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Celebrating Artist & Upstarts
| John Mathew Smith #Part 2 |
Q. How did you get into Lena Horne's 80th Birthday bash?
JMS. I was just catching my stride in 1997 as a photographer.
Myself and another photog had a competition of sorts and
when I learned he had photographed Ms. Horne wow I said to
myself...you better get to it If your going to say your the best
here in town...well Lena is a big Fish and she is in the other
guys boat. It was a few months later when I learned of her
appearing in New York...and thought well here is my chance. I
was told as well that Sidney Poitier would be attending that
turned out later to be inaccurate, but fueled my desire all the
more. I sent my emails and left messages on Answering
services to let the PR people know I wanted to attend the event
for days ahead of the date I received no response however to
let me know if my name was indeed "on the list". Well now it was
the morning of the event...as I sat on my bed NYC is a long way
to go when you’re not on the list. Sure I had winged it plenty of
times and successfully, but that was all in D.C. I knew my way
around there a bit...and it wasn’t so far or as costly to fail. it
was then I said to myself...well if I stay here I know what I will
get...A big Zero... But if I go...who knows what I will get?
So I left for New York. When I reached the Lincoln Center I
stayed with fans and amateur photogs are catching stars as
they arrived. Joe Williams, Freda Payne, Rosemary Clooney
among them. I learn that Lena's event was not there...uh oh... I
was lucky an insider told me where...it was not public
Information.
JMS. I was just catching my stride in 1997 as a photographer.
Myself and another photog had a competition of sorts and
when I learned he had photographed Ms. Horne wow I said to
myself...you better get to it If your going to say your the best
here in town...well Lena is a big Fish and she is in the other
guys boat. It was a few months later when I learned of her
appearing in New York...and thought well here is my chance. I
was told as well that Sidney Poitier would be attending that
turned out later to be inaccurate, but fueled my desire all the
more. I sent my emails and left messages on Answering
services to let the PR people know I wanted to attend the event
for days ahead of the date I received no response however to
let me know if my name was indeed "on the list". Well now it was
the morning of the event...as I sat on my bed NYC is a long way
to go when you’re not on the list. Sure I had winged it plenty of
times and successfully, but that was all in D.C. I knew my way
around there a bit...and it wasn’t so far or as costly to fail. it
was then I said to myself...well if I stay here I know what I will
get...A big Zero... But if I go...who knows what I will get?
So I left for New York. When I reached the Lincoln Center I
stayed with fans and amateur photogs are catching stars as
they arrived. Joe Williams, Freda Payne, Rosemary Clooney
among them. I learn that Lena's event was not there...uh oh... I
was lucky an insider told me where...it was not public
Information.
Yes' he says "that’s where I’m going" So I tell him...I am having a hard
time getting in. He asks who I am, and I tell him that I am from
Baltimore. With that I can tell by the look on his face that this explains
satisfactorily why he had never seen me before around NYC press
events.
So its now I tell him, as we both get into the elevator, "well I don’t
expect you to lie for me...but please don’t volunteer any information" (i.
e.: he is not with me) So when with arrive, I believe it was the fourth
floor we get out together only to be greeted by the pr. Man that is
handling the event. If you recall I had never seen him...most
importantly he had not seen me, but I had gotten his message via
telephone thru the security guard.
So we go to the room where it was all supposed to happen, we sat
there for the longest about 20 media people...listening to the radio and
waiting. There was some talk about moving us to another room...which
worried me greatly.sure the list would
be at the ready to check all the names. "Whew" it never happened. we
were stationed in the back of the room with desks turned sideways.call
it a wooden velvet rope,
if you will...it was meant to keep us where we were. The door opened
and little by little they began to appear...Sheryl lee Ralph, Steve and
Eddy, Cicely Tyson, Chita Rivera, Jessye Norman, Liza Minnelli and
yes finally Lena Horne! Well just about then, remember those desks
laid sideways...well the guy to my right jumped over them...who do you
suppose was the second photog to leap those tables...yours truly.
In seconds I was standing directly across from Ms. Horne. I am just
snapping away...and I say to her, "Ms Horne you are Lovely" quite an
understatement for a man who traveled 200 miles in hopes to be
exactly where I was standing. After she gave me the most wonderful
smile which thankfully I captured on film... she replied. and I quote
"I know all about you photographers... and your soft soap"
First time I had ever heard that no doubt southern saying...but I know
what she meant, God bless her. This trip taught me great lesson, That
you make your own luck, if you are only willing to try things may just
work out for you.
time getting in. He asks who I am, and I tell him that I am from
Baltimore. With that I can tell by the look on his face that this explains
satisfactorily why he had never seen me before around NYC press
events.
So its now I tell him, as we both get into the elevator, "well I don’t
expect you to lie for me...but please don’t volunteer any information" (i.
e.: he is not with me) So when with arrive, I believe it was the fourth
floor we get out together only to be greeted by the pr. Man that is
handling the event. If you recall I had never seen him...most
importantly he had not seen me, but I had gotten his message via
telephone thru the security guard.
So we go to the room where it was all supposed to happen, we sat
there for the longest about 20 media people...listening to the radio and
waiting. There was some talk about moving us to another room...which
worried me greatly.sure the list would
be at the ready to check all the names. "Whew" it never happened. we
were stationed in the back of the room with desks turned sideways.call
it a wooden velvet rope,
if you will...it was meant to keep us where we were. The door opened
and little by little they began to appear...Sheryl lee Ralph, Steve and
Eddy, Cicely Tyson, Chita Rivera, Jessye Norman, Liza Minnelli and
yes finally Lena Horne! Well just about then, remember those desks
laid sideways...well the guy to my right jumped over them...who do you
suppose was the second photog to leap those tables...yours truly.
In seconds I was standing directly across from Ms. Horne. I am just
snapping away...and I say to her, "Ms Horne you are Lovely" quite an
understatement for a man who traveled 200 miles in hopes to be
exactly where I was standing. After she gave me the most wonderful
smile which thankfully I captured on film... she replied. and I quote
"I know all about you photographers... and your soft soap"
First time I had ever heard that no doubt southern saying...but I know
what she meant, God bless her. This trip taught me great lesson, That
you make your own luck, if you are only willing to try things may just
work out for you.
| she replied and I quote "I know all about you photographers... and your soft soap" |
"It was her 80th birthday"...and it was at the ASCAP
building. Well I got to the security desk...and I was sure
this is where my emails and phone messages had gone...
so I gave the guard my name and inquired fingers am
sorry Mr. Smith you are not on the list"
Believe me those words are a press photogs worse
nightmare. Now at this point I am not feeling too bad,
woman at the Lincoln center had been kind enough to
give me the real location of Ms. Horne’s event.
So now, what to do? I decided to go back down to the
lobby of the ASCAP building and await Lena's arrival. I
feel she may stop for a quick photo or two sometimes it
best to ask...it courteous in that type of an encounter..and
your photos will be better as well.
Well there is an old saying that you can’t be in two places
at the same time...well it’s really not true, the trick is to
keep moving. So I guess I marched around that lobby for
some time watching the faces and hoping one would be
hers. so then I do see someone of interest, a gentleman
with a cart full of video equipment. I say to him,
"I guess your going to the press conference for Lena
Horne?"
building. Well I got to the security desk...and I was sure
this is where my emails and phone messages had gone...
so I gave the guard my name and inquired fingers am
sorry Mr. Smith you are not on the list"
Believe me those words are a press photogs worse
nightmare. Now at this point I am not feeling too bad,
woman at the Lincoln center had been kind enough to
give me the real location of Ms. Horne’s event.
So now, what to do? I decided to go back down to the
lobby of the ASCAP building and await Lena's arrival. I
feel she may stop for a quick photo or two sometimes it
best to ask...it courteous in that type of an encounter..and
your photos will be better as well.
Well there is an old saying that you can’t be in two places
at the same time...well it’s really not true, the trick is to
keep moving. So I guess I marched around that lobby for
some time watching the faces and hoping one would be
hers. so then I do see someone of interest, a gentleman
with a cart full of video equipment. I say to him,
"I guess your going to the press conference for Lena
Horne?"
| Believe me those words are a press photographers worse nightmare. |