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Bobby Darin's 70th birthday party!

On May 13, 2006, the night before the 70th anniversary of Bobby Darin's birthday, at the Hard Rock Cafe Times Square in New York City (that little
town where Bobby was born!), a group of Darin devotees gathered to celebrate and remember the great man!

This is the FIRST and ONLY completely fan-based Bobby Darin Birthday
Party celebration EVER!!!!

It was fun.  It was exciting.  And, best of all, it had NEVER, EVER been
done before, which makes us VERY, VERY PROUD!!

On this page, we relive that fantastic night. Jump in and join us, won't you?

Click a link to find a specific area or just scroll down and experience it all!
   

Hard Rock Cafe NYC
Guest Speakers
Ahmet Ertegun Farewell

Darlene's Darinettes
Party People
Simple Song of Freedom

   
Hard Rock Cafe Times Square NYC

We chose the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square, in the heart of New York City,
Bobby Darin's home town, to celebrate the anniversary of his 70th birthday
party. Could any place have been more perfect or exciting? NO WAY!!

Our party room, called the New
York Room, was terrific. In
addition to all the great rock 'n
roll memorabilia all around us, the decorating committee, headed by Jamie Ney, did a FANtastic job, ensuring that there were lots and lots of Bobby goodies everywhere! There were 50 yellow roses on the tables and everything was Darin delicious. The Hard Rock Cafe in
NYC never looked so good! Hey,
the people look good, too!

Let's take a look . . .
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Guest Speakers

We were joined by terrific guest speakers, some in person and some on tape, who very kindly gave of themselves and their time. We were very, very lucky.

Many, many thanks to Steve Blauner, Roger Kellaway, Bob Rozario, Jimmy Scalia, Connie Francis, Andy Williams, Dr. and Mrs. Lynn, and Tony B! We are especially grateful to Mr. Ahmet Ertegun who granted us a videotaped interview which was shown at our event. Sadly, Mr. Ertegun, 81, passed just a few months later.

We and the legacy of Bobby Darin owe them each a debt of gratitude.

Steve Blauner_______________________________________
Mr. Steve Blauner, Bobby Darin's publicist, estate manager, and lifelong friend could not be with us, but he was there in spirit and he so generously provided a videotaped interview for us to enjoy.
Roger Kellaway______________________________________

What an absolute thrill it was to be joined by Mr. Roger Kellaway, "musical chameleon," Grammy award nominee, and Bobby Darin musical arranger and director. Generous, charming, informative, and brilliant are just a few of the adjectives that come to mind when discussing the great man who gave us so much of himself and his time. Stay tuned for more about what Roger said . . .
Bob Rozario ________________________________________


                         ©2006 Lori Slinn

With a gorgeous mane of silver hair that is the envy of younger men, conductor and pianist Bob Rozario continues to 'wow' Vegas audiences with the same dazzling musicianship and talent that Bobby Darin valued in his good friend decades ago.

While his commitments did not allow him to be with us in NYC, he very generously sat down with Lori Slinn for a videotaped interview.

Click here to read the interview
Jimmy Scalia ________________________________________
The presence of Mr. Jimmy Scalia and his wife, Dina, was truly the crowning glory of our event. As the official Darin Archivist, Jimmy, along with Joel Dorn, is responsible for so much of the wonderful Darin CDs and DVDs that are available today. The fact that he joined us meant that our event was accepted by, and perhaps even pleased, Bobby Darin's estate! We felt like Sally Field accepting her Oscar so many years ago with a little voice inside that glowed, "you like us, you really like us!"
Connie Francis_______________________________________

                                ©ConnieFrancis.com 		The timeless and beautiful Ms. Connie Francis held a special place in the heart of Bobby Darin and she does in our hearts, too. She has said often and in many places that Bobby was one of the great loves of her life. Although she was touring in Asia at the time of our event, she graciously sent us a note along with video clips showing the many instances that she and Bobby Darin shared the stage.
Andy Williams_______________________________________

     ©AndyWilliams.com

The golden-throated Mr. Andy Williams, whose "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" brightens our holiday season each year, made two things very obvious to us. One is that he is a most charming and generous man. The other is that Bobby Darin was one of his favorite performers and guests on his variety show.

Mr. Williams so kindly videotaped
a message expressly for our event. Watch for a link to it here in the
near future.
Dr. and Mrs. Jerry Lynn_______________________________

Dr. Jerry Lynn and Bobby Darin go way back to their Bronx boyhoods and they remained good friends until the end of Bobby's life. Married for over 40 years, the charming Lynns told us that Bobby is responsible for introducing them to one another and he was best man at their wedding!

Sandra Jeffries discovered Dr. Lynn quite by accident while she was doing other Bobby research. She will be telling their charming and warm Bobby Darin stories right here . . . very soon. So stay tuned for more!
Tony B ____________________________________________

Darlene Federowicz found vocalist and native New Yorker Mr. Tony Babino who graciously offered to speak with us about how he was
inspired by one of his idols Bobby
Darin. Tony was very young when
he started singing "after being
whacked by Bobby Darin's
recording of Mack the Knife."

To learn more about Tony B, see
the link to his site at the bottom
of this page.

In memoriam_________________________________________

Ahmet Ertegun 1923 - 2006

On May 11, 2006, Mr. Ahmet Ertegun so graciously agreed to a videotaped interview, in his New York office, with Lori Slinn and Lorraine Tillett expressly for our event for Bobby Darin. He was very important in Bobby Darin's life and career, and he so clearly loved Bobby. He alone at Atlantic Records heard something in that young man who played the piano outside his office . . . something very, very special.

We mourn the loss of the great and talented man who was a giant in the music industry. We are both grateful for and humbled by his wisdom and his generosity. We will never forget him.


                                                                                               ©2006 Lori Slinn
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Darlene's Darling Darinettes and more!

It is said that imitation is the highest form of flattery. The talented and brave among us, Darlene Federowicz, Karen Foster, Edwina Halsey, Nicolle and Mark Houseman, Susan Schooley, and Jane Schran, treated us to a great musical program, entertaining us and flattering Bobby Darin to the max!

We were also moved by the beautiful poetry of Karen Elizabeth Hallman and
Amy Hagstrom. You can enjoy it, too, if you go to Poetic Licence.
 
 
 
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Party People

After months of dreaming and scheming, it finally happened. Bobby Darin devotees came together from all over the world to celebrate the anniversary of his 70th birthday. After watching other performers get so much attention with fests and tributes, it was good to do this for Bobby, and it was great to connect with others who felt that way, too. It is probably safe to say that a good time was had by all!

The only thing missing was Bobby himself.

Would that Bobby Darin could have experienced his 70th birthday party. Maybe he did feel something from all the love and celebrating in the New York room at the Hard Rock that night. We certainly felt him. He was right there with us capturing our hearts and souls just as he always does . . . just as he always will.
 
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Simple Song of Freedom

We ended the evening singing Bobby's beautiful "Simple Song of Freedom" with him at midnight on May 14, the date of his birth 70 years ago.

Come and sing a simple song of freedom.
Sing it like you've never sung before.
Let it fill the air.
Tell the people everywhere,
We the people here don't want a war.

From beginning to end, the evening was truly magical.

Happy 70th Birthday, Bobby Darin
We miss you so very much

Relevant Links

Andy Williams
Connie Francis
Jimmy Scalia

Roger Kellaway
Simple Song of Freedom
Tony B
Acknowledgements . . . The author wishes to gratefully acknowledge and thank
Darlene Federowicz, Edwina Halsey, Ann Hopka, Sandra Jeffries, Barb Kieffer, Jamie Ney, Jane Schran, and Lori Slinn for contributing photographs; Sandra Jeffries for her careful and precise proofreading and fact checking; and all the attendees of Bobby Darin's 70th birthday celebration.

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