interview with the legendary singer, musician, songwriter, actor, and one of
the most exciting and recognized entertainers worldwide …TRINI LOPEZ
Ray
Shasho: Hello Trini, thank you for being on the call
today from beautiful Palm Springs, California. Let’s first talk about your
latest release … A Special 50th Anniversary Numbered Limited Edition album
entitled … ‘Trini Lopez at PJ’S.’ This legendary live recording was #2 on the
Billboard charts, first released in 1963, and produced by the legendary Don
Costa. It also stayed in the Top 40 for over a year.
Trini
Lopez: “Yes, I cannot
believe that my very first album that I ever did in my life just happens to be
after all these years my best seller. So I guess Exhibit Records wanted to jump
on the bandwagon and they re-released that album, ‘Trini Lopez at PJ’S’… I was
really surprised!”
Ray
Shasho: It was such a popular and best-selling album that you followed it
up with ‘More Trini Lopez at PJ’S.’
Trini
Lopez: “Don Costa,
Frank Sinatra’s conductor and arranger on so many great albums … at that time
he was riding high with Sinatra, Johnny Mathis, Barbara Streisand, Steve and
Eydie and on and on. So he was also my producer on those live albums.
Ray
Shasho: What was it like getting signed on Sinatra’s label, Reprise
Records?
Trini
Lopez: “I wanted to
work at PJ’S from where I was working at the time at a little nightclub in
Beverly Hills called the Ye Little Club; it was an English pub and a real
elegant place. I was booked for two weeks and stayed a year. I kept hearing
about PJ’S and the reason I was excited about one day working there was because
I heard that Sinatra went there all the time with all of his buddies. People
like Paul Newman and Steve McQueen and all these big stars of the day. When I
used to work at the Ye Little Club, I did have a lot of stars come in but they
were the young Hollywood. People like Connie Stevens, Robert Conrad and a lot
of people who had TV series and were on their way up the ladder of success.”
“I kept hearing about
the higher Hollywood Echelon who used to go to PJ’S and when I heard that
Sinatra used to go in there I thought… Oh God, I’ve got to work there. So when
I finished my year engagement at the Ye Little Club they wanted me to work at
PJ’S. I created a big following in Hollywood and so I was very popular there.
So they hired me for three months at PJ’S and I stayed a year and a half … all
by myself, just me and my guitar. I used to work from 9-2 in the morning; I did
four shows and never repeated a song, four hours of singing. I never got a sore
throat or got sick by the grace of God. Sinatra started coming in and I was so
excited to see him in person and in those days was too shy to even get close or
talk to him. After Sinatra came in and saw me about three or four times, he
sent Don Costa to talk to me.”
“Don Costa was one of
his main record producers for Reprise Records. So Don Costa introduced himself
to me and said Trini, I’m here on behalf of Reprise Records. I said oh my God
Sinatra’s label. He said yea, you know the label? The reason Don Costa was so
surprised that I knew the label was because Sinatra had Reprise at that time
for a year or a little longer and had Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Sammy Davis
Jr., and everybody on the label, but they weren’t selling any records. So I
guess they were looking for new blood. Don Costa said we’d like to record you
here and I was very surprised. I said not in a studio? He said no we’d like to
record you here. I said may I ask why? He said because we want to put on wax
all of the excitement that you are creating here at PJ’S. I said that makes a
lot sense … well okay. Don Costa came back a couple of times, and the second
time he came over to talk to me about signing me up. He said we’d like to give
you an eight year recording contract; nowadays you’re lucky if you get a one
album deal. And even in those days it was still unheard of. So we
recorded the album and it was a smash. I had “If I had a Hammer” on the album
which became a #1 hit in thirty eight countries, and then “La Bamba,” “This
Land Is Your Land,” “Bye Bye Blackbird,” and all these songs. So the album was
out for about five months or so and became a big hit all over the world, I
thought I could just become famous only in America (All laughing). So Don Costa
said we’ve got to do another album here, I said Don you told me we could go in
the studio … and he said we’ll do one more here because your album is such a
hit. So they called it ‘More Trini Lopez at PJ’S.’ That album had songs like
“Kansas City” and all kinds of hits again. So right after that second live
album I started recording in a studio.”
Ray
Shasho: What was so amazing about the success of those
two live albums … not only was 1963 a turbulent time for America, but your
version of “If I Had A Hammer” did better than Peter, Paul & Mary’s
rendition of 1962, and then you topped them again with your cover of “Lemon
Tree” in 1965. You also had to deal with The Beatles and the British Invasion
beginning to make their presence.
Trini
Lopez: “People ask me
all the time why did you record those songs and I always say because I liked
them. I like the lyrics; the melodies, and the message, songs had messages in
those days especially in folk music. The only reason I did them is because I
liked them. The thing I did different was to put my own spin on those songs,
and that I give myself credit for. I not only made those songs listenable, but
I made them danceable too. Making songs danceable helped me a lot. After I left
PJ’S I began travelling the world and every Discotheque back in those days were
not only playing my songs, they were also playing the album all the way
through, front and back”
Ray
Shasho: I
know you are very proud of your Mexican heritage, but you were actually born in
Dallas, Texas?
Trini
Lopez: “When I was growing up in Dallas and
playing in restaurants and this and that, I was approached by this guy that
said … Hey kid I saw you do your show and I liked you, I always had my own
little combo, so he said I have my own record company here in Dallas, and I was
real excited, I was about 15-16 years old. I walked into his office and he was
behind this big desk with a big cigar in his mouth and said kid you’re good, I want
to record you, but the only problem is that you have to change your name. I
said change my name, to what? He said Trini is okay but Lopez has got to go! I
didn’t like that at all, I stood up from my chair, shook his hand and said
thank you for your time but I can’t do it. I started to walk away and as I got
to the door he said kid wait a minute, wait a minute come over here! He said
okay you can keep your name. I stuck to my guns because he said to me …
who is going to buy a Trini Lopez record? So I wrote and recorded my first song
at that time called “The Right to Rock” and they heard it in Cincinnati, Ohio
of all places. I don’t know how they found me in Dallas, but they found me.
They said they were King Records and wanted to record me. They told me they
also had subsidiary labels like Bethlehem Records and De Luxe Records. You’re
not going to believe who was on those labels; they were all black artists like
James Brown, Freddie King, Clyde McPhatter, The Drifters, Little Willie John
who recorded the original “Fever” … and then on the jazz label they had Bill
Doggett who had a big record called “Honky Tonk” …just a great instrumental,
and they had a girl singer named Nina Simone, and all these people on the jazz
label and King Records. But they were only playing these artists on obscure
radio stations and not on mainstream radio. I was the only Latino on that label
for about 3-4 years.”
“I landed some
regional hits on King Records and then my friend Buddy Holly came along and
wanted to help me. Buddy was a very nice person and sweet guy, also very down
to earth. That’s why I liked him too. I was appearing in a nightclub at a
little town about two hours outside of Dallas called Wichita Falls and a friend
of mine was a disc jockey (Tommy “Snuff” Garrett) in that little town. He was
doing an interview with Buddy Holly who was in Wichita Falls promoting either
“That’ll Be The Day,” “Peggy Sue” or one of his other hits at that time. He
told Buddy, why don’t we have a couple of drinks and I want you to listen to a
friend of mine who is appearing at a nightclub here in town. So they came to
see me and after the show Buddy was really impressed, he told me that I was
really good and wanted me to meet his record producer in Clovis, New Mexico.”
“After my gig, I
packed up my Woodie station wagon with about four or five guys in my band and
drove to Clovis, New Mexico. That night there was a big party and Buddy said
why don’t you sing some songs for us with your band. So I sang about a half an
hour. The next morning … the guys in my band woke me up at eight o’clock in the
morning and said we’ve got to talk to you. They said we wanted you to know that
we had a meeting and all decided that we wanted to go commune. I never heard
that word before so they explained to me that it meant community property. They
said we don’t want to call it Trini Lopez and His Combo anymore and you’re not
going to sing anymore, we’re all going to sing. They were instrumental
musicians and I knew they didn’t know how to sing, and they also wanted to
split all the money five ways. So after that we recorded only instrumentals and
they wouldn’t let me sing… can you believe that?”
“I drove them back to
Dallas and told them I was going to get another band and said my goodbyes.
Within 2-3 weeks I got another band and appeared at a Dallas nightclub making
$800.00 a week. I always made good money with my music. I also got a gig at a Millionaires’
Club in Buddy Holly’s hometown of Lubbock, Texas and making all kinds of money.
During an intermission I got a call from my deejay friend “Snuff” Garrett who
said The Crickets want you to come to Hollywood and then go on the road with
them as their new lead singer. Buddy Holly had died by then.”
Ray
Shasho: What was your reaction after hearing that Buddy Holly had died?
Trini
Lopez: “Oh God, I was so upset. He was the first guy
who tried to help me with my career.”
“I was shocked that
they wanted me to join The Crickets in Hollywood. I always wanted to go to
California. They sent me money and instead of flying, I drove to LA, because I
wanted to stay there permanently. It took me two days to drive all by myself to
California. When I got there … The Crickets had a beautiful cliff hanging house
overlooking all of Los Angeles and there was partying every night for about two
weeks. We were partying with people who already had hit records …The Everly
Brothers, Johnny and Dorsey Burnette … all kinds of other stars and of course
girls all over the place.”
“So I’m in Hollywood
and my money is all gone, I’m broke and didn’t want to borrow money from the
guys, so I told my agent Danny, can you get me a gig somewhere so I can make
some money until The Crickets decide what they want to do. Within three or four
days I auditioned to become the opening act for Joanie Summers (“Johnny Get
Angry”) at the Ye Little Club in Beverly Hills. My audition song was Dean
Martin’s “Sway.” After playing a few bars he stopped me and said okay-okay you
open tonight. He signed me for two weeks and I ended up staying a year. From
there I went on to PJ’S and then landed with Sinatra … and the rest is history
as they say.”
Ray
Shasho: Trini you’re a fantastic performer but it also
seems you had good luck on your side as well.
Trini
Lopez: “Did I ever … my
secretary is writing my life story and I really would like to call my book ‘By
the Grace of God,’ we’ve been working on it for about two years now.”
Ray
Shasho: When you were working in Dallas did you run
into Jack Ruby?
Trini
Lopez: “I worked for him at the time I was struggling
in Dallas, but I used to make pretty good money. Jack Ruby had two or three
strip joints but had one supper club and that’s where he wanted me to work for
him and I did. I worked for him about six months and he was very nice to me. He
was a tough guy, he’d throw people out of there bodily and fist fights and the
whole bit. I could tell he was a tough guy but was very nice to me.”
Ray
Shasho: Where were you when President Kennedy was
assassinated?
Trini
Lopez: “I was appearing at a nightclub in San
Francisco called the Off –Broadway on North Beach. By this time, I ‘m already
with a couple of albums and they’re selling like crazy. My manager woke me up
early in the morning and said sorry to wake you but President Kennedy just got
shot in Dallas. I was more surprised that he got shot in my hometown.”
“As I went along with
my career, I got to meet the number one hostess on Air Force One when Kennedy
was president. She was a real pretty lady. I met her at Peter Lawford’s house;
he had a beautiful home in Malibu overlooking the ocean. Peter had a big party
one night and said Trini I want you to meet this real pretty lady. He walked me
over to her and then left. I asked her name and she said it was Monday. She was
very sexy! I asked her what she did for a living. She gave me an interesting
look and said I’m President Kennedy’s number one hostess on Air Force One. I
thought to myself …I bet you are. (All laughing) I said very nice meeting you
and started walking away when she said … In fact, when he finishes work at the
oval office, he meets me at the White House library and he loves two of the
songs from your album …”Heart of My Heart” and “Goody Goody” those are his
favorite songs of yours. I was elated to here that.”
Ray
Shasho: Trini you’re my hero man … you and Joey Heatherton?
Trini
Lopez: “Yea, I use to
date her. She was a sexy lady wasn’t she?”
Ray
Shasho: I’ve always had ‘the hots’ for both Joey Heatherton and
Ann-Margret.
Trini
Lopez: “I knew Ann-Margret too, she’d come see me at
PJ’S, her name was Ann-Margret Olsson and soon afterwards she began making
movies with Elvis Presley and the whole bit. Elvis was another friend of mine.”
Ray
Shasho: What was Elvis like?
Trini
Lopez: “Great, a lot like Buddy Holly, real down to
earth and friendly. He was my neighbor here in Palm Springs and lived half a
block from my house. He honeymooned at that house and from there he moved up a
little bit higher to more of a hill in my same neighborhood. I live in an area
called Vista Las Palmas and he moved up another ten blocks and lived there for
awhile.”
Ray
Shasho: I watched a You Tube video of you and Chuck Berry jamming away.
Trini
Lopez: “Oh my God yes,
I used to host Hullabaloo. A couple of guys from that show emailed me and told
me they’re thinking about doing a Hullabaloo Broadway show. That was a great
show of course. I used to do the biggest shows on television and it was great!”
Ray
Shasho: Trini you also had an acting career. You played Pedro
Jiminez one of ‘The Dirty Dozen’ in that classic 1967 film. Was that actually
you climbing up the rope really fast while Lee Marvin fired his weapon at you?
Trini
Lopez: “Yes I did and that was dangerous, if I
had let go of that rope I would probably broken my neck. There was no net or
anything underneath to catch me. The director, Robert Aldrich, was a real tough
guy and he didn’t do any of that, and I wasn’t going to say I don’t want to do
it. I had a big part in the movie but Sinatra told me to leave the picture. So
because of that I only had a small part, so when people see me tell them not to
blink. (All laughing)”
“My contract was for
about four months, but I was there seven months and the movie wasn’t even half
completed. Sinatra had just married Mia Farrow and the next day flew to London
for the honeymoon, just Frank, Mia, and his valet George Jacobs who was my friend
too. Sinatra invited me to dinner that following night at his flat in London,
when I was getting ready to leave he said, “Trini, I understand that your movie
is running really late.” Sinatra knew everything! He said, “You ought to get
back to your career, I think you’d better leave the film, the public is very
fickle and they’ll forget about you, you’re hot as a firecracker right now.” It
took me three attorneys to get me off the film. In those days I was doing four
albums a year for Reprise Records.”
Ray
Shasho: Trini, here’s a question that I ask everyone that I interview. If
you had a ‘Field of Dreams’ wish like the movie, to play, sing, or collaborate
with anyone from the past or present, who would that be?
Trini
Lopez: “As far as singing,
everybody that I really loved in my day when I was riding high in my career
like Bing Crosby …people like that … I did Bing Crosby’s last TV show before he
died. We were in London and then he went to Spain to play golf and he had a
heart attack. It was a show with a very famous English singer Vera Lynn and she
had a lot of big hits. She had this big TV show and wanted me and Mr. Crosby to
be her guests. Then I used to do a lot of shows with The Rat Pack …but I just
did my own thing all my life.”
“I’m the kind of artist
who has never been offered to do a lot of singing with other artists; Sinatra
had a thing going where he had all these singers with him on different albums,
like the ‘Duets’ albums and I never got offers to do that. One of the latest
recording efforts that I have done … there is an album coming out with me,
David Somerville from ‘The Diamonds’… remember “Little Darlin’” …I sing with
him on that song and even do part of it in Spanish, and Maurice Williams of
‘The Zodiacs’ is on the album. They’re calling the album ‘Triple Play’ and it’s
coming out real soon.”
Ray
Shasho: Trini, what other
projects are you working on these days?
Trini
Lopez: “Well, my last album (Into the Future) is my
65th. Into the Future is an album I’ve always wanted to do because it has some
Sinatra songs. There are some songs in there I’ve wanted to do for a long-long
time. I’m working on a new album with just original songs. I’m also working on
a PBS Special they want to do of me called ‘Trini Lopez and Friends.’”
Ray
Shasho: Trini do you have children or grandchildren
that are in the music business?
Trini
Lopez: “I don’t have any children and never been
married. Everybody that I know who got married got a divorce. I’ve always been
a bit of a loner anyway.”
Ray
Shasho: Trini thank you for being on the call today but more importantly
for all the incredible music you’ve given us and continue to bring.
Trini
Lopez: “Thank you Raymond and I’m very flattered you
said that… my best to your wife and family … let’s keep in touch.”
Purchase Trini Lopez
NEW RELEASE: ‘TRINI LOPEZ AT PJ’S’ -Recorded
live’ -Exhibit Recordsannounces
the release of a Special 50th Anniversary Numbered
Limited Edition album of 'Trini Lopez At PJ’S.' The
200 gram vinyl record is beautifully presented in a sturdy old style gatefold
jacket featuring the original album art work and for the first time includes
the lyrics to all the tunes. The back of each album is foil-stamped with its
unique number, available to purchaseNOW at Exhibit Records.
Track
listing: Side One: A-me-ri-ca, If I Had a Hammer,
Bye Bye Blackbird, Cielito Lindo, This Land Is Your Land, What'd I Say Side
Two: La Bamba, Granada, MEDLEY: Gotta Travel On, Down by the Riverside,
Marianne,When the Saints Go Marching In, Volare, Unchain My Heart.
Trini
Lopez - guitar, vocals
Mickey Jones - drums
Dick Brant - bass guitar
Mickey Jones - drums
Dick Brant - bass guitar
Producer:
Don Costa
Recorded at PJ's nightclub, West Hollywood, California
Recorded at PJ's nightclub, West Hollywood, California
Watch for the NEW release entitled ‘TRIPLE PLAY’ featuring
the legendary Trini Lopez, David Somerville from ‘The Diamonds’ and Maurice Williams of ‘The Zodiacs.’ Available very
soon! Watch for the release on Trini’s official website www.trinilopez.com
Special thanks to the
great Billy James of Glass
Onyon PR
Also thanks to OraLee Walker
Coming
UP Next … Legendary folk/rock singer, musician and
composer Jonathan Edwards(“Sunshine,”
“Shanty”)
Contact music
journalist Ray Shasho at rockraymond.shasho@gmail.com
Purchase Ray’s very
special memoir called ‘Check the Gs’ -The
True Story of an Eclectic American Family and Their Wacky Family Business …
You’ll LIVE IT! Also available for download on NOOK or KINDLE edition for JUST
.99 CENTS at amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com
- Please support Ray by purchasing his book so he
can continue to bring you quality classic rock music reporting.
“Check the Gs is just
a really cool story ... and it’s real. I’d like to see the kid on the front
cover telling his story in a motion picture, TV sitcom or animated series. The
characters in the story definitely jump out of the book and come to life. Very
funny and scary moments throughout the story and I just love the way Ray
timeline’s historical events during his lifetime. Ray’s love of rock music was
evident throughout the book and it generates extra enthusiasm when I read his
on-line classic rock music column. It’s a wonderful read for everyone!”
…stillerb47@gmail.com
COMING
SOON… Ray’s exciting new
project
‘SAVING ROCK AND ROLL’
© Copyright
rayshasho.com All Rights Reserved
