#12: Jack Bruce Follows His Own Path
A BASS PLAYER PREPARES
Jack Bruce reinvented the bass guitar and wrote spectacular songs. Cream lasted a mere three years. But he remained a working musician first and disregarded the pretense of rock stardom.
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Jack Bruce in mid-career
Classically trained in cello
#11: Cy Coleman: Broadway Jazz Maestro
A COMPOSER PREPARES
Cy Coleman wrote the scores to a dozen legendary Broadway musicals. But he was a jazz pianist first, and virtually invented the sophisticated culture of New York cocktail jazz in the 1950s.
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#10: Mario Puzo
WHEN ADVENTURE MAGAZINES BEGAT MOVIES
My father hired Mario Puzo as associate editor at Magazine Management at 655 Madison Avenue in 1960. While working there, Puzo would write his great novel about Hell’s Kitchen, The Fortunate Pilgrim. And then at age 49, break out with the most successful novel in history—The Godfather.
Episode Links
Weasels Ripped My Flesh! Two-Fisted Stories From Men’s Adventure Magazines
Mario Puzo’s 1966 children’s book, with a character named Josh.
Mario Puzo and Bruce Jay Friedman at Bruce’s party leaving Magazine Management in 1966
1960 masthead for Male, Men, Man’s World and True Action magazines
#9: The Masked Announcer – Joel Dorn
A HUSTLER WITH EXQUISITE TASTE
Joel Dorn was one of the last record producers standing from the old music biz. When the new industry pushed him out in the 1980s, he bounced back with the creation of CD box sets. “Don’t give me that ‘Hey, baby’ shit,” he said. “I invented it.”
#8: Lou Reed – A Foul and Bitter Interview
UGLY PEOPLE GOT NO REASON TO LIVE
As a new, 22-year-old writer for The SoHo News in 1978, I was sent out to interview Lou Reed. He gave the nastiest interview of his life. Then demanded it be printed verbatim.
(photo: Anton Perich)
