THE STORIES
What Happened When I Got To Meet Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Dave Mason
One of the great perks of living in LA and producing the Mark and Brian Show was getting to meet artists that I had grown up listening to like Dave Mason. One of my rituals before heading to work after school at my Dad’s florist on Avenue J in Brooklyn was sneaking a big gin and tonic, putting on my headphones and catching a buzz while listening to his classic album, Alone Together. I don’t know if my father ever caught on but it was during those years that Dave Mason became one of my all-time favorite musicians.
The first time I met him was in the early eighties when I found myself at a party for the LA premiere of a new Cheech and Chong movie. I don’t recall meeting either Cheech or Chong but it didn’t matter. Dave Mason was there and I got to talk to him. That conversation continued later in 2002 when I was producing the Mark and Brian show.
I saw that Dave was doing a show up at the Canyon in Agoura. To help promote the gig he agreed to come down for a studio interview with Mark and Brian. The same morning he’s scheduled on, our incredible maintenance guy Lyn Mink is making pancakes for the entire station. When I went out to meet him I asked him if he wanted some pancakes. He looks at me, gives a chuckle, holds his belly and asked, “Do I look like I need pancakes?
The interview goes great with Dave telling stories that go back to when he was 17 playing with Traffic. He really needs to write a book. When the interview ends Mark and Brian invited him to perform at our Christmas show and although it’s six months away he graciously accepts.
The 2002 Christmas Show was one of our best ever with Sammy Hagar headlining. The great songstress Joan Osbourne was also on the bill and by coincidence her new album included Dave’s “Only You Know and I Know.” About a month earlier her manager called me asking for Dave’s number because Joan wanted him to join her onstage to sing his song.
The morning of the show, as usual, we’re way behind schedule. Dave and his band are ready to hit the stage when he says to me, “I hear the show’s running late so we’ll take out a song”. In all my years producing Christmas Shows no artist every volunteered to cut their set short because we were not on time. I was really impressed by that small gesture. Dave’s set was great and later he and Joan did a memorable version of “Only You Know and I Know.” There were no pancakes for Dave that morning either and for the record, no gin and tonic for me. But there was a lot of great music.