BR: On the occasion of Bobby's birthday, I so much would like to be there in person, but I will be there in spirit. I understand some of you have some
questions for me, so Lori, shoot!

LS: Okay, Bob. Does the March 1973 taping of the Mack Is Back concert reflect Bobby's complete stage show at the time or did he add other material?

BR: No, that was pretty much the stage show we were doing at the time.

LS: Okay. In your opinion what are the two best or most memorable songs or arrangements that Bobby did that really stand out in your mind as showcasing him at his very best?

BR: Well, as far as a ballad is concerned, one of his very last recordings was a song called Happy that Michel Legrand wrote for a movie about Billy Holliday. And Bobby did that song and I thought that he just reached his best doing that song.

LS: It showed his range. We've actually talked about that on the Darin group a little bit and people agree with you, it is very, very popular.

BR: I didn't know that. They don't play it on the radio.

LS: No, it doesn't get a lot of play.

BR: They play a lot of his songs on the radio but they are mostly his swing songs.

LS: Is there another one? Maybe a different type of song that stands out in your mind?

BR: It's hard for me to pick one because I like all of them.

LS: That's like all of us. None of us has favorites. Everything's good. [Laughter]. Now, do you ever see the other members of the quartet you used to play with—Tommy Amato, Terry Kellman, and Billy McCubbins?

BR: Yes, I've spoken to Billy. He's up in the Bay area. Tommy Amato I have not seen in about a year, but I know he's doing well and Terry Kellman is up in Reno. So, I do keep in touch with them.

LS: Super. Why do you think Bobby got a reputation for being brash, arrogant, and rude? He seemed so warm and caring onstage and during interviews. Was this an injustice?

BR: I think so. He was never rude. In all the years that I knew him, he was never rude. I don't think he was arrogant. I think he was a little cocky, but that was his stage persona.

LS: Well, plus he could back himself up a little bit.

BR: Yes, he could back himself.

LS: I always equated it with confidence.

BR: I think his cockiness came up when people asked him stupid questions, or they asked him things he didn't want to talk about and he thought they were rude. Then he would be a little cocky.

LS: The press would probably pick right up on that.

BR: Yes, and I don't think he really cared.

LS: What is your favorite memory of Bobby?

BR: It was his kindness. If it were not for Bobby Darin and his kind nature, I never would have become a conductor. I would still be just playing the piano. But he had confidence in me, and there were many interesting moments where he gave me breaks. I think of that very warmly.

LS: Do you think Bobby was happy with his life?

BR: I think Bobby was happy with his life. He wasn't happy being ill. That was sad, but most of the time he was very happy.

LS: He certainly accomplished a lot. He had to have been pretty happy about that.

BR: Oh, yes.

LS: Do you think he knew how much his fans really loved him?

BR: That's a tough question. He must have known it, because every time he went on stage, I mean, they were just crazy about him.

LS: What was Bobby like when he was not performing? What kind of person was he?

BR: Very low key, very relaxed, down home. I would get a knock on the door sometimes and it would be Bobby with a pizza under his arm and a chess board. He would come in, sit on the floor, and play chess with my kids.

LS: So he was just a regular guy.

BR: Just a regular guy, yes . . . that's when he was the happiest. In fact, my youngest daughter actually beat him one day at chess!

LS: Really! [chuckles] How did that go over?

BR: It didn't go over too well. [chuckles] He had to go back to the teacher and get some more instruction. [chuckles]

LS: I didn't realize until we saw that Johnny Carson show on video how serious he was about chess.

BR: Oh, he loved chess. Bobby never went to college but he surely educated himself. He made sure that he did a lot of reading. He was like a sponge when it came to information. That's what I respected him for.

LS: Regarding Bobby's appearance on the Tonight Show on February 6 in 1973, he came on and sang a number and then did a medley at the piano. Do you remember what his mood was before and after the show, or can you share anything with us from the show?

BR: Well, first of all, he was very happy that day to be on the show. He liked Carson. He thought Carson was very smart and he enjoyed being with Carson. It was a good day. We took some time off from taping that day to do the Carson Show. So we left a little early and had a great time. Rehearsals were fine. He felt very well. It was surprising that ten months later he passed away. I thought he looked exceedingly good that day.

LS: He looked great! He looked really energetic. Did the band members travel to New York together and stay together, and did Bobby stay close by?

BR: Yes, we were always on the same floor at the hotel. We traveled together on the same flights. We stayed at the same hotels, usually on the same floor, and we were always together.

LS: On his show, Johnny plugged Bobby's NBC show on Fridays at 10 p.m. Was Bobby aware that the show was going to be canceled at that time?

BR: Did we know that, that early? I don't think so. Unless he had information I didn't have.

LS: He talked a little bit in the interview about how he wasn't as comfortable with TV. He didn't have that interaction with the audience.

BR: Yes, he enjoyed doing live shows. He liked to improvise and television is a little more restricting when it comes to that.

LS: Johnny said Bobby looked well and he said he felt well. I think you mentioned, probably in a book, that Elvis Presley would sneak in and watch Bobby work. Who are some of the other entertainers who would come in and watch him?

BR: Well, the very first engagement that I worked with Bobby was my very first time that I conducted an orchestra. It was in San Juan, Puerto Rico. When the curtain went up and I looked out, there was Richard Harris in the audience, Herbie Mann, the famous flautist jazz player, and a bunch of other famous movie stars.

There were always famous people in his audience. The children of the famous also loved him, so they would be in the audience, too. Nancy Sinatra and Dean Martin's daughter and son . . . they were all fans of Bobby Darin. He just attracted actors, singers, and other performers.

When we worked the Hilton, Elvis would come in a few days earlier before his own engagement would start. He always snuck in and hid in a special booth that they had ready for him. A lot of people don't know that Elvis was totally in awe of Bobby Darin. He couldn't believe that Bobby could do so many different things so well.

Continued . . .

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