JUST LIKE YOU SEE IN THE MOVIES

I am blessed to have married the love of my life almost 36 years ago...on October 24, 1976.  But we still also celebrate the day that we met... June 13, 1974!!  

When we first laid eyes on each other, I was developing an original musical comedy called "To Bed A Fortune."  I was the writer and the producer of the project and I brought together two separate friends, Harvey Edelman (a lyricist) and Neil Fishman (a composer.)  The show was based on a Restoration Comedy called "The Beaux' Strategem."

Ronni and I enjoyed a magical courtship!  We both fell madly in love and became the "poster children" for all the romantic souls who yearn for the kind of love affair that's just like you see in the movies.  The connection we had and the passion we exhibited did not go unnoticed by our friends, Harvey and Neil.

So when we set our wedding date, Harvey and Neil decided to write a song about us... a song called "Just Like You See In The Movies"... with lyrics like "I'm your Ginger Rogers and you're my Fred Astaire."

To top it off, they played it at our wedding with our mutual friend, Susan Lovell, singing the romantic lyrics!!  Trust me... It doesn't get any better than this.  And after 39 years... the lyrics still ring true for us.  So, take a listen at the song that's been our anthem for almost 40 years.

Just Like Ya See In The Movies

The Rascals

What a treat!!!  A performance by the 60's group... The Rascals!!!   My wife, Ronni, and I headed to the Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida for an evening of exciting musical nostalgia.

Founding member Eddie Brigati's wife, Susan Lovell-Brigati, has been a friend for three decades.  In fact, she sang a song, written especially for Ronni and me, at our wedding 36 years ago.  It's called "Just Like You See in the Movies."  We haven't seen Susan since we moved to Florida almost 25 years ago, but Ronni's Facebook friendship with Susan led us to see the show.

And oddly enough, Ronni and I had attended a Passover Seder at the home of one of our friends more than 30 years ago.  Susan and Eddie Brigati were there too as invited guests.  And Ronni remembers sitting next to Eddie, the performer she had a teenage crush on.

The Hard Rock show... billed "Once Upon a Dream"... played a limited, though wildly successful Broadway run before going on tour.  It's the first time The Rascals have played together since 1970.  And they certainly didn't disappoint.  Highlights were their huge hits like "Good Lovin"... "Lonely Too Long"... and "It's a Beautiful Morning."

Due to the temendous response from fans... the show will be on tour for months.  All this from a group of self-described "Italian kids from New Jersey" who haven't performed together in more than 40 years!!!

Of course, I too was an "Italian kid from New Jersey" though I didn't know it until I learned that Louis Prima was my birth father.  I left Susan and Eddie a copy of my book:  "SWING - the search for my father, Louis Prima."

Take a look at Eddie singing his classic hit "How Can I Be Sure".......