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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

The Slice

Autograph stories

Here's a story from Steve Peck.

"My one, and only claim to being close to a celebrity was in 1982 at an outdoor concert at Red Rocks, near Denver, Colorado. This is the only famous autograph I got in person.

"It was at the Peter, Paul and Mary reunion tour. I was 26 years old and in Air Force technical training at Lowery Air Force Base, in Denver.

"I was prepared to get autographs if the opportunity came up. I had a black marker, and my 1962 copy of 'Peter, Paul and Mary' (their first album), in HiFi-Mono.

"The concert was great, and afterwards, we gravitated to the gate to see if we could meet the trio, A long black limo pulled out making a getaway with Mary Travers inside.

"I held the album over my head and shouted to her, 'It's 20 years old!' She leaned out her window and said, 'And so are you!' Which was exactly how old I looked with my military buzz cut. But it was still a double letdown despite the mistake.

"But as I turned around I saw a smallish man walking casually toward us. He was soft spoken and friendly. It was Peter Yarrow, and he was mingling with us! He gladly signed an inscription to me under his picture on the cover of my album. And I still have it after all these years."

And here's one from Jeffrey Neuberger.

"As an Air Force chaplain I was traveling to our chaplain school in Montgomery, Alabama, for a short course. It was the mid-1990s. While waiting in the Minneapolis airport I noticed B. J. Thomas also waiting at one of the gates.

'Having grown up with his music, I just had to meet him. I made the effort and introduced myself. I was aware that he had a rather public conversion experience and was producing and singing Christian music. We talked at length about our common faith, etc.

"I wanted his autograph but didn't have any paper to offer, so I offered the flyleaf of a Bible I was reading. B. J. did not hesitate and herewith is what he wrote."

Jeff shared a copy of the note, It read:

"To Jeff

"All my best wishes

"II Cor 10:13

"Your friend

"BJ Thomas"

Jeff continued.

"I think he meant to reference 1st Corinthians and not 2nd Corinthians, but that's beside the point.

"On the way to my departure gate, while riding the moving escalator, who should be moving in the opposite direction but Neil Diamond. He had given a concert in Minneapolis the night before.

"It was quite a Sunday in Minneapolis, to have seen BJ Thomas and Neil Diamond the same morning...two of my favorite artists."       



The Slice

The online home for Paul Turner's musings and interactions with disciples of The Slice.