I've Always Loved You - 20. Elton, Mercury and LIBERACE!!!

Blame Clancy59 for contents in this chapter! It is not my fault. More coming! Bubba, take a bow. Read the chapter to know Bubba. He's real. Maybe I need to change medications. Nah. It's not exactly hallucinations. I just see and hear things...and smell. Anyway! Tomorrow off and I have three dogs ready to greet the Easter Bunny. Just let him try to get away with no peanut butter for them or me with no chocolate. Let him try. Love you, Daniel, I love my readers and I love writing! 

Elton, Mercury and Liberace!

“I’m in Time Square,” A long and thick coated Ryan began holding the one ear he didn’t have an earpiece monitor in. Behind him were dozens of people behind a waist-high barrier, dressed in coats, thick scarves, mitten-wearing and various kinds of stocking caps and hats all waving at the camera. Some just cheered, you saw a couple say “Hi, Mom” loud. “It is pandemonium here tonight as we get ready to usher in the New Year. This is another year for Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve!” The screen showed quick clips of the Master of Ceremonies at the many New Year’s Eve parties with crowds behind him like the one behind Ryan now. Ryan might be the nicest guy you could ever even hope to meet, but Ryan knew he could never be what Dick Clark had been. Dick Clark was referred to as the Oldest American Teenager, because he seemed to be immortal! The man didn’t age! Not like regular Human Men at least. Everybody just knew he had a secret. For thirty years he was the face of America’s Youth on the American Bandstand. He hosted game shows and acted in a few shows. He was loved by almost everybody. I never heard anyone say that didn’t like him. All the women (and some men, I’m sure) wanted him. The men wanted to be like him. He had that horrible stroke which I could sympathize a little with and everyone gasped! My “stroke” was a blood clot, he had a breech in his head. It was hard enough for my recovery, but I knew he had a hard uphill battle he wouldn’t win. But he tried damned hard! He had my full support and, yes, I prayed he would get better. He did. He could never fully recover, but when he returned to host the Rockin’ New Year’s Eve most everyone was thrilled!! I was. I remembered some comments that were not in support. One I read about how horrible it was to see him struggle so hard to speak. Why? I understood him. He had a stroke!! He worked DAMNED hard to come back even that far. I, and many people, applauded him. It was miraculous! Who was hurting with his speech? It sure as Hell wasn’t Dick Clark! He didn’t just give up and die. The man triumphed! Perhaps that person who thought it was so horrible suffered because they weren’t looking at the situation right. Instead of thinking about how horrible the victims had it, they only understood how the victim made them feel. It’s called narcissism. The world revolves around this person! The sun didn’t shine until they got up in the morning. Nobody knows people like that, right?

The screen showed a handsome man in the late 1950’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Game show hosting and the only thing to change was how he did his hair and the style of clothes. The rest of him seemed to be frozen! Yep, he had some big secret he was keeping to himself. Even with that, I say “Good for you, Dick Clark!!”

“You can’t go…” a man’s voice behind me and some others said. I turned and saw someone remove a thick knitted stocking cap, “Oh!” The man who guarded the closed off area said suddenly and smiled, “I didn’t recognize you, Mr. Calhoun.” He pointed over his shoulder in my direction. “There he is.”

Mike nodded, “Thanks.” He walked over and smiled at me. “I couldn’t miss that suit with my eyes closed!” He grinned kissing me.

“And that’s why I’m wearing it!” I said logically, “You can’t lose me.”

“Even those lights and crystals on the New Year’s ball can’t outshine you!”

I shrugged, “All stage artists do it. Male and female. Remember Lady Gaga in the meat dress? Or Cher’s feather dress?”

Mike chuckled, “I remember Elton John’s feather suit more. He had some wild outfits!”

I nodded as I grinned, “Yep.” I grinned. “Don’t forget Queen’s Freddie Mercury. He had some pretty wild costumes.”

Mike nodded, “His were almost normal.”

“Normal!?” I balked. “What is that!? And where would you put me?” I demanded.

Mike grinned, but backed up. His arms coming up to prevent my attack on him, “I don’t know. Somewhere between Elton and…” he thought and you could see his eyes dart back and forth as he thought and he finally shrugged, “Liberace?”

I heard it, but I don’t think he expected my reaction. I smiled appreciatively, “Liberace?” I asked quieter. “Really?” I liked that. It was a compliment! To me, anyway.

“Well, yeah!” Mike chuckled as his arms lowered slowly, “You’ve got all of Elton’s flash and Liberace’s sophistication. Elton bordered on outrageous, but Liberace was over the top with his clothes, but they were always a tuxedo or something. And you are all three very talented with the piano, you just don’t have the candelabra!” He frowned, “Liberace was flashy with his actions and he was always followed by the blue-haired older ladies. They followed him everywhere!” He looked at me curiously. “You know? Fag hags?” His head went back a little. “I remember seeing clips of him back in the 1960’s and 1970’s…did they have Fag Hags back then?” As I was about to comment, he went on, “They had fags then, right?” His face got distorted as he thought, “Are they Fag Hags if they don’t know they’re Fag Hags?”

I laughed, “I don’t know! I would assume they are.” I raised my finger, “and that fag was magic with the keyboard! The piano was an extension of himself and he never had to look at where when he ran his fingers over those ivories! He knew,” I tapped my head, “in here where his fingers should be. It looked so effortless! His was never faked.”

“Faked?”

“Yes, faked! You know,” I insisted. “They have an actor…and they can be a pretty great actor! But, one scene the actor the actor tries to convince viewers they can play the piano or any instrument well…the actor has no musical abilities and it SHOWS!!”

Mike’s head went back as he thought, “They show the hands when they play the piano.”

“Do they really?” I asked knowing better. “If it’s a face or body shot, they always shot where the piano blocks they view of the hands! If there is a complex run of notes to show real talent, they show the hands, but just the hands to show the complex fingering! They have on the same shirt or jacket the actor does, but not the face! A pianist’s fingers flow and their arms move smoothly and gracefully. They show the actor and he or she looks like they are having a seizure almost; bobbing shoulders and all that.” I shuttered, “ewe.” I then pointed. “Even worse are those that fakes playing a violin! The bow is never in the right place. All they show is someone moving the bow, erroneously back and forth, in the wrong place and their left hand is just holding the damned violin…often wrong and their left fingers never move!!” I saw Mike’s eyes grow and his smile, too. “Is it too much to ask for the actor to spend more time to learn to fake it more convincingly!?” I raised the finger I was pointing with, “Now, Liberace! They never had to worry about him! No convincing. He really played! He knew where his fingers went and he never LOOKED!!”

“You never look either!” Mike pointed out as he laughed. He shrugged lightly, “You have a pretty big performance in a few minutes. Did I distract your thinking?”

“Yes,” I looked the surroundings. “Thank you. Where are the others?”

Mike put his arms around me, “They’re back in the suite. They can see all this better on the television.” He smiled and looked like he was going to confide something, “I’m not sure Chet’s going to make it. He wants to be down here at midnight to watch the ball drop, but…”

I nodded as I grinned, “He doesn’t have to try too hard. There will be other New Year’s celebrations.”

Mike nodded, “Yes, but he doesn’t get to see his PopE perform live very often. Mark’s bringing Chet down before that. He’s very proud of you.” Mike kissed me gently. “So am I.”

I wasn’t the first act, so it was a few minutes later right before I was to sing that I saw Ryan on the side bring Mike and Chet to stage right! Chet had a good view to see me. I waved at a very happy little boy! Sleep was just going to have to wait on him. He bounced next to Mike and waved at me. Of course, I waved back, but didn’t move. I was in position for when the camera person knew where to start me.

Ryan was speaking with his female co-host on camera.

“…and now,” Ryan said grandly. “Here is Eric Richards!!” He waved off camera.

My right thumb hit the button and my “band” began the subtle introduction for Oblivious! What surprised me was as soon as it started, the crowd spread before the stage began to cheer! They knew the song! There was a party atmosphere, and they were noisy anyway, but were now specifically noisy for me!

“I see you every day!” I sang, “But you can’t see me! How I feel about you, how can you be so oblivious?” The first lines of the song rang out and my motions on stage were the exaggerated motions of a person trying to get the absurdity across in a dance-like form! I could see the huge monitors that helped those people not near enough to see what was happening on stage. Yes, those sequins and crystals sparkled! That showed! I gave the camera persons a challenge keeping up with me, but like me; they were professionals and never lost me one time! I wrote and composed the music to make your pulse rise and your hips had to move! The song told about love from afar and asked if both were oblivious. Yes, it started subtlety, but grew more intense with each verse and blended with each chorus where it rang to an explosive question, “Why so Oblivious?” It was a question asked for both the target of the song and the singer! The crowd was going nuts!

The camera cut to Ryan’s co-host. Ryan came out with a big smile and he hugged me! “That was amazing!! You really felt that song!” He glanced back at Mike and then looked at me with a grin. “I know the story, but I’d say no one’s oblivious now.”

I shook my head, “Not anymore.”

Chet raced to me as I exited the stage. “You did so great, PopE!!”

Mike was smiling as he kissed me, “And the next song will be?” He asked, knowing the answer.

“Mine at Last,” I smiled. “I can’t let everyone hang.” I said logically. “I’m putting on a show, even if it’s not a themed show.”

“I disagree,” Mike shook his head. “The theme tonight is life.” He shrugged. “You’ve got unspoken love and you’ll be singing next about that love is finally realized.” His hands were on Chet’s shoulders as Chet stood in front of him, but he motioned with his right, “You have love sought,” his hand moved again, “and then love found.” He shrugged. “That’s the theme of life.” He smiled, “Love.”

Okay. Inspiration is just is so…unpredictable!! Those crazy muses don’t care if your driving, sleeping or just finished one of their previous inspirations. We give it supernatural explanation, because…how else do you describe a thought or idea that quite literally hits you right between the eyes!? It did! Mike even saw the impact!!

He tightened his hold on Chet, “Uh, oh.” He said quietly to Chet. “He’s being inspired.”

“Huh?” Chet’s face squelched a little in confusion. “Inspired? When?” His eyes grew. “Now!?”

Mike leaned down and put his face next to Chet’s and pointed me, “Yes. Right now.” His finger moved slightly pointing a each of my eyes, “You can see it. He gets this startled, almost vacant look in his eyes.” He rose again. “I’ve seen it a few times over the years. I know it now.” He grinned at me. “That must have been a pretty good one.”

I chuckled and I know I rolled my eyes, “Anytime you’re inspired is a good one.”

“Yeah,” Mike nodded. “But even you say what Bubba sends you sends you some really good stuff.” His eyebrows rose up and down. “He did that one just now, didn’t he?”

“Bubba?” Chet asked smiling looking from Mike to me, “Who is Bubba?”

Mike grinned, “He’s one of the Muses from Greek and Roman mythology. They are demigods who inspire men in art, music, science…” He pointed at me. “PopE named his Bubba.”

“Oh,” Chet smiled. “Like Zeus, Apollo and Venus?”

Mike nodded, “Yes!”

Chet frowned, “Bubba is real!?”

I shook my head and said, “Mike.” I smiled, but didn’t want him to mislead Chet.

“What!?” He asked innocently on purpose and looked at Chet. “I ask you. If I say something happens because I say someone did and you see that it did happen. What would you say? Is what I said real?”

Chet was enjoying this and smiled, but he was using what his father had taught him to think, “But you just said someone did it. Did you see him do it?”

I chuckled. Chet had also been spending a lot of time with his Uncle Mark. “Your Uncle Mark is right! You would make a good lawyer.”

Chet grinned, “Is there evidence what you say happened was done by that someone?”

“You saw it happen!” Mike pointed out. “PopE was inspired and he was the one that said it was Bubba!”

Chet looked at me, “You’ve seen Bubba do it?”

I laughed, “No. I never see him do it. I just was just taught he and some others do it. That’s their job.”

“And there you go,” Mike waved at me, but looked Chet.

“It’s like…” I thought a second, “You lose a tooth, put it under your pillow and find money under the pillow in the morning. Did the Tooth Fairy put it there? The tooth is gone and the money’s there.” I looked up at Mike, “Please tell me they allowed him to know about the Tooth Fairy.”

Mike nodded and scowled, “Yes. Go figure.”

Chet nodded, “Mom said it was for fun.”

I nodded, “Bubba is the same thing.”

“Oh,” Chet nodded.

“You aren’t going to be anywhere to do anything about it,” Mike said.

I grinned and bumped him gently, “I’ll just have to retain it.”

He nodded and smiled at Chet, “The last time that happened, Mine at Last stayed at the top for…” he looked at me, “What was it? Almost two months?”

“Just shy of six weeks,” I chuckled.

“Well,” Mike threw his arm around me. “The last time Bubba hit you with inspiration you ended up with a movie offer and the trip here!” Mike pointed down. “Who knows what this one will do?”

“The point is,” I said to Chet, “I get these ideas in my mind and…” I raised a hand helplessly, “I don’t know where they come from.” I shrugged. “Your Dad inspired many songs, but this idea suddenly explodes in my head and I have to write about it! That’s where Bubba comes in sending me tunes and words to express my feelings.” I chuckled. “Personally, I find Bubba’s timing questionable. He’s a trickster and he sends me the tune and words in the middle of the night and waking me up.” I waved at the stage, “Or like now.”

“It’s a good thing,” Chet said to be sure.

“Oh, yes,” I grinned.

Mike nodded, “It will keep him up for hours and even days!! He doesn’t sleep or eat…”

“Mike!!” I stated firmly, but Mike was still smiling and so was Chet. “Don’t let Chet think this is a bad thing!!”

“How do I get Bubba to inspire me?” Chet asked enthusiastically.

I waved at Chet but glared at Mike, “See what you did!?”

Mike shook his head, “Yes! I’m not sorry.”

“You can do another movie?” Chet asked excitedly.

I laughed and held my hand up, “Whoa, guys. Let me do this movie before we plan for another one.”

Mike’s eyes grew, “Now Bubba’s inspiring me!!” He said in a quiet voice and he even gave a look vacant, startled look. “Yes!! A gay version of A Star is Born!”

“A Star is…” I said knowing my eyes were getting wider. “That’s been done so many times!”

“Not like the one I’m seeing!” Mike grinned, he waves a hand across scenery only he saw, but he was smiling. “An unknown comes on the scene loaded with raw talent. He is discovered and with the help of a more seasoned performer blossoms and they fall in love.” He looked at me and points, “Then the new talent’s career soars and he surpasses his lover and mentor bigger than his mentor ever was! Then there is the angst of depression, alcohol and drug abuse…there is no limit what can happen as new talented man and mentor man struggle to balance careers and hold on to love! It will be great!”

“It can also be a tired flop!” I said.

Mike didn’t back away, “Not with you in it! Your voice knocks people out!! More chances to add music and songs on the world!”

“And who will I be?” I asked. “Janet, Judy, Barbra or Lady Gaga?” I shook my head. “Or am I to be Fredric, James, Kris or Brad?”

Mike’s head went back, “What?”

I held my hand out and counted out on my fingers, “1937, 1954, 1976 and 2018. Those were the years every one of those movies came out.”

“Call it something else!” Mike’s excitement was back.

I nodded twice quickly, “Sure, we’ll call it A Fag is Born! Isn’t that what the movie I’m contracted to do is about?”

Mike stopped a moment and thought, “No.” He said quietly. “This…Breathless movie is to show we’re just Human. The same struggles for love and happiness everyone does. Your character Dan is gay and admits it. Tom’s Corey character is not and has to come out! In the Star is Born I see the characters’ struggle will be life, career and love. They just happen to be gay!” He shrugged. “Both movies would be about the same thing. Life. The story will be how people deal with life that make it interesting.”

“Mr. Richards?” A female voice said coming close to me. I turned to see a woman dressed for the cold in a thick coat. Her knit stocking hat had a microphone stick out toward her mouth and there was a thicker lump on the right side of her face where the microphone joined with the earpiece under the hat. She had a clipboard? It was really a tablet with a screen that showed moving images to her. “Mr. Seacrest is asking for you on camera.” She pointed off to where Ryan was speaking to a different performer, this one famous for Country Music. There were the enthusiastic crowd being held back by barriers of concrete and police. I think they were police. They all wore coats and jackets that said they were.

“Coming in seconds,” I assured her with a smile. I turned to Mike. “We’ll talk more.” I kissed him quickly. “Don’t give up on your dreams, but every movie or show needs a Producer. Does the name Aaron Spelling mean anything to you? Work on it and let me see a script and we’ll talk more.” I hugged Chet and ruffled his head, “Now, I got to go pay the rent!”

I wasn’t kidding with Mike. Everyone knew Aaron Spelling. He was the face of television for decades!! Every hit show you would see in the late 20^th Century on the American Broadcast Company (ABC) had his name on it. He was a very smart business man and had his fingers on the pulse of viewers and gave them what they wanted and made himself filthy rich. I think his wealth was simply the result, I don’t think wealth was the focus.

People watch television, but I don’t think they really know what it takes to make any entertainment. You watch and have to see the commercials because they provide the money to see the show, but all those people who bring it together…make-up, costumes, camera operators, directors, all those people we barely read about when the credits roll…gaffer? What the Hell is a gaffer? Remember the woman that I told you about who I instructed on what was needed to be done? She was a gaffer!! A boss or foreman that keeps things in control. I had to look that up. All these people needed to be paid whether the presentation was a success or failure! They did a job. Constructing sets, special effects…all these people needed to be paid. That was where producers came in! They were presented with an idea; a producer has to gage whether it would be a good idea to back the idea with money. Their money. They pay all those people and those commercials pay the producers back. It’s a risk. I’ve done it a few times when a singer or group impresses me so much and I see what they need is a little financial help, I’ll do it. That’s where I negotiate a portion of the profits they make comes to me! Well, Mark negotiates, but I tell him I’ll help. He was my producer and still is. It’s a very tough business. All those people I mentioned had to prove with a track record of success they were the best. A talented actor is really just a small part. Yes, they are. Mark loved the fact that a lot of those jobs were done by me. I was the band, sound engineer, mixers…I did rely on several choreographers for the dance moves and still do, but I eliminated all the assistants and other positions by doing those jobs myself. Della was a huge help as a coordinator and sound engineer.

If Mike thought what he told me about was a good idea, this could be a way to get him into the business. If he wanted to. If the budget was gargantuan he would need to talk to others into helping foot the bill. We had some money, yes, but we couldn’t do it alone and shouldn’t have to. That just wasn’t smart business wise. Mike was smart. He’d figure it out. While we in Los Angeles he could do more than keep Chet up with his school work.

“Eric,” Ryan began holding the microphone. “That was an incredible song!!”

I bowed slightly as I got closer, “Thank you.”

“How is it that you just slipped under the radar and within two years are having such an incredible rise in the world?”

I grinned at him and the viewers, “Hey, now. I’ve been singing almost twenty years!” My arms went up in helplessness. “No one was hearing me!!”

Ryan’s smile grew, “I think they’ve heard you now!” He knew, but he was asking for all those who didn’t know, “Where do these songs come from?”

I nodded, “It was really a cathartic expression to what I was going through. It’s universal! Everyone seeks acceptance, love and comfort.” I shrugged, “I wrote them in hopes that everybody can relate to them. Male, female, gay, straight, no matter what race…everybody can relate at some point in their life. We’re all human. It’s what we do!”

“Everybody is looking forward to your singing again tonight.” Ryan said, “We’ll be watching you for what you can do in the future.”

I grinned and then got mockingly serious, “Yeah, I tried to pick out something to wear tonight.” I moved and saw the monitor show the red sparkles. “Do you think they see me?” I was an actor and asked so sincerely and innocently.

Ryan didn’t last but a second before he burst out laughing patting me on the shoulder, “Yes! I know they can!” He turned me around as he looked at my coat and the camera showed it close up. “I will definitely have to get one for me! I like it. Can I get away with it?”

I smiled bigger, “Absolutely!” I put my arm around his shoulder, “You can’t be shy and wear it and you…” I pointed at him, “are not shy!”

“I don’t think you even know what shy is!” Ryan said laughing.

“Nope,” I said and saw the woman gaffer again signaling me I needed to be in place. I pointed a thumb over my shoulder, “I’m going to go sing again.”

All of us performing tonight had songs that lasted anywhere from three to ten minutes. That was because of all those records. Surely, you know about records. Those wonderful round vinyl things before digital? You used to be limited by the length of a song because of the limited space to make the recording. Place the record on the player, adjust the speed of the rotation and enjoy! That’s what I heard. We came a long way from the first song, Au Clair de la Lune on that phonautograph back in the mid Nineteenth Century. Personally, I think because you can only attract someone’s attention for so long. They like variety. Rock, pop, metal, country-western…they were all here tonight. Even the dancing changed some. I saw one of the biggest line dancing done that night. There must have been a hundred people or more that did it!

The red light told me it was my turn again, so I hit the button on my handpiece and the usual start began. As soon as the crowd heard the first few notes, they knew the song again and were cheering and sang along.

“I can’t believe you’re here! With me! You are mine at last!” I sang. This song started slower and just built from there. That was my usual style. Each performance had the same structure, but…each time I sang it; I changed. More energy was put in the song tonight and I never just sang. This time, I SANG!! Using my thumb, I adjusted the volume and stretched the last note on my remote control as I blasted out, “I will never let you go! At last…you…are…mine!!” I held the note, my arms spread out and let it resonate and the crowd was going crazy!!