Interesting Celebrity Enounters?

[Blueshwk]

I have had the pleasure and the opportunity to meet some fairly famous people through the years, some through happenstance others in conjunction with work or because I was in the right (sometimes wrong) place at the right time. But there were three or four instances that were humorous and post worthy and I was just curious if any of you guys have any celebrity moments to share. I will start with one story that means much to me as a blues fan. I actually have a couple of blues moments I will share at some point.

I think my favorite happenstance meet occurred in Birmingham AL in a club a few friends and myself had ventured in to see Koko Taylor and Pinetop Perkins.This was in 86 or so abouts and while I had seen both perform before, I could never have imagined the treat I was in for that night. Pinetop was one of the last of the true Delta Blues men and of course Koko was the Queen of the Blues" and earned every syllable of that title each time she took the stage. Both were Emmy winners and are no longer with us. I feel blessed  to have seen them both.

Between sets, of what was a ripping performance I went to the restroom to make a beer deposit and as I am standing at the urinal in walks Pinetop. He ambles to the urinal beside mine and begins his deposit and spoke...."How's it goin man" to which I replied "Great and it is a genuine pleasure to see you again Mr. Perkins". Now keep in mind there were no dividers between the urinals....He turned (at the waist of course) then held his hand out to me and said "Thank you son....It's good to be here". He shook my hand firmly, patted my shoulder and finished his deposit. We spoke a few more words then he walked back out. I remember staring down at my hand and thinking my god I have just shaken the hand of a legend....as he was taking a leak! I washed my hands then returned to my table for the second set. I never regretted the handshake nor washing my hands afterward.
If I had it to do over I would do it again too!

I am not even going to try to describe the performance but everyone who has even a remote interest in blues music needs to google them both.

[mgap]

interesting post Blueshwk.  Love Pintop's fedora.  very classy, and a pretty cool tie as well. 

[Lizzy]

That's truly a cool urinal encounter, Joel! There's probably not many that happen that way another great story and thanks for sharing.
The only interesting encounter I've had is being in an elevator with Tom Jones.  My husband has worked with some famous people while directing, but I never end up meeting them because I'm too darn shy to go to the after parties!

[jrporter]

I was having ice cream in a small shop on Charlottesville's Downtown Mall waiting for the start of a Hot Tuna concert a few doors down when who should walk in the store but Jack Cassidy. I ran over and introduced myself, but I was clearly more excited to meet him than vice versa. When I worked at C'ville's Barnes & Noble, I also had the opportunity to meet/wait on Dave Matthews, John Grisham, and Sissy Spacek to name a few of the local celebs. When Hannibal was being filmed in Richmond, I hung out across the street from where they were filming the scenes inside Clarice's "Georgetown" townhouse. Anthony Hopkins finished his part, and was sitting outside reading. My then 10 year old son didn't know who he was but couldn't resist bothering him just the same. I intervened, met "Tony", and got a great picture of my son & Hannibal....

[Jersey tuning]

Many of my celebrity encounters have been with personalities in the classical music and opera realms--I've met and chatted with Zubin Mehta, Renee Fleming, the composers Giancarlo Menotti (who write Amahl and the Night Visitors) and Aaron Copland(America's most famous composer), and a number of Met Opera stars past and present. Also a few actors, including Leonard Nimoy, and pro athletes--Rusty Staub comes to mind.  FBut the  encounter that stand out as most absurd:  as a young director of a Jewish Youth organization  in the 1970's, I was introduced to soon-to-be Israeli Prime Minister Menachim Begin, who bowed to me and expressed what a great honor it was to meet me.  I was absolutely non-plused! I actually have a picture somewhere of the encounter........

[Blueshwk]

That's truly a cool urinal encounter, Joel! There's probably not many that happen that way another great story and thanks for sharing.
The only interesting encounter I've had is being in an elevator with Tom Jones.  My husband has worked with some famous people while directing, but I never end up meeting them because I'm too darn shy to go to the after parties!

And I hope my last urinal encounter!! So I heard Tom Jones was a really short guy...was that the case? What does your husband do? Sounds interesting. I had an elevator encounter while living in Nashville during the seventies. Boy did I ever sound like a blithering idiot . Might share that one later but was definitely not my greatest moment.
Thank you for sharing!

[Blueshwk]

in the 1970's, I was introduced to soon-to-be Israeli Prime Minister Menachim Begin, who bowed to me and expressed what a great honor it was to meet me.  I was absolutely non-plused! I actually have a picture somewhere of the encounter........

Wow how incredible that must have felt to have him express that to you!
Great memory that one and to have a pic.... What a treasure!

[Lizzy]

That's truly a cool urinal encounter, Joel! There's probably not many that happen that way another great story and thanks for sharing.
The only interesting encounter I've had is being in an elevator with Tom Jones.  My husband has worked with some famous people while directing, but I never end up meeting them because I'm too darn shy to go to the after parties!

And I hope my last urinal encounter!! So I heard Tom Jones was a really short guy...was that the case? What does your husband do? Sounds interesting. I had an elevator encounter while living in Nashville during the seventies. Boy did I ever sound like a blithering idiot . Might share that one later but was definitely not my greatest moment.
Thank you for sharing!

I am 5'8" and he was taller than I was but I don't remember how much. My husband directs theater. These posts are some amazing celebrity encounters!

[TaylorGirl]

I have been fortunate to be able to go backstage for many concerts (mostly country artists), because of my dad's job. Over the years, I've had the opportunity to meet and talk to Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Reba McEntire, Randy Travis, Conway Twitty, Oakridge Boys, Tammy Wynette, George Jones, and Charlie Daniels, to mention the more famous ones.

A few of the more memorable were:
1. Sitting inside Loretta Lynn's motorhome at the kitchen table, speaking with her about her home and life with Doo. It was just like talking to your best friend who you had known for years. She is so personable. She made us feel right at home.

2. On another occasion, the concert was both Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty. When we went back after the concert, Conway was being really stand-offish.....like he didn't want to talk to anyone and would have just as soon seen us all go away. Seeing how he was acting, Loretta turned to him and told him to shape up and act grateful. She said that the reason he's had success in his career is because of fine folks like these. So, then he acted better. Loretta was really perturbed with him. Again, she's so sweet! She wrapped her arms around you for pictures.

3. When I met Randy Travis for the first time, we were waiting for him to come out. Then he did and they said "there he is". I thought...."where?". I only see some short dude. It was him! I was a little shocked that that nice deep voice came out of such a small/short body. I was taller than him (I'm 5'9").  But, he was very nice. I do love his voice.

Just a few memories to mention. I have been blessed over the years.

[Jersey tuning]

Just thought of another encounter, albeit an indirect one.  Before a Lincoln Center concert in the early 1980's I went with an aunt to a nearby posh Chinese restaurant. Just after we were seated , Mikhail Baryshnikov, the world famous ballet dancer, was seated at a table immediately next to us, dining alone. Close quarters as in most NYC restaurants. We nodded hello and enjoyed our meals. The bills came around the same time. He paid with his AMEX green card.........I took out my recently acquired AMEX gold card to pay our bill.  I really thought at that moment I had made it in the world.

Today I am cash broke but guitar rich.

[Blueshwk]

Some really interesting tales..... Keep them coming!!!

[stepchildusmc]

i have a friend that did custom MOP fret inlays and repairs for Gruhn Guitars in Nashville. long long ago(in a galaxy far far away) as a young punk just going into the Marine corps, i was visitng him in his home when an old white pickup truck came up his long driveway. it turned out to be Clint Black and randy Travis stopping in to check on a violin of Randy's that was being restored. they had with them a 30 pack of cheap nasty warm beer. we ended up spending the afternoon on the wrap-around porch playing blues on acoustics. warm weather and warm beer meant drunk fast...somewhere a couple of bottles of jack came out. i Do remember Clint complaining about the lawn being overdue for a mowing and that he was just the an to do it. hank has a circular dirt driveway with a big oak tree in the middle of it. Clint proceeded to mow the lawn on high speed and ended up going straight at the oak in the middle. he hit it hard enough to put the wheels about a foot up on the trunk and Clink fell backward off the mower and passed out( we hoped). all in all it was a good day and i learned a lot( i had only been playing for a few months then)..mainly..never drink warm beer on a hot tennessee july day. !!!!
a month later, i was innertubing down the Colorado river with george Lynch and jeff pilsen of the 80's hair band Dokken but that's another story....

language

[BigSkyTaylorPlayer]

I got to sit next to Clint Eastwood at jack London's saloon many years ago when he was mayor of Carmel, ca.  Then I walked past Robert Duvall one evening outside his restaurant in virginia without even noticing it was him and finally I saw Huey Lewis...without the news......in a Montana brewery one afternoon listening to some acoustic music.

[Blueshwk]

I got to sit next to Clint Eastwood at jack London's saloon many years ago when he was mayor of Carmel, ca.  Then I walked past Robert Duvall one evening outside his restaurant in virginia without even noticing it was him and finally I saw Huey Lewis...without the news......in a Montana brewery one afternoon listening to some acoustic music.

I am a huge Clint Eastwood fan...

[jrporter]

I had the occasion to ride a snowmobile piloted by the late Andrew Wyeth on his farm in Chadds Ford, PA. It was pitch dark, and the fields were covered in ice, and he was careening through the night like a teenager...