Yvonne Elliman is Home Again

photos: Alan Mercer lighting: Eric Venturo

Yvonne Elliman's singing career began in 1969 in London where she performed at various bars and clubs. This led to a recording contract and later, in Miami, a close association as a backing vocalist for Eric Clapton. She performed on many of his 1970s hits including "I Shot the Sheriff" and "Lay Down Sally". She sang the role of Mary Magdalene in the original album of Jesus Christ Superstar and in the subsequent Broadway and film version, and achieved her first hit single with the ballad "I Don't Know How to Love Him." This performance led to a 1974 Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy.

Her recording career began to take off from this point and she scored several hit singles throughout the world, including cover versions of the Barbara Lewis hit "Hello Stranger" and the Bee Gees' "Love Me." Her biggest success came in 1977 with her #1 hit from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, "If I Can't Have You" which was also written by the Bee Gees. The song was a big hit, rising to #1 in the Billboard Hot 100. Its success has resulted in Elliman being remembered as a disco artist, though this style of music was an exception to the medium-tempo ballads that she specialized in.

She appeared in a two-part episode of the television action series Hawaii Five-O during this period as an aspiring singer, performing the song "I Can't Get You Out of my Mind" with co-star James Darren. The single "Savannah" was also a hit and demonstrated Elliman's attempts to move away from disco music and create music that focused more on her vocal abilities.

After a considerable hiatus, Elliman reappeared on the music scene. An album titled Simple Needs, with all songs written by Elliman, was released globally on June 12, 2007. She has continued performing in music festivals, benefits and concerts throughout the country and around the world while calling Hawaii home again for the past nine years. She lives a peaceful life taking care of her elderly parents and cooking for her long-time boy friend, Allen Alexander, when she is not on the road.

I have always been able to appreciate the beauty of Yvonne Elliman's voice and music, as well as her obvious physical beauty. She can linger on a note, and sustain a purity of tone, that gets warmer, the longer she goes. She is raw and edgy in true 'rocker chick' style on songs like 'Can't Find My Way Back Home.' Check out the Youtube video of her singing this song. It's also available on her CD "20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Yvonne Elliman." She recently played in Los Angeles where I had a chance to finally meet up with, and work with, one of my long-time musical heroes. There was an instant connection. Hawaii's New First Lady of Song is an out-going, fun, warm, and beautiful soul with so much musical talent. As it happens Eric Venturo is a major fan of Miss Elliman as well, so we had a lot of fun getting these shots and talking to her before she went on stage at the Hollywood Bowl.

AM: Do you perform a lot in Hawaii?

YE: They don't pay very well. All the musicians who live there have to have day jobs. I don't know why that is because you would think that the tourists would bring a lot of money into Hawaii.

AM: Would you ever take a day job?

YE: If the truth be known I do not want a regular job.

AM: Would you ever go back to Broadway?

YE: I don't want to repeat myself. That is why I was only on Broadway for six months. The producers knew I was too young to be doing eight shows a week. It can get to you. I wanted to change the blocking! (laughing)

AM: Is it true that you took a flat fee instead of a percentage for the original Jesus Christ Superstar album?

YE: Yes I took $240.00. They spread it out on the desk like a deck of cards. I thought, 'Damn!' My manager and I were hungry. She told me, 'Darling, it's not very good. Take the money.' (laughing) We took the money and ran. We bought a case of Matusse wine and a bunch of steak. Then we had a party on top of the roof. It was the best time.

AM: What do you remember about recording 'I Don't Know How To Love Him' and "Everything's Alright' for that small amount of pay?

YE: We thought I would just do the songs real quick and I did record them in one take!?! In and out so we thought it was great money for one hour of work. If I had received a lot of money in those days I might not be here today. I was a naughty girl.

AM: You were wild.

YE: Well I was an only child, a latch key kid, and when you are left-handed as well, watch out!

AM: I understand that. It's only logical that when you were hanging out with Eric Clapton and people like that. There is no way you would not be 'living the life.'

YE: Yes, you had to be one of the boys. It all went hand in hand. I couldn't be a rock 'n roller and not have a drink in one hand and a coke spoon in the other.

AM: Do you feel more like a Rocker or a Pop star?

YE: I've always been tagged 'Pop' but the 'Rock 'n Roll' heart was always there. When I went to London it was to be the first kick-ass, female electric guitar player. That's what I wanted to be.

AM: What happened?

YE: I got discovered! (more laughing) I used to go all around all the double-decker buses with just a fret board made of paper and practice the scales so I would know where the notes are. I heard Jimmy Hendrix did that with his fret board in his desk at school. I really wanted to play. I was learning Jimmy Page licks and getting it all together and of course that's when 'Superstar' came along, and it was a total different direction.

AM: Aren't you glad you did it?

YE: 'Jesus Christ Superstar' ended up being totally brilliant, especially for Christianity. It brought a lot of young kids into the Church. I thought Mary Magdalene was Mary's Mom. That's the level of my education at the time. It did teach a lot of people that at least Jesus was a man. It was a good thing.

AM: Many young people learned about the Bible from that show.

YE: Is that right? I went to hospitals and actually had to touch this girl who had been in an accident and she wanted me there. The parents were praying for her to make it through...and she did. They gave me the credit. It was getting too heavy. I did that twice and I thought, no I can't do this anymore. I became an Agnostic actually. I was getting so much flack from people who were Buddhists and Krishna's. The 'God' thing was getting on my nerves.

AM: It's called art.

YE: It's called will the real God please stand up. I was so confused.

AM: From 'Jesus Christ Superstar' to disco is a long way.

YE: Don't forget there was Clapton in between. He was my idol and he asked me to be in his band. Talk about a freaking moment when you cannot speak! I had just been on an album of his and he featured me in two songs. I was riding an incredible wave. I'm on the road with Clapton for three and a half years and Robert Stigwood said to me, 'You have to leave the band and get a band of your own. You have two singles and they are climbing the charts. You have to go out and tour.'

AM: How did Clapton react to this?

YE: I had to tell him I was leaving and he got very mad. I did not want to leave. I'd be there today if I could. I'd be very happy if I was still doing that today. I love the man's music, but he got mad and I got to do my own thing which was totally different from his. There were no more Lear jets and trains waiting to take us to our five star hotels. I was on a bus and we shared rooms in hotels and played little bars when it was a freezing cold winter. It was very hard. I paid my dues. But then 'Saturday Night Fever' came along.

AM: I remember a photo of you in Billboard magazine when you had your number one hit. You were with a group of executives and you were all holding up champagne flutes, celebrating.

YE: Oh really!?! That was a 'trippy' day. I got a call early in the morning, 'You are number one with a bullet.'

AM: Was it a dream come true?

YE: Yes I had been waiting and waiting. I was watching that thing climb the charts and then get stuck. There was some heavy competition. So it was a relief when it made it to number one. I don't know if there was any payola going on and I didn't want to know if there was. Then I got the 'Hawaii 5-O' part because I had a number one hit. I was Yvonne Kanekoa! (laughing)

AM: I remember that. I may have even seen some of it on YouTube. Now why did you move back to Hawaii?

YE: I mainly just had to get out of LA. I was living on top of Decker Canyon in a decrepit house and we were being evicted. Time to go. I took that opportunity. It was like God answering a prayer. I also decided to stop singing songs that I wasn't crazy about. I want to just do songs that I love. I don't want to waste my time doing that and then what if something I do hits? If I don't like it I am stuck. That's how I got stuck in disco for so long.

AM: Do you appreciate disco more now?

YE: I can see now what the power of it is. It is very positive and that's great to have in this day and age when everything is so negative. Back then I was not as into it because I was a Rock 'n Roller' so I was ready to leave the disco thing behind.

AM: What have you been doing musically the past few years?

YE: I started to write music. I liked what I was doing. I was kind of scolding people.

AM: What do you mean?

YE: My songs are about being more aware. I don't know why. I have things to say I suppose, right? I did write a great love song for my boyfriend called, 'Just Right.' I'm really hot on that stuff. I have an album's worth of material ready to go. I don't know why I can't just make that my priority and work on that. People want to record me over there for free. Come on let's just do it. I'm just not organized.

AM: So you do have some music that you have already recorded?

YE: I have demos of some songs that I am really excited about. It's just me and a guitar playing in the studio. I am also in the process of writing a song called 'Elephant' because I love the elephant. I was called 'Yvonne Elephant' in school which was really terrible. It was a real drag.

AM: Do you think we will hear some of this new music in 2010?

YE: Thank you so much. I need a little encouragement because I am the perfectionist. The mood has to be right, the inspiration has to be right, I have to be in the right place. That's not good. Sometimes you have to push yourself and force yourself because you can get surprises. I've got to finish the 'Elephant' song and 'Leave Lefty Alone' and then I'll be ready to record. There's nothing holding me back except myself.

AM: Why don't you get into acting?

YE: I don't know about acting.

AM: You are a great actress.

YE: I did the Hawaii 5-O part and of course I was in 'Superstar' but there was no talking, so when I did have to talk for the first time I thought it was really uncomfortable. I don't think I am going to pursue any acting. I have a hard enough time getting the music out.

EV: Your voice has remained strong and clear.

YE: They say it is the tone of my voice. For years I didn't know what people liked about my voice. I don't have a huge range. I don't have the gymnastics that Whitney does.

AM: Whatever is in your voice I know it is a warmth that I like.

YE: Oh really. Thank you.

EV: What was it like working with (photographer) Norman Seef?

YE: Oh he was fast. He was about trying something different. He said, 'Let's take it outside.' He got me running down a hill where one boob is up.

AM: Do you feel like Hawaii inspires you as an artist and are you there for the rest of your life?

YE: Oh yes. I have been given such warmth and such a welcome. It's like being a big fish in a small pond. They fed me when I was at my most insecure point. I needed to rebuild the confidence and that was the best place for me to be. I feel comfortable to be in my own skin there. I know what they are saying when they talk Pidgen. My Mom and Dad are there. They are going through the old age stuff so it's a good time for me to be there for them.

Learn more about Yvonne Elliman on her MySpace page http://www.myspace.com/yvonneelliman

Shèna Winchester: A Real Disco Artist

photos: Alan Mercer Lighting: Eric Venturo

Shèna Winchester is not just a sensationally talented vocalist. She is also a vivacious and gregarious beauty. The British born singer graduated with honors from the Royal Academy of Music. Her main goal has been to create infectious music that gets down deep inside the listeners head and body. You can't help but dance to her catchy sounds.

Shèna has produced some breath taking solo work with the release of three incredibly well produced and received singles and is currently working on her debut album, a project that will introduce a new sound that dices together big, bold and classic orchestral disco with raw and edgy breaks, beats and lyrics.

Now in 2010 she will release her first solo album titled, 'One Man Woman.' She came to Los Angeles recently to perform for the first time. Thanks to my friends, Michael Williams and Pedro Arista from Medium Rare Records in San Francisco, we had a chance to meet up and take some fun shots. I loved watching Shèna on stage and I 'loved' taking photos of her. She is pure magic to be around and work with. Shèna is blessed with a loving and kind disposition. We laughed the whole time we were together. Eric Venturo was around so he helped out with the lighting as usual.


AM: I have been listening to all your music. You have done so much work for other artists. How does it feel to be your own artist?

SW: It feels fantastic! I wonder why didn't I do it sooner? It's champagne meets lemonade. That's the difference.

AM: Who musically inspired you?

SW: In her prime, Whitney Houston. Also people like Ella Fitzgerald, Lauren Hill. I love voices that have power at the bottom range as well as the top. There is a richness in the lower end that takes it up to the next level. Oleta Adams is another prime example of that. Those are some of the people I listen to and want to sound like. They are brilliant.

AM: You do sound like them but in your own unique way. I don't hear anyone but you when you sing.

SW: That's fantastic to hear that. That is the idea. I want to sound like 'Shena.'

AM: Is your album going to be released in 2010?

SW: That's right. We are releasing it world-wide on my own label called No Prisoners Records. My huband and I founded it.

AM: You wrote your songs didn't you?

SW: My husband and I wrote all ten songs. We are bringing real disco back. We want the bass and the looseness of the grooves. It was such a great time for music and it's a shame it died.

AM: This was all before your time.

SW: Absolutely, I never got to experience it first hand so I have to catch it the second time around.

AM: Are you on a one woman crusade to bring back the joy and the fun of the music?

SW: Absolutely I am. I want to bring it back and put a modern twist on it. You want to bring a new crowd into it so they can appreciate it.

AM: Do you tour around the world? I see that you are performing in Moscow.

SW: I have quite a career in the dance world so I still get asked to perform my dance hits. Moscow is a place that really appreciates me.

AM: Have you performed there before?

SW: Yes I am always in Moscow. I have spent half my life in Moscow airport! (Laughing)

AM: Is this your first time in Los Angeles?

SW: Yes this is my first time and I love it. The people are positive and helpful and the weather is great!

AM: I hope you come back when your CD is out.

SW: I would love too. It's an honor and privilege to be here.

EV: You are on your way to greatness.

SW: Thank you very much.

To learn more about Shena checkout her web site

http://www.shena.co.uk/

Skip E. Lowe: A Real Hollywood Player

photos: Alan Mercer with help from: Richard Levi

From The New York Times:
"Skip E. Lowe is a true TV legend. With nearly 30 years on the air interviewing celebrities on his cable TV show, he is easily one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood."

From Variety:
"Skip E. Lowe has interviewed hundreds of established celebrities. He's also been responsible for creating more than a few celebrities as well. He has a sincere love of old Hollywood, but he also has a great eye for new talent."

From The Los Angeles Times:
“Skip E. Lowe is a retired stand-up comic who spends 30 to 40 hours a week working on his interview show with established stars such as Stella Stevens, Virginia O'Brien and Milton Berle.

From The New York Review of Books:
“This book is a great journey of someone's life. Skip E. Lowe is a true show business character--as much a part of the town as the Hollywood Sign. His life is filled with pathos and happiness. From cover to cover the book is a pure joy. You'll find yourself wondering who could possibly play Mr. Lowe in the movie that undoubtedly will come from this fabulous life memoir.”

What else can I say about Skip E. Lowe that hasn't been said already? He is such an original himself. Richard Levi and I met up with him at a coffee shop on Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood. I took this photo of him right there on the street where I have seen him living his life ever since I moved here nine years ago. He invited me to be a guest on his cable access show and I was thrilled to do it. Go to Ebay where he sells his classic shows and check out all the people he has interviewed. You might even want to purchase one!


AM: Hi Skip. You have the reputation of interviewing more people than anyone else. Is this true?

SL: I have done over 8200 shows from Joseph Cotton to Orson Welles. The very first guest was Aldo Rey and he got me a lot of stars. I have interviewed all these legends. Not just actors, but singers with very specific styles.

AM: You have a couple of 'firsts' to your credit don't you?

SL: I was the very first interviewer on Public Access. I was the first to tell the camera man to get up close. People didn't always like it but I wanted close-ups with a plain black background. I just wanted the viewer to see our expressions without interference.

AM: What would you call your interview style?

SL: I do in-depth interviews. The man I learned the most from is Charlie Rose. He is my favorite person on television. I didn't learn a thing from Larry King. I knew him back in Florida. He got lucky. He was at the right place at the right time when CNN started in Atlanta.

AM: When did you start interviewing?

SL: I started when I returned from Vietnam in 1972. I met Marshall Edson who was the owner of a club in Beverly Hills. Joan Rivers was doing her showcase at the time. I was there a couple of years and Marshall asked me to take over the showcase so I started booking singers, comedians, and other kinds of acts. I remember Michael Feinstein came in one night and played piano. He was great. Michael worked for me for a while. Then he moved over to a club on LaCienega to work a talent night. That is how he got started and then Liza Minelli got a hold of him. She just kept helping him and he made it.

AM: You know so many people.

SL: I came to Hollywood as a child actor at nine years old. My mother brought me here from Rockford, Illinois, right outside Chicago. My first movie was 'Song Of The Open Road' with Jane Powell. I play one of the orange pickers.

AM: Were you ever star struck?

SL: No, never, never once. I've met so many stars. That's why they liked me because I wasn't start struck.

RL: Who do you like from today's stars?

SL: Sean Penn is my favorite. He is a good friend of mine. He loves me and I love him. You know why? Because he is a natural. He is a wonderful human being. He knows who he is. I also love Michael Parks. He is fantastic.

AM: You know (40's film star) Lizabeth Scott, don't you?

SL: I love her. She lives up in the Hollywood Hills. I talk to her all the time. She won't do any interviews or anything now. She gets asked all the time. She still has that voice. I love her.

AM: Who else did you like?

SL: I love Ida Lupino. She was a fantastic actress.

RL: I remember watching her and thinking what a strong lady.

SL: She was a strong lady. You like strong women like I do.

RL: Who do you think is a strong lady today?

SL: We do have Faye Dunaway. She lives around the corner with her son. She is a real strong lady.

RL: When did you start doing your cable access show?

SL: I started that in 1981. I met Peter Bogdonavich and he had Orson Welles living with him at the time. That's how I got Orson. I am selling these shows on ebay now. They are half hour shows on DVD.

AM: Who would you like to interview now?

SL: I'd like to interview Sean Penn and Johnny Depp. When I first started the show and would interview people they would get work. People would see them and they would get offers. It happened with Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis. I was the very first person to put celebrities on Public Access. After that other people started doing it, which is fine.

AM: Tell me about Martin Short and his character Jiminy Glick being based on you?

SL: I met Martin when he was a busboy at Chasons. He used to watch all my shows. He is a very talented guy. He then did the 'Saturday Night Live' in Canada. He got an agent and manager and they told him to watch Skip E. Lowe. Paul Schaeffer, who is a friend of mine, used to send Martin my shows. That was it. He started putting this character, Jiminy Glick, together with my style. Everybody has a little individuality. Quintin Crisp once said to me, "Always have your own style." If you have style you can do anything. It's the same with you as a photographer. You have a certain style. I love your photographs. They have your signature on them.

AM: Who was your most difficult interview?

SL: I never stopped tape but I feel it when they are not into it. There is only one person really who wasn't talking. I asked her all about Warner Bros. and James Cagney. She was the beautiful Virginia Mayo. She was the most difficult interview I have ever done. She would answer in three words and say, "Let's not get into that!"

AM: Tell us about your experience with Judy Garland.

SL: I was walking down the street one night in Beverly Hills. This is when she was on a lot of drugs. She used to walk with her husband at the time, Sid Luft. One day I ran up to her and she screamed at me to, "get out of here." She is my all-time favorite performer. She is one of the greats.

AM: Who are you loving now?

SL: Well of course I love my long time friend Mamie Van Doren. I am also loving Sally Kellerman. I just got into her. She is a lovely lady and I find her fascinating, and talented. Her CD is so good. The camera loves both of these women.

AM: You know Mamie is getting ready to go into the studio to record in a few days.

SL: That will be a great album. I can't wait.

AM: When is your birthday Skip?

SL: June 6. I turned 80 years old this year. I am a Gemini. You don't know which one you are talking to!

AM: You knew a lot of the stars from the fifties. Did you know Marilyn Monroe?

SL: I met Marilyn many times in New York. When I was about fifteen I moved to New York and stayed with my Aunt Sadie. I started working in the Catskills after that. I developed myself as a comic there. Then I went to Chicago and worked for the Mafia as a number boy. I met all the Mob bosses. I even met Al Capone in the coffee shop in the Burkshire Hotel. He told me I was a good Italian boy and he would take care of me.

AM: Were you making bank at this time?

SL: Yes I was making a lot of money but I gambled it all away. I played the horses. Everyone all around me was playing the horses. I was making money but I owed a debt too. Instead of me paying it back I checked into a mental hospital in Chicago under my real name, Sammy LaBella, and they couldn't find me. I disappeared. I got away. It's a great story and would make a wonderful movie.

To learn more about Skip E. Lowe visit his web site http://www.skipelowe.com/