One needs lots of chutzpah to associate himself with one of the world’s most famous celebrities, but the fact is, even though I am not nearly so well-known (Lord knows that could be weeks away!) one thing we have very much in common was our hair. . . . the lack of it, that is.
I bought my first hairpiece from one of Hollywood’s most expensive hairpiece artists, Eddie Searles. I paid (in today’s $ equivalence) a little over $2K. And it was undetectable – almost! Under a spotlight each line of the fine net mesh that was set in toupee glue against the forehead would stand out quite visibly up close and in Las Vegas, where I was enjoying my big debut on stage at the Fremont Hotel, I was very up close with the other acts as we followed each other every night. And that is where Bobby Colatta, piano player for the famous Bobby D’Andrea and the Knockouts (RIP) from New York, spotted it on the first night of my debut. He had a unique and funny way of letting me know that he knew by placing the heel of his right hand on top of his forehead with his closed fingers pointing backwards and then, holding the heel of his hand firmly on his head, flopping these closed fingers up and down. We had many laughs together during my nine weeks (one week with options) engagement. Another of our fellow performers was a young kid named Wayne Newton. I never knew if he also knew. He had class!
So, today, if you have ever heard Sunny introduce me as a speaker, you will be rewarded by her humor in her introduction of me. (Someone just said, “Say no more!†So, I won’t!)
(Except, if you ever need anything, I will call you!)
