Seeing Dionne Warwick on CBS Sunday Morning reminded me of this story: In 1978 or 1979, I was sitting at my desk at Park West in Chicago. It was a mid-week day. Nothing much was happening. I remember Jolene Tanty was also sitting at her desk. I looked up and a tall elegant woman was standing in the office doorway.
I stood and asked Dionne Warwick if I could help her. She said she was supposed to be meeting her agent and some television people. Jolene and I looked at each other. We didn't know anything about a meeting, or why Dionne Warwick was standing in our office. We weren't even sure how she had gotten there, since the inside lobby doors were locked. She said she found the coatroom door open, so she made her way inside through the coatroom. She found Park West dark and empty, but then found the stairway which led her to our office.
She asked to use our phone, and learned that her agent was on his way. We offered her a cup of coffee, and she took off her coat, sat down, and we chatted a bit.
Before long her agent appeared, along with the producers of a public television concert series. I turned on the lights in the club and led them to the stage, then left them to negotiate the details of the concert.
The concert itself was stunning. A full orchestra, a packed room, and Dionne Warwick. The televised production was beautiful.
Here's what I remember about my brief encounter with Dionne Warwick. She was elegant, composed, warm, friendly, and unflappable. Arriving at a venue that was ignorant and unprepared, she was as gracious as if the opposite were true. She was a consummate professional, and a consummate lady. She was charming.
I stood and asked Dionne Warwick if I could help her. She said she was supposed to be meeting her agent and some television people. Jolene and I looked at each other. We didn't know anything about a meeting, or why Dionne Warwick was standing in our office. We weren't even sure how she had gotten there, since the inside lobby doors were locked. She said she found the coatroom door open, so she made her way inside through the coatroom. She found Park West dark and empty, but then found the stairway which led her to our office.
She asked to use our phone, and learned that her agent was on his way. We offered her a cup of coffee, and she took off her coat, sat down, and we chatted a bit.
Before long her agent appeared, along with the producers of a public television concert series. I turned on the lights in the club and led them to the stage, then left them to negotiate the details of the concert.
The concert itself was stunning. A full orchestra, a packed room, and Dionne Warwick. The televised production was beautiful.
Here's what I remember about my brief encounter with Dionne Warwick. She was elegant, composed, warm, friendly, and unflappable. Arriving at a venue that was ignorant and unprepared, she was as gracious as if the opposite were true. She was a consummate professional, and a consummate lady. She was charming.
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