Dear Paul McCartney

Dear Paul,

I look forward to hopefully meeting you for the first time at our Carnegie Hall show on March 15^th.  I’m happy to report it has fully sold out and we have raised at least $125,000 for various music education programs serving young kids in need.  Thanks again to agreeing to being our 18^th annual honoree.  I will admit though, I am more nervous in the anticipation of possibly meeting you than anticipated.  I mean, you’re Paul McCartney, a friggin member of the Beatles. 

This is not meant to name drop, but to put my anxiety in a bit of context.  I was born in 1962, you were playing at the Cavern Club in Liverpool and releasing “Love me Do/PS I Love You” among the many hits.  My first records growing up in Wisconsin were The Beatles and I have been a fan for over 50 years—that is half a century! (I am getting old).   I got into the music business early because my friends were gifted musicians and I sucked, had no musical chops, but wanted to be in the band, so I became the sound guy, lighting dude, then a manager, promoter, and wanted to start a label.  I  came to NY in 1986 and started a club called the Knitting Factory.  I got lucky, started meeting and working with some of the greats in Jazz from Ornette Coleman to John Zorn, met and became friends with Lou Reed, Suzanne Vega, and David Byrne.  I had the honor to produce shows of Dave Brubeck to Patti Smith to George Clinton.  Over the years, Prince, Coldplay, and Dione Warwick graced our stage.   The series at Carnegie has had me interact with and spend time with Joni Mitchell, Bruce Springsteen and Carly Simon.  I’m not throwing these names out for any reason except to explain, I’ve become comfortable interacting with many of my idols.  Having a real conversation with a fellow human that, while I humbly and deeply admire and respect, I can talk and chit chat somewhat normally.  

But I am sitting here trying to imagine my interaction with you.  Holy Shit.  Hello Sir Paul.  What up?  Um, thanks for coming, being here, everyone is excited.  How have you stayed so healthy?  What is your exercise routine?  When you wrote “The Long and Winding Road” in Scotland, was it specific about the tension in the band or more poetry about life?  Did you guys have anything to do with the 1969 marketing when we spun the White Album backwards to look for clues regarding your mysterious death?   I would have a thousand questions, but that is not being cool on our first meeting backstage at a show I am supposed to be the big producer.   I need to pretend to be the consummate professional, calm and not showing a hint of stress or anxiousness about anything.  But you’re a friggen Beatle.  Did I say that earlier?    OK, back to work.  I promise to be on best behavior on the 15^th.  :)

Deep respect,

Michael