In the news business, seeing what I see, there’s not much that brings me to moments of awe, inspiration, and sheer excitement. But this week, in the people’s house on Pennsylvania Avenue, I witnessed a most amazing event. It was also an opportunity to take a real break from the torrent of news that we all face.
I was in Washington for a series of assignments for the Comcast Network and an interview on Fox News. At 2 o clock on this past Wednesday, I received a call from the White House, advising me that there would be a ticket for me to attend the East Room award ceremony and concert honoring Paul McCartney with the Gershwin Lifetime Achievement award for popular music.
It was an event that I really wanted to see. After all, Paul and the Beatles were a very important piece of my career, early and late career. I was the only American to travel with them to every stop on the 1964 and 1965 American tours. I’ve written two books, and I’m working on a very unusual third book.
I arrived at the East entrance to the White House before 6 p.m. and traveled through the security to a sunlit room just a few feet from the East Room. There was a short reception, and the time came.
The East Room was pretty tight –cameras being readied, technicians everywhere, only enough seats for about 195 people, and as the President would say later, “The smallest club that Paul would play since the days at the Cavern in Liverpool.”
There were the usual luminaries, Nancy Pelosi, some other members of Congress, but many others not in the public limelight who were invited to the hottest ticket in town.
Shortly before 7:30, the first kids walked in with their grandmother. The President, First Lady and Paul McCartney were announced. Nancy Shevell, Paul’s steady, was already seated with the First Family. Rumors were that the Jonas Brothers were there, which had the Obama girls waiting with excitement. In truth, suspense was building but I had no idea what was coming.
It happened fast. Paul shook the President’s hand and stepped up to the stage. The first song was “Got To Get You Into My Life.” He was beyond great, a man who sounded like 1964 , moved his body like 1964. He looked great. Paul and I are 4 months apart. Everybody should look that good at almost 68. In a few seconds, Stevie Wonder joined him for a duet as he did later in the show on their classic “Ebony and Ivory” later in the show.
This show will be broadcast in late July by PBS. So, there were short interruptions. But what came next was a spectacle of talent and artistry, and some comedy that may never be collected on the same stage again.
The lineup, all performing McCartney music, was as all -star as you can get. And believe me when I say that is an understatement.
Stevie Wonder was sensational on the keyboard and in the duet with Paul. Jerry Seinfeld had the crowd roaring, especially when he joked about Paul’s lyrics. He said, “Paul, you wrote (I saw her standing there), ‘She was just seventeen, you know what I mean.’ What did you mean Paul?”
The musical artists were a treasure. Lang Lang, who opened the Olympics two years ago; British vocalist and worldwide sensation Corinne Bailey Rae, rocker Dave Grohl, whose rendition of “Band On the Run” had the chandeliers shaking in the East Room; the Jonas Brothers (the first daughters seemed thrilled to see them) ; the legendary Herbie Hancock; Faith Hill and Emmylou Harris; Jack White, and my favorite among the guests, Elvis Costello’s rendition of “Penny Lane.”
But most of all it was McCartney. Beneath a portrait of President Washington (SEE BELOW), Paul sat at the piano and sang “Let It Be,” and a sensational finale (with the ensemble cast) of “Hey Jude.”
Paul was gracious, but seemed in awe at the setting. The First Lady sat in awe as Paul sang “Michelle.” The President, facing the oil spill crisis and other challenges, held his wife’s hand during Paul’s serenade, and seemed happy to have an hour and a half away from the business of governing.
After the award presentation and the goodbye, I walked up to Paul in front of the stage. We shared a big and long hug, and some personal thoughts. But it was definitely a moment of memory, and a lot of fun, sort of Facebook without the Facebook. I told him how much I enjoyed his presentation, and he said, “Look at you, let’s talk.” And we did.
Although it was a small room, the mood was electric. Paul looks terrific. He has energy. And his voice is even better now than in the Beatle days: resonant with extraordinary range. We both of course are a lot older, but when you listen to the voice of a great artist, the time element fades away, and yesterday becomes today, with even more emotion and a greater appreciation of the talent involved.
I witnessed 67 concerts while traveling with the Beatles. They were chaotic, fever-pitched and near=perfect performances, despite the overwhelming pitch of the frenetic crows. This performance, at the White House, was a once in a lifetime experience. I was really happy to be there, as friend, because of my history, but inevitable, as a fan, which I am and always will be.
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